iQOO 16s certification hints at a familiar iQOO 16R rebrand

The phone expected to launch as the iQOO 16R in some markets has appeared under a different name. A Malaysian SIRIM certification lists model I2606 as the iQOO 16s, even though the same model number has previously appeared as the iQOO 16R in the GSM Association’s IMEI database and Indonesia’s TKDN listing. The listing does not reveal specifications, so the name change is the main piece of information.

One model, several names

GSMArena reports that the 16R/16s is expected to be a rebranded iQOO Z12 Turbo, following the path of the Z11 Turbo, which became the iQOO 15R outside China. Certification databases can confirm that a model has passed a regulatory stage, but they do not establish how every market will sell it. The SIRIM entry confirms the I2606 designation and the 16s name in Malaysia, but not a launch date, pricing or a complete hardware sheet.

What the leaks suggest

Previous reports have pointed to a 6.59-inch display with a refresh rate of at least 165Hz. The same reports mention either a Snapdragon 8 Gen 6 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Pro chip and the possibility of active cooling. Those details remain leaks, not information supplied by the SIRIM certification. A tipster has also claimed that iQOO is testing performance phones with batteries approaching 10,000mAh.

GSMArena places the likely announcement in early 2027 if iQOO repeats the January launch window for the Z11 Turbo and the February follow-up for the iQOO 15R. Until iQOO publishes the phone itself, these details should remain clearly separated from the certification evidence.

Our opinion

The useful development is not a surprise specification but a warning against treating a regulatory listing as a complete product reveal. The iQOO 16s name looks like meaningful evidence of regional branding, while the hardware story is still built on leaks and comparisons with the Z-series. I2606 is real, its market name is unsettled and its specification sheet is not ready to be called official.