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| The OnePlus Turbo will launch as a cheaper option to the OnePlus 15R, latter pictured. |
OnePlus' upcoming gaming-focused smartphone has surfaced on Geekbench, revealing surprisingly competitive performance that bridges the gap between mid-range affordability and flagship-level gaming capabilities.
The smartphone world is buzzing with anticipation as OnePlus prepares to launch its entirely new Turbo series, specifically engineered for gaming enthusiasts and power users. Last week, the company officially confirmed the development of this new lineup, promising "frighteningly strong" performance and battery life in its segment. While official details remain scarce, recent leaks—including a revealing appearance on the popular Geekbench benchmarking platform—have provided substantial insight into what we can expect from these gaming-focused devices.
According to leaked information, the OnePlus Turbo series is expected to debut in January 2026 in China, with potential global availability still under consideration. The series is positioned to fill a specific niche in the market: offering flagship-level gaming performance at a more accessible price point, with an extraordinary focus on battery longevity.
🔍 Early Performance Benchmarks Surface
The most concrete evidence yet has emerged from Geekbench database listings for a device with the model number PLU110, widely believed to be the upcoming OnePlus Turbo. These technical revelations paint a picture of a seriously capable gaming smartphone:
- Processor: The device is equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, a processor designed for upper mid-range to premium devices. This octa-core CPU features a single high-performance ARM Cortex-X4 core clocked at 3.2 GHz, supplemented by seven Cortex-A720 cores distributed across three clusters for balanced power and efficiency.
- Performance Scores: In Geekbench 6.5 tests, the PLU110 prototype scored approximately 2,143 points in single-core and 6,883 points in multi-core benchmarks. This places its performance roughly on par with devices like the Poco F7 (which also uses the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4) but slightly behind the Nothing Phone (3) by about 3% in both tests. Compared to OnePlus's own lineup, it reportedly falls "a way behind" the recent OnePlus 15R but matches the older OnePlus 13R.
- Memory and Software: The benchmark listing also confirms the presence of 16GB of RAM and indicates the device runs Android 16.
You can view the official Geekbench listing for the OnePlus PLU110 here: Geekbench Search Results for OnePlus PLU110.
📱 Expected Hardware and Gaming Features
Beyond the processor, leaks and rumors from multiple industry sources suggest the OnePlus Turbo will be a formidable gaming machine with several standout features:
The massive battery capacity—reportedly around 9,000 mAh—is perhaps the most staggering rumor, dwarfing the 5,500 mAh batteries found in current OnePlus Ace models and even surpassing the 7,400 mAh cell in the global OnePlus 15R. This aligns perfectly with OnePlus's stated goal for the Turbo series: to "lead the strongest battery life in its class".
🌍 Regional Availability and Market Strategy
Currently, OnePlus has confirmed the Turbo series only for the Chinese market, with no official word on international availability. However, leaks suggest a more complicated and interesting global strategy may be in play.
Industry tipsters have revealed that a OnePlus device codenamed "Volkswagen" is in development for global markets, including India. This device shares remarkably similar specifications with the rumored Turbo—including the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, a 165Hz 1.5K OLED display, and that massive 9,000 mAh battery. The main difference appears to be slightly slower 80W wired charging compared to the 100W charging rumored for the China model.
This has led to speculation that the "Volkswagen" device could be a rebranded or slightly modified version of the OnePlus Turbo for global release, potentially under the OnePlus Nord 6 name. The current OnePlus Nord 5 features a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 and a 6,800 mAh battery, making a successor with the 8s Gen 4 and a 9,000 mAh battery a logical, though substantial, upgrade.
A prominent tech leaker, Abhishek Yadav, has commented on this potential global device. You can see his post on X here: @yabhishekhd on OnePlus "Volkswagen".
For reference, you can view the Poco F7, which uses the same Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, on Amazon: Poco F7 on Amazon.
🔮 OnePlus's Growing Gaming Ambitions
The introduction of the Turbo series represents a strategic expansion for OnePlus. The company has seen impressive growth in 2025, reporting year-on-year growth of more than 40 percent, largely driven by younger buyers. The Turbo series appears designed to capitalize on this momentum by directly targeting the performance-hungry mobile gaming community.
OnePlus President Li Jie Louis stated that while 2025 was a year of strong growth, 2026 will be about "exploring the upper limit of gaming performance," clearly signaling the company's ambitions for the Turbo lineup.
This move places OnePlus in more direct competition with established gaming phone brands like RedMagic and ASUS ROG Phone. However, by potentially positioning the Turbo as a more mainstream device with gaming capabilities rather than a niche "gaming phone," OnePlus may be attempting to capture a broader audience that wants serious performance without overtly specialized aesthetics.
As with all pre-release information, these specifications and details remain unofficial and subject to change until OnePlus makes its official announcement, expected in January 2026. The tech community will undoubtedly be watching closely to see if the OnePlus Turbo can deliver on its promise of flagship gaming performance without the flagship price tag.
