iQOO is making an 8.8-inch tablet with Snapdragon 8 Elite and a built-in fan — and it's aimed at gamers

According to a new leak from the well-known Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station on Weibo, iQOO is preparing to enter the compact tablet market with an 8.8-inch device. Until now, the brand has focused exclusively on larger tablets, such as the iQOO Pad6 Pro, but the upcoming model is set to directly challenge the RedMagic Astra 2, which launched this June.

The tipster claims the tablet will feature an "ultra-high" refresh rate display with slim bezels on all four sides. The chassis is said to be made of metal, giving it a premium feel. Under the hood, the device will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite — Qualcomm's current top-tier mobile chipset, offering flagship-level performance for both everyday tasks and demanding applications.

Perhaps the most surprising detail is the inclusion of a built-in cooling fan. This suggests that iQOO is positioning the tablet as a gaming-oriented device, capable of sustained performance under load without thermal throttling. Active cooling is rare in tablets, especially in compact models, so this could be a key differentiator against competitors like the RedMagic Astra 2.

At this point, no other specifications have been revealed — including RAM, storage, battery capacity, camera setup, or pricing. iQOO has not officially commented on the rumor. The tipster promises to share more details as they become available. The leak has already generated significant interest among enthusiasts who have been waiting for more powerful small-screen tablets.