Comparing the OnePlus 16 vs RedMagic 12 Pro+ comes down to one question: what do you want besides gaming?
Both phones run Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chip. OnePlus started sales in China on October 13. RedMagic will launch its phone in China on October 15 at 2:30 pm China time (7:30 am in Lagos).
This guide compares both phones on price, gaming, battery, and cameras. It also shows you which one you can get in Africa.
Quick answer: Pick the OnePlus 16 if you want one phone for gaming and photos. Wait for the RedMagic 12 Pro+ launch if fan cooling for long gaming sessions matters most to you.
| Feature | OnePlus 16 | RedMagic 12 Pro+ |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 |
| Screen | 6.78-inch OLED, up to 185Hz in supported games | Size not out yet; 0.96mm borders with the selfie camera under the screen |
| Battery | 9,000mAh | 8,400mAh (leak) |
| Charging | 100W wired, 50W wireless | 120W wired, 80W wireless (leak) |
| Main camera | 200MP | Not out yet |
| Cooling | Large vapour chamber | Liquid cooling plus a fan |
| China starting price | CNY 5,699 ($847) (first sale) | Out on October 15 |
| Sales | On sale in China | Launches October 15 |
Gizmochina reports the leaked RedMagic battery and charging figures. RedMagic still has to confirm them.
Price and availability
OnePlus 16 price in China
OnePlus sells the phone in four memory sizes. These are its prices in China.
| RAM and storage | First-sale price | Normal price |
|---|---|---|
| 12GB + 256GB | CNY 5,699 ($847) | CNY 5,999 ($892) |
| 12GB + 512GB | CNY 6,499 ($966) | CNY 6,799 ($1,011) |
| 16GB + 512GB | CNY 7,199 ($1,071) | CNY 7,499 ($1,115) |
| 16GB + 1TB | CNY 8,199 ($1,219) | CNY 8,499 ($1,264) |
Dollar figures use the People’s Bank of China rate of CNY 6.7249 to $1 on October 14, 2026.
- The base model costs CNY 5,699 ($847) in the first sale. Its normal price is CNY 5,999 ($892).
- Buyers in China can drop the base model to CNY 5,199 ($773) with a government subsidy. This subsidy works only inside China.
A dollar or naira conversion shows you only the China price. Your final cost also includes four extras:
- Currency conversion fees
- Shipping
- Import charges
- The seller’s margin
Ask the seller for the full delivered price in writing before you pay.
Where OnePlus sells the OnePlus 16
OnePlus sells the OnePlus 16 in China. Android Authority reports it will skip Europe and North America, and TechRepublic notes that OnePlus confirmed in July it would stop launching new phones in those regions.
For India, tipster Yogesh Brar says, via TechRepublic, that the OnePlus 16R may become OnePlus’s top phone there instead. OnePlus has not confirmed this.
OnePlus has not announced a launch for Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, or South Africa. A local seller with stock is importing the phone, so confirm the exact model you get.
RedMagic 12 Pro+ price
RedMagic shares the price at its October 15 launch. In China, you can reserve the phone now with a CNY 100 ($15) deposit on RedMagic’s website or JD.com.
The global version may differ from the China model. For example, the global RedMagic 11 Pro came with a 7,500mAh battery and 80W wired charging. The China model had an 8,000mAh battery and 120W wired charging. Check the specs of the exact version you buy.
Compare both phones again when RedMagic posts prices for matching memory sizes.
OnePlus 16 vs RedMagic: Can you buy either phone in Africa?
RedMagic’s global store ships to a fixed list of countries. Egypt is on the list. Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa are missing, and RedMagic’s policy says a missing country gets no direct delivery.
| Country | Direct RedMagic delivery? | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | No | Ask a trusted reseller or forwarding service for a full quote |
| Kenya | No | Confirm stock and the full delivery cost |
| Ghana | No | Check the seller’s return and repair terms |
| South Africa | No | Confirm the model, delivery route and who provides the warranty |
If you buy either phone from a reseller, ask these four questions:
- Which region is the phone from?
- What software does it run?
- Does it support your network’s bands?
- Who handles warranty repairs?
If a seller says the phone has a “global ROM”, ask if the factory installed it or the seller added it later.
RedMagic’s warranty covers phones from its official store. RedMagic says it offers no extra help for phones from other sellers, so the reseller’s own warranty matters a lot.
Performance and gaming
Same chip, different results
Both phones use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. The same chip gives you a fair starting point. Cooling and game tuning still change how each phone plays.
A quick benchmark score tells you little about long matches. When reviews come out, look for these four results after 30 minutes of play:
- Average frame rate
- Sudden frame drops
- Battery used
- How hot the back gets
OnePlus 16 focuses on touch, screen and network
OnePlus packs a 6,428mm² vapour chamber to move heat away from the chip. It also adds these gaming parts:
- G3 chip for a steadier network connection
- P4 chip for the display
- T3 chip for faster touch response
- 800Hz gyroscope for motion aiming
Check that your favourite games support high frame rates on the version you buy. Game support in China can differ from global versions of PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile.
RedMagic 12 Pro+ focuses on cooling
RedMagic pairs a liquid cooling engine with fan-powered air cooling. This setup helps the chip maintain peak performance in long games. Reviews still need to test fan noise and frame-rate stability.
A Geekbench 7 listing, which Gizmochina and Android Headlines link to the 12 Pro+, shows 3,677 single-core and 12,679 multi-core points. RedMagic has not confirmed the listing.
At launch, check for these four gaming features:
- Shoulder triggers
- A headphone jack
- Touch-control settings
- Bypass charging
Gaming verdict: RedMagic’s fan cooling gives gamers a good reason to wait for its launch. Long-session tests will show which phone holds up better.
Detailed specs
1. Display
| Detail | OnePlus 16 | RedMagic 12 Pro+ |
|---|---|---|
| Size and type | 6.78-inch flat LTPO OLED (BOE X4) | Not out yet |
| Resolution | 1.5K | Not out yet |
| Top refresh rate | 185Hz in supported games; up to 165Hz for apps | Not out yet |
| Peak brightness | 2,000 nits | Not out yet |
| Borders and selfie camera | 1.15mm borders | 0.96mm borders; selfie camera hidden under the screen |
Some apps and games run below the top refresh rate. Your frame rate depends on each game’s settings.
2. Design and build
| Detail | OnePlus 16 | RedMagic 12 Pro+ |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 8.45mm to 8.55mm, by colour | Thinner than the 11 Pro+, final figure not out yet |
| Weight | 217g to 220g, by colour | Lighter than the 11 Pro+, final figure not out yet |
| Water and dust | IP66, IP68, IP69 and IP69K | Not out yet |
| Colours | Tomorrow’s Starlight (with rear lights), Dark Forest and Mars Masterpiece | Transparent Dark Night, Transparent Silver Wing and Transparent Ice Blue |
Hold each phone sideways before you buy, if you can. Check that your fingers reach the controls and that your grip doesn’t block the camera.
3. Cameras
| Camera | OnePlus 16 | RedMagic 12 Pro+ |
|---|---|---|
| Rear cameras | Three | Two, flush with the back |
| Main | 200MP, 1/1.4-inch sensor, OIS | Not out yet |
| Ultra wide | 50MP | Not out yet |
| Zoom | 50MP 3x periscope telephoto | Not out yet |
| Selfie | 50MP | Under-display camera, megapixels not out yet |
Megapixels tell only part of the story. Wait for sample photos in daylight and at night before you decide.
Camera verdict: The OnePlus 16 is the safer pick for photos. It has a 3x zoom camera, and RedMagic hasn’t shared its camera specs yet.
4. Battery and charging
| Detail | OnePlus 16 | RedMagic 12 Pro+ |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 9,000mAh | 8,400mAh (leak) |
| Wired charging | 100W | 120W (leak) |
| Wireless charging | 50W | 80W (leak) |
| Bypass charging | Yes | Not out yet |
If the leak holds, the OnePlus 16 carries 600mAh more. Lab tests will show which phone lasts longer in games.
Bypass charging sends power straight to the phone while you play plugged in, which keeps the battery cooler. Check when the feature turns on before you count on it.
For both phones, check whether the charger is included in the box, and price any wireless charger separately.
5. Software and updates
| Detail | OnePlus 16 | RedMagic 12 Pro+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | ColorOS 17 on Android 17 (China model) | Android 17, based on a Geekbench listing |
| Update promise | Six-year smoothness claim from OnePlus’s lab tests | Two Android updates and three years of security fixes for the 11 Pro and newer models |
OnePlus’s six-year claim covers smoothness tests and differs from a promise of six years of Android updates.
If you import a China phone, ask the seller to show you four things working:
- Google Play
- Your banking apps
- Notifications
- English language settings
Ask for the exact model number and check its network bands against what your network needs.
6. Other features
| Detail | OnePlus 16 | RedMagic 12 Pro+ |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0 | Not out yet |
| Fingerprint | Ultrasonic, under the screen | Not out yet |
| IR blaster | Yes | Not out yet |
| USB | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | Not out yet |
Which phone should you buy?
Pick the OnePlus 16 if:
- You want one phone for gaming and photos.
- You have checked the imported model’s software and warranty.
Wait if:
- Fan cooling for long gaming sessions matters most to you.
- You want RedMagic’s final price and global specs first.
- You need tested battery life and camera results.
- You want a local warranty and easy returns.
Before you pay for either phone, get the full price in writing and confirm the exact model.
Frequently asked questions
Q) Is the OnePlus 16 coming to Nigeria?
- OnePlus sells the phone in China and has announced no Nigerian launch. Local sellers may import it, so check the model and warranty before you pay.
Q) When is the RedMagic 12 Pro+ launching globally?
- RedMagic launches the phone in China on October 15, 2026. It has not shared a global launch date yet.
Q) Which phone has the bigger battery?
- The OnePlus 16 has a 9,000mAh battery. Leaks put the RedMagic 12 Pro+ at 8,400mAh. If the leak holds, the OnePlus 16 wins on battery size.
Q) Do the OnePlus 16 and RedMagic 12 Pro+ use the same chip?
- Yes. Both use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Cooling and software still change how each one performs.
Q) Can RedMagic ship directly to my country?
- RedMagic’s shipping list excludes Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa. Check its latest list before you order.