OnePlus Launches Gaming-Focused OnePlus 16 Exclusive to China
OnePlus launched the OnePlus 16 flagship in China, featuring a 9,000mAh battery and 185Hz display, marking the company's first flagship exclusive to the Chinese market.
OnePlus unveiled the OnePlus 16 flagship smartphone in China on October 12 and 13, 2026, positioning the device as a premium option for mobile gamers. The phone is the first OnePlus flagship that will not be released in North America or Europe, following the company's exit from those markets earlier in the year.
The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset with peak core speeds of 5GHz, paired with up to 16GB of DDR5X Ultra RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage. It features a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display developed with BOE, supporting a 165Hz refresh rate for general use and up to 185Hz in compatible games. To support gaming performance, the phone includes a Glacier Cooling System and a triple-chip setup for network, display, and touch functions.
Hardware upgrades include a 9,000mAh silicon-carbon battery—a 23% increase over the previous generation—supporting 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. The camera system consists of a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide, and a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The device is available in three colors, including a Tomorrow's Starlight version with rear-casing LEDs for notifications.
Reports differ on pricing and availability. Some sources state the base model starts at 5,699 yuan with sales beginning October 14, while others claim a base price of 5,999 yuan with open sales starting October 31.
