OnePlus 16 tipped to feature ultra-thin bezels, custom 165Hz display
OnePlus may have wrapped up operations outside of China and India but the company is in no mood of slowing down in these markets. The OnePlus 16 is expected to be the company’s next flagship smartphone and a successor to the OnePlus 15, which introduced a 165Hz display and dedicated gaming hardware to the series. Now, new leaks suggest OnePlus could take that further with 165Hz refresh rates reportedly available across system and app scenarios, along with even thinner symmetrical bezels. The phone is also expected to get new gaming hardware and software, with a China launch tipped for October.
OnePlus 16 upgrades expected
According to tipster Digital Chat Station, the OnePlus 16 will retain the narrowest four-sided bezels in the company’s flagship range. The leak, however, doesn’t give an exact measurement. Earlier reports had already linked the phone to a 6.78-inch next-generation BOE Oriental Screen with a flat panel and symmetrical bezels, so the new information adds to the existing picture.
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The bigger change could be how the 165Hz refresh rate works. The OnePlus 15 already supports up to 165Hz, but its specifications list a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate for general use, with 165Hz available in supported games. The OnePlus 16 is now tipped to extend the higher refresh rate to system animations, scrolling and other application scenarios. This could make everyday interactions feel smoother, although the higher refresh rate could also have greater power demands.
OnePlus is also expected to expand its gaming hardware. The company has confirmed upgrades to its Fengchi Gaming Core, high refresh rate technology and triple-chip esports system, while leaks point to an overclocked display controller, dedicated co-processing hardware and game-focused kernel optimisation. Supported games could reportedly run at up to 185Hz. That builds on the OnePlus 15, which already combines a 165Hz 1.5K LTPO display with dedicated gaming hardware and 3,200Hz instantaneous touch sampling.
OnePlus 16 expected specifications
Several specifications have already been reported in earlier leaks. The OnePlus 16 is tipped to use Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chipset and could pack a 9,000mAh battery. The camera system is expected to include a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide camera and a 50MP 3.5x periscope telephoto camera. In China and India both, the phone is expected to run Android 17-based ColorOS 17.
The new-generation Oriental Screen is also expected to use an X4 light-emitting material jointly developed by OnePlus and BOE. OnePlus has previously claimed that this material outperformed Samsung’s M-series material in internal testing, while targeting lower power consumption and longer panel life.
The OnePlus 16 could launch in China in October, following Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit in September. Its entry-level model has previously been tipped to cost CNY 4,999 (around Rs 71,000), but OnePlus hasn’t confirmed the price or launch date. India availability is also unconfirmed.
For buyers, the display alone is not a strong reason to wait, since the OnePlus 15 already offers a 165Hz panel. The OnePlus 16 becomes more interesting for gamers if its reported system-wide 165Hz support, newer gaming hardware and Snapdragon chipset materialise. However, those waiting for it should be prepared for an increased price tag.
