Update: Realme India has started teasing the 16 Pro series, indicating the launch is drawing close. The post on X suggests a photography-oriented phone, which pretty much has been the USP of the series. We see the left profile of the phone in a golden finish, rounded edges and a slim frame.
Original story follows…
Barely six months after launching the Realme 15 Pro in July, the company appears to be preparing to introduce the next phones of its famed number series, the Realme 16 Pro series. Multiple eaks have started appearing including certification listings, and a tipster also suggests the series’ launch date in India.
As per tipster Sanju Choudhary, the Realme 16 Pro series will launch in India on January 6th, with two models expected – the Realme 16 Pro and the Realme 16 Pro+.
A TENAA listing of a Realme device has also surfaced, which is believed to be the China variant of the 16 Pro. Carrying the model number RMX5121, the Realme 16 Pro could have a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with 2772×1272 resolution and 144Hz refresh rate, matching the smooth and crisp display seen on the 15 Pro.
The camera upgrades could be the most striking. According to the listing, the Realme 16 Pro will sport a massive 200MP primary rear sensor accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide lens, up from the 50MP + 50MP (main + ultrawide) on the 15 Pro. The front camera could remain the same at 50MP, though we don’t know if there’s a new lens. The device will pack a 6,830mAh rated / 7,000mAh typical battery, which is somewhat now standard. This could place the Realme 16 Pro series at par with competition as large-battery phones are increasingly becoming mainstream across mid-premium Android brands.
Other key hardware details include up to 16GB RAM, up to 1TB storage, 192g weight, and a 7.75mm profile. On the software front, the phone is expected to run Realme UI 7 based on Android 16.
A previous report by 91mobiles Hindi suggested the RAM and colour variants of the Realme 16 Pro. The device could be offered in up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage, with the colour options being Orchid Purple, Master Gold, and Pebble Gray.
Meanwhile, the higher-end Realme 16 Pro+ has seen its retail box leak in China. The source of the leak reportedly confirms a periscope telephoto camera, which could be \ the most notable addition absent in the 15 Pro lineup. Tipster Sanju has also reiterated this claim. While Realme previously offered this in the 14 Pro+, there was no Realme 15 Pro+. The company seems to be making a renewed push towards more premium camera hardware, but it could end up making the top model more expensive also.
For buyers considering an upper mid-ranger with a versatile camera, it may be worth waiting a few weeks. The rumoured January launch timeline is close and the periscope camera on the Pro+ could be worth the wait. Pricing remains unknown, but based on specifications, some upward adjustment could be likely for the Pro+ variant.
