OnePlus’ newly teased “Turbo” lineup is quickly turning into one of the most talked-about phone stories of late 2025: Chinese pre-orders are now live, and a wave of hands-on leaks suggests OnePlus is building a mid-range device around an unusually large 9,000mAh battery, with a high-refresh display and a “performance + endurance” pitch aimed squarely at gamers and heavy users. [1]
Below is everything that’s official versus what’s reported, based on the latest coverage and leaks available as of 27/12/2025.
What’s confirmed: OnePlus has a new “Turbo Series,” and it’s about gaming + battery life
The biggest piece of firm information isn’t a spec sheet—it’s the strategy. OnePlus has publicly confirmed it’s working on a “OnePlus Turbo Series” of smartphones, with the company framing the line around gaming performance and class-leading battery life. The confirmation comes from OnePlus executive Li Jie Louis, via a Weibo post that multiple outlets have referenced in their reporting. [2]
That framing matters because it helps explain the leaks: if OnePlus is serious about a gaming-first “Turbo” identity, then a 9,000mAh battery (and a thick-looking chassis in early images) isn’t a compromise—it’s the point. [3]
China pre-orders are live: what you can get (and what it likely means)
Pre-order availability and the “token” booking price
Multiple reports say the Turbo series is already available for pre-order in China, including via the Oppo/OnePlus retail ecosystem. One outlet specifically notes customers can book at a token price of CNY 1 through the Oppo online store listing (while the listing itself doesn’t reveal full phone details yet). [4]
Pre-order perks: backpack, iQiyi membership, and extra coverage
Pre-orders aren’t just a “place in line” move—OnePlus is also using perks to drive early demand.
According to Gizmochina, early buyers in China who pre-order (and purchase a small add-on package) can receive benefits including a Never Settle-branded backpack, a one-year iQiyi Gold membership, one year of extended warranty, and a two-year battery protection plan. [5]
A separate report also describes China pre-booking with “early bird” benefits that include a OnePlus backpack, extended warranty, and an iQiyi VIP membership component, alongside additional trade-in/gift incentives, with pre-booking promoted as available through several Chinese shopping platforms. [6]
What this likely means: OnePlus appears to be building momentum ahead of a formal launch date announcement—opening pre-orders early is often a signal that marketing, channel inventory planning, and final launch prep are already in motion, even if the company hasn’t locked a public reveal date.
The leaked design: familiar OnePlus styling, but with a more budget-friendly build
Live images and follow-up commentary from multiple publications paint a consistent picture: the OnePlus Turbo looks deliberately simple and modern, with flat edges, a glossy back on at least one prototype, and a dual-camera setup positioned in the top-left. [7]
Where things get interesting is materials.
- Android Headlines reports the phone is expected to use a glossy back and be mostly made of plastic, suggesting cost-cutting in the chassis to make room in the budget for the big battery and performance hardware. [8]
- PhoneArena similarly describes a glossy plastic approach, noting at least two prototypes being tested, including a black glossy unit and a blue/greenish-blue variant. [9]
There’s some disagreement on the exact styling of the camera “deco” (some descriptions call it square/squircle; others compare it to recent OnePlus models), but the overall theme holds: this doesn’t look like a flashy “gamer phone” with aggressive RGB design. It looks like a mainstream OnePlus handset—just thicker. [10]
Rumored specs: the 9,000mAh battery is the headline, but the screen and chips matter too
As of today (Dec 27), OnePlus hasn’t published official specs. Still, the leaks across your linked sources converge on a likely spec “shape,” with a few important contradictions that hint at more than one model.
Battery and charging
Several reports converge on the same core claim:
- 9,000mAh battery
- 80W wired fast charging [11]
If accurate, this battery would be far larger than typical flagships and even larger than many compact tablets—one reason the Turbo story has spread so fast.
Display: 144Hz vs 165Hz
Two display narratives are circulating:
- 144Hz (most consistently tied to the “lower” model)
Android Central and Android Headlines both describe a variant with a 6.8-inch 1.5K display at 144Hz. [12] - 165Hz (often tied to higher-end rumors or earlier listings)
Gizmochina reports expectations of a 1.5K OLED panel with a 165Hz refresh rate, framing it as part of the “what we know so far” rumor stack. [13]
How to interpret this: The cleanest explanation is two devices or two tiers—a standard Turbo and a more powerful “Pro”/upper variant—rather than one phone with contradictory display specs. NotebookCheck also references the Turbo being expected alongside a Turbo Pro, which supports that idea. [14]
Processor: Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 vs Snapdragon 8s Gen 4
Again, two tracks appear:
- Snapdragon 7s Gen 4: Android Headlines ties the Turbo leaks and live images to a phone powered by Snapdragon 7s Gen 4. [15]
- Snapdragon 8s Gen 4: Android Central notes the higher-end variant could use Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, while Gizmochina also points to an 8s Gen 4 claim via a reported listing. [16]
Other reported hardware details (treat as tentative)
NotebookCheck adds several extra details that have not been universally echoed elsewhere, including a metal mid-frame, possible IR blaster, and camera expectations such as a 50MP primary rear camera and 32MP selfie camera, plus connectivity notes (e.g., Wi‑Fi 6 / Bluetooth 5.4). [17]
Because these specifics aren’t yet broadly corroborated across all outlets, they’re best treated as “possible,” not “locked.”
Software: early images show OxygenOS, but leaks warn not to overread it
One leaked image set highlights an “About” screen that appears to show OxygenOS. But both Android Headlines and PhoneArena caution that “About device” screens on test units are sometimes spoofed ahead of launch (a common tactic to conceal hardware identity or software builds). [18]
Separately, another report suggests the OnePlus Turbo could ship with Android 16 (as reported/expected), but again, this is not official from OnePlus yet. [19]
India and global launch: “Turbo” in China, “Nord” elsewhere?
The most notable new development dated Dec 27, 2025 is the strengthening of the India angle.
A Hindustan Times report today says OnePlus may bring the Turbo concept to India under the Nord series branding, aligning with the pattern of OnePlus using different names in different regions. [20]
Android Central and Android Headlines also discuss the possibility of a Nord rebrand outside China, and suggest the Turbo may skip the US—noting the Nord line hasn’t had recent US launches. [21]
Timing: January in China? March around MWC?
No date is confirmed, but several reports cluster around early 2026:
- Gizmochina says rumors hint at a January launch window. [22]
- Hindustan Times suggests China could see it first in January 2026, with India potentially later, and notes MWC (March 2–5) as a possible global announcement window (not confirmed by OnePlus). [23]
- Android Headlines specifically claims a March 2026 launch timeframe and connects that timing to MWC (March 2–5, 2026). [24]
Why the OnePlus Turbo story is blowing up: battery anxiety is now a spec race
The smartphone market has spent years optimizing cameras and AI features, but late 2025 has shown a clear shift: battery size and endurance are becoming headline specs again.
If OnePlus actually ships a 9,000mAh phone with reasonably fast charging and a high-refresh display, it would create a new “power-user” lane: not quite a rugged phone, not a flashy gaming brick—just a mainstream handset built to last dramatically longer between charges. [25]
The tradeoff, based on leaked imagery and early commentary, is physical: these devices appear thicker, and the build may lean on plastic to keep pricing in check. [26]
What to watch next
As of December 27, 2025, here are the most important open questions:
- Official launch date and lineup size (Turbo vs Turbo Pro/second model). [27]
- Final chipset split (Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 vs Snapdragon 8s Gen 4) and which markets get which model. [28]
- Branding outside China—especially whether India gets it as a Nord device. [29]
- Real-world ergonomics—weight, thickness, and whether the huge battery translates to two-day (or longer) endurance without major compromises.
One thing is already clear: with pre-orders now open in China and leaks accelerating across multiple outlets, OnePlus Turbo is moving from “concept rumor” to “incoming product”—and early 2026 is shaping up to be a battery-first showdown.
References
1. www.gadgets360.com, 2. 9to5google.com, 3. www.androidcentral.com, 4. www.gadgets360.com, 5. www.gizmochina.com, 6. gadgets.beebom.com, 7. www.androidcentral.com, 8. www.androidheadlines.com, 9. www.phonearena.com, 10. www.androidcentral.com, 11. www.androidheadlines.com, 12. www.androidcentral.com, 13. www.gizmochina.com, 14. www.notebookcheck.net, 15. www.androidheadlines.com, 16. www.androidcentral.com, 17. www.notebookcheck.net, 18. www.androidheadlines.com, 19. www.gadgets360.com, 20. www.hindustantimes.com, 21. www.androidcentral.com, 22. www.gizmochina.com, 23. www.hindustantimes.com, 24. www.androidheadlines.com, 25. www.androidcentral.com, 26. www.androidcentral.com, 27. www.gadgets360.com, 28. www.androidcentral.com, 29. www.hindustantimes.com
