Vivo iQOO 16 vs Vivo Y21
The Vivo iQOO 16 (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, while the Vivo Y21 (2026) runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 6300; launch prices were $840 and $178. By overall MobileRank rating, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads — 89/100 vs 44/100 (a 45-point difference). Key differences: the Vivo iQOO 16 has the bigger battery (8400 mAh vs 6500); the Vivo iQOO 16 is faster in AnTuTu (5,498,720 vs 528,398).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Vivo iQOO 16
Vivo Y21
What makes Vivo iQOO 16 better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 5498720 vs 528398
- Better Geekbench Single: 4327 vs 771
- Better Geekbench Multi: 12873 vs 1980
- Bigger battery: 8400 vs 6500 mAh
- Faster charging: 100W vs 44W
- Higher refresh rate: 165Hz vs 120Hz
- Higher performance (100/100 vs 43/100)
- Better camera (78/100 vs 30/100)
- Longer battery life (90/100 vs 58/100)
- Better display (99/100 vs 55/100)
What makes Vivo Y21 better?
- Lighter: 209g vs 223g
- Cheaper at launch: $178 vs $840
- Better portability (49/100 vs 42/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Vivo iQOO 16 vs the Vivo Y21, the Vivo iQOO 16 scores 45 points higher (89/100 vs 44/100). In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads (100/100 vs 43/100). In the "camera" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads (78/100 vs 30/100). In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads (90/100 vs 58/100). Value score: Vivo iQOO 16 — 92/100, Vivo Y21 — 54/100; it shows how far a model sits above or below the usual level for its price, and is not part of the overall rating. In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Vivo Y21 (100/100 vs 43/100). In the "display" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Vivo Y21 (99/100 vs 55/100). In the "camera" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Vivo Y21 (78/100 vs 30/100). In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Vivo Y21 (90/100 vs 58/100). In the "portability" category, the Vivo Y21 is a bit better (49/100 vs 42/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Vivo iQOO 16 | Vivo Y21 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 | MediaTek Dimensity 6300 | |
| AnTuTu | 5498720 | 528398 | |
| Geekbench Single | 4327 | 771 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 12873 | 1980 | |
| Display | 6.8" AMOLED | 6.7" IPS LCD | |
| Resolution | 1440x3168 | 720x1600 | |
| Refresh rate | 165 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 8400 mAh | 6500 mAh | |
| Charging | 100W | 44W | |
| Wireless charging | 40W | 0W | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP | 0 MP | |
| Telephoto | 50 MP | 0 MP | |
| Front camera | 32 MP | 5 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB | 4GB / 6GB / 8GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 128GB | |
| OS | Android 17 | Android 16, OriginOS 6 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 6000 nits | 1200 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68/IP69 | IP65 | |
| Dimensions | 163.8×76.9×8.3 mm | 167.4×77.1×8.4 mm | |
| Weight | 223 g | 209 g | |
| Launch price | $840 | $178 |
Camera comparison
Vivo iQOO 16
- Main: 50MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 32MP
Vivo Y21
- Main: 50MP f/1.8
- Front: 5MP
Display comparison
Vivo iQOO 16
- 6.8" AMOLED
- Resolution: 1440x3168
- Refresh rate: 165 Hz
Vivo Y21
- 6.7" IPS LCD
- Resolution: 720x1600
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Vivo iQOO 16
- 8400 mAh
- Wired: 100W
- Wireless: 40W
Vivo Y21
- 6500 mAh
- Wired: 44W
- No wireless charging
Overall performance score
We compared Vivo iQOO 16 and Vivo Y21, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Vivo iQOO 16 leads Vivo Y21 by 940.6% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $662. Vivo Y21 was $662 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Vivo Y21 (100/100 vs 43/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Vivo Y21 (99/100 vs 55/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Vivo Y21 (78/100 vs 30/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Vivo Y21 (90/100 vs 58/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Vivo Y21 is a bit better (49/100 vs 42/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Vivo iQOO 16 or the Vivo Y21?
The Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Vivo Y21 by 45 points (89/100 vs 44/100).
What is the rating of the Vivo iQOO 16 and the Vivo Y21?
The Vivo iQOO 16 has a MobileRank rating of 89/100, the Vivo Y21 — 44/100.
Which has the better camera: the Vivo iQOO 16 or the Vivo Y21?
The Vivo iQOO 16 leads on camera score (78/100 vs 30/100).
Which is more powerful: the Vivo iQOO 16 or the Vivo Y21?
The Vivo iQOO 16 leads on performance (100/100 vs 43/100).
Should you choose the Vivo iQOO 16 over the Vivo Y21?
The Vivo iQOO 16 is a better fit for gamers and power users, those who care about battery life, budget-conscious buyers.