A new leak claims the OnePlus 16 could arrive with symmetrical bezels under 1mm on all sides, possibly around 0.8mm. I love beautiful hardware as much as anyone, but shaving off fractions of a millimeter only matters if it actually makes the phone better to use.
According to a leak from tipster Old Chen Air surfaced on Chinese social media website Weibo, the OnePlus 16 is tipped to feature sub-1mm bezels across all four sides, with the number floating around 0.8mm.
For context, the previous generation reportedly sat closer to 1.1mm. On paper, that sounds like a tiny difference. In real life, it could dramatically change how the phone looks in your hand. And visually, I get it.
Ultra-thin symmetrical bezels are one of the few design changes you notice instantly. You don’t need a spec sheet. You don’t need benchmarks. You just unlock the screen and think, “Okay, that looks premium.”
Thin bezels are not just aesthetic vanity. They can make a phone feel more immersive without increasing its physical footprint. If OnePlus keeps the device size similar but expands the usable display area, that is a real-world win.
Currently the phones are already massive. We do not need more width and height. We need smarter use of space. If OnePlus can deliver a bigger visual canvas without turning the device into a tablet cosplay experiment, that is design done right.
But here is the part most skip. Bezels are not useless. They give your thumb breathing room. They reduce accidental touches. They act as structural buffer. Once you push borders down to 0.8mm, you are relying heavily on software palm rejection, glass durability, and frame engineering to compensate. If OnePlus nails it, fantastic. If they don’t, users will feel it immediately.
The Bigger Leak Storm Around the OnePlus 16
The bezel rumor does not exist in isolation. The OnePlus 16 leak cycle has been ambitious. The previous reports covered about a 240Hz display, which is frankly wild for a mainstream flagship. Several reports also mention a possible 9,000mAh battery.
There are also conflicting camera leaks: some sources suggest a 50MP triple setup with a 200MP periscope, while others float more extreme dual 200MP configurations. This is either the most overpowered phone of 2026 or the most optimistic rumor season I’ve seen in a while.
And then there is talk that OnePlus may revive a Pro or Ultra tier. If that happens, ultra-thin bezels make perfect sense as a visual differentiator. You want the premium model to look obviously premium from across the room. Design is marketing. And thin borders photograph beautifully.
Sub-1mm bezels are cool. They are satisfying. They make the phone look futuristic. I will absolutely admire them in the first unboxing video. But the real flex in 2026 is not deleting borders. It is delivering consistent performance, thermal control that does not melt your palm, cameras that are reliable instead of experimental, and software support that lasts.
If the OnePlus 16 combines thin bezels with a genuinely balanced flagship experience, then yes, this will matter. If it is just another numbers race, then 0.8mm is just a statistic. Right now, I am cautiously impressed. Show me the full picture, and then I will decide whether this is design evolution or just another spec-sheet flex.
Either way, OnePlus clearly wants attention this year. And honestly I think it’s working.
