Samsung and Apple should breathe a sigh of relief that this phone won't make it to the West
The OnePlus phone most of us won't get is shaping up to be a proper Samsung and Apple rival.
OnePlus 15 for reference. | Image by PhoneArena
The OnePlus 16 launch will be limited to select regions this year. For those of us who are going to miss out, this is probably a reason to shrug and move on to the Galaxy S27 Ultra and the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
But after taking a closer look at the latest OnePlus 16 leaks, I'm not sure we should be so quick to dismiss this upcoming beast.
The OnePlus 16 display leaks (almost) in full
But will the viewing experience benefit from all these upgrades? | Image by Digital Chat Station
Fresh rumors from one of the most prominent leakers on Weibo reveal practically everything we need to know about the OnePlus 16's screen and camera, and I know two brands that should take notes.
First off, Digital Chat Station revealed that the flagship phone's screen would utilize a custom-designed X4 luminescent material from BOE, supposedly helping the device achieve even higher brightness levels than its predecessor.
We've heard some of these insights in the past, but things get even more curious with the recently published leak regarding the camera.
First off, Digital Chat Station revealed that the flagship phone's screen would utilize a custom-designed X4 luminescent material from BOE, supposedly helping the device achieve even higher brightness levels than its predecessor.
The leaker also claims the display might be able to support up to a 165Hz refresh rate in all conditions, not just during gaming. Either way, most users may not notice a significant difference compared with 120Hz screens. Other highlights reportedly include ultra-thin, symmetrical bezels on all four sides, as well as Oppo's latest eye-protection technology.
We've heard some of these insights in the past, but things get even more curious with the recently published leak regarding the camera.
Which OnePlus 16 feature should Apple and Samsung copy immediately?
The first proper camera phone from OnePlus?
Wow! | Image by Digital Chat Station
Digital Chat Station claims OnePlus has already settled the camera hardware. If true, that would suggest OnePlus may finally challenge the best camera phones with its upcoming flagship.
As the above image shows, the company may include a 200MP main camera with a huge 1/1.4-inch sensor. It could also have an upgraded 50MP 3x telephoto camera from Sony, which is also noteworthy for its 1/1.95-inch sensor size. Finally, the flagship is expected to come with a new 50MP ultra-wide unit.
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Samsung and Apple are lucky
Evidently, OnePlus is preparing a truly impressive flagship phone for this fall, especially considering that the model is also expected to debut with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chip and a 9,000mAh battery.
If you ask me, Samsung and Apple are lucky the OnePlus 16 won't be globally available.
Let's look at the display. The 165Hz may seem like more of a gimmick than a meaningful advantage, but the bezel situation is something else entirely.
Apple is only expected to adopt a similar bezel-less screen for the anniversary iPhone 20, with the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max possibly featuring the same bezels as the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The camera comparison is even more interesting. According to a recent leak, Samsung may be able to rival OnePlus' zoom capabilities with a new 4x telephoto camera with a 1/1.9-inch sensor on the S27 Ultra.
Apple, meanwhile, is likely sticking with its significantly smaller 1/2.55-inch sensor on its 4x telephoto camera in the upcoming flagship.
In any case, at least on paper, the OnePlus 16 looks like an absolute beast, and I'm a bit disappointed it won't make it to a global audience.
If you ask me, Samsung and Apple are lucky the OnePlus 16 won't be globally available.
Let's look at the display. The 165Hz may seem like more of a gimmick than a meaningful advantage, but the bezel situation is something else entirely.
Apple is only expected to adopt a similar bezel-less screen for the anniversary iPhone 20, with the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max possibly featuring the same bezels as the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Apple, meanwhile, is likely sticking with its significantly smaller 1/2.55-inch sensor on its 4x telephoto camera in the upcoming flagship.
In any case, at least on paper, the OnePlus 16 looks like an absolute beast, and I'm a bit disappointed it won't make it to a global audience.
Too bad we won't get it
The OnePlus kingdom is closing doors for key markets. | Image by OnePlus
In case you've somehow missed the whole OnePlus drama, the company has effectively pulled out of key markets, leaving European and US fans out in the cold.
The company has already terminated its US community page, though its official notice claims existing devices will continue to receive software updates.
The bottom line is this: any user in the EU or US looking to upgrade to the OnePlus 16 when it finally comes out will have to import one.
The company has already terminated its US community page, though its official notice claims existing devices will continue to receive software updates.
The bottom line is this: any user in the EU or US looking to upgrade to the OnePlus 16 when it finally comes out will have to import one.
I miss it already
If these display and camera rumors actually turn out to be true, the OnePlus 16 will be a proper Galaxy S27 Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro Max alternative. As I see it, some users may not even care that it could land at a higher price.
The spec sheet sounds impressive enough that some people may even import the OnePlus 16 just to get their hands on it. But I don't think it should have to be that way. I'd much rather buy it in my own region and not have to worry about connectivity issues. Too bad I won't be able to.
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