OnePlus has confirmed that the OnePlus 16 will support a 165Hz refresh rate across the system, rather than limiting the faster mode to a handful of compatible games. It will also be the first OnePlus phone to ship with ColorOS 17, although there’s still no confirmed launch date.
Li Jie, president of OnePlus China, announced the display upgrade as a “global 165Hz ultra-high refresh rate”. That should address one of the biggest limitations of the OnePlus 15, which launched with a 165Hz panel but rarely used the full refresh rate outside supported games.
The OnePlus 15 eventually gained 165Hz support in apps including WhatsApp, Instagram and X through a software update, but there was a catch. The setting was buried in Developer Options, and enabling it locked the display at 165Hz rather than allowing the refresh rate to drop when the screen was showing static content. That could have an impact on battery life and meant it wasn’t really a system-wide 165Hz mode.
The OnePlus 16 is expected to handle things differently. Tipster Digital Chat Station claims the phone uses new Oriental Screen X4 panel material with revised circuitry, which is said to provide hardware-level support for 165Hz. OnePlus has confirmed the refresh rate, but hasn’t verified those panel details.
Digital Chat Station has also shared what it presents as the OnePlus 16’s display settings. The 165Hz option reportedly sits directly in the standard display menu rather than Developer Options. Testing from the same source reportedly showed the higher refresh rate working in system apps and apps downloaded from the Play Store.
Beyond the display, rumours point to a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, a 9,000mAh battery and a 200MP main camera, although OnePlus hasn’t confirmed those specifications.
The company hasn’t announced when the OnePlus 16 will launch, but leaks point to an October release in China. Its international availability is even less certain, with OnePlus having exited North American, Canadian and European markets in July. Recent reports have also questioned whether the OnePlus 16 will reach international markets at all.
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