The OnePlus 16 is going to be the next flagship device from the Chinese smartphone giant OnePlus. Until now, we have been hearing rumors about its specifications from different sources, but OnePlus itself has now revealed some important information about the upcoming phone.
This includes things like RAM and storage configurations. The design and all the color options for the OnePlus 16 have also been officially revealed.
OnePlus 16 design and color options
OnePlus has officially shared the design of the OnePlus 16, and it is totally different from the previously leaked renders of the device. For reference, the surfaced image suggested that the company would go back to using a circular camera island, just like the one available on the OnePlus 13. That is not the case, however, as the officially shared images confirm that the OnePlus 16 will continue to have the same design as the OnePlus 15.
Official look of the OnePlus 16 | Image by OnePlus
The upcoming OnePlus flagship will be available in three color options: Dark Forest, Mars Masterpiece, and Tomorrow's Starlight. The Dark Forest model basically refers to the classic black shade, while Mars Masterpiece looks like light orange. The Tomorrow's Starlight variant is special, as it comes with a cool surprise.
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Tomorrow's Starlight variant is different from others
OnePlus 16 Tomorrow's Starlight variant | Image by OnePlus
The OnePlus 16 Tomorrow Starlight model has the number 16 and celestial coordinates embedded in the back panel that support lighting effects. According to OnePlus China President Li Jie Louis, this is called the "interstellar light effect," and it lights up in different scenarios, such as when you receive calls or notifications, play music, or put your phone on charge.
Different lighting effects will reportedly be shown in different scenarios. The company has reportedly used a new silk glass process in this particular variant to ensure that its surface does not easily attract fingerprints.
In addition to the design and color options, the RAM and storage configurations of the OnePlus 16 have officially been revealed. The smartphone will be available in four memory configurations: 12GB RAM with 256GB storage, 12GB RAM with 512GB storage, 16GB RAM with 512GB storage, and 16GB RAM with 1TB storage.
Other known specifications of the OnePlus 16
Almost all the details of the OnePlus 16 have surfaced online. The phone will reportedly feature a BOE X4 display that will support a 165 Hz refresh rate everywhere. In certain games, you could likely get a refresh rate of 185 Hz.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro processor, which is set to be unveiled at the upcoming Qualcomm Summit, is going to power the device. The smartphone is expected to get a big battery boost too. Compared to the OnePlus 15, which features a 7,300 mAh battery, the OnePlus 16 is rumored to pack a 9,000 mAh cell. Charging speeds are reported to be 100 W wired and 50 W wireless.
The camera department is also expected to see a major upgrade. Compared to the triple 50 MP setup in the OnePlus 15, its successor is reported to come with a 200 MP primary camera, a 50 MP ultrawide lens, and a 50 MP periscope telephoto shooter.
The design looks similar, and it's a good thing
As mentioned above, the design of the OnePlus 16 looks identical to that of the OnePlus 15. I, personally, think that OnePlus nailed the design of its flagship phone last year, which is why there was literally no reason to change it. Many OnePlus fans on online community forums like Reddit also believe the same.
User comment about the OnePlus 16 design. | Image by Reddit
A user commented that the new phone looks similar to last year's model, to which another user replied, asking why the company should change the design when it is actually good. Another user commented that they really liked OnePlus' decision to stick with a design instead of changing it every year.
No international availability, unfortunately
The OnePlus 16 looks absolutely stunning, both feature- and look-wise. The sad news, however, is that the phone might remain exclusive to the Chinese market. The company has already confirmed that it is no longer going to launch new phones in the US and Europe.
A recent report now suggests that the device is not coming to India either. That just makes China the only place where the phone would be available. I am personally looking to replace my Pixel 10 with the OnePlus 16 only if the device becomes available in India.
All that said, the phone is now available for pre-reservation in China. However, the exact release date is yet to be announced by OnePlus.
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Aman Kumar is a news writer at PhoneArena covering Google Pixel phones, Android features, AI-powered smartphone tools, and mobile tech news. Before joining PhoneArena, he spent over five years writing about consumer technology for publications like MakeUseOf, How-To Geek, and Guiding Tech. His current daily drivers are the Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus, while his red iPhone SE (2nd gen) remains a personal favorite. Aman also appreciates bold smartphone experiments and still considers the Nokia N-Gage one of the industry’s most iconic designs.
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