Happy New Year. If your resolution was to save money, I have bad news: the January smartphone launches are here, and they are actually good. For the last few years, “Flagship Killers” became a myth. They got too expensive and cut too many corners. But 2026 seems to be the correction year. Two massive devices just dropped in the global market this week: the performance-centric OnePlus Turbo 6 and the camera-centric Realme 16 Pro.
If you are sitting with a budget of PKR 160,000 – 190,000 (before the PTA vultures attack), which one should you buy? Let’s break it down.
The Contender 1: OnePlus Turbo 6 (The Gamer)
- The Chip: Snapdragon 8s Gen 5
- The Battery: 6,500 mAh
- The Vibe: “I don’t care about selfies, I just want 120FPS.”
OnePlus has finally stopped confused branding. The “Turbo” series is their answer to the iQOO dominance.
Why you want it:
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 5 is a monster. It is basically 95% of the performance of the flagship 8 Elite but at 60% of the cost. If you play PUBG New State or Genshin Impact, this phone will not throttle.
Also, can we talk about the battery? 6,500 mAh is the new standard for 2026, and OnePlus managed to fit it into a phone that doesn’t feel like a brick.
The Contender 2: Realme 16 Pro (The Vlogger)
- The Camera: 200MP Main + 64MP Periscope Zoom
- The Battery: 7,000 mAh
- The Vibe: “Look at my phone, look at my photos.”
Realme is doing what Realme does best: crazy numbers.
Why you want it:
The Periscope Zoom is back! After skipping it in the 15 series, the 16 Pro brings a proper 3x Optical / 120x Digital zoom. For portrait lovers, this is the killer feature.
And then there is the 7,000 mAh Silicon-Carbon battery. You could practically drive to Khunjerab Pass on a single charge. It supports 120W charging, meaning that massive battery fills up in 28 minutes.
The Comparison: Specs at a Glance
| Feature | OnePlus Turbo 6 | Realme 16 Pro |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8s Gen 5 (Winner 🏆) | Dimensity 8400-Ultra |
| Display | 1.5K Flat OLED (144Hz) | 1.5K Curved OLED (120Hz) |
| Main Camera | 50MP Sony LYT-808 | 200MP Samsung HP5 |
| Zoom | No Optical Zoom | 3x Periscope (Winner 🏆) |
| Battery | 6,500 mAh | 7,000 mAh (Winner 🏆) |
| Build | Glass/Matte | Vegan Leather |
The “Raza Rants” Reality Check (PTA Tax)
Here is the painful part.
Globally, these phones are priced around $450 – $500.
In a sane world, that would be PKR 140,000.
In Pakistan?
- Customs Duty: ~40%
- Sales Tax: 25%
- Levy: Because they can.
Expect these phones to land in the grey market at PKR 175,000 and officially (PTA Approved) closer to PKR 230,000.
At 2.3 Lacs, are they still “Flagship Killers”? Or are they just “Wallet Killers”?
The Verdict
- Buy the OnePlus Turbo 6 if: You are a gamer, a coder, or someone who hates curved screens. You want raw speed and clean software.
- Buy the Realme 16 Pro if: You take photos for Instagram, love the “leather” feel, and have anxiety about your battery dying.
I’m leaning towards the OnePlus for the flat screen alone. Which one would you pick