Vivo and iQOO could be preparing a busy few months for their smartphone lineups, with six upcoming models now appearing in the GSMA IMEI database. The listings include the Vivo X500 FE, Y32 5G and T6 Lite 5G, along with the iQOO Z12 Lite and iQOO 16R. While the database confirms that these devices are in development, it doesn’t reveal their specifications or launch dates.
Several of the phones are expected to reach India, based on the companies’ previous launch patterns, although neither brand has confirmed their availability.
Vivo X500 FE spotted
The Vivo X500 FE has appeared with model numbers V2653 and V2654, likely representing different markets. The V2653 has also been listed in Europe’s EEC database, suggesting that Vivo is preparing the phone for markets outside China. The X500 FE will join the Vivo X500, X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max, which are expected to launch in China later this month. Global versions of those phones are also reportedly in development, with the international models expected to broadly retain their Chinese specifications.
There is currently no reliable information about the X500 FE’s hardware. Its position in the lineup, however, suggests that it could sit below the flagship X500 models and compete with more sub-flagships. However, given the recent price hike saga, sub-flagships have now started falling in the sub-Rs 80,000 segment, going by the Vivo X300 FE India pricing.
For buyers considering a Vivo phone, it may be worth waiting if the X500 FE is on their shortlist. A lower-priced X500-series model could offer some of the design or camera features of the flagship range without its full price tag, but if budget is a constraint, users are likely to find more value in older gen models.
The IMEI database also lists the Vivo Y32 5G (V2639) and Vivo T6 Lite 5G (V2647), although there are no specifications or launch details for either model yet.
iQOO 16R, Z12 Lite spotted
The iQOO 16R has appeared with model number I2606, while the iQOO Z12 Lite is listed as I2603. The Z12 Lite had already received EEC certification in July, while the 16R is a newer discovery. The iQOO 16R could be based on the China-bound iQOO 16T. Reports claim it is being tested with a 2K Samsung OLED display and a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6-series chipset. It could also feature a 200MP primary camera and 50MP ultrawide camera, while reportedly skipping a periscope lens. A built-in fan and liquid cooling system are also said to be under consideration. If these specifications materialise, the 16R could target performance-focused buyers, considering the iQOO 16 is said to get the higher tier Snapdragon flagship chipset this year.
The iQOO 15R arrived in India in February, making a successor plausible. With the X500 family and several new iQOO models now appearing in certification databases, buyers planning to upgrade in the coming months may benefit from waiting for these launches before settling on current-generation alternatives.
