iQOO 16 global variant allegedly spotted on Geekbench, India launch still uncertain
The iQOO 16 could be heading to India, although the company has not confirmed a local launch yet. A tipster on X has now claimed that a global variant of the phone has appeared on Geekbench, suggesting that iQOO may be preparing to expand the device to more markets. Let’s check it out in detail below.
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iQOO 16 Geekbench listing reveals key hardware
According to an X post by tipster Abhishek Yadav, the alleged global variant of the iQOO 16 has appeared on Geekbench with the model number Vivo I2607. The listing shows 12GB RAM, Android 17 and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, with the chipset listed as SM8975.
iQOO 16 global/India variant spotted on Geekbench 👀
– Model: vivo I2607
– Chip: Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 (SM8975), 2x 5.01GHz + 3x 4.03GHz + 3x 3.74GHz
– GPU: Adreno 850
– RAM: 12GB
– OS: Android 17
– Single core: 2,944
– Multi core: 10,029
Firmware carries the EX tag,… pic.twitter.com/rVyM6iz42J
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— Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) October 4, 2026
The phone scored 2,944 points in the single-core test and 10,029 points in the multi-core test. The firmware reportedly carries an EX tag, which the tipster says points to a global build. This, however, does not confirm an India launch, and iQOO has yet to officially announce plans to bring the iQOO 16 to the country.
To give you some more context, these early scores look lower than what we recorded on the iQOO 15 (review), which scored 3,621 in single-core and 10,579 in multi-core in our Geekbench testing. That does not necessarily mean the newer phone will be slower, as this appears to be an early software build, and benchmark scores can change substantially as manufacturers optimise the final firmware.
For now, the Geekbench listing mainly suggests that iQOO could be preparing a global version of the iQOO 16. Its appearance on a benchmark database is not enough to confirm an India launch, so we will have to wait for an official announcement from the company.
Could iQOO 16 launch in India?
The iQOO 16 is a powerful flagship with robust hardware, including a 2K 165Hz AMOLED display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, an 8,400mAh battery and a triple 50MP camera setup. The flagship hardware also means that it will command a high price, particularly now, when iQOO can’t optimise for lower costs due to inflated RAM and memory prices.
The iQOO 15 launched in India at Rs 64,999, making it one of the most aggressive flagship options in the market amid the growing memory crisis. Rising memory and component costs, however, eventually pushed its price up, with the phone now selling for around Rs 85,999. The iQOO 16 launched in China at CNY 6,000 (approx. Rs 86,000), and if it does launch in India, it would not be surprising if the device touches the Rs 1 lakh mark.
At that price, iQOO, which is traditionally known for its competitive pricing, is unlikely to garner much attention since it will compete with established premium brands such as Samsung’s Galaxy S series and Apple’s iPhones. If you’re looking to buy a flagship-level gaming phone, the iQOO 15 (review) could instead be a more favourable deal compared to the new iQOO 16.
