iQOO 13 Teased for Late October Launch in China with Leaked Specs
iQOO is set to unveil the highly anticipated iQOO 13, featuring the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, on December 5 in India. However, the device is anticipated to make its debut in China, before expanding to other regions. Prominent leaker Digital Chat Station took to Weibo to suggest that the launch date for the iQOO 13 in the Chinese market has been disclosed, alongside hints at some of its key specifications.
Rumored Launch Dates for the iQOO 13
In the above leak, DCS states that several companies are expected to launch smartphones featuring the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor during the final week of October.
Specifically, a performance-focused flat-screen model is rumored for release on October 30, while another device equipped with an advanced camera system will be unveiled a day earlier, on October 29. These devices are likely to be the iQOO 13 and the OnePlus 13, respectively.
Design Update: No Halo Light Strip
Reports suggest that the Xiaomi 15 series will be unveiled on October 28, while the Magic 7 lineup is also expected to debut in the same week. Leaked images of the iQOO 13 suggest a halo light bar surrounding the camera island.
However, Galant V, an executive at iQOO, denied the existence of such a feature, pointing to the use of advanced lighting technology instead of visible strips. He added that the design team at iQOO enjoys challenges and is keen to provide innovative and unique features.
Leaked Specifications of the iQOO 13
Insider information from Experience More reveals that the iQOO 13 will sport a flat 2K BOE Q10 display, featuring a 144Hz refresh rate. The phone will be equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset in addition to a self-developed Q2 supercomputing chip. The device is also said to house a massive 6,100mAh battery with support for 120W fast charging.
As for the camera setup, it will include a Sony IMX921 primary sensor, a Samsung JN1 sensor, and a telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, which seems to be the Sony IMX826 lens. According to previous leaks, the device will be equipped with a triple 50MP rear camera.
In comparison to its predecessor, the iQOO 12—which features a 50MP primary camera with OIS, a 64MP periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and a 50MP ultra-wide lens—the iQOO 13 is expected to enhance the front camera experience to 32MP with support for 4K video recording at 60fps.
Additional Features and Pricing
Anticipated features for the iQOO 13 also include an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, a USB 3.0 port, and a single-point ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. The phone is said to debut on October 30, with a target price of 3,999 yuan (about $565).
In terms of marketing strategy, the source said that the iQOO 13 focuses on performance and display quality to differentiate itself from the X200 while maintaining strong photography capabilities. This approach may attract some users from the X200 market.