OnePlus 16 camera upgrade confirmed with 200MP main sensor, new imaging modes
The OnePlus 16 is due for launch in a few days and fans have reason to cheer as the rumoured camera upgrade is now official. OnePlus has confirmed a 200MP primary sensor and new professional imaging modes for its new flagship, which should remove, at least on paper, the underwhelming camera complaints associated with the OnePlus 15. The details arrive a day after the upcoming flagship appeared on AnTuTu with a score of over 5.38 million, indicating the expected performance gains from its new Snapdragon chipset. The camera system suggests OnePlus is also emphasising imaging equally with its next-generation flagship.
The OnePlus 16 is expected to be announced in China in October. OnePlus has already confirmed its chipset and display, while other specifications have emerged through certifications and leaks.
OnePlus 16 camera specifications
The company has confirmed the OnePlus 16 will feature a 200MP primary camera with a 1/1.4-inch sensor and f/1.6 aperture. It will be accompanied by a 50MP periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and 6x lossless zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide camera with a 116-degree field of view. The front camera is also a 50MP unit with autofocus.
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The move to a 200MP main camera is the biggest change from the OnePlus 15, which has a triple 50MP rear camera setup. The OnePlus 16 also introduces a periscope telephoto camera and retains 50MP resolution for the ultrawide and front cameras. Alongside the hardware changes, OnePlus is adding three new imaging modes – Master Mode, which is designed for a film-inspired look and more natural light rendering; High-Pixel Mode, focused on detail and clarity; and 65:24 Widescreen Mode, which uses a much wider aspect ratio for a cinematic look. The OnePlus 15 was criticised for hardware downgrades, the end of the Hasselblad partnership, and inconsistent real-world photo processing and the company would hope to remove that impression now.
The upgrades (via) give OnePlus more room to compete with camera-focused flagships from Samsung, Xiaomi and Vivo, particularly in high-resolution photography and long-range shots. However, the 200MP specification alone will not determine image quality, and OnePlus will still need to get the processing right to translate the hardware upgrade into consistently better photos.
OnePlus 16 specifications
The camera announcement comes a day after the OnePlus 16 appeared on AnTuTu with a 5.38 million score. The tested configuration included the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, 16GB LPDDR5X RAM, 1TB UFS 4.1 storage and Android 17-based ColorOS 17. The listing showed a 185Hz refresh rate, although OnePlus has officially confirmed a 165Hz display.
The phone is also expected to pack a 9,000mAh battery, a sizeable increase over the OnePlus 15’s 7,300mAh battery. China’s 3C certification has confirmed 100W wired charging, while 50W wireless charging is expected to be retained.
For OnePlus 15 owners, the camera is among the bigger changes in the new model, rather than a routine resolution bump. The larger primary sensor, periscope telephoto and new shooting modes give the OnePlus 16 a broader imaging toolkit. Buyers considering it, however, will need to wait for its China pricing and eventual global availability, which remains unconfirmed, to see how that upgrade compares with rival camera flagships.
