Rumor | The iQOO 8 flagship Android series is going global, albeit with some compromises

The iQOO 8 Pro is the latest, potentially cost-effective, alternative to the Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 to have landed in China. Not only does it have the refreshed Snapdragon 888+ processor, it has also debuted the cutting-edge E5 display now also tipped to feature in next-gen flagships such as the Samsung Galaxy S22 series and the Mi 12. Now, a new leak hints that iQOO's latest possible hit is about to go international.

The tipster @Passionategeekz bases this claim on the alleged discovery of a device on the Google Play Console. It is called the PD2141, a model number that does indeed chime with the "vivo V2141A" thought to be the 8 Pro flexing on Geekbench ahead of its launch. However, a closer look at the newer leak's specs reveal that its specs fail to match the new flagship's name.

For a start, the "PD2141" is apparently listed as having the Snapdragon 888: it lacks the 3GHz max clock of the 888+, even though the two are similar on paper otherwise. Furthermore, the device is described as having an FHD+ display, meaning this panel has no chance of being that of the original 8 Pro.

Accordingly, it seems what we have here is the vanilla iQOO 8, which has launched with a lot of specs from its early-2021 counterpart the 7. (Not that either phone represents weedy Android performance as a result by any means.) On the other hand, the "PD2141" listing is presented alongside an image of a phone with a curved display (like the 8 Pro), whereas that of the 8 is flat.

All in all, it seems that, even if the iQOO 8 series makes it out of China, it might do so with an odd, potentially disappointing, hotch-potch of specs from its 2 members. On the other hand, its distinctive, occasionally BMW-inspired, looks might be a breath of fresh air for a wider array of markets.