OnePlus 16 Gets Off to a Strong Start With 70,000 Sales in One Hour

The OnePlus 16 went on sale in China on October 13 at 10 AM local time, or 4 AM Central European Summer Time. Figures released around the launch claim that the phone passed 70,000 units in its first hour. However, the number has not been independently verified, and it is unclear whether it refers to orders, paid purchases, or devices actually delivered.

The same claim describes the OnePlus 16 as having the strongest launch sales among this year's Android flagships over a comparable period. Without more detailed figures, that ranking cannot be independently confirmed.

The reported result comes as China's smartphone market faces weaker demand and rising component costs. According to Reuters, smartphone shipments in China fell 15.4% year over year in the third quarter of 2026. However, those figures alone do not show how memory prices affected demand for any specific phone.

Comparisons with rival devices are also difficult. IT Home, for example, reported that initial iQOO 16 sales reached around half the level recorded by the iQOO 15. However, that comparison covered the first day of sales and the following three days, rather than just the first hour. The two figures therefore cannot be directly compared.

The OnePlus 16 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Its 6.78-inch display supports refresh rates of up to 185Hz in compatible games and up to 165Hz during regular use.

The camera setup includes a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide camera, and a 50MP periscope telephoto camera.

The phone also packs a 9,000mAh battery with support for 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. An ultrasonic fingerprint reader rounds out the main features. These specifications put the OnePlus 16 firmly in the high-performance flagship category.

The base OnePlus 16 configuration, with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, has a standard price of 5,999 yuan in China. Its launch price is 5,699 yuan, while eligible buyers can pay as little as 5,199 yuan with a Chinese government subsidy.

These prices convert to approximately $840, $800, and $730, respectively. They are currency conversions, not official US prices.

For comparison, the OnePlus 15 launched in October 2025 with a starting price of 3,999 yuan. The new model therefore starts at a considerably higher price in China.

In July 2026, OnePlus announced that it would stop launching new products in European and North American markets. Based on that announcement, an official launch of the OnePlus 16 in the US or Europe appears unlikely.

The phone may still become available through overseas retailers or independent importers. Before buying an imported model, customers should check network band support, warranty coverage, and software compatibility.