OnePlus 16 will be much more than a simple upgrade: what to expect

Despite being a long way from the debut of the next OnePlus 16, rumors have not been lacking. It has been weeks now that talk of the upcoming novelties for the flagship has circulated and even if the release is distant we already have a clear picture of what to expect.

Some insiders have taken stock of the situation regarding the upcoming novelties, with render images included. Clearly we are still in the realm of rumors and concepts, but it is likely that many of the improvements will actually be implemented.

OnePlus 16 will improve in every aspect: what we know about the next flagship, months after launch

The first novelty would concern the display: the current OnePlus 15 has tested successfully at 165 Hz but the successor should raise the bar offering a 240 Hz refresh rate, for an ultrafluide experience both during daily tasks and gaming.

The battery life would also improve, with the introduction of a colossal battery of 9,000 mAh – enough to make the 7,300 mAh of the predecessor look pale. Clearly the top Qualcomm chipset will not be missing: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 could have an incredible power, with peaks of 6 GHz.

The camera module of OnePlus 16 is expected to take a leap forward with the introduction of a 200 MP sensor: its presence would be confirmed but at the moment there is still some confusion. It is not clear whether it will be the main lens or the periscope telephoto, so we are awaiting clarifications.

Recently there has also been talk of a possible OnePlus 16 Pro or Ultra: however the brand’s strategy is not yet defined. A pair of phones could arrive but it is not even ruled out a name change, with a single smartphone called 16 Pro or 16 Ultra. The launch is planned for October, so there will be a lot of water under the bridge!

• Dimensions and weight: /
• Colors: /
• Certification: IP66/IP68/IP69/IP69K
• Internal display: OLED BOE X5 LTPO 1.5K with 240 Hz refresh rate
• Security: under-display fingerprint reader (ultrasonic)
• Liquid cooling with vapor chamber
• SoC: UNRELEASED – Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, 2 nm TSMC
• CPU: octa-core
• GPU: Adreno
• RAM: 12/16 GB LPDDR5X
• Storage: 256/512 GB/1 TB UFS 4.1 non-expandable
• Battery: 9,000 mAh
• Charging: 100W or 120W, wireless 50W
• Camera: triple 200 + 50 + 50 MP (f/?) with OIS, ultrawide and periscopic telephoto with OIS | DetailMax Engine (Global), OPPO Lumo Engine (China)
• Selfie camera: /
• Connectivity and other: Dual SIM 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, GPS dual-band, stereo speakers, USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, IR sensor, Plus Key button
• Operating system: Android 17 with ColorOS 17 (China) and OxygenOS 17 (Global)