The autumn launch calendar is starting to take shape, but a sizeable shadow hangs over the upcoming Vivo iQOO 16 series. After the brand wowed the internet with the iQOO 15 Ultra and its built-in cooling fan, the latest chatter shared by leaker Digital Chat Station points to a genuine plot twist: there will be no Ultra model this generation.
Giving up the crown
Against all expectations, iQOO is said to be skipping its most extreme technological showcase. Development of the iQOO 16 Ultra has reportedly been put on hold for this year, with the brand choosing to sit out a generation. Trimming the line-up in this way is no small decision, and it marks a temporary pause in the technical arms race.
The culprits behind the scenes
The first explanation for stepping back is brutally economic: the continued, across-the-board rise in memory (RAM) prices makes ultra-premium models far harder to justify without sending the final bill through the roof for buyers.
Beyond cost, though, iQOO appears to be rethinking its philosophy. The brand now seems to believe its “Ultra” range should not be tied to a forced annual cycle, and should only appear when a genuine technological breakthrough warrants it. With no landmark hardware leap to show off, the manufacturer is said to prefer holding back.
A slimmer but still ambitious line-up
If the Ultra is bowing out, the rest of the brand’s calendar is hardly empty. The manufacturer is preparing to launch its mid-range Z11i on 3 July, quickly followed by the Neo 11S (powered by the Dimensity 9500) later that month.
The real date for tech enthusiasts is set for October, when the brand’s flagbearers are due to be unveiled:
- The iQOO 16, which will be powered by the hotly anticipated Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro.
- The Neo 12, which will make do with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
For the global and European markets, the standard iQOO 16 is expected to be the only model to cross borders, with the Neo range apparently denied an international release this year. The iQOO 16T, meanwhile, is tipped to bring up the rear in the first quarter of 2027.
Conclusion
iQOO’s decision to shelve its wildest model shows real strategic maturity in the face of the component crisis. At the very least, it will put the entire spotlight on the standard iQOO 16 in October, which, armed with its next-generation chip, will have the heavy task of carrying the raw performance torch on its own. PhoneDroid stocks the Vivo smartphone family, as well as cases designed for Vivo.
