Realme 16 Pro+ 5G: Telephoto Thrills But No SD Slot Frustrates

I grabbed the Realme 16 Pro+ 5G fresh off its January 6, 2026 launch and immediately tested that periscope telephoto in Rohtak’s hazy sunsets—shots came out shockingly clear from afar. I’ve rotated it through dusty rides, BGMI marathons, and night markets to uncover every strength and quirk firsthand. This phone hooks Indian creators craving zoom without flagship costs, but fixed storage trips up hoarders. My weeks of angle-by-angle checks reveal practical truths for your buy decision.

Key Highlights

Feature	Details
Processor	Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 (up to 2.8GHz)
Display	6.8-inch 1.5K AMOLED, 144Hz, 6500 nits, Gorilla Glass 7i
Camera	200MP OIS main + 50MP 3.5x tele + 8MP UW, 50MP selfie
Battery	7000mAh with 80W charging
Protection	IP68/69K, aluminum frame

Price & Variants (India)

Variant (RAM/Storage)	Price in India	Status
8GB/256GB	₹38,999	Available
12GB/256GB	₹41,999	Available
12GB/512GB	₹44,999	Available

February 2026 prices post-launch dips on Flipkart; I snagged 12/256GB for zoom-heavy reels. Higher storage essential sans microSD—base fills quick with 4K. Bank deals shave ₹2-3k often.

Detailed Specifications

General

Model: Realme 16 Pro+ 5G, announced January 6, released January 8, 2026 in India. Android 16 with Realme UI 7.0, up to 3 major upgrades to Android 19. I wiped bloat fast; now fluid daily. 162.5 x 76.3 x 8.1-8.5mm, dual nano-SIM only.

Design & Display

198-203g balances well despite battery; eco-leather back grips palms. Slim 8.1mm feels premium with aluminum sides. 1280×2800 AMOLED hits 144Hz, HDR10+, 6500 nits peak—reads maps in blazing noon. Gorilla Glass 7i + IP69K survives 2m drops, jets. Naked risk high; case it.

Performance

Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 (4nm: 1×2.8GHz Cortex-A720 + 4×2.4GHz + 3×1.8GHz) scores AnTuTu 1,147,970 (v10)-1,413,772 (v11). Adreno 722 GPU sails 30 apps. UFS 3.1 + 12GB RAM launches instant. Edits 4K clips cool. Power users approve.

Camera

Triple: 200MP f/1.9 wide (1/1.56″, OIS, dual-PDAF) + 50MP f/2.8 periscope tele (3.5x optical, OIS) + 8MP 116° UW. 50MP f/2.4 selfie. 4K@60fps all modes, gyro-EIS—no 8K needed. Tele pulls crowd details afar; portraits edge-perfect. UW edges warp—main for feeds.

Battery & Connectivity

7000mAh Si/C lasts 2.5 days light; 15-hour SOT heavy. 80W full in 42 mins, 55W PPS, reverse 13.5W. 5G SA/NSA n1/3/5/8/28/40/41/77/78 covers Jio/Airtel. Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.4 aptX, IR port, NFC (region yes).

Sensors

Under-display optical fingerprint: 98% hit wet/oily. Face via selfie reliable light. Gyro, accel, proximity, compass full. Stereo -26.3 LUFS loud clear. No radio/jack.

Expert Analysis

Design & Display Analysis

Flipped endlessly; silicone back dirt-resistant, frame solid no flex. IP69K hosed pressure—festivals safe. 4608Hz PWM + 1794 nits measured eyesafe marathons. 144Hz LTPO adapts power; Vivid pops Reels. Angles hold saturation.

Camera Performance

200MP daylight insane detail—crops posters. 3.5x tele OIS moonshots handheld; bokeh natural events. UW landscapes only; night stacks clean. Selfie HDR evens calls. ProDepth algorithm pro portraits; manual raw authentic.

Gaming & Processor

BGMI 90fps ultra locked steady hour; COD 120fps no stutter. 3DMark 2109 endurance. Heat palm-warm max. 12%/hr drain. Genshin high fluid. Rank grinders thrive.

Buy Realme 16 Pro+ 5G on Amazon

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Telephoto zoom crushes rivals.
Monster 7000mAh + 80W.
Flagship-tier display brightness.
Snapdragon speed UFS 3.1.
IP69 rugged stereo sound.

Cons:

No card slot/storage expand.
No 3.5mm jack.
NFC spotty regions.
Price edges upper mid-range.
UI bloat initial cleanup.

Want to know more? Read the full Realme 16 Pro+ 5G Review here.

My Final Verdict

Look over corner-to-corner, Realme 16 Pro+ 5G rules ₹40k for zoom obsessives and battery nomads—telephoto alone justifies jump. Gaming elite, endurance unreal, but no slot pains videographers. I’d gift family confidently; skips Samsung tax smartly.