iQOO 16 India Launch Date Leaks, but the Price Could Be a Big Surprise

The iQOO 16 may launch in India in mid-December, nearly three months after its debut in China. A new leak points to December 15–17 as the likely launch window, but iQOO has yet to confirm the date.

The phone went on sale in China in late September. Indian buyers may have to wait longer this year, and the price could also be much higher than before.

According to a tipster on X, the iQOO 16 will arrive in India between December 15 and 17. If true, that would mark a longer wait than last year.

The iQOO 15 made its debut in China on October 20, 2025. It then reached India on November 26, just over five weeks later. This time, the gap could stretch to around two and a half months.

The reason for the delay is still unclear. iQOO has not shared any details about its plans for India.

The iQOO 16 starts at CNY 5,999 (about $894) in China. However, an earlier leak suggests the Indian price could reach INR 100,000 (around $1,039).

That would be a sharp increase over the iQOO 15, which launched in India at INR 72,999 (about $766).

A price that high could make the new phone a harder sell. The iQOO series has often offered strong hardware for less than many rival flagships. A major price hike could change that appeal.

The phone has a 6.85-inch Samsung AMOLED screen with a 165Hz refresh rate. It also offers 2K resolution and a claimed peak brightness of 10,000 nits. Inside, it uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chip. Buyers can get up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

The rear camera setup includes three 50MP cameras. There is a main camera, a 3x zoom lens and an ultra-wide camera. A 32MP front camera handles selfies.

Battery life is another key feature. The iQOO 16 packs an 8,400mAh battery with 100W wired and 40W wireless charging. It also has IP68 and IP69 ratings for water and dust resistance.

The phone runs OriginOS 7 based on Android 17.

The iQOO 16 has plenty to offer, from its fast screen to its huge battery. But its price in India will matter just as much as the hardware.

If the rumored INR 100,000 price proves true, iQOO may have a harder time winning over buyers who liked the value of earlier models. For now, both the Indian launch date and price remain unconfirmed.