Quiz 8 Questions · Test Your Knowledge OnePlus phones and historyTrivia challenge From flagship killers to foldables — how well do you really know OnePlus?
A HydrogenOS B OxygenOS 12 C ColorOS D OxygenOS Correct!
Continue 05 / 8 Hardware The OnePlus 6T was notable for being one of the first OnePlus phones to feature which technology?
A Warp Charge B Turbo Charge C Flash Charge D Boost Charge Correct!
A OnePlus Open B OnePlus Fold 1 C OnePlus Fold Pro D OnePlus X Fold Correct!
If you listen to the grapevine, you'll be under the impression that a once-illustrious Chinese phone brand was about to go the way of the dodo.
For months now, rumors have suggested that OnePlus is to stop selling its tech in the US, UK, and Europe, and it's fair to say that the company has gone very quiet.
Android Police writers have already mourned the effect on the smartphone market, and I've put in my eulogy for OnePlus' great wireless earbuds, so we're all ready to move on.
Except that OnePlus, apparently, is not ready to go just yet.
We're starting to hear rumors about a new device coming around October, and it sounds like the OnePlus 16 could go all out on huge specs for the brand's last phone.
I don't understand how a brand on its last legs is putting together such a powerhouse, but the leaked specs paint an impressive picture.
If the phone has these specs and matches its predecessor in price, it could be something truly special.
Quiz 8 Questions · Test Your Knowledge OnePlus phones and history
Trivia challenge From flagship killers to foldables — how well do you really know OnePlus? History Hardware Software Flagships Innovation Begin 01 / 8 History In what year was OnePlus founded? A 2011 B 2012 C 2013 D 2014 Correct! OnePlus was founded in December 2013 by Pete Lau and Carl Pei. The company was spun out of Oppo with the goal of creating premium smartphones at disruptive prices. Not quite. OnePlus was founded in December 2013 by Pete Lau and Carl Pei. The two former Oppo employees wanted to challenge the idea that a great smartphone had to cost a fortune. Continue 02 / 8 Flagships What was the original asking price of the OnePlus One at launch in 2014? A $199 B $249 C $299 D $349 Correct! The OnePlus One launched at $299 for the 64GB model, earning it the 'flagship killer' nickname. It offered specs comparable to devices costing twice as much, which stunned the industry. Not quite. The OnePlus One launched at $299 for the 64GB model. That price point for a Snapdragon 801-powered device with a 5.5-inch display is exactly what earned it the legendary 'flagship killer' title. Continue 03 / 8 History What controversial sales method did OnePlus use to sell the OnePlus One at launch? A Lottery system B Invite-only system C Auction bidding D Pre-order waitlist Correct! OnePlus used an invite-only system, where existing owners could invite friends to purchase a device. While it created buzz and scarcity, it also frustrated many potential buyers who couldn't get an invite. Not quite. OnePlus used an invite-only system for the OnePlus One. The strategy was designed to generate hype and manage supply, but it became one of the most controversial marketing moves in smartphone history. Continue 04 / 8 Software What is the name of OnePlus's current Android-based operating system, introduced in 2021? A HydrogenOS B OxygenOS 12 C ColorOS D OxygenOS Correct! OnePlus runs OxygenOS, which has been the brand's software identity since 2015. Although it became controversial when OnePlus merged its codebase with Oppo's ColorOS, OxygenOS remains the official name for global markets. Not quite. The answer is OxygenOS, OnePlus's long-running Android skin. HydrogenOS is actually the Chinese market variant, and while ColorOS underpins OxygenOS behind the scenes now, OnePlus still brands its global software as OxygenOS. Continue 05 / 8 Hardware The OnePlus 6T was notable for being one of the first OnePlus phones to feature which technology? A Wireless charging B In-display fingerprint sensor C 5G connectivity D Periscope zoom camera Correct! The OnePlus 6T, launched in 2018, introduced an in-display optical fingerprint sensor — a first for OnePlus. The move came alongside the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack, which also sparked debate among fans. Not quite. The OnePlus 6T was notable for its in-display optical fingerprint sensor, introduced in 2018. OnePlus has still never offered wireless charging on many of its devices, preferring its wired Warp Charge technology instead. Continue 06 / 8 Innovation What is the name of OnePlus's proprietary fast-charging technology, originally launched as Dash Charge? A Warp Charge B Turbo Charge C Flash Charge D Boost Charge Correct! OnePlus rebranded Dash Charge to Warp Charge starting with the OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition. The rebrand was reportedly due to a trademark dispute with Amazon, which used the Dash name for its own products. Not quite. The answer is Warp Charge. OnePlus originally called its fast-charging system Dash Charge, but renamed it Warp Charge after a reported trademark conflict with Amazon. The technology itself remained largely the same despite the new name. Continue 07 / 8 Hardware Which OnePlus device was the company's first foldable smartphone? A OnePlus Open B OnePlus Fold 1 C OnePlus Fold Pro D OnePlus X Fold Correct! The OnePlus Open, launched in October 2023, was OnePlus's first foldable smartphone. It was widely praised for its slim profile, Hasselblad-tuned cameras, and large cover display, making it one of the most competitive foldables of that year. Not quite. The OnePlus Open, released in October 2023, was the company's debut foldable device. OnePlus positioned it as a premium offering with Hasselblad camera tuning and one of the thinnest foldable designs available at launch. Continue 08 / 8 History Which co-founder left OnePlus in 2020 to eventually start a new smartphone company called Nothing? A Pete Lau B Carl Pei C Lau Ziyang D Chen Mingyong Correct! Carl Pei departed OnePlus in October 2020 and went on to found Nothing, the company behind the Nothing Phone series. His exit surprised many in the tech world, as he had been the public face of OnePlus for years. Not quite. Carl Pei left OnePlus in 2020 to found Nothing, which later launched its own line of smartphones and earbuds. Pete Lau remained at OnePlus and also took on a broader role at parent company Oppo following Pei's departure. See My Score Challenge Complete Your Score / 8 Thanks for playing! Try Again
A screen with a record refresh rate
How fast can you go?
A few years ago, there was a brief arms race to see how fast a refresh rate brands could use on their displays. It soon fizzled out — a high refresh rate is useless if there aren't many apps which support it — and now most displays seem to be 120Hz ones.
OnePlus must have missed the memo, losing it amongst its overdue bills letters, because rumors point to the OnePlus 16 getting a 240Hz refresh rate (or, according to more conservative leaks, 165Hz, like the OnePlus 15).
Very few phones in the past have launched with 240Hz displays, and the few that have come from brands like Sharp, which don't sell in the US. So it's not something we've been able to play around with too much, which is probably why it never caught on.
But with how many 240Hz gaming displays sell well, I'm convinced there's space for phones with this display rate.
The leaks also point to the phone running the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chipset, which hasn't actually been unveiled yet. But tech fans know the score. This will be slightly more powerful than the Gen 5, and probably run hotter as a result.
Good for gaming, not so good for people who like their handsets to remain at room temperature while doing so.
A camera with super-zoom and a high megapixel count
One last camera hurrah
OnePlus hasn't always sold its flagship phones on their camera prowess — back when it was just making "flagship killers," snappers were just a handy extra — but with the rise and fall of the Hasselblad partnership, it became clear that photography was a focus for the company.
We're now in the post-Hasselblad days, with the Swedish camera brand having switched its allegiances to Oppo, and now plastering Find phones with its "H" logo. But apparently, the brand wants one last camera hurrah.
Leaks point to the OnePlus 16 getting a 200MP zoom camera, paired with a 3x periscope lens. There's no word on the main camera, or any auxiliaries, for that matter. The OnePlus 15 had a 50MP camera with 3.5x zoom, for context.
Now, I'm in the camp that zoom distance is more important than megapixel count, and I'm not sure 3x will cut it. I still mourn the days Samsung Ultra phones had 10x lenses, but the use of a 200MP lens is clear messaging.
This tells us that OnePlus is trying to add some pizazz to its telephoto game, sending the message that this is a handset you can really use to zoom with. And given that confidence is half of the battle with photography, it's a move I'm all for.
An absolutely giant battery
Now things are getting silly
I've previously written about how big battery phones steal my attention from top-end flagships, and apparently OnePlus is a regular reader.
According to leaks, the phone might have a 9,000mAh battery, which would be one of the highest capacities we've seen on a phone releasing in the US.
It'd be nearly double the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's capacity of 5,000mAh, and far more than double the 4,252mAh of the iPhone 17 Pro.
Over the last year, we've seen a dramatic arms race in battery capacities in phones. The OnePlus 15 was shocking when it released with a 7,300mAh power pack, and that was only six months ago.
Since then, we've seen a few handsets tickle the 10,000mAh line, but they've all been China-only.
A battery pack like this would give heavy users two straight days of use, or lighter users three to four days. That's based on my time using similar battery-capacity phones, though the exact figure depends on software, display, and a few other specs.
Either way, that's a fantastic figure that'd leave Samsung, Apple, and Google far, far behind in the dust, and it's probably my favorite rumored spec so far.
After all, a cell like this gets far more use than a competent camera or powerful chipset: a long-lasting battery matters loads for everyday use.
