New Delhi: OnePlus has launched its latest flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 16, in China, featuring a 9,000mAh battery, a 185Hz OLED display and a 200-megapixel primary camera. The device is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset and brings several upgrades over its predecessor, the OnePlus 15.
The smartphone also features 100W wired charging, 50W wireless charging and an upgraded cooling system. However, its availability remains limited to China, with the company yet to confirm an India launch date or pricing.
OnePlus 16 features a 185Hz OLED display
One of the major highlights of the OnePlus 16 is its 185Hz OLED display. The company says the system interface and millions of applications can run at refresh rates of up to 165Hz, allowing smoother scrolling and navigation.
This represents an improvement over the OnePlus 15, which featured a 165Hz display but did not support the same refresh rate for system navigation.
The higher refresh rate could appeal to users who prioritise smooth visuals, particularly while navigating applications and playing games. The display is part of a broader set of hardware upgrades aimed at improving the phone’s overall performance.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 powers the smartphone
The OnePlus 16 runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset. The processor is designed to handle demanding activities, including gaming and multitasking.
OnePlus has also upgraded the phone’s Glacier cooling system. The system includes a vapour chamber that the company claims delivers 40 per cent better cooling performance.
Improved cooling can help manage heat during intensive activities such as gaming and prolonged use. The company has also included dedicated chips for network connectivity, display performance and touch response.
Together, these components are intended to support the phone’s performance across everyday applications and more demanding workloads.
200MP primary camera leads the camera setup
Photography is another major focus of the OnePlus 16. The smartphone features a triple rear camera system led by a 200-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.6 aperture and a 1/1.4-inch sensor size.
The main camera can capture images at the full 200-megapixel resolution, according to OnePlus.
The rear camera setup also includes a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 50-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The telephoto unit uses a Sony IMX882 sensor.
For users who prefer wider compositions, the phone includes an XPAN-style shooting mode with a 65:24 aspect ratio.
On the front, the OnePlus 16 features a 50-megapixel camera for selfies and video calls. The combination of high-resolution rear and front cameras positions the smartphone as an option for users looking for multiple photography capabilities in a flagship device.
9,000mAh battery with fast charging
The OnePlus 16 packs a 9,000mAh battery, a substantial increase over the 7,300mAh battery in the OnePlus 15.
The phone supports 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. OnePlus claims the battery can reach 80 per cent charge in 37 minutes when using wired charging.
The company also says the battery will retain at least five years of battery health. However, it has not provided detailed information about the battery-cycle calculations behind this claim.
The large battery capacity, combined with fast wired and wireless charging, is one of the device’s key selling points. Actual battery life will depend on factors such as display settings, application usage and network conditions.
ColorOS 17 and durability features
The OnePlus 16 runs ColorOS 17 and includes an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor and dual stereo speakers.
For protection against dust and water, the smartphone carries IP68, IP69 and IP69K ratings.
The device will be available in three colour options: Tomorrow’s Starlight, Dark Forest and Mars Masterpiece.
The Tomorrow’s Starlight variant features LED lighting on the rear panel, displaying the number “16” alongside other design elements. This gives the variant a distinctive visual feature compared with conventional smartphone finishes.
OnePlus 16 price in China
OnePlus has launched the smartphone in China in four configurations. The entry-level model with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage is priced at 5,999 yuan, approximately Rs 85,850. A promotional price of 5,699 yuan, or roughly Rs 81,556, has also been announced.
The other configurations include:
- 12GB RAM with 512GB storage
- 16GB RAM with 512GB storage
- 16GB RAM with 1TB storage
The reported prices are for the Chinese market. They should not be treated as confirmed Indian prices, as OnePlus has not announced India-specific pricing.
When will the OnePlus 16 launch in India?
For now, the OnePlus 16 is available only in China. The company has not confirmed when the smartphone will arrive in India or how much it will cost in the country.
Its Indian launch details therefore remain uncertain. Buyers waiting for the device will have to wait for an official announcement before making decisions based on local availability and pricing.
With its 9,000mAh battery, high-refresh-rate OLED display, 200-megapixel primary camera and upgraded processor, the OnePlus 16 brings several notable hardware changes. However, its appeal in India will ultimately depend on its launch timeline, final pricing and availability.