The OnePlus 16 may still be a couple of months away, but early camera rumors are already painting a clear picture of what OnePlus is aiming for with its next flagship: a major telephoto upgrade led by a 200MP sensor.
Back in January 2026, well-known leaker Digital Chat Station claimed the OnePlus 16 would arrive with a 200MP camera sensor. While that initial tease didn’t confirm which camera would get the upgrade or what sensor OnePlus would use, a newer report from tipster Smart Pikachu adds an important clue. According to the latest information, OnePlus is expected to use the same 200MP camera solution that Realme has been putting into its own phones.
That detail matters because Realme’s current flagship, the GT 8 Pro, uses a 200MP periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The sensor in question is said to be Samsung’s ISOCELL HP5, a part that has also shown up in other camera-focused premium phones such as the Oppo Find X9 Pro. In other words, this isn’t just a “big numbers” megapixel play—this is a sensor that’s already being used to deliver long-range zoom performance in top-tier devices.
What’s still unclear is the exact periscope configuration OnePlus will choose for the OnePlus 16. However, the most likely scenario is that OnePlus adopts a setup similar to the GT 8 Pro’s implementation. On Realme’s phone, Samsung’s 200MP HP5 is paired with an f/2.6 lens and a 65mm equivalent focal length, helping it achieve that 3x optical zoom while keeping detail high—especially useful for distant subjects, portraits, and sharper hybrid zoom shots.
Beyond the telephoto, other reports suggest OnePlus may round out the OnePlus 16 camera system with a 50MP main camera and a 50MP ultrawide. If this rumor holds, those two sensors could remain similar to what OnePlus used on the current-generation OnePlus 15, keeping the biggest change focused on zoom photography.
With the OnePlus 16 launch getting closer, more leaks and specifications should surface soon. For now, the headline is simple: a 200MP periscope telephoto camera could be the standout upgrade, potentially pushing OnePlus closer to the top tier of smartphone zoom performance in 2026.
