OnePlus 16 leak reveals 200MP zoom camera, new chipset and large battery

The flagship OnePlus 15 launched globally in November 2025. The next-generation OnePlus 16 is expected to follow a similar launch timeline and arrive later this year. Before any official word from OnePlus, a new leak has outlined key highlights of the upcoming smartphone.

Writing on the Chinese social media site Weibo, prominent tipster Digital Chat Station has revealed that the OnePlus 16 will be positioned as an "all-around performance flagship." It is tipped to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chipset, which will reportedly use a 2nm node and support LPDDR6 memory.

Unlike the OnePlus 15 with a 50MP telephoto camera, the OnePlus 16 is said to feature a 200MP telephoto lens. The phone may use a flat screen developed by BOE. The tipster claims that it will support an "ultra-high refresh rate." Previous leaks suggest that it may support a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz.

In our review, the OnePlus 15 (curr. $899 on Amazon), with its 7,300mAh battery, lasted over 30 hours in the WiFi web surfing test. Its successor is expected to feature an even larger battery, with the new leak pointing to a capacity of up to 9,000mAh.

The tipster also suggests that the OnePlus 16 will feature an X-axis motor, symmetrical dual speakers, and "full-level" water resistance. The phone may retain the Plus Key, a dedicated button to quickly access AI features.

It remains unclear whether the OnePlus 16 will see a wide global release or launch only in select markets, as rumors suggest that OnePlus may scale back operations in some regions.