The OnePlus 16 launched in China just yesterday, on October 12, and it has already broken sales records. The smartphone has turned out to be a massive commercial success, according to OnePlus, as it is already dominating China's premium smartphone market.
OnePlus 16 China Sales Exceed Expectations
In a recent Weibo post by OnePlus China President Li Jie Louis, he confirmed that the OnePlus 16 sold over 70,000 units by 11:00 AM CST (or 8:30 PM IST) in just one hour after the smartphone officially went on sale to the public.
For comparison, the last premium smartphone that shattered sales records in China was the iPhone 12 back in October 2020. Apple reportedly sold over 7,00,000 units in a day, making it the fastest-selling premium smartphone in China.
What's more surprising is that the 70,000-unit sales figures arrive despite the smartphone market going through difficult times due to the RAM crisis. This is even though the OnePlus 16 costs a whole 1,000 Chinese yuan (Approx Rs 14,000) more than its predecessor, the OnePlus 15.
Regardless, it appears that the switch to a larger 9,000mAh battery, combined with a faster 185 Hz refresh rate and the 200 MP main camera upgrade, has done the trick for OnePlus. Not to mention, the OnePlus 16 is better tuned for gaming, with 40% more effective thermal capabilities.
This surge in consumer adoption shows that despite the rising costs, consumers are willing to pay a premium for a device that ticks all the right boxes. In his update, Li Jie noted that the OnePlus 16 is the top-selling device in sales among all Android flagships released in 2026.
While this instils hope in global consumers about the phone's arrival in their countries, OnePlus 16's global launch is not yet confirmed. It's pretty much given that the phone won't arrive in the US and Europe as OnePlus has ceased operations.
However, an India launch isn't far from sight, considering rumours suggest OnePlus could unveil two flagships this year, one of them being the OnePlus 16R. Not to mention that since the iQOO 16 India launch is confirmed, it only makes sense for OnePlus to bring its flagship offering to the country as well, since they always fight it out.
More information about the potential OnePlus 16 India launch should surface as we head closer to the end of 2026, so stay tuned.
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