If you’ve been waiting for the return of a dedicated zoom lens in realme‘s Number Series, the wait is finally over. The brand is kicking off 2026 with the launch of the realme 16 Pro Plus 5G and realme 16 Pro 5G in India, officially reintroducing the fan-favorite periscope telephoto shooter in the Pro Plus model.
The more premium smartphone boasts a 50-megapixel periscope camera capable of 3.5x optical zoom. In the midrange segment, this is a major feature to have. While many competitors rely on “in-sensor” cropping from the main camera to fake a zoom, there is no substitute for actual optical glass. A 3.5x focal length is perfect for portraits, compressing the background beautifully and letting you snap subjects from a comfortable distance.
It’s part of a triple-cam setup that also includes a 200-megapixel Samsung HP5 main sensor with optical image stabilization and an 8-megapixel ultrawide. The phone also features AI Edit Genie 2.0 and a Vibe Master mode to help you get that perfect shot straight out of the camera.
The standard realme 16 Pro 5G, meanwhile, keeps the massive 200-megapixel main shooter but skips the telephoto lens. So, if you’re eyeing that “Portrait Master” experience we’ve been talking about, the realme 16 Pro Plus 5G is definitely the one to get.
Other highlights
While the camera is the comeback story, the battery sees a substantial capacity bump. realme has packed a 7,000mAh battery into both the Pro and Pro Plus models, dubbing it the “Titan Battery.”
It isn’t the first time we’ve seen capacities hit the 7,000mAh mark; competitors and even some of realme’s own entries have played in this territory before. However, seeing this kind of capacity in a mainstream, style-focused device is a refreshing break from the industry’s stagnant 5,000mAh standard. It brings the Number Series in line with the recent trend of high-density silicon-carbon batteries that offer more juice without turning the phone into a brick.
SEE ALSO: realme 15 Pro 5G review: The only ‘Pro’ you need?
The realme 16 Pro Plus 5G and realme 16 Pro 5G support 80-watt Ultra Charge technology. It’s not the triple-digit speeds the company has achieved in the past, but with a tank this size, the fast charging is a necessary convenience.
How about the design language? This year, it’s called “Urban Wild,” showcased in the hero Master Gold colorway. But more than looks, it’s about toughness.
realme 16 Pro Plus 5G vs. the competition. Scroll down for the price
realme 16 Pro 5G vs. the competition. Scroll down for the price
Both devices are rated IP69. If you’re keeping track, that’s higher than the industry-standard IP68. It theoretically means the units can withstand high-pressure, high-temperature water jets. It’s overkill for your daily commute, but it means you definitely won’t have to worry about using any of the two handsets in a Manila downpour.
When it comes to silicon, the realme 16 Pro Plus 5G and realme 16 Pro 5G differ in processing power. The Pro Plus variant is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, while the Pro model uses the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Max.
The two smartphones rock a 144Hz AMOLED display that realme claims can hit peak brightness levels of up to 6,500 nits, likely in HDR highlights. They also ship with realme UI 7.0 based on Android 16 right out of the box.
Pricing and availability
The realme 16 Pro Series 5G is currently exclusive to India, with sales starting mid-January.
- realme 16 Pro 5G: Starts at Rs. 31,999 (around $355 or 21,036 Philippine pesos)
- realme 16 Pro Plus 5G: Starts Rs. 35,999 ($400 or 23,662 Philippine pesos)
As for a local release? If we follow the company’s usual calendar, we might see these land in the Philippines around April. Until then, we’ll be waiting to test if that periscope zoom is as good as we remember it.
realme 16 Pro Plus 5G specs
- 6.8-inch AMOLED display, 1,5K (1280 x 2800) resolution, 144Hz refresh rate
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor
- Adreno 722 GPU
- 8GB/12GB LPDDR5X RAM
- 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 storage
- Triple 200-megapixel main, 50-megapixel periscope telephoto, 8-megapixel ultrawide rear cameras
- 50-megapixel front camera
- In-display optical fingerprint reader
- 7,000mAh battery with 80-watt fast charging
- IP66/IP68/IP69K rating
- realme UI 7.0 based on Android 16
- Color options: Master Gold, Master Grey, Camellia Pink
realme 16 Pro 5G specs
- 6.78-inch AMOLED display, 1.5K (1272 x 2772) resolution, 144Hz refresh rate
- MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Max 5G processor
- Mali-G615 GPU
- 8GB/12GB LPDDR4X RAM
- 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 storage
- Dual 200-megapixel main, 8-megapixel ultrawide rear cameras
- 50-megapixel front camera
- In-display optical fingerprint reader
- 7,000mAh battery with 80-watt fast charging
- IP66/IP68/IP69K rating
- realme UI 7.0 based on Android 16
- Color options: Master Gold, Orchid Purple, Pebble Grey
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