The smartphone world was set ablaze this week when OnePlus took the wraps off its latest flagship, the OnePlus 16. And while the headline feature is undoubtedly the colossal 9,000mAh battery, the device packs a host of other cutting-edge specifications that make it one of the most talked-about launches of the year. Unfortunately for fans outside Asia, the phone is a China-exclusive affair, but that hasn’t stopped the hype train from rolling. In our week 42 review, we break down everything you need to know about the OnePlus 16, from its record-breaking battery to its camera setup, and round up the other major stories from the past seven days.
OnePlus 16: A Battery Beast Unlike Any Other
Let’s start with the obvious: the OnePlus 16’s 9,000mAh battery is a monumental leap forward for the smartphone industry. Most flagship phones today hover around the 5,000mAh mark, with some gaming phones pushing to 6,000mAh or 7,000mAh. OnePlus has shattered that ceiling, delivering a device that promises days of usage on a single charge. The battery supports 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, meaning you can top up this massive cell incredibly quickly. According to OnePlus, the 100W SuperVOOC charger can take the phone from 0 to 100% in just under 45 minutes—impressive for a battery of this size.
But how did OnePlus manage to cram such a large battery into a phone that doesn’t look like a brick? The company has been teasing its new “Glacier” battery technology for months, which uses a silicon-carbon anode instead of traditional graphite. This allows for a higher energy density, meaning more capacity in the same physical space. The result is a phone that is reportedly just 8.9mm thick and weighs around 220 grams—heavier than most flagships, but not outrageously so given the battery capacity. The OnePlus 16 could redefine what we expect from smartphone endurance.
Performance and Display: Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 and a 185Hz Screen
Powering the OnePlus 16 is Qualcomm’s latest and greatest, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Yes, the naming convention is getting out of hand (we’re still not used to it either), but the performance is no joke. Built on a 3nm process, this chipset promises a 30% boost in CPU performance and a 25% improvement in GPU rendering compared to the previous generation. Early benchmarks show the OnePlus 16 scoring over 2.8 million points in AnTuTu, putting it in a league of its own. Whether you’re gaming, multitasking, or editing 8K video, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 should handle it with ease.
The display is equally impressive. The OnePlus 16 features a 6.78-inch LTPO OLED panel with a resolution of 3168 x 1440 pixels. It supports a variable refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz for everyday use, but in select games, it can ramp up to an astonishing 185Hz. That’s a first for a mainstream smartphone, and it should make fast-paced titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and Genshin Impact feel incredibly smooth. OnePlus has also improved its cooling system with a new vapor chamber that is 30% larger than before, ensuring the phone doesn’t throttle during extended gaming sessions. The display also boasts a peak brightness of 4,500 nits, making it easily readable outdoors, and it supports 10-bit color and HDR10+.
Camera System: 200MP Main Sensor and Dual 50MP Cameras
OnePlus has never been shy about pushing camera hardware, and the OnePlus 16 continues that trend. The triple-camera setup is led by a 200MP wide-angle sensor with an f/1.7 aperture and optical image stabilization (OIS). This is the same sensor we’ve seen in some ultra-premium flagships, and OnePlus has tuned it with its latest computational photography algorithms. In good lighting, the 200MP sensor captures incredible detail, and pixel-binning technology combines 16 pixels into one for better low-light performance. The result is sharp, vibrant photos with minimal noise.
Joining the main camera is a 50MP 3x telephoto lens with OIS, perfect for portraits and zoomed-in shots. The third camera is a 50MP ultrawide with a 114-degree field of view, which also doubles as a macro shooter. OnePlus has partnered with Hasselblad once again to fine-tune the color science, and the results are expected to be top-notch. The phone can record 8K video at 30fps and 4K at 120fps, and it supports Dolby Vision HDR. On the front, there’s a 32MP selfie camera tucked into a punch-hole cutout. Overall, the OnePlus 16’s camera system looks like a versatile and powerful setup that should compete with the best from Samsung and Apple.
China Exclusive: Why the OnePlus 16 Won’t Launch Globally
Here’s the bad news for OnePlus fans outside China: the OnePlus 16 is not getting a global release. OnePlus confirmed that the phone will remain exclusive to the Chinese market, at least for now. This decision is likely due to a combination of factors, including regulatory challenges, supply chain constraints for the new battery technology, and the company’s strategy to prioritize its home market. It’s a disappointing move for enthusiasts who were hoping to get their hands on that 9,000mAh battery, but OnePlus has a history of keeping some of its most experimental devices China-only (remember the OnePlus Ace series?).
That said, the phone is already a massive success in China. OnePlus reported that it sold 70,000 units in the first hour of availability, smashing previous records for the brand. The demand is so high that the company has had to delay some shipments. The OnePlus 16 is available in three colors: Obsidian Black, Glacier Blue, and a special Jade Green edition. Pricing starts at CNY 4,999 (approximately $690) for the 12GB/256GB model, going up to CNY 6,499 (around $900) for the 16GB/1TB variant. For Chinese consumers, it’s a fantastic deal; for the rest of us, it’s a tantalizing glimpse of what could have been.
Week 42 in Review: Other Headlines You Might Have Missed
While the OnePlus 16 dominated the conversation, week 42 brought plenty of other noteworthy news. Here’s a quick roundup of the biggest stories from the tech world.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Series Leaks
Samsung’s next flagship lineup, the Galaxy S25 series, is still a few months away, but leaks are already pouring in. According to reliable tipster Ice Universe, the Galaxy S25 Ultra will feature a 6.8-inch display with a 144Hz refresh rate—a first for Samsung. The phone is also expected to sport a new 200MP main camera with improved sensor-shift stabilization and a 50MP periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom. Perhaps most excitingly, Samsung is reportedly working on a new “AI Zoom” feature that uses machine learning to enhance digital zoom beyond 100x. The Galaxy S25 series is expected to launch in January 2025, with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 (or whatever Qualcomm calls it) in tow.
Apple’s Foldable iPhone Prototype
Rumors of a foldable iPhone have been circulating for years, but this week, a report from The Elec suggested that Apple has begun testing a prototype foldable device. The prototype is said to use a 7.9-inch flexible OLED display from Samsung Display and a new hinge mechanism that minimizes creasing. However, the report cautions that the device is still in the early stages of development and may not see the light of day until 2026 or later. Apple is reportedly concerned about durability and battery life, which are common issues with foldables. For now, it’s just a prototype, but it’s a sign that Apple is at least exploring the category.
Google Pixel 9a Specs Surface
Google’s mid-range Pixel 9a is expected to launch in early 2025, and we already have a good idea of what to expect. A leak from OnLeaks revealed that the Pixel 9a will feature a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a Tensor G4 chipset (the same as the Pixel 9 series), and a dual-camera setup with a 48MP main sensor and a 12MP ultrawide. The design will reportedly be similar to the Pixel 9 but with a slightly thicker bezel. The Pixel 9a is expected to be priced at $499, making it a strong competitor in the mid-range segment.
Qualcomm’s Next-Gen Chipset Announcement
Qualcomm officially announced that its next flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, will be unveiled at its Snapdragon Summit in late October. The chip is rumored to use a custom Oryon CPU core and a new Adreno GPU, promising significant performance gains over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Early benchmarks suggest a 40% improvement in single-core performance, which would put it on par with Apple’s A18 Pro. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is expected to power many of 2025’s flagship Android phones, including the Galaxy S25 series and the OnePlus 13 (which will likely get a global release).
Xiaomi 15 Ultra Camera Details
Xiaomi’s upcoming flagship, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, is shaping up to be a camera powerhouse. According to leaks, the phone will feature a 1-inch main sensor (likely the Sony LYT-900), a 200MP periscope telephoto with 10x optical zoom, a 50MP ultrawide, and a 50MP short telephoto. The camera module will reportedly be even larger than the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s, which already had a massive bump. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is expected to launch in China in early 2025, with a global release to follow. If the leaks are accurate, it could be the best camera phone of 2025.
Final Thoughts
Week 42 will be remembered for the OnePlus 16’s official debut, a phone that pushes the boundaries of battery technology and performance. The fact that it’s China-exclusive is a bitter pill to swallow for global fans, but it’s also a reminder that the Chinese market remains a hotbed of innovation. As we look ahead to the rest of the year, we can expect more leaks and launches from Samsung, Xiaomi, and others, all vying for the spotlight. For now, the OnePlus 16 stands as a testament to what’s possible when a company decides to go all-in on a single feature—and we can’t wait to see if that 9,000mAh battery trend catches on.
