iQOO 16 Launched With Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 with Q4 gaming chip

iQOO has launched the iQOO 16 in China, focusing its new flagship on gaming performance. It combines the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 with a dedicated Q4 gaming chip, an 8,500mm² vapor-chamber cooling system and a 6.85-inch display that refreshes at up to 165Hz.

Display and gaming performance

The iQOO 16 uses a Samsung M16 AMOLED panel with a 3168 × 1440 resolution and an adaptive refresh rate of up to 165Hz. iQOO claims a 5,000Hz instantaneous touch-sampling rate, full-screen brightness of up to 2,800 nits and peak brightness of up to 10,000 nits in a small area of the screen. The display also supports DC dimming across its brightness range and high-frequency PWM dimming at up to 3,300Hz.

Powering the phone is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, manufactured on TSMC’s 2nm process and clocked at up to 5.01GHz. iQOO pairs it with LPDDR5X Ultra Pro memory, UFS 4.1 storage and its own Q4 gaming chip. An 8,500mm² vapor chamber and the Monster Super Core Engine are intended to help the phone maintain performance during demanding games.

The company has also introduced Q-flex, a touch-control system designed to reduce input latency. It coordinates the touchscreen controller, gyroscope and game engine across six stages of the input process. How much difference that makes in play will depend on the game and will need to be assessed in testing.

Battery, cameras and software

The iQOO 16 has an 8,400mAh battery built with fifth-generation silicon-anode technology. It supports 100W wired charging and 40W wireless charging.

Three 50MP cameras sit on the back: an OmniVision OV50Q main camera with optical image stabilization, a Sony LYTIA 600 periscope telephoto camera with optical image stabilization, and an ultrawide camera. A 32MP camera handles selfies, while the rear camera system can record video at up to 8K resolution.

The phone runs OriginOS 7 based on Android 17. Other features include a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint reader, Wi-Fi 7, NFC, an infrared blaster, USB 3.2 Gen 1, stereo speakers and X- and Z-axis linear motors for haptic feedback. It also carries IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance.

IQOO 16 Specifications

Specification	iQOO 16
Display	6.85-inch Samsung M16 AMOLED; 3168 × 1440 resolution; adaptive refresh rate up to 165Hz
Display brightness	Up to 2,800 nits full-screen and 10,000 nits peak local brightness, as claimed by iQOO
Touch and dimming	Up to 5,000Hz instantaneous touch sampling; full-brightness DC dimming; up to 3,300Hz PWM dimming
Processor	Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, built on TSMC’s 2nm process; CPU speeds up to 5.01GHz
Gaming hardware	iQOO Q4 gaming chip, Monster Super Core Engine and Q-flex touch-control technology
Cooling	8,500mm² vapor chamber
Memory and storage	LPDDR5X Ultra Pro RAM and UFS 4.1 storage; configurations from 12GB + 256GB to 16GB + 1TB
Rear cameras	50MP OmniVision OV50Q main camera with OIS; 50MP Sony LYTIA 600 periscope telephoto with OIS; 50MP ultrawide
Front camera	32MP
Video	Up to 8K recording with the rear cameras
Battery and charging	8,400mAh; 100W wired and 40W wireless charging
Software	OriginOS 7 based on Android 17
Security	3D ultrasonic fingerprint reader
Connectivity and ports	Wi-Fi 7, NFC, infrared blaster and USB 3.2 Gen 1
Audio and haptics	Stereo speakers and X- and Z-axis linear motors
Dust and water resistance	IP68 and IP69 ratings
Colors	Chasing Light, Legend and Track
Starting price in China	5,999 yuan for 12GB + 256GB
Global availability	Not officially announced

iQOO 16 Price and availability

Configuration	China price	Approximate US equivalent
12GB + 256GB	5,999 yuan	$900
12GB + 512GB	6,799 yuan	$1,020
16GB + 512GB	7,499 yuan	$1,125
16GB + 1TB	8,499 yuan	$1,275

The iQOO 16 is available in Chasing Light, Legend and Track finishes. A version associated with global markets has reportedly appeared in a European certification listing, but iQOO has not announced an international release date or pricing. The dollar amounts above are approximate conversions, not official US prices.