Mobile Review

iQOO 16 Camera Leak Points to a Big Upgrade, but Not the One We Expected

August 17, 2026

The iQOO 16 is shaping up to be more than another gaming-focused flagship. A new leak claims that iQOO is testing the phone with three 50MP cameras, including a large 1/1.3-inch sensor for the main camera. That’s quite a change from earlier rumors about a 200MP sensor, and to be honest, I think iQOO may be making the better choice here.

Three 50MP cameras for the iQOO 16

The latest details come from reliable tipster Digital Chat Station. According to the leak, the current iQOO 16 test unit has a 50MP main camera with a large 1/1.3-inch sensor and an f/1.68 aperture. Earlier reports suggest this could be the OmniVision OV50Q.

The other two cameras aren’t being ignored either. The ultrawide is said to use another 50MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, while the periscope gets a 50MP 1/1.95-inch sensor with an f/2.65 aperture. The final zoom and macro specs are still being tested, so those details could change before launch.

Here’s the interesting part, though. Earlier leaks claimed that iQOO was testing both 200MP and 50MP main cameras for the phone. The latest prototype now points to the 50MP option, which suggests the company may have picked sensor size over a much bigger number on the spec sheet.

And I don’t think that’s a bad decision.

Bigger doesn’t always mean more megapixels

A 200MP camera sounds great in an ad, but megapixels only tell part of the story. A large 1/1.3-inch sensor can capture plenty of light, which matters much more when you’re taking photos at night or in difficult lighting.

We have already seen what iQOO can do with this kind of setup. The current iQOO 15 also uses a 1/1.3-inch 50MP main camera, paired with 50MP ultrawide and 64MP telephoto cameras.

So no, the iQOO 16 isn’t suddenly turning into a camera phone like the Vivo X series. Performance will still be its main focus. But giving all three rear cameras 50MP sensors could make the camera system much more balanced, and that’s an upgrade I would take over a 200MP logo on the box.

The rest of the iQOO 16 sounds just as crazy

The cameras aren’t the only interesting part. Previous leaks point to a 6.85-inch flat Samsung display with 2K resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate. The phone is also expected to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, making it one of the first flagships based on the new chip.

And then there is the battery. The iQOO 16 could pack a huge 8,500mAh battery with 100W wired charging and wireless charging. Other rumored features include an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, stereo speakers, USB 3.2 and IP68/IP69 protection.

Of course, none of this is official yet. The iQOO 16 is expected to launch in China around late September or early October, which means the hardware can still change.

Still, I like where this is going. iQOO phones have always been about raw speed first, with cameras taking a back seat. If the company can keep that performance while giving the iQOO 16 a much stronger camera setup, we could end up with a far more complete flagship this time.

And personally, I’ll take a good 50MP 1/1.3-inch sensor over a 200MP marketing number any day.