In recent years, an increasing number of smartphone models have adopted 'Turbo' as either a suffix or series name, highlighting their performance capabilities. Brands such as iQOO, REDMI, and Honor have embraced this trend. However, when it comes to having the closest ties with 'Turbo', OnePlus stands out. Back in 2016, OnePlus introduced the OnePlus 3 series with a model featuring the 'T' suffix, a tradition that has persisted across several generations.

A decade later, OnePlus has officially transformed the 'T' suffix into a full-fledged series, rebranding it as 'Turbo'. On January 8th, OnePlus hosted a product launch event in Zhuhai, Guangdong, where it unveiled the two new models of the OnePlus Turbo6 series. Leigekeji was invited to the event and witnessed the debut of the new Turbo series alongside OnePlus.

(Image source: Photography taken on-site by Leigekeji)

How will the OnePlus Turbo 6 and OnePlus Turbo 6V, now with the 'T' transformed into 'Turbo', impact the smartphone market? What surprises does the new Turbo series hold? All the answers are revealed in this launch event.

The OnePlus Turbo 6 showcases a brand-new design language from the OnePlus family, with its back Deco fully embracing the 'Little Magic Cube' design seen in the flagship OnePlus 15. The 'Chasing Light Silver' color variant features a new micron-level silk replication process, giving it a more gaming-centric texture. The overall R-corners are more rounded, addressing the discomfort often associated with holding straight-screen phones with right-angle frames.

(Image source: Photography taken on-site by Leigekeji)

In terms of performance, the OnePlus Turbo 6 is powered by the fourth-generation Snapdragon 8s 'Fengchi Edition'. According to the official description, OnePlus has collaborated closely with Qualcomm to integrate the 'Fengchi Gaming Kernel' into the chip's foundation, providing deeper game optimization. The OnePlus Turbo 6 also boasts the same flagship-level Glacier Cooling System, along with a gaming Wi-Fi chip and a Lingxi Touch Control Chip. As of now, the OnePlus Turbo 6 is the only model in the industry's 'Turbo tier' equipped with three chips.

(Image source: Photography taken on-site by Leigekeji)

Also inherited from flagship models is the '165Hz' ultra-high refresh rate screen, which OnePlus has particularly emphasized this year. Compared to the standard 120Hz high refresh rate, the 165Hz screen offers faster response times, smoother and more natural special effects, and superior display quality in games. For instance, in FPS shooting games, the OnePlus Turbo 6 can kill opponents faster, spot them earlier, and maintain more stable continuous firing compared to standard high refresh rate models.

Currently, six major game categories, including shooting games, MOBA games, fighting games, racing games, rhythm games, and strategy games, all feature popular titles that support ultra-high refresh rates.

Beyond its performance, the OnePlus Turbo 6 also excels in terms of battery life, featuring OnePlus's first-ever 9000mAh battery. Compared to the standard 7000mAh battery found in 'Turbo' models in 2025, the OnePlus Turbo 6 can last 1.9 hours longer in MOBA games and 6.6 hours longer in outdoor navigation. If used for binge-watching dramas, it can continuously play for 39.9 hours.

(Image source: Photography taken on-site by Leigekeji)

The OnePlus Turbo 6 also supports 80W VOOC Flash Charge, bypass charging, and 27W wired reverse charging. At the event, OnePlus showcased a OnePlus Turbo 6 disguised as a power bank, allowing on-site media to charge their devices at speeds comparable to standard shared power banks.

Despite housing a massive 9000mAh battery, the OnePlus Turbo 6 maintains a sleek profile with a thickness of 8.5mm and a total weight of 217g, striking a perfect balance between battery life and hand feel.

(Image source: Photography taken on-site by Leigekeji)

Not only does the OnePlus Turbo 6 offer significant upgrades in performance and battery life, but it also achieves IP68, IP69, and IP69K dust and water resistance ratings, even passing seven military-standard tests. When a OnePlus gaming official smashed the OnePlus Turbo 6, which had been frozen in water for a day and night, out of the ice, it still functioned normally.

Additionally, the OnePlus Turbo 6 matches flagship standards in imaging, eye protection, and haptic feedback, featuring a 50-megapixel Sony large sensor main camera, flagship-level Live Photo triple stitching, and vintage filters.

(Image source: Photography taken on-site by Leigekeji)

Alongside the Turbo 6, the slightly lower-positioned OnePlus Turbo 6V was also released tonight. Compared to the Turbo 6, the 6V's ultra-high refresh rate screen is downgraded from 165Hz to 144Hz, but it still meets the ultra-high refresh rate standard and supports the 144Hz ultra-high refresh rate mode in 'Honor of Kings'. In terms of performance, the OnePlus Turbo 6V is equipped with the fourth-generation Snapdragon 7s mobile platform and the same flagship-level Glacier Cooling System.

(Image source: Photography taken on-site by Leigekeji)

In terms of pricing, the OnePlus Turbo 6 starts at 2099 yuan for the initial sale, while the OnePlus Turbo 6V starts at 1699 yuan. The specific prices are as follows:

OnePlus Turbo 6:

12+256GB: 2099 yuan

16+256GB: 2399 yuan

12+512GB: 2599 yuan

16+512GB: 2899 yuan

(Image source: Photography taken on-site by Leigekeji)

OnePlus Turbo 6V:

8+256GB: 1699 yuan

12+256GB: 1899 yuan

12+512GB: 2199 yuan

(Image source: Photography taken on-site by Leigekeji)

At the beginning of the launch event, Li Jie, President of OnePlus China, made it clear that OnePlus phones would henceforth be repositioned into three major series: the Digital Series, Ace Series, and Turbo Series. The Turbo Series is tasked with being the supernova of performance and battery life. Therefore, both new models in the OnePlus Turbo6 series are equipped with OnePlus's largest battery capacity to date, along with features like ultra-high refresh rates and high-performance chips.

(Image source: Photography taken on-site by Leigekeji)

In recent years, Turbo has emerged as a unique and popular smartphone tier, targeting groups with high performance demands but priced significantly lower than gaming phones, thus capturing a large consumer base among college students. However, in 2025, focusing solely on performance in the Turbo tier has become less effective, with massive batteries emerging as a new trend. We can observe that most Turbo models in 2025 have surged to 7000mAh batteries, even surpassing some flagship models.

OnePlus's decision to release the Turbo 6 as its opening model for 2026 positions it at a very opportune time. On one hand, as the Spring Festival approaches, the demand for phone upgrades is rapidly increasing, especially for models selected for parents and students. The Turbo 6 not only boasts a large battery but also reaches new heights in protection and performance that other Turbo-tier models have yet to match, catering to this demand. On the other hand, with the current winter vacation period, many students are looking to purchase new phones, and the pricing of both models in the Turbo 6 series is relatively reasonable, especially the Turbo 6V, which costs only around 1400 yuan after subsidies, making it an excellent value-for-money choice.

Regardless, after repositioning, the goals of OnePlus's three smartphone series have become clearer. In 2026, a year full of opportunities and challenges, the Turbo 6 series has made a promising start.