OnePlus 16T reportedly in development with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and compact display

OnePlus 16T early leak

The leak claims that the device will be powered by Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chipset. However, it remains unclear whether OnePlus will use the standard or Pro version of the processor. The phone is also tipped to feature a 6.3-inch flat display with an “ultra-high” refresh rate, continuing the brand’s focus on compact flagship smartphones. The current OnePlus 15T supports up to a 165Hz refresh rate, which is already among the highest. This suggests that the 16T could take it further by possibly adopting 185Hz, like it’s rumoured for the flagship OnePlus 16 series.

The report comes shortly after another rumor suggested that OnePlus has no plans to launch the OnePlus 15T in India as the OnePlus 15s. Last year, the company rebranded the OnePlus 13T for India as the OnePlus 13s, leading many to expect a similar strategy for the next generation. However, that now appears unlikely, at least for this year.

The continued development of the T-series suggests that compact flagship phones remain popular in China. While many flagship devices have crossed the 6.7-inch mark, the T-series has stood out by offering high-end specifications in a smaller form factor. The rumored 6.3-inch display would put the OnePlus 16T in the same category as other compact premium smartphones that prioritise one-handed usability without compromising on performance.

The news is still far from actionable since the phone is unlikely to launch before 2027, and the OnePlus 15T is still fresh in the market. Those looking for a compact flagship in the near term may be better off considering currently available options rather than waiting for a device that is still in the early stages of development.