OnePlus 16 offers 1 TB storage at a lower premium than rivals

What the OnePlus 16 offers

OnePlus has launched the OnePlus 16, a smartphone that continues the company's long-standing reputation for affordable high-end devices. According to Notebookcheck, the phone combines strong performance, a capable camera system, a premium build and fast mobile connectivity.

The camera setup is described as able to produce decent photos in low light, along with strong zoom capabilities. Charging is also quick, with 100-watt wired charging and up to 50-watt wireless charging supported.

Despite these flagship-level features, the phone starts at about US$ 877 from the importer TradingShenzhen. That price undercuts most other flagship smartphones launched this year, according to the report.

Storage pricing details

The headline feature for many buyers will be the storage. The OnePlus 16 can be configured with up to 1,024 GB of internal storage, aimed at people who shoot many photos and videos or handle very large files and cannot rely on cloud storage.

Moving from the 512 GB model to the 1 TB version costs a premium of around US$ 200. Notebookcheck notes that this is a steep jump in absolute terms, but far below what competitors charge.

Apple, for comparison, asks about US$ 400 for the same storage step-up. The memory market is currently under pressure, which has pushed storage prices up across the industry, making the OnePlus configuration stand out further.

Import limitations

There are important caveats for buyers outside China. The imported model does not support eSIM, the digital SIM technology that lets a phone activate a mobile plan without a physical card.

It also lacks support for some 4G frequency bands, which could affect network coverage depending on the country and carrier. Notebookcheck reports that some apps and items such as update descriptions remain in Chinese, even though the software supports many languages.

These gaps mean the imported phone may not suit everyone, particularly travellers or users whose networks depend on the missing bands.

Who should wait

An Indian variant of the OnePlus 16 is expected to launch, and it may be better suited to international use. Buyers who can wait may prefer that version to avoid the import drawbacks.

For those who need the large storage now and can live without eSIM support and certain 4G bands, the imported model offers flagship features at a price well below most rivals. Notebookcheck recommends its in-depth review for readers who want more detail on the device.