OnePlus is planning to push smartphone display refresh rates higher than the industry standard. The company aims to move beyond the current 165Hz baseline seen in its next-generation flagship, the OnePlus 15. Industry observers note that this shift targets smoother animations and lower input latency for competitive gaming genres like first-person shooters and racing titles.
Upcoming OnePlus models target smoother visuals and lower input latency with higher refresh rates.
The upcoming OnePlus 15 will feature a 1.5K OLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate. This configuration sets the baseline for the current generation of flagship smartphones from the vendor. The tipster Digital Chat Station confirms that OnePlus intends to maintain this 1.5K resolution across its next-generation lineup.
OnePlus plans to increase the refresh rate to 185Hz in the upcoming OnePlus 16 model later this year. The move to higher refresh rates targets smoother visuals in gaming and general interface navigation, though everyday tasks like browsing may not show a noticeable difference compared to standard 120Hz displays. The company is also exploring even higher targets, with potential future devices aiming for up to 240Hz refresh rates.
Future models, potentially including the OnePlus 17 expected in 2027, may target 2K resolution displays paired with these high refresh rates. Achieving these higher refresh rates depends on maintaining acceptable battery life and display performance, as noted by the tipster's comments on potential future compromises. The vendor is reportedly weighing whether 2K panels can support such extreme speeds without major compromises.
Competitors like the Redmi K100 Pro series and iQOO 16 are also expected to feature up to 185Hz refresh rates later this year. Competitors such as the Redmi K100 Pro series and iQOO 16 are also expected to feature up to 185Hz refresh rates later this year, indicating wider adoption of high refresh rates across the market. Market rivalry between brands like OnePlus, Redmi, and iQOO may accelerate the development of higher refresh rate displays for upcoming flagship devices.
Standard daily tasks such as browsing and social media show little noticeable difference between 120Hz and these ultra-high refresh rates for most users. However, the benefits become more apparent in high-end gaming scenarios where smoother animations and lower perceived input latency are critical. The focus on gaming genres like FPS and racing games aligns with claims that higher refresh rates provide smoother animations and lower input latency for competitive play.
OnePlus is expected to continue using 1.5K displays across its next-generation flagship smartphone lineup. The vendor may consider returning to 2K displays in future flagship models if power efficiency improves. OnePlus appears to prioritize maintaining 1.5K resolution for the near term while exploring higher refresh rates, aiming to balance visual fidelity with power efficiency as panel technology improves.
Source: GIZMOCHINA
