The OnePlus 15 has officially arrived, and despite some naming confusion — yes, the company jumped straight from the 13 to the 15 — it’s clear this device wants to make a bold statement. The flagship follows just months after the OnePlus 13, but it isn’t just a quick refresh. With a faster processor, a massive battery, and one of the smoothest displays on the market, the OnePlus 15 feels like a confident step forward — even if it still has room to grow in the camera department.
Pricing and Release Delays
For now, the OnePlus 15 doesn’t have a confirmed U.S. release date. The phone’s launch hit a snag due to government certification delays, which have slowed approval for all new devices. According to OnePlus, the phone has passed all FCC tests and is simply waiting for final clearance before it can officially hit American shelves.
When it does arrive, expect two models:
- 12GB RAM / 256GB storage — around $900
- 16GB RAM / 512GB storage — around $1,000
However, the company has hinted that prices might shift depending on market conditions.
Design and Display
The OnePlus 15 keeps things sleek and familiar, borrowing much of its design language from the OnePlus 13 series. While the overall look feels a bit derivative — some might even call it “iPhone-inspired” — there are still nice touches. The Sand Storm finish feels ceramic-smooth, and despite housing a massive 7,300mAh battery, the phone remains surprisingly thin at just 0.31 inches.
OnePlus also replaced its beloved Alert Slider with a new Plus Key. This customizable button can still act as a silent toggle, or it can launch apps, trigger AI tools, or take screenshots. It’s a flexible change that adds personality, even if longtime fans might miss the slider.
The display is another highlight: a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 165Hz refresh rate and 1,800 nits of peak brightness. It’s sharp, fluid, and easy to read under direct sunlight. The resolution drops slightly compared to the previous generation, but the tradeoff is a faster and smoother screen — perfect for gamers and heavy multitaskers.
Camera: Good, Not Great
Photography has never been OnePlus’s strongest suit, and the OnePlus 15 continues that trend. It uses a triple 50MP setup powered by the company’s new DetailMax imaging engine after parting ways with Hasselblad.
The photos look solid in daylight — colors are natural, textures crisp — but low-light shots can be inconsistent. Sometimes shadows lose detail or highlights flatten out, especially in tricky lighting. The telephoto camera delivers decent 3x optical zoom, but anything above 6x starts to show visible noise and pixel blur.
Still, OnePlus deserves credit for color accuracy and motion capture. The camera’s ability to shoot bursts at 10 frames per second is fantastic for fast-moving subjects — or for anyone trying to photograph a playful cat. The company has also improved durability, giving the device IP68 and IP69K water resistance, and even added an underwater camera mode for snapping photos in shallow water.
Performance and Battery Life
This phone is all about raw power. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip paired with up to 16GB of RAM makes the OnePlus 15 one of the fastest Android phones you can buy. Apps launch instantly, animations are fluid, and multitasking is effortless. Even demanding games like Call of Duty Mobile run flawlessly — though few titles yet take advantage of the display’s full 165Hz refresh rate.
Battery life is where the phone truly shines. The 7,300mAh battery is a monster, easily lasting over a day and a half on a single charge. In tests, it delivered around 38 hours of continuous video playback — setting a new record for OnePlus devices. With the 80W SUPERVOOC charger included in the box, it powers back to 100% in roughly 40 minutes.
Wireless charging works up to 50W, but only with OnePlus’s own AIRVOOC accessory, as it doesn’t yet support the Qi2 standard.
Software and AI Features
Running OxygenOS, the OnePlus 15 delivers one of the cleanest and most responsive Android experiences available. The interface feels fast, elegant, and free of clutter — though OnePlus has started integrating more AI tools.
The new Mind Space hub lets users save screenshots, summarize notes, or ask the built-in AI to analyze content. While it’s not groundbreaking, it’s convenient — and importantly, optional. For those who prefer a minimalist experience, these features stay out of the way.
One area where OnePlus lags behind competitors is long-term support. The company promises four years of OS updates and six years of security patches. That’s solid, but still short of Google’s and Samsung’s seven-year guarantees.
Verdict: A Powerhouse With One Weak Spot
The OnePlus 15 continues the brand’s legacy of performance-first smartphones. It’s fast, responsive, and boasts incredible battery life — all packed in a sleek frame that feels premium without overcomplicating the design.
If photography is your top priority, there are stronger options from Google or Samsung. But if you want a flagship phone that prioritizes speed, display quality, and endurance, the OnePlus 15 easily earns its place among the best phones of 2025 — and possibly well into 2026.
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