According to the latest rumor, the OnePlus 16 will feature a massive camera upgrade. The information comes from prolific Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station and corroborates previous leaks. And if these rumors turn out to be true, the OnePlus 16 is going to be my next daily driver!
OnePlus 16 to get a 200MP main camera
The latest rumor about the camera system of the OnePlus 16 points toward a massive upgrade. | Image by Weibo
The OnePlus 16 is expected to be officially unveiled sometime in October, and leaks and rumors are already flooding the internet. The latest one comes from Digital Chat Station and details the camera system of the upcoming flagship.
The massive upgrade I'm talking about in the title comes in the form of a new 200 MP main camera. The leak also says that the OnePlus 16 will use a 1/1.4-inch sensor for the said camera. This is the first piece of the puzzle for me, as my previous experience with the OnePlus 15 was stellar overall, except for the camera system.
This upgrade alone would've made me switch from my current daily driver, the RedMagic 11 Pro, but there's more.
Would you buy the OnePlus 16?
Ultrawide and telephoto upgrades as well
It seems that OnePlus has decided to go all-in when it comes to the camera system of the OnePlus 16. The rumor suggests it's a complete overhaul with an upgraded ultrawide and telephoto camera, on top of the massive 200 MP main wide camera.
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The ultrawide is tipped to be a new 50MP sensor but there's no further information in that particular leak. The telephoto will use a periscope zoom system with a 50MP, 1/1.95-inch Sony sensor and 3X native optical zoom.
Finally, the front selfie camera will be another 50MP sensor with autofocus. These changes point toward OnePlus not being happy with the camera system on the previous model, and opting for a complete upgrade. I'm all in!
The OnePlus teaser that made me a bit nervous. | Image by OnePlus
The only reason for potential concern is the conflicting info coming from none other than OnePlus itself.
Even though previous leaks and rumors corroborated the new camera system, including the new 200 MP main sensor, there's some confusion created by the latest OnePlus teaser.
The company posted a cryptic image of the OnePlus 16, showing a circular camera bump design and two separate camera rings inside.
The phone in the teaser image is under a semi-transparent veil, and it's not clear whether there's a third camera hiding next to the two big circles that are somewhat visible.
Creators quickly posted renders based on the teaser, showing just two cameras and an LED flash. Digital Chat Station has an almost immaculate track record when it comes to leaks about Chinese phones, so the situation is unclear at the moment. I really hope the phone keeps the triple camera design but I'll probably get it anyway.
I'm getting the OnePlus 16, no matter what
The OnePlus 15 was an amazing phone, now I can't wait for the successor. | Image by PhoneArena
I extensively tested the OnePlus 15 shortly after it launched, and was hugely impressed by the model. The only area where I felt the flagship kind of lagged behind was the camera system (and the chalkboard back, but that was not that important). Now, if those rumors about a complete overhaul of the camera and a 200 MP main snapper turn out to be true, I'm ready to give the OnePlus 16 a try.
The phone is expected to feature the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro (or Extreme) chipset, a 185Hz AMOLED screen, and a massive 9,000 mAh battery. What's not to like? Well, apart from the price (expect north of $1,000) and the limited availability, this phone is shaping up to be a killer device.
The iPhone 18 series launch is right around the corner, and the Galaxy S27 is not too far off either. Xiaomi is also expected to release a foldable with a custom-made, record-breaking chipset, so exciting times ahead. I can't wait to get my hands on the OnePlus 16 and pit it against the new iPhone 18. Would you buy a OnePlus device, now that's a little harder go get one, especially in the States?
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Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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