OnePlus will launch the OnePlus 16 in China on October 12, the company announced at its 2026 OnePlus Gaming Conference. The event also provided new details about the phone’s display, gaming performance and internal hardware.

The launch announcement follows OnePlus’ recent disclosures about the phone’s colour options and camera system. The company has positioned the OnePlus 16 as a flagship with an unusually high refresh rate and dedicated components aimed at improving gaming performance.

OnePlus 16 launch date and gaming features

The OnePlus 16 will be unveiled in China on October 12. OnePlus said the phone will support a native 185 frames per second in several games, including Arena Breakout, Nizhan: Future, Naruto Mobile and Peace Elite.

Its display will have a 185Hz refresh rate, which is higher than the system-wide 165Hz refresh rate the phone is also confirmed to support. The distinction means the panel can reach 185Hz in supported scenarios, while the broader system experience will operate at up to 165Hz.

OnePlus has not provided further details about the display’s size or resolution in the information available so far.

Dedicated chips and Snapdragon processor

The handset will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset, according to OnePlus. The company also described three additional custom components: a display chip, a dedicated chip for touch response and another chip focused on connectivity.

These components are intended to support the phone’s gaming capabilities, although OnePlus has not disclosed their technical specifications or explained how each chip will operate in individual games.

OnePlus 16 camera specifications

The OnePlus 16 will include a 200MP primary rear camera and a 50MP periscope telephoto camera. A periscope lens typically supports longer-range optical zoom than a conventional telephoto design, but the company has not yet shared the phone’s zoom range or full camera specifications here.

OnePlus has also confirmed that the phone will be available in three colour options when it goes on sale. The exact names and availability of those colours were not included in the launch-date announcement.

What to expect next

The October 12 event will establish the OnePlus 16’s initial launch timing in China. OnePlus has not provided an international release date in the information available. Pricing, storage configurations and broader retail availability also remain undisclosed.

For now, the confirmed specifications point to a phone focused on high-refresh-rate gaming, with the Snapdragon processor, custom chips and high-resolution camera hardware forming the main elements of its flagship positioning.