The next big thing from OnePlus may still be a couple of months away, but the leaks have already started doing what they do best: spilling just enough tea to keep things interesting. And this time, it’s all about the camera. If the latest whispers are anything to go by, the OnePlus 16 could be gearing up for a rather ambitious upgrade, one that leans heavily into zoom photography and, of course, about the megapixels, too.
A 200MP camera?
According to well-known tipster Digital Chat Station, the OnePlus 16 is expected to feature a 200MP sensor. That alone is enough to raise eyebrows, but as always, the devil is in the details, and those are just starting to trickle in. Another tipster, Smart Pikachu, suggests that this won’t be a random 200MP sensor. Instead, OnePlus could borrow something from Realme’s playbook.
The rumored sensor is said to be the same one used in the Realme GT 8 Pro — a 200MP periscope telephoto camera. On the GT 8 Pro, this setup uses the Samsung ISOCELL HP5 sensor, paired with a periscope lens offering 3x optical zoom, an f/2.6 aperture, and a 65mm focal length. It’s built to bring distant subjects closer without sacrificing quality. The same sensor is also used in devices like the Oppo Find X9 Pro, which tells you it’s already in serious camera-centric phones. While the 200MP periscope lens is clearly stealing the spotlight, the rest of the camera system sounds familiar. Leaks suggest that OnePlus could stick with a 50MP primary and a 50MP ultra-wide camera. So, OnePlus seems to be focusing on one meaningful upgrade, while keeping others the same across the board.
So, is this finally OnePlus going all in on cameras?
If this leak holds up, the OnePlus 16 could finally step into a space where it doesn’t just compete on performance and software polish, but also gives photography-focused flagships a reason to look over their shoulder. Smartphone cameras aren’t just about bigger sensors anymore. With brands like Realme and Oppo already pushing periscope tech forward, OnePlus joining the party was only a matter of time.
For now, though, it’s all leaks and educated guesses. But if even half of this turns out to be true, OnePlus’ next flagship could finally have a camera setup that’s not just good, but genuinely exciting.
