The OnePlus 15 is officially here: the final week of October could mark a turning point for anyone hunting a new phone!
For now, the OnePlus 15 is making its appearance in the Far East, but it will soon – probably in the middle of November – debut on the global stage as well. We'll keep you posted when OnePlus 15 steps outside of China, but in the meantime, let's check it out.
In a nutshell:
Top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset for maximum performance
A large 7,300 mAh capacity battery with 120W fast charging
Smaller display, but thinner bezels and a higher refresh rate
Flat display design and a new camera island
Bigger main camera sensor for better photos
It's cheaper than its predecessor!
Right before the unveiling took place, the OnePlus Club on X posted the expected differences between the new device and its predecessor:
Things are looking great, don't they? But let's inspect them in detail and see what's good and bad (for some).
The mighty chipset
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is what drives it all: that's pretty much the best silicon for an Android phone at the end of 2025, so it's safe to say the OnePlus 15 will be a raw power champion. The OnePlus 13 with its Snapdragon 8 Elite was amazing as well, but the new phone is expected to be even faster and more efficient thanks to the new chipset.
A shockingly large battery
The lights on the OnePlus 15 are kept on thanks to the 7,300 mAh capacity cell on this.
That's a standout feature, if I ever saw one. With a cell this large, users can expect extended screen-on time, whether watching videos, gaming, or running heavy apps, without constantly worrying about running out of juice.
It charges insanely fast, too
The OnePlus 15 brings along fast charging speeds of 120W, as if the 100W of its predecessor somehow weren't enough. In reality, this will probably be seen by a modest upgrade by many, but OnePlus deserves applauses for squeezing another 20% of speed on top of the already blazing-fast 100W. Are you reading this, Apple and Samsung?!
Recommended Stories
A smaller display, but with a higher refresh rate
The OnePlus 15 comes with a slightly smaller 6.78-inch display (as opposed to the 6.82-inch panel on the previous model), but this time around, the refresh rate jumps to 165Hz. Some say they don't need anything above 120Hz, but gamers will probably be happy about the new specs. The display resolution, though, drops from 2K to 1.5K, so keep that in mind.
New display material
As the OnePlus Club noted, the OnePlus 15 utilizes BOE X3 display material instead of the BOE X2. Thus, the OnePlus 15 enjoys extremely slim 1.15 mm bezels for a more immersive viewing experience. The custom BOE X3 panel is said to offer a 30% longer lifespan, lower power use, and higher brightness and color accuracy than its predecessor. It will be managed by OnePlus's in-house Display P3 chipset for consistent brightness and can dim to 1-nit for comfortable night viewing.
Going flat!
The OnePlus 15 will be a joy to use for those users who can't stand curved displays. The brand-new device ditches the quad-curved display of the OnePlus 13 and now offers a flat, sleek and sturdy experience.
The bigger main camera sensor
The OnePlus 15 will be of interested to photographers who use the main camera a lot. That's because the 50 MP sensor grows in size from 1/1.56" to 1/1.4".
A bigger sensor is beneficial because it captures more light, which improves image quality, especially in low-light conditions. It also allows for better depth of field control, giving photos a more professional, background-blurred look. Additionally, a larger sensor generally produces sharper, more detailed images with less noise.
The telephoto is upgraded as well
The 50 MP 3x telephoto snapper is updated as well, getting a lens that produces a magnification of 3.5x. The OnePlus 13 had a 73 mm focal length equivalent zoom, while the OnePlus 15 offers an 85mm equivalent focal length.
This means users can get closer to their subjects while maintaining clarity and detail, making it ideal for portraits or capturing distant scenes. The longer focal length also offers better background compression, giving photos a more professional look. Overall, the upgraded telephoto lens adds versatility, letting photographers achieve high-quality zoom shots without sacrificing sharpness or image quality.
No more Hasselblad collaboration!
The OnePlus 13 is probably the last OnePlus flagship that has a camera setup co-developed with Hasselblad, as the OnePlus 15 now debuts the DetailMax Engine.
The key question now is whether DetailMax can go beyond simply matching the performance of the Hasselblad-era collaborations and actually exceed expectations. Can it deliver the level of sharpness, color accuracy, and dynamic range that satisfies long-time fans while also wowing mobile photography enthusiasts? Its success will hinge on whether it can combine technical precision with real-world usability, producing images that feel both professional and effortlessly achievable on a smartphone. If it pulls this off, DetailMax could redefine what users expect from flagship mobile cameras.
The Alert slider is gone, too
This is another key point that could be seen as a negative by some longtime OnePlus aficionados. The new OnePlus 15 ditches the trademark Alert Slider on the side and now replaces it with the new Plus Key, which can be customized to perform various tasks. However, the slider was a favorite of many.
Price and availability
Mighty good news: the OnePlus 15 is announced at a lower price than the OnePlus 13, its predecessor!
These are the variants and the pricing in its homeland, plus the equivalent sum in US currency (when directly converted at the moment):
12 GB of RAM, 256 GB storage – CNY 3,999 (~$562)
16 GB of RAM, 256 GB storage – CNY 4,299 (~$604)
12 GB of RAM, 512 GB storage – CNY 4,599 (~$646)
16 GB of RAM, 512 GB storage – CNY 4,899 (~$688)
16 GB of RAM, 1 TB storage – CNY 5,399 (~$758)
Of course, the global variant will launch at a higher than ~$560 price, but the drop in price could be a positive. Last year, when the OnePlus 13 was announced in China, prices started from 4499 yuan (~$632 after direct conversion). The $70 lower price is as rare as a unicorn or a leprechaun these days.
All in all, the OnePlus 15 seems like a great flagship killer (or a killer flagship) – will this be your next smartphone?
Will the OnePlus 15 global variant be very different from the Chinese model?
Yes, very much so.
28.57%
Probably, but I expect minimal changes.
42.86%
No.
28.57%
"Iconic Phones" is coming this Fall!
Relive the most iconic and unforgettable phones from the past 20 years! Iconic Phones is a stunningly illustrated book we’ve been crafting for over a year—and it’s set to launch in just a couple of months!
Iconic Phones: Revolution at Your Fingertips is the ultimate coffee table book for any phone enthusiast. Featuring the stories of more than 20 beloved devices, it takes you on a nostalgic journey through the mobile revolution that transformed our world. Don’t miss out—sign up today to lock in your early-bird discount!
Sebastian, a veteran of a tech writer with over 15 years of experience in media and marketing, blends his lifelong fascination with writing and technology to provide valuable insights into the realm of mobile devices. Embracing the evolution from PCs to smartphones, he harbors a special appreciation for the Google Pixel line due to their superior camera capabilities. Known for his engaging storytelling style, sprinkled with rich literary and film references, Sebastian critically explores the impact of technology on society, while also perpetually seeking out the next great tech deal, making him a distinct and relatable voice in the tech world.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: