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OnePlus phones have always been in a bit of a strange place in the smartphone world. They started off as the rebellious flagship-killers on the market, which is when I got my first one (the OnePlus 3), but then spent a few years trying to become more like the traditional premium phones.
Now, in 2025, it feels like OnePlus has finally found a balance. The OnePlus 15 looks very different from its predecessors, and comes with the best battery life you will currently find on the market — a definitive win in my book.
If you want clean software, fast performance, long battery life, and some of the fastest charging speeds you can get outside of China, OnePlus' phones are one of the best options you can go for. But which model should you buy today, and which ones are still worth considering?
The OnePlus 15 is the company’s return to form. It’s not the boldest-looking phone the brand has made, and it definitely leans more towards “practical” than “iconic”, but when it comes to using it in real life, this generation is undoubtedly a major step in the history of OnePlus phones.
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Despite what fans are saying about its design and the removal of the Alert Slider (I'm still kind of salty about that one myself), the OnePlus 15 is fast, efficient, incredibly bright outdoors, and shockingly long-lasting thanks to its 7,300 mAh battery. And unlike most flagships today, you still get a charger in the box.
Why I picked it?
Performance, battery life, and charging. These three areas that define the OnePlus 15.
This is one of the first phones powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and the results are outstanding. The OnePlus 15 showcased some of the highest GPU stability scores I've ever seen, even compared to dedicated gaming phones.
What makes it a standout flagship in 2025, however, is its battery life, which is the strongest I've seen from a OnePlus phone or any other grand for that matter:
30+ hours in our browsing test
Nearly 14 hours in our gaming test
Over 12 hours in video streaming
The outstanding charging speeds — something the company has long been known for — only earns more brownie points for the OnePlus 15. The US model hits 80W speeds, while the global model climbs to 120W with the included charger. That means a full charge in under an hour.
Camera quality has also taken a meaningful step forward thanks to OnePlus’ new DetailMax processing. The main camera delivers more natural detail and far more balanced nighttime shots compared to the OnePlus 13.
Who is it for?
If you want maximum performance and the absolute longest-lasting battery on a mainstream flagship in 2025, this is the OnePlus to buy.
It’s also the best choice for anyone who wants fast wired and wireless charging support, though keep in mind you need OnePlus’ proprietary chargers to make use of that system.
The OnePlus 15 is not the most visually exciting phone I've seen from the company (I personally reserve that for the OnePlus 5T Star Wars Limited Edition), and the software update commitment (four years of OS updates) lags behind Samsung and Google. But everything else about the user experience is fast, fluid, enjoyable and reliable.
OnePlus 15 is here! The phone ships with a $100 discount (any phone trade-ins, any condition), and you can also save up to $899 with eligible device trade-ins. The device also comes with a free pair of the OnePlus Buds 3 Pro. You can trade in any device in any condition for $100 off. There's a guaranteed $100 cashback available with trade-ins.
Macro camera is replaced by a very useful 2X telephoto camera
Flagship-level performance
What we don't like
No wireless charging
Less battery life despite larger battery capacity
Video quality leaves more to be desired
The OnePlus 13R brings last year’s flagship performance into the mid-range category, and it does so at a very competitive price. With a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, a large battery, a surprisingly good display, and a useful telephoto camera, this is arguably the best-value OnePlus phone you can buy right now. That said, we expect the OnePlus 15R to come out by the end of December 2025, so it will soon be replaced by its successor.
Why I picked it?
The 13R is a refined version of everything OnePlus does well at this price.
Performance is one particular area where it stands out. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 still crushes most phones in this price segment, and the UFS 4.0 storage only makes the 13R feel even more snappy.
The display, which is one of the best you’ll find under $600, matches the OnePlus 13 in brightness and color accuracy. And unlike the previous R-series phones, the 13R finally replaces the gimmicky macro camera with a proper 2X telephoto — something I think all other manufacturers should take note of for their mid-range phones.
Battery life is pretty solid with a 6,000 mAh capacity, and charging is just as fast as on the new flagship: 80W in the US (but 80W globally).
Who is it for?
The OnePlus 13R is perfect if you want a phone that feels like a flagship without paying flagship prices.
It’s also an excellent choice if you want:
A bright, sharp display
A telephoto camera in the mid-range
Fast charging
Strong sustained performance
Given that we will soon be seeing the OnePlus 15R, though, you should skip it and wait for the new model instead.
The OnePlus 13R is one of the best mid-range phones. But now, it's unfortunately unavailable for purchase at the official store. You can add your email and get notified once it's back in stock.
The OnePlus 15 has the most consistent camera system.
The 13R offers a useful telephoto camera at a mid-range price.
The Nord models are fine for casual shooters.
3. Charging preferences:
If fast charging matters to you, every OnePlus phone will satisfy your needs. Of course, the flagship models offer the fastest speeds and really fast wireless charging.
How long are OnePlus phones supported?
As of 2025:
OnePlus 15: 4 years of OS updates, 6 years of security updates
OnePlus 13R: 4 OS updates, 6 years of security updates
Nord series: Typically 2–3 OS updates, 3 years of security
This is still behind Samsung and Google but ahead of many other Android brands.
What is OxygenOS, and how does it differ from other Android versions?
OxygenOS is OnePlus’ custom software based on Android. It’s known for:
Fast, smooth animations
Helpful but unobtrusive AI features
Clean design
Very little or no bloatware at all
Compared to Samsung’s One UI, OxygenOS feels lighter and closer to stock Android, though recent versions borrow some visual elements from iOS.
Which older OnePlus models are still worth buying?
The OnePlus 13 is still a great option, especially if you find it at a good price secondhand. The same will be true for the OnePlus 13R when it eventually gets replaced by the 15R. Both still offer strong performance, great battery life, and capable cameras. Anything older than the 13R is harder to recommend due to aging software support, though.
What should I know about OnePlus battery longevity and charging?
OnePlus is known for extremely fast charging, but the company’s Battery Health Engine helps mitigate long-term wear. In my experience, OnePlus batteries tend to maintain health well over 2–3 years. Remember that using the included charger ensures the best speeds and optimized charging. Also, keep in mind that wireless charging on OnePlus is proprietary (AirVOOC), and Qi2 is currently not supported.
How do we test the best OnePlus phones?
Just like with every device we review at PhoneArena, each OnePlus phone goes through our full suite of objective lab tests and real-world evaluations. This includes display quality, battery life, charging performance, camera performance, and overall speed and thermal behavior.
Camera quality is evaluated through side-by-side comparisons against previous OnePlus models and key rivals in the same price class. We analyze detail, color accuracy, dynamic range, low-light consistency, and video stabilization. These results are reflected in our PhoneArena Camera Score.
Display quality is measured with professional-grade equipment in our lab. We test peak brightness at 100% and 20% APL, color accuracy, gamma, minimum brightness for nighttime use, and reflectivity. OnePlus phones often excel in brightness and color reproduction, especially on their higher-end models.
Battery life is tested with the screen set to 200 nits, Wi-Fi enabled, and three separate standardized tests:
Web browsing test simulating real-world scrolling behavior
YouTube video streaming test
3D gaming test measuring GPU performance and efficiency
Charging performance is tested using the manufacturer-recommended charger. If a charger comes in the box — as is still the case with OnePlus — we use that one. Since OnePlus phones typically support very high wired charging speeds, we measure percentage gained at 15 and 30 minutes, plus full charge time.
Finally, we run benchmarks to assess CPU and GPU performance, as well as thermal stability under load. OnePlus devices often stand out here thanks to their powerful chipsets and strong sustained performance.
Aleksandar is a tech enthusiast with a broad range of interests, from smartphones to space exploration. His curiosity extends to hands-on DIY experiments with his gadgets, and he enjoys switching between different brands to experience the latest innovations. Prior to joining PhoneArena, Aleksandar worked on the Google Art Project, digitizing valuable artworks and gaining diverse perspectives on technology. When he's not immersed in tech, Aleksandar is an outdoorsman who enjoys mountain hikes, wildlife photography, and nature conservation. His interests also extend to martial arts, running, and snowboarding, reflecting his dynamic approach to life and technology.
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