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This is the OnePlus 16 and it has a Pixel HiLight-like feature

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Why This Matters

OnePlus is teasing its next flagship with a new notification-lighting feature that mirrors innovations from Nothing and Google, signaling a broader industry trend toward using rear-panel lighting as a functional and aesthetic differentiator. This matters because it shows premium Android makers are converging on similar hardware gimmicks to stand out in a saturated flagship market, while also confirming stronger RAM/storage tiers that consumers will care about when comparing value.

Key Takeaways
Worth a Look

OnePlus 15 — While the OnePlus 16 is still on the horizon, the OnePlus 15 shares its design language and camera setup, making it a great way to experience the brand's current flagship features today. It's a solid choice if you want top-tier specs and a sleek build without waiting for the next release.

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TL;DR OnePlus has officially revealed the design and colors of the OnePlus 16.

It’s also confirmed that the phone will come with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage.

The phone will also feature an “Interstellar Lighting Effect” that sounds similar to the Pixel 11’s HiLight LED.

Another day, another piece of the OnePlus 16 puzzle. After months of leaks and rumors, OnePlus has finally shared some official details about its upcoming flagship and opened pre-bookings in China.

In a new Weibo post, OnePlus shared images of the OnePlus 16 in three colors: Tomorrow’s Starlight, The Dark Forest, and A Martian Masterpiece. The phone will feature a design similar to the OnePlus 15, with a square camera module housing a triple-camera setup. It will also carry forward its predecessor’s button layout, including the placement of the power and volume buttons and the Plus key.

The company has also opened pre-bookings for the phone in China. Although it hasn’t revealed the price, the pre-booking page does reveal some noteworthy details. The OnePlus 16 will not be available in an 8GB RAM variant, contrary to a previous leak. Instead, it will come with 12GB or 16GB of RAM, paired with 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage.

It will also feature a new “Interstellar Lighting Effect” on the back. This sounds similar to the Glyph Matrix we’ve seen on Nothing phones or the HiLight LED on the Pixel 11 Pro. According to a machine-translated landing page for the OnePlus 16, the Interstellar Lighting Effect will light up to notify users of incoming calls, texts, game highlights, and more. It will be available only on the “Tomorrow’s Starlight” color variant. It’s unclear what “game highlights” means here, but it could refer to the lights changing based on what’s happening in-game.

Speaking of this new lighting effect, the silver OnePlus 16 has several areas on its rear panel that seem capable of lighting up. A star icon sits in the top-right corner, along with text that reads “Area 16” and two coordinates. A quick Google search indicates these are galactic coordinates, though I’m not sure which celestial body they point toward.

The phone is expected to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 processor, a 200MP primary camera, a 50MP ultrawide camera, and a 50MP periscope telephoto lens. It could also feature a custom-designed display with narrow bezels and a 165Hz refresh rate that can reach 185Hz while gaming.

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