Danny Weber
18:55 19-11-2025
© OnePlus
Our OnePlus 15 review covers its 7300 mAh battery, 165 Hz AMOLED, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 speed, charging, camera trade-offs, software support, and pricing.
If you’re wondering where the OnePlus 15 came from, you’re not alone. The OnePlus 13 only just arrived, and logic suggests the next in line should have been the OnePlus 14. But in Chinese culture the number 4 is considered unlucky, so OnePlus is skipping it again—just as it once did between the OP3 and OP5. The OnePlus 15 has shown up soon after its predecessor and, at first glance, looks like just another flagship. The picture is more interesting than that.
The newcomer is a powerful machine with a record-setting battery and a super‑fast display. If photography is your main criterion, this isn’t the ideal pick. But if you want a true speedster that can run for roughly a day and a half without a charge, you’re looking in the right direction.
The design feels a bit peculiar—assembled from familiar cues and faintly reminiscent of the iPhone 16 Pro. In short, the OP15 looks neat but a touch plain. Credit where it’s due: the Sand Storm finish offers a ceramic-like texture that sits nicely in the hand. And it’s striking how a 7,300 mAh battery fits into such a slim body.
There’s also a notable change: the much-loved Alert Slider is gone. In its place is the Plus Key, which you can map to various actions, from summoning the voice assistant to opening Mind Space. It proves handy in everyday use, even if it lacks that satisfying mechanical feel.
The screen is a pleasure. It’s a 6.78-inch AMOLED with peak brightness up to 1,800 nits, and in certain games the refresh rate climbs to 165 Hz. The resolution is slightly lower than on the OnePlus 13, yet in practice it’s hard to tell—the image is crisp, colors are rich, and everything moves with finesse. Games that support 165 Hz are still few, but the headroom is there.
Inside is the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 paired with 16 GB of RAM, making this one of the most powerful phones on the market. Apps launch in a flash, the interface flies, and heavy titles like Genshin Impact run without a hiccup.
OnePlus also touts a touch sensor that scans inputs at 3,200 Hz. It may sound like marketing, yet the responsiveness really does feel instant.
The standout here is the battery. At 7,300 mAh, it’s a record even among long-runners. In testing, the phone lasted over 38 hours of continuous video playback—an achievement few devices can match. With the 80 W adapter, it goes from empty to full in 40 minutes. Wireless charging is supported, but only via the proprietary AIRVOOC stand. Qi2 isn’t supported.
The cameras are fine, but that’s about it. You get three 50 MP sensors, without the previous Hasselblad partnership and without much of a wow factor. Daylight photos look respectable, while low light is more of a mixed bag—shadows can come out too deep, and colors sometimes stretch in odd ways. The zoom stops at 3x, which isn’t a standout today; at 10x, noise and smearing are noticeable.
On the bright side, burst shooting reaches up to 10 frames per second, and color accuracy is generally solid. There’s also an underwater mode that turns the physical buttons into camera controls—useful on a beach trip.
OxygenOS, as usual, keeps things fast, intuitive, and uncluttered. The new Mind Space is a hub for screenshots and notes where the built‑in AI can analyze and summarize content. If that’s not your thing, you can ignore it—the system doesn’t push. The downside is longevity: OnePlus promises four years of Android updates and six years of security patches. With Google and Samsung now offering seven years, OnePlus sits a step behind.
The OnePlus 15 will cost from $900 (12/256 GB) to $1,000 (16/512 GB). U.S. sales are temporarily held up by bureaucracy, while other regions should see a faster rollout. The real test will be pricing pressure: the Pixel 10 Pro XL is already available with discounts to $899, and it offers better cameras and longer support.
If mobile photography is your priority, a Pixel or iPhone will suit you better. If you’re after raw power, a superb display, a monster battery, and the latest silicon, the OnePlus 15 delivers. It isn’t built for everyone, but for its audience, it’s poised to become a favorite.