OnePlus Said to Be Testing Display With 165Hz Refresh Rate; Might Arrive on Midrange Smartphone

OnePlus seems to be preparing for the launch of a midrange smartphone in China. According to a recent leak, the company is currently testing a device that could feature a flat display with a 1.5K resolution and an impressive 165Hz refresh rate. It would be the first handset in the company's lineup to feature such a display. OnePlus has yet to reveal any details of such a smartphone, but rumours suggest it could be part of the upcoming OnePlus Ace 6 series or Ace Racing Edition series in China. The OnePlus Ace 5 Pro and OnePlus Ace 5 were launched in China in December last year.

OnePlus Next Midrange Phone Could Sport a 165Hz Refresh Rate Screen

In a post on Weibo, tipster Digital Chat Station claims that OnePlus is testing a new handset with a flat display with 1.5K resolution and 165Hz refresh rate. The new phone is said to offer an upgraded integrated circuit (IC) chip for better touch responsiveness. However, unlike other high-end specifications, this upgrade is said to be unlikely to debut on a flagship model.

The new 165Hz display will be trialled on the company's mid-range smartphones first, marking a shift from the usual practice where high refresh rates are typically reserved for flagship handsets, according to the tipster. OnePlus could use the mid-tier lineup as a testing ground to assess real-world performance and user feedback before potentially scaling the feature to its premium models.

If the smartphone in question is indeed a mid-range model, it could be a part of the upcoming OnePlus Ace 6 series. The OnePlus Ace 6 series is speculated to come with a 1.5K resolution display with a 165Hz refresh rate. It is tipped to come with Snapdragon 8 series chipsets and a 7,000mAh battery. It could offer an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

The OnePlus Ace 6 is expected to launch in October in China. It could go official in other global markets under the name OnePlus 15R.

OnePlus launched the Ace 5 Pro and Ace 5 in China in December 2024. They feature 6.78-inch full-HD+ displays with up to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. They offer up to 16GB RAM and up to 1TB of storage. The Pro model runs on Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Edition SoC, while the Ace 5 is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. They have a triple rear camera setup led by a 50-megapixel primary sensor.