OnePlus has taken to Weibo to announce the launch of its latest flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 16. As impressive as the specs are, and we'll get to those in a minute, the most notable part of the announcement is that it will not be released in US or European markets.
At the back end of 2025, we praised the "blistering speed, battery stamina, and solid camera system" of the OnePlus 15. At the time, we were already looking forward to the release of the 16, expecting significant improvements and for the brand to expand its market share.
It was, therefore, with disappointment that in July, OnePlus announced that they would no longer be selling their products in North America and Europe. That put an abrupt end to a decade of building market share and influence in these fiercely competitive regions.
A new 200MP main camera
Diving into what most of us will now miss out on, beginning with the camera system. The OnePlus 16 will feature a huge 200MP main camera with a 1/1.4-inch sensor. It will also support a special mode called Expert, which includes film-like colors and a Hasselblad-inspired aspect ratio.
The three remaining cameras boast 50MP sensors. This covers the ultrawide, telephoto, and even the selfie camera. The most notable improvement here is that the telephoto camera has been upgraded to a Sony IMX882 1/1.95-inch sensor with larger 0.8µm pixels. This will capture more light and deliver better results in low-light locations.
The OnePlus 16 promises to be fast
According to the Weibo announcement, the OnePlus 16 will be "among the first to feature the 6th generation Snapdragon 8 Super Edition, paired with a new generation of gaming kernel, pre-programmed into the chip for maximum performance!"
The result will be flagship performance that will be noticed by all types of power users, including photographers, creative professionals, and gamers. In fact, the last of these will enjoy the fastest FPS gaming experience with a 185Hz refresh rate.
The OnePlus 16 will be available in three unique colors: Tomorrow’s Starlight, The Dark Forest, and A Martian Masterpiece.
We still hope to test and review the flagship device, but if you'd like to get your hands on one for yourself, then you'll have to be satisfied with an import. The phone will be released in China on October 12th and is already available on display at OPPO stores.
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