OnePlus 15 Is Fast, Robust And More Premium Than Last Year

Last Updated:November 28, 2025, 09:16 IST

OnePlus 15 is the first flagship phone in India to launch with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and here's our view on the new device.

OnePlus 15 has the latest hardware, a triple camera system but a new price tag

The OnePlus 15 has made an early entry into the Indian market this year, and makes it the first phone to launch in the country with the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. The new device is part of its changing design language which moves away from the circular module and also ditches the Hasselblad partnership for its in-house image engine. 

All these come for a price tag of Rs 72,999 which makes it costlier than the OnePlus 13 launched earlier this year. It claims to have better hardware innards, a new battery setup and some intriguing twist to the cameras. But does the OnePlus 15 settle or go for the jugular, that’s what we have been trying to find out and here are the results. 

The New Design 

The curves have given way to the new flat edges and display that seems to have been the go-to choice for most phone brands in 2025. Even at the back, you are reminded about the switch to the OnePlus 13s design and the 15 looks like a bigger version of the compact model, even including the square camera module.

It weighs around 215 grams and the use of aluminium alloy frame gives it solidity while the glass back has some level of protection. It also gets IP68 and IP69K rating for better durability against high pressure water jets. 

The flat edges give a solid grip in the hand but you could say that the OnePlus 15 now looks like any other phone out there. The wide profile of the phone might be an issue for some people but designs are always subjective and if you ask us about our choice between the OnePlus 13 and the 15, we would go for the latter. 

The Display Conundrum 

As you might have read in most places, the display on the OnePlus 15 is supposedly a downgrade since it now supports 1.5K resolution rather than 2K. But you also now get the screen refresh rate up to 165Hz which is mostly limited to gaming. There is Dolby Vision and other display niceties that you would expect in this range. 

To the naked eye the display looks crisp, sharp and the colours are punchy. The sleek bezels add to the overall experience and let you enjoy watching videos or even read content without any distractions on the border.

In fact, the thin bezels make the 6.78-inch display look bigger than it is and with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 layer the protection base is nicely covered. 

The Latest Hardware Show Off

OnePlus again goes for the latest available hardware and in this case you have the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC with up to 16GB RAM and 512GB storage but we got to test the 12GB variant with 256GB storage. This chipset has raised some heating concerns but we didn’t notice anything alarming during our time, and even while playing games. Some level of heat is hard to avoid but using the bigger cooling chamber system surely does its work. 

The performance is mostly going to keep you happy, unless you are bothered about throttling that might not make a difference for regular users.

The RAM upgrade is also an understated part of the OnePlus 15 which gives further boost to its overall file transfer and device response speed. Is there anything wrong with the performance of the OnePlus 15? We can’t really pinpoint any obvious issues but nitpicking might give you something to talk about. 

The OxygenOS Overhaul 

The Android 16 update from OnePlus brings a vastly improved and fluid OxygenOS 16 version to the OnePlus 15. We heard about its overall changes and design elements that make it look sleek and after using the device and the new software we can vouch for those claims.

It continues to be versatile and heavy customisable but the animations have become lighter and that results in faster app launches as well as overall smoothness while using the phone. You also get more dynamic lockscreen settings and options that give the main screen a refined look. 

The Mind Space integration with Gemini is another strong part of OnePlus taking AI in a unique direction that has its merits for users. The Plus Key button is the interaction point for the feature and it lets you capture content, store them on the phone and let Gemini assist you with further queries or demands. We’ve mostly liked OxygenOS for its overall usability, the version 16 has just gone another level up. 

The Cameras 

OnePlus is again going with a 50MP triple camera setup on its new flagship but the Hasselblad tag is missing. The company has developed its own engine for imaging and the results from the main sensor show OnePlus taking a different path with the image rendering and colour reproduction.

Both the wide and periscope telephoto lens get OIS so that enables you to capture detailed images in low light but only to a certain level. The sensors have been changed which means the light output from the camera is not the same as the OnePlus 13. 

The ultrawide makes up the numbers but in general lighting the photos are clear even though you might see the lack of sharpness by zooming in. The OnePlus 15 cameras are good but not the best we’ve come across, especially in this range, and we hope the company can continue tweaking the sensors with future updates and make it better. 

Runs All Day And More 

OnePlus 15 packs a massive 7,300mAh battery which supports 120W fast wired and 50W wireless charging speeds. The use of a silicon carbon grade battery allows the company to give you this unit within a 8.1mm frame which makes it easy to use.

The battery life on the OnePlus 15 can easily run you for a day and a half but if your usage is moderate you can get even more. With the fast charging support you get 100 percent juice in around 40 minutes and that is quick. 

The OnePlus 15 is a performance-centric flagship which goes for a new in house camera system which has potential but not among the best just yet. The battery life is also a strong point and the display even with the downgrades is good for most people. However, the big talking point is the price of these new flagships and for Rs 72,999 the OnePlus 15 has a tough fight on the premium table.

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