OnePlus 16's Glowing Rear LEDs Called Standout but Embarrassing Feature

According to Android Authority, leaked and official photos OnePlus has shared on Weibo make it difficult to distinguish the OnePlus 16 from the OnePlus 15 because the two look so similar. The article said the OnePlus 16 appears to be an ordinary incremental upgrade, with the latest Snapdragon flagship chip and a tweaked camera setup, rather than a groundbreaking device. It added that it had expected more meaningful upgrades for this year's flagship.

Android Authority argued that the glowing rear lights look more like a sign of desperation than a meaningful addition. It contrasted the approach with OnePlus's earlier hardware and software innovations, including the Alert Slider, off-screen gestures, and app cloning. The article said the company now appears to be resorting to attention-grabbing tactics to promote the phone.

The criticism focused on the implementation. Android Authority said the LED pattern occupies three major sections of the phone's back, with a large, glowing number 16 and typography that it called nonsensical. Despite the extensive lighting, the article said a small, pulsating X near the camera appears intended as the notification indicator. The publication called that mismatch embarrassing and said the design gives off gaming-phone energy that does not match the phone's personality.

The article also compared the feature to Nothing's low-resolution rear LED panel, which can display notifications and other images. It noted that OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei left OnePlus to create Nothing, and said it is ironic that OnePlus is now imitating Nothing while, in its view, doing a shabbier job. Android Authority said that if OnePlus had copied Nothing more directly, the feature would have been improved, though it would still be embarrassing.

There may be a mitigating factor. According to Android Authority, a pre-order page that went live in China suggests the glowing LED lights will be exclusive to one color variant, making the feature optional rather than standard across all models. The article said users who do not want the lights could avoid them, and if the phone is otherwise solid and reliable, they would not need to cover the back with an opaque case.

The article questioned what would make the OnePlus 16 stand out if its most distinctive feature is optional. It suggested the company may need more foundational changes rather than LED lights to regain its former standing, though it doubted such changes are a priority. Android Authority also noted that the OnePlus 16 will not be available in the United States, because OnePlus formally withdrew from the country not long ago. As a result, the article said, the phone's lights or lack thereof will not affect U.S. readers.