The OnePlus 15 phone comes with a less advanced camera system compared to its predecessor, as it relied on a smaller main sensor and a weaker telephoto lens, and it also missed Hasselblad’s color adjustment. However, recent leaks indicate that the company is preparing for a big leap in its flagship phone for the year 2026, which is expected to be called the OnePlus 16.
Earlier, the well-known leaker Digital Chat Station revealed OnePlus’ intention to use a 200-megapixel sensor in the upcoming phone, but he did not specify whether this sensor was intended for the main camera or the telephoto lens. Later, new leaks came from the @OnePlusClub account on the X platform to further clarify the picture.
According to this information, the OnePlus 16 will rely on a 200-megapixel zoom sensor with a size of 1/1.56 inches, which is a notable development compared to the current zoom sensor in the OnePlus 15, which has a resolution of 50 megapixels and a size of 1/2.76 inches. In addition, the phone may add a macro photography feature via the telephoto lens, similar to what the Oppo Find X9 series offered.
The expected upgrades were not limited to the camera only, as the leaks also indicate a significant increase in battery capacity to reach about 9000 mAh, compared to 7300 mAh in the previous generation. Also, the phone is rumored to support a screen refresh rate exceeding 200 Hz, which will significantly enhance the usage and gaming experience.
In terms of performance, the OnePlus 16 is expected to work with the latest leading Qualcomm processors. The leaks indicate that the company may launch two versions of the upcoming processor, namely the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, without confirmation yet which one the phone will receive.
