News in Short
- iQOO 16 and Motorola Signature 27 have been announced with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 platform.
- Xiaomi 18 Pro has also been linked to an India launch, but reports differ on its exact chipset variant.
- The new Snapdragon platform is built on a 2nm process and targets improved performance and power efficiency.
- iQOO 16 is expected to focus on gaming, while Motorola is highlighting AI and camera features.
- Xiaomi 18 Pro is tipped to feature a dual-screen design and two 200-megapixel cameras.
India’s next flagship smartphone race is beginning to take shape, with iQOO, Motorola and Xiaomi preparing devices built around Qualcomm’s newest high-end mobile platform. The companies showcased their upcoming plans around India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, signalling a push towards the next generation of flagship performance.
The iQOO 16 and Motorola Signature 27 have been confirmed with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 platform. Xiaomi has also confirmed plans to bring the Xiaomi 18 Pro to India, although reports differ on whether it will use the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 or the more powerful Extreme variant.
The new chipset family uses a 2nm manufacturing process and aims to improve performance and power efficiency. However, detailed real-world performance comparisons will have to wait until the phones reach reviewers and consumers.
iQOO 16: A flagship built around gaming performance
The iQOO 16 is among the first smartphones confirmed for India with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 platform. iQOO CEO Nipun Marya announced the device at IMC 2026.
The phone is tipped to feature a 6.85-inch 2K OLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate. It could also pack an 8,400mAh battery and a dedicated Q4 gaming chip alongside Qualcomm’s flagship processor.
These reported specifications suggest that iQOO will continue targeting users who prioritise gaming, sustained performance and smooth visuals. However, the company has yet to confirm the complete specifications, pricing or launch date.
The iQOO 16 will also be the brand’s first smartphone to ship with OriginOS 7 out of the box. The software is expected to introduce a refreshed experience with productivity-focused and intelligent features.
Motorola Signature 27 to focus on AI and photography
Motorola has also confirmed its upcoming Signature 27 flagship with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 platform.
The phone is expected to combine flagship processing power with AI features powered by Google Gemini. Motorola is positioning agentic AI as part of the experience, potentially allowing users to complete tasks through more advanced AI interactions.
Photography could be another major focus. The reported camera setup includes a 50-megapixel Sony Lytia 910 main sensor and a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera.
The device is also tipped to feature audio tuned by Bang & Olufsen. Motorola reportedly plans to offer seven years of operating system upgrades, which could make long-term software support another selling point.
However, the company has yet to confirm all these specifications and features in a complete launch announcement.
Xiaomi 18 Pro could bring a dual-screen design
Xiaomi has also been linked to an Indian launch for the Xiaomi 18 Pro. However, its exact chipset remains unclear, with reports differing on whether it will use the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 or the Extreme variant.
The phone is tipped to feature a 6.4-inch primary OLED display and a 2.7-inch rear screen. This secondary display could provide quick access to notifications, widgets and selected functions without requiring users to open the main screen.
Photography could be another highlight. The Xiaomi 18 Pro is reported to feature two 200-megapixel cameras developed with Leica’s imaging expertise.
These details remain unconfirmed, so the final hardware could differ from the current reports. Xiaomi has also yet to disclose the Indian pricing or launch date.
What Qualcomm’s 2nm chipset could mean for flagship phones
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 is built on a 2nm process. Smaller manufacturing processes can help chipmakers improve transistor density and power efficiency, although the actual gains depend on the processor’s design and implementation.
Qualcomm is also focusing on AI processing as smartphone manufacturers look to run more advanced features directly on devices. This could support faster image processing, more responsive assistants and increasingly complex AI tasks.
However, a powerful chipset alone does not guarantee better everyday performance. Cooling systems, software optimisation, battery capacity and sustained workloads will also affect the experience.
The three upcoming phones appear to target different priorities. iQOO is emphasising gaming, Motorola is highlighting AI and photography, while Xiaomi could combine premium cameras with a distinctive dual-screen design.
India’s next flagship battle is taking shape
The arrival of these devices could intensify competition in India’s premium smartphone market. Each brand is trying to differentiate its flagship beyond raw processing power, whether through gaming hardware, AI features, camera systems or software support.
For now, the iQOO 16 and Motorola Signature 27 are the clearest confirmed candidates for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 platform in India. Xiaomi 18 Pro remains part of the anticipated lineup, but its chipset details need clarification.
The next key details to watch are launch dates, pricing, final specifications and independent performance tests. These will determine whether the new platform delivers a meaningful upgrade over existing flagship phones.
