OnePlus once again seems ready to change its smartphone strategy. The company has confirmed that it is working on a brand new Turbo series, a move that shows that OnePlus is not willing to compromise on its existing phone status. While the brand already covers everything from budget-friendly Nord models to premium flagships, the Turbo series is set to target users who want better performance and longer battery life over everything else. The confirmation came directly from OnePlus China president Lee G. Lewis, who revealed that the Turbo series is not just an idea but an active project that will be launched soon. Interestingly, he also clarified that the Turbo will not be a one-time use phone, as earlier rumors had suggested, but a dedicated series with multiple models is planned. For now, the focus is on China, although earlier reports have indicated that OnePlus may bring the Turbo lineup to India within the next few months. The latest statements also suggest that the upcoming OnePlus Turbo series may outperform the OnePlus 15 in two key areas.

OnePlus to launch new Turbo series, suggests it will beat OnePlus 15 in two key areas

During OnePlus’ 12th anniversary event, Li Jie officially acknowledged the Turbo series for the first time. Although he stopped short of sharing hardware details, he made two bold claims that immediately caught attention. According to him, the Turbo phones will deliver the strongest battery life in its segment and he described it as “frighteningly strong performance”. These statements alone suggest that OnePlus aims to push the boundaries, possibly even beyond what its own Flagship Number series currently offers.

This has naturally triggered comparisons with the OnePlus 15. If the Turbo series is supposed to be even stronger in terms of performance and stamina, it raises the question of how OnePlus plans to differentiate the two. The company has hinted that the Turbo phone will have the same “performance genes” as its flagships. This opens the door to the possibility of a top-tier Snapdragon chipset, possibly the same processor used in the OnePlus 15, paired with more aggressive tuning or even a larger battery.

As far as we can think, OnePlus may make changes to the chipset or cooling system to boost sustained gaming performance. Stronger haptics, better thermal management, and accessories designed for gaming could also be part of the broader Turbo ecosystem. However, none of these have been officially confirmed, and OnePlus has so far kept conversations focused on performance and battery life rather than features.

What is clear is the intention. The Turbo series is said to be gaming-focused, although OnePlus hasn’t revealed where it will sit in terms of price. Given the emphasis on power, it wouldn’t be surprising if these phones were priced close to or even above current flagships. For reference, the OnePlus 15 is priced at Rs 72,999 in India, which gives a rough idea of ​​the area in which OnePlus may play.

Earlier leaks had pointed towards a phone called OnePlus Ace 6 Turbo, which is believed to be being developed for China. Many people assumed that this was the Turbo phone that was being discussed. Li Jie’s latest comments now suggest that the Turbo will have its own lineup, separate from the Ace series, which could mean a change in branding or positioning once the phones are officially launched.

Some leaks have also hinted at ambitious hardware, including a larger 6.78-inch OLED display with high refresh rates and an unusually large battery that could go up to 9,000mAh. If these details prove to be accurate, they would align well with OnePlus’ claims of endurance and performance, especially for gaming-heavy use.

At the moment, the timeline points to a launch in China in early 2026, possibly around January or February. Reports are still conflicting as to whether the first Turbo phone will use a Snapdragon or MediaTek chipset, underscoring that the project is still in development. With OnePlus officially acknowledging the Turbo series, expect more clarity in the coming weeks as the brand slowly reveals how aggressive it plans to be with this new performance-driven lineup.