Verdict on the OnePlus 16
"Masterpiece" is written on our OnePlus 16 review unit. That seems almost a little defiant, given that the brand has been significantly downsized by its parent company and will only be present in China and India in the future.
The OnePlus 16 shows once again why that is a shame: A flagship phone whose price does not spiral completely out of control, optionally available with a huge amount of storage, one of the fastest SoCs currently available, a good camera system and a high-quality chassis.
Then there is the spectacular battery, with runtimes of up to 29 hours and more.
Unfortunately, the device now has to be imported in many countries, which comes with problems, such as the loss of eSIM compatibility. Some 4G bands are also missing, which can still be quite important in rural areas.
Rumor has it that the OnePlus 16 will soon be released in India, which could make it a better choice for international buyers.
Those who know what they are getting into will get a top-tier phone at a reasonable price with only a few drawbacks.
Pros
Cons
Price and availability
The OnePlus 16 is currently only available outside China as an imported device.
It is available, for example, from our loan provider TradingShenzhen starting at US$ 877.
- $1,129.50 price as of 2026-11-09 10:53 UTC.OnePlus 15, 16GB RAM + 512GB Storage, Dual-SIM, Unlocked Android Smartphone, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 7300mAh Battery, Ultra Violet
- $1,139.00 price as of 2026-11-09 10:53 UTC.OnePlus 15, 16GB RAM + 512GB Storage, Dual-SIM, Unlocked Android Smartphone, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 7300mAh Battery, Infinite Black
- $1,029.00 price as of 2026-11-09 10:53 UTC.OnePlus 15, 12GB RAM + 256GB Storage, Dual-SIM, Unlocked Android Smartphone, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 7300mAh Battery, Infinite Black
Table of Contents
- Verdict on the OnePlus 16
- Specifications
- Case and features – Great chassis on the OnePlus phone
- Communication and operation – Fast WiFi on the flagship killer
- Software and sustainability – ColorOS now also on OnePlus
- Cameras – Not the absolute best
- Display – Very fast and vibrant
- Performance, emissions and battery life – Great battery life on the OnePlus phone
- Notebookcheck overall rating
- Possible alternatives compared
Specifications
Case and features – Great chassis on the OnePlus phone
Our review unit comes in a light-orange colored case, a color intended to evoke the planet Mars. A pattern that shimmers in the light serves as a design element, reminiscent of tree rings or ripples in water.
The light gray version comes with luminous markings that indicate the position of the Morning Star in the night sky. The dark gray version, on the other hand, is kept very simple.
The design, with rounded corners yet flat surfaces, is reminiscent of Apple's clean iPhone design language and is both appealing and ergonomic. The build quality is convincing, and the OnePlus 16 is dustproof and waterproof.
At 220 grams, the phone is not too heavy.
There is also plenty of room for data if desired: Up to 1,024 GB of storage is available. There is also up to 16 GB of RAM despite the memory shortage. However, a microSD card cannot be inserted.
Communication and operation – Fast WiFi on the flagship killer
WiFi 7 is supported, and in our test with the Asus RT-BE96U reference router, the smartphone achieves very fast and stable data transfer rates.
Unfortunately, the Chinese OnePlus 16 lacks some important 4G bands that may be relevant for worldwide use, including Band 20. Ironically, this was also an issue with the manufacturer's very first smartphone, the OnePlus One.
However, there is now the advantage that 5G networks are also available, and the most important frequencies are supported here.
The Chinese version does not support eSIMs.
The fingerprint sensor is integrated into the screen, but it is positioned very high up, which could be a problem for people with small hands. Once a fingerprint has been registered, it unlocks the phone without any noticeable delay. Facial recognition can also be used.
| Networking | |
| OnePlus 16 | |
| iperf3 transmit Wi-Fi6/7 RT-BE96U | |
| iperf3 receive Wi-Fi6/7 RT-BE96U | |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 transmit Wi-Fi6/7 RT-BE96U | |
| iperf3 receive Wi-Fi6/7 RT-BE96U | |
| Vivo X300 Ultra | |
| iperf3 transmit Wi-Fi6/7 RT-BE96U | |
| iperf3 receive Wi-Fi6/7 RT-BE96U | |
| iperf3 receive RT-BE96U WiFi7 | |
| iperf3 transmit RT-BE96U WiFi7 | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VIII | |
| iperf3 transmit Wi-Fi6/7 RT-BE96U | |
| iperf3 receive Wi-Fi6/7 RT-BE96U | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Average 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 transmit Wi-Fi6/7 RT-BE96U | |
| iperf3 receive Wi-Fi6/7 RT-BE96U | |
| iperf3 receive RT-BE96U WiFi7 | |
| iperf3 transmit RT-BE96U WiFi7 | |
| Average of class Smartphone | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 transmit Wi-Fi6/7 RT-BE96U | |
| iperf3 receive Wi-Fi6/7 RT-BE96U | |
| iperf3 receive RT-BE96U WiFi7 | |
| iperf3 transmit RT-BE96U WiFi7 | |
Software and sustainability – ColorOS now also on OnePlus
ColorOS 17 supports the vast majority of languages worldwide. OnePlus's still somewhat distinct OxygenOS is now history, with Oppo and OnePlus devices now using exactly the same operating system.
Oppo usually updates the software every month. No specific update commitment has been made for the OnePlus 16. However, Oppo offers at least six years of security patches and five new Android versions for its devices, and the OnePlus device will presumably follow suit.
Cameras – Not the absolute best
OnePlus has recently had to contend with the biggest downgrades in its cameras, as Oppo wants to position its Find X series as the top tier.
The OnePlus 16 does not deliver a revolutionary leap in quality here either, but at least there are some minor updates.
Overall, the rear camera system delivers good image quality with plenty of detail, but blurry areas crop up from time to time. In low light, brightening is merely adequate rather than outstanding.
Selfies turn out well, but bright areas in the image are slightly overexposed.
Image comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
PflanzeUmgebungLow LightWeitwinkelkamera
Display – Very fast and vibrant
The screen, with a brightness of over 1,100 cd/m² on a full white screen, is bright enough for outdoor use as well. However, other flagship phones offer even more. We like the color reproduction.
However, you have to put up with PWM flickering at around 150 Hz; DC dimming is also available. Sensitive users should test the screen before buying.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Center on Battery: 1121 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE ColorChecker Calman: 1.25 | ∀{0.5-29.43 Ø4.68}
ΔE Greyscale Calman: 1.8 | ∀{0.09-98 Ø4.93}
99.6% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.3
CCT: 6561 K
| OnePlus 16 AMOLED, 2772x1272, 6.8" | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3120x1440, 6.9" | Vivo X300 Ultra LTPO OLED, 3168x1440, 6.8" | Sony Xperia 1 VIII OLED, 2340x1080, 6.5" | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max OLED, 2868x1320, 6.9" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 45% | 58% | 12% | ||
| APL18 Peak Brightness (cd/m²) | 1976 | 2713 37% | 2154 9% | 2195 11% | |
| HDR Peak Brightness (cd/m²) | 1955 | 2975 52% | 4020 106% | 2215 13% | |
| Response Times | -13% | -17% | -21% | 12% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * (ms) | 0.9 ? | 0.84 ? 7% | 1.2 ? -33% | 1.19 ? -32% | 0.6 ? 33% |
| Response Time Black / White * (ms) | 0.9 ? | 1.25 ? -39% | 0.9 ? -0% | 1.01 ? -12% | 0.6 ? 33% |
| PWM Frequency (Hz) | 153 | 240 | 110 | 240 | 240 |
| PWM Amplitude * (%) | 13 | 13.99 -8% | 15.63 -20% | 17 -31% | |
| Screen | -28% | 5% | 3% | -7% | |
| Brightness middle (cd/m²) | 1121 | 1339 19% | 1568 40% | 1407 26% | 1054 -6% |
| Black Level * (cd/m²) | |||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.25 | 2.5 -100% | 1.23 2% | 1.1 12% | 1.57 -26% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 2.77 | 3.8 -37% | 3.22 -16% | 3 -8% | 2.8 -1% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.8 | 1.7 6% | 1.9 -6% | 2.1 -17% | 1.7 6% |
| Gamma | 2.3 96% | 2.05 107% | 2.251 98% | 2.22 99% | 2.32 95% |
| CCT | 6561 99% | 6498 100% | 6552 99% | 6545 99% | 6993 93% |
| Brightness (cd/m²) | 1381 | 1535 | 1410 | 1059 | |
| Brightness Distribution (%) | 94 | 96 | 97 | 93 | |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | 1% /
-7% | 15% /
13% | -2% /
-3% | 3% /
1% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 153 Hz Amplitude: 13 % |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 153 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 153 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below. In comparison: 52 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 7550 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
Measurement series with a fixed zoom level and different brightness settings (Although the amplitude curve at minimum brightness looks flat, this is due to the scaling. The inset shows an enlarged view of the amplitude at minimum brightness.)
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 0.9 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.4 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.5 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 4 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (19.6 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 0.9 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.4 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.5 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.13 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 4 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (30.6 ms). | ||
Performance, emissions and battery life – Great battery life on the OnePlus phone
The OnePlus 16 is designed to be particularly fast in terms of performance, especially when gaming. To this end, it features the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, which indeed delivers lightning-fast performance.
However, OnePlus seems to have throttled performance slightly: OnePlus phones often had cooling issues in the past, but that is not the case this time, with the phone staying surprisingly cool even under prolonged load. Performance losses under sustained load are also moderate compared to other flagship Android phones. Consistently high performance seems to be more important to OnePlus than brief peaks, an approach we welcome.
The OnePlus 16 offers two separate speakers that produce good sound. They rarely sound strained at maximum volume, but they deliver little bass. A wide range of Bluetooth audio codecs is available for connecting external speakers or headphones.
The enormous 9,000 mAh battery enables very long runtimes: over 29 hours of continuous use in our Wi-Fi test that mimics everyday usage. If you switch your phone to standby every now and then, that should be enough for several days without charging. When the OnePlus 16 does need to be plugged in, it charges very quickly both wired and wirelessly: The longest charging time we measured was 1 hour and 30 minutes.
| OnePlus 16 | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | Vivo X300 Ultra | Sony Xperia 1 VIII | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | Average 512 GB UFS 4.1 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | -32% | -32% | -7% | -18% | -44% | ||
| Sequential Read 256KB (MB/s) | 3610.3 | 3626.09 0% | 2143.53 -41% | 3375.84 -6% | 3625 ? 0% | 2289 ? -37% | |
| Sequential Write 256KB (MB/s) | 3777 | 1658.91 -56% | 2352.64 -38% | 3756.12 -1% | 3253 ? -14% | 2004 ? -47% | |
| Random Read 4KB (MB/s) | 498.6 | 513.44 3% | 365.12 -27% | 579.58 16% | 416 ? -17% | 322 ? -35% | |
| Random Write 4KB (MB/s) | 837.5 | 207.16 -75% | 661.37 -21% | 526.99 -37% | 510 ? -39% | 375 ? -55% |
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 39 °C / 102 F, compared to the average of 35.4 °C / 96 F, ranging from 21.9 to 247 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 38.7 °C / 102 F, compared to the average of 34.1 °C / 93 F
3DMark Stress Tests
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| OnePlus 16 | |
| Vivo X300 Ultra | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VIII | |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| OnePlus 16 | |
| Vivo X300 Ultra | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VIII | |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
| Solar Bay Stress Test Stability | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| OnePlus 16 | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VIII | |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
| Solar Bay Extreme Stress Test Stability | |
| OnePlus 16 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Steel Nomad Light Stress Test Stability | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Sony Xperia 1 VIII | |
| OnePlus 16 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
OnePlus 16 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (82.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 16.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.6% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.7% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (15.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 4% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 92% worse
» The best had a delta of 11%, average was 34%, worst was 136%
Compared to all devices tested
» 24% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 71% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 23%, worst was 136%
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (92 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 22.6% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (5.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (1.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (15.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 90% worse
» The best had a delta of 11%, average was 34%, worst was 136%
Compared to all devices tested
» 25% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 69% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 23%, worst was 136%
| Off / Standby |   0.1 / 0.2 Watt |
| Idle |  0.6 / 1.2 / 1.4 Watt |
    
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| OnePlus 16 9000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 5000 mAh | Vivo X300 Ultra 6600 mAh | Sony Xperia 1 VIII 5000 mAh | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max 4823 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | 5% | 8% | 25% | -7% | 0% | -32% | |
| Idle Minimum * (Watt) | 0.6 | 0.56 7% | 0.57 5% | 0.52 13% | 0.6 -0% | 0.6 ? -0% | 0.901 ? -50% |
| Idle Average * (Watt) | 1.2 | 1.18 2% | 1.1 8% | 0.85 29% | 1.3 -8% | 1.2 ? -0% | 1.483 ? -24% |
| Idle Maximum * (Watt) | 1.4 | 1.33 5% | 1.26 10% | 0.94 33% | 1.6 -14% | 1.4 ? -0% | 1.688 ? -21% |
| Load Average * (Watt) | 14.91 | 8.6 | 6.9 | 4.1 | 6.78 ? | ||
| Load Maximum * (Watt) | 16.58 | 12.4 | 6.97 | 11.5 | 10.6 ? |
* ... smaller is better
| OnePlus 16 9000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 5000 mAh | Vivo X300 Ultra 6600 mAh | Sony Xperia 1 VIII 5000 mAh | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max 4823 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery runtime | -39% | -21% | -22% | -2% | |
| WiFi v1.3 (h) | 29.2 | 17.9 -39% | 23 -21% | 22.7 -22% | 28.6 -2% |
| Reader / Idle (h) | 50.9 | ||||
| H.264 (h) | 30.9 | ||||
| Load (h) | 3.7 |
Notebookcheck overall rating
Affordable yet packed with high-end features, the OnePlus 16 lives up to its predecessors' reputation as a flagship killer.
Its exceptionally long battery life is particularly impressive.
OnePlus 16
- 11/08/2026 v8
Florian Schmitt
Total Sustainability Score: Possible alternatives compared
Image | Model / Review | Price | Weight | Drive | Display |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. 87.6%  | OnePlus 16 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 850 ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 512 GB UFS 4.x | Amazon: 1. $1,129.50 OnePlus 15, 16GB RAM + 512GB... 2. $1,139.00 OnePlus 15, 16GB RAM + 512GB... 3. $1,029.00 OnePlus 15, 12GB RAM + 256GB... List Price: 1100€ | 220 g | 512 GB UFS 4.1 Flash | 6.78" 2772x1272 450 PPI AMOLED |
2. 89.8%  | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 840 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 256 GB UFS 4.x | List Price: 1449€ | 214 g | 256 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.90" 3120x1440 498 PPI Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
3. 89.1%  | Vivo X300 Ultra Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 840 ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 512 GB UFS 4.x | List Price: 1999€ | 232 g | 512 GB UFS 4.1 Flash | 6.82" 3168x1440 510 PPI LTPO OLED |
4. 88.3%  | Sony Xperia 1 VIII Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 840 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 256 GB UFS 4.x | List Price: 1499€ | 200 g | 256 GB UFS 4.1 Flash | 6.50" 2340x1080 396 PPI OLED |
5. 89.2%  | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Apple A19 Pro ⎘ Apple A19 Pro 6-Core GPU ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 256 GB NVMe | List Price: 1449 Euro | 233 g | 256 GB NVMe | 6.90" 2868x1320 460 PPI OLED |
Transparency
The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was provided to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or retailer for the purpose of this review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
This is how Notebookcheck is testing
Every year, Notebookcheck independently reviews hundreds of laptops and smartphones using standardized procedures to ensure that all results are comparable. We have continuously developed our test methods for around 20 years and set industry standards in the process. In our test labs, high-quality measuring equipment is utilized by experienced technicians and editors. These tests involve a multi-stage validation process. Our complex rating system is based on hundreds of well-founded measurements and benchmarks, which maintains objectivity. Further information on our test methods can be found here.
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