The iQOO 16 could be ditching the relatively restrained look of its predecessor for something far more futuristic. Newly leaked renders show a huge rounded-square camera island housing three lenses in an unusual connected triangular formation.
The metallic structure wrapping around the cameras almost resembles a spacecraft or UFO, particularly on the black model, where thin electric-blue light accents trace parts of the module. It is a dramatic departure from the conventional three-lens arrangement iQOO has largely stuck with since the iQOO 12.
The rest of the black model leans heavily into iQOO’s gaming identity. Its rear panel mixes brushed-metal textures, angular geometric sections, tiny technical markings and additional blue illumination near the bottom, producing something closer to sci-fi gaming hardware than a conventional flagship phone.
Interestingly, the leaked white version takes almost the opposite approach: its clean rear panel and silver camera housing strip away most of that visual noise, leaving the triangular camera arrangement as the main attraction. Both appear to have softly rounded frames, potentially making the large handset more comfortable during extended gaming sessions. The source of the renders remains unclear, however, so their authenticity isn’t guaranteed.
The hardware rumored to sit behind this new design is appropriately flagship-grade. iQOO 16 is tipped to feature three 50MP cameras, including a large 1/1.3-inch main sensor, alongside a 6.85-inch Samsung 2K flat OLED display running at 165Hz. A Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, enormous 8,500mAh battery, 100W wired and wireless charging, ultrasonic fingerprint reader and IP68/IP69 protection are also reportedly planned.
A China launch is expected by late September or early October, but if these renders prove genuine, specs might not be the iQOO 16’s biggest talking point — that UFO camera island will be difficult to mistake for anything else.
via gizmochina