OnePlus 16 review: flagship specs at an import price, says Notebookcheck

What Notebookcheck found

Notebookcheck has published a review of the OnePlus 16, the latest flagship from the Chinese manufacturer. The site gave the phone its top rating of very good, praising its performance, fast storage, solid build, camera quality and battery endurance.

The phone runs on Qualcomm's newest flagship processor, the Snapdragon Elite Extreme Gen 6. According to the review, it keeps performance steady under load with only limited throttling, which is when a phone slows its chip to control heat.

Price and availability

The OnePlus 16 starts at about US$ 877 from importers such as TradingShenzhen, which Notebookcheck describes as a strong price for a high-end phone. The catch is that the device is not sold officially in Western markets and must be imported from China.

The site notes that importing through specialist retailers is relatively straightforward, but it is not the same as buying locally. There is no eSIM support, meaning the phone relies on physical SIM cards, and OnePlus gives no binding commitment on how long the device will receive software updates.

Screen and extra features

The display can run at a refresh rate of up to 185 Hz and supports DC dimming, a technique that reduces screen flicker. Notebookcheck also lists quick charging, an infrared port for controlling other devices, and resistance to water and dust among the phone's strengths.

Battery life is described as long, and the camera is rated as good. Together with the bright panel, these qualities helped the phone earn its very good verdict.

How OnePlus got here

OnePlus made its name twelve years ago by challenging Apple and Samsung with the argument that flagship phones cost more than they should. The original OnePlus One was a landmark for affordable high-end hardware, though it was never officially sold in Western countries either.

Later models brought the brand formally into Europe, with good quality at lower prices. In recent years, parent company Oppo has pulled the brand back in favour of its own main brand, and a few months ago it stopped selling OnePlus phones entirely outside China and India.

What it means for buyers

For readers in Europe and the US, the OnePlus 16 is a capable phone that is only reachable through the import route. Notebookcheck calls it a shame that the device is no longer officially released in these regions, given how well it scored.

Anyone considering an import should weigh the low price against the lack of eSIM support and the absence of an update guarantee. The full review on Notebookcheck covers the details.