Samsung produces some of the best displays. In fact, the quality is so top-notch that its OLED panels are used not only in its Galaxy phones but also in devices from its main competitors, such as Apple. However, Samsung's display crown might now be in danger, as OnePlus and BOE are reportedly developing a new display material for the upcoming OnePlus 16 that is expected to outperform the flagship M-series displays in almost all the important aspects.
The OnePlus 16 could feature one of the best displays
The OnePlus 15 is one of the best flagships that we tested last year. Its 165 Hz display, which uses BOE's third-generation X3 luminescent material, scored a solid 8 out of 10 in our in-house testing. The OnePlus 16 is most likely to impress everyone even more if its current display-related rumor pans out to be true.
According to reliable tipster Digital Chat Station, the X4 luminescent material that would be used in the OnePlus 16 has been jointly customized by OnePlus and BOE. Internal testing has revealed that, following the customization, the display can reportedly outperform the Samsung M-series panel that the company uses in flagship products like the latest Galaxy S24 Ultra.
DCS post about the OnePlus 16. | Image by Weibo
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The tipster further reveals that the material consumes much less power, has almost double the lifespan of the X3 material that was used in the OnePlus 15, and also ensures ultra-thin bezels on all four sides. Along with all these, the upcoming display would reportedly feature an upgraded circuit design, which would eventually allow the device to offer various smoothness-focused features.
Would you prefer a 185Hz display or better battery life on the OnePlus 16?
Everything makes sense
If you have been following our OnePlus 16-related stories, you might be aware that the device is tipped to come with a 185 Hz display. Such a high refresh rate would consume more power, which would eventually affect the overall battery life of the device. Therefore, the rumor of the new X4 display material being much less power-consuming appears to be a necessity if the OnePlus 16 wants to live up to the reputation its predecessor created in the battery department.
For reference, in our in-house testing, the OnePlus 15 was able to easily defeat some of the top flagships of 2025, such as the iPhone 17 Pro Max, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Galaxy S25 Ultra, in the battery department.
In addition to the display, a few other specifications of the upcoming OnePlus product have surfaced online. The battery could be around 9,000 mAh, a big jump from the 7,300 mAh of its predecessor. The main camera could also be upgraded from 50 MP to 200 MP, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro is rumored to power the device.
You might not get the chance to try such an impressive smartphone
If everything that has surfaced about the OnePlus 16 pans out to be true, then it could turn out to be one of the best flagships of 2026. However, the sad news is that it is likely to be available only in select markets such as China and India, now that the company has officially confirmed it has stopped its operations in North America and Europe.
User talking about importing OnePlus 16. | Image by Reddit
Most OnePlus fans appear to be disappointed that they will not be able to try out the OnePlus 16. In a related Reddit post, a user made a sarcastic remark: "I need the OnePlus 16. Oops, I forgot. I can't buy them on the OnePlus website anymore." Another user who claims to be living in Canada commented that they would try to import the OnePlus 16 from India.
Looking forward to OnePlus 16
I live in India, and luckily the OnePlus 16 is expected to be available in my country. However, I'm eager to see whether the ongoing memory shortage affects OnePlus as well and whether it will impact the pricing of its upcoming smartphone. Google, for instance, increased the price of its latest Pixel devices by $100 to compensate for the rising memory prices.
Here are a few more OnePlus-related stories you might be interested in:
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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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