OnePlus 15 Review: A Bold, Fast Flagship With a Clear Agenda
Flagship season usually arrives with the frenzy of a festive rush—bright lights, big claims and plenty of noise. Yet only a few devices manage to cut through the clutter. This year, OnePlus is the first to command attention with the OnePlus 15, a phone that confidently repositions the brand in the premium segment. After living with it for three weeks, one thing is clear: this is no incremental refresh. It is bold, ambitious and occasionally polarising.
Design and Build
The OnePlus 15 marks a significant design shift. The circular camera module that defined previous generations is gone, replaced by a rectangular layout reminiscent of the Oppo Find X9 series. With Hasselblad no longer in the picture, OnePlus is embracing a new design identity.
The device adopts a flatter frame, moving away from the curves of earlier models, yet it manages to remain comfortable in hand. The Infinite Black variant stands out with its matte finish that resists fingerprints, though it can pick up superficial white streaks that wipe away easily. The hardware remains predictable in a good way—the Plus Key returns, port placements are standard, and USB-C 3.2 is a welcome addition.
The biggest surprise is durability. The OnePlus 15 boasts an extensive suite of IP certifications—IP66, IP68, IP69 and IP69K—making it resistant to dust, immersion and even high-pressure industrial water jets. It’s an unusually rugged claim for a mainstream flagship.
Display
The 6.78-inch AMOLED display delivers excellent clarity with a 1.5K resolution. While it’s technically a downgrade from the 2K panel on the OnePlus 13, this trade-off enables support for a 165Hz refresh rate. However, that figure is more aspirational than practical—most apps remain capped at 60–120Hz, and only select games can push the full 165Hz.
Where the display truly shines is touch responsiveness. With a 3200Hz sampling rate, the phone feels incredibly fluid, especially during gaming. HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support enhance streaming content, and real-world HDR brightness peaks near 1185 nits. Outdoor visibility is strong even under harsh sunlight.
Performance and Software
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the OnePlus 15 is built for speed. Both RAM variants use LPDDR5X, with the 16GB model getting the Ultra grade, and storage is the high-speed UFS 4.1 standard.
Benchmark results place the device firmly in top-tier territory: 3.7 million on AnTuTu and over 11,000 in Geekbench multi-core. Real-world usage tells a similar story—apps load instantly, multitasking is seamless and video exports are exceptionally fast.
OxygenOS 16, based on Android 16, maintains its familiar clean and responsive feel. OnePlus promises four OS updates and six years of security patches—respectable, though not industry-leading.
Gaming
This is where the OnePlus 15 distances itself from rivals. In BGMI, it sustains close to 120FPS even in intense combat sequences, outperforming competing flagships tested under similar conditions. Call of Duty: Mobile can reach 165FPS in Team Deathmatch, though the Battle Royale mode is capped at 120FPS. Genshin Impact remains limited to 60FPS, with OnePlus planning 120FPS frame interpolation support in the future.
The combination of raw power, thermal stability and high touch sampling makes the OnePlus 15 one of the most consistent gaming performers in its class.
Cameras
The camera system sees the most noticeable compromises. With the Hasselblad partnership ended and slightly smaller sensors than the OnePlus 13, low-light performance takes a hit.
The triple 50MP setup includes:
50MP Sony IMX906 primary
50MP OmniVision 50D ultra-wide
50MP Samsung JN5 telephoto with 3.5x optical zoom
In daylight, results are impressive—accurate colours, solid dynamic range and consistent detail. Telephoto portraits at 3.5x look natural, with pleasing separation.
Low light reveals the limitations. Noise creeps in faster, and computational processing can only do so much to compensate.
Video performance, however, is excellent. The phone supports 4K 120fps, Dolby Vision and LOG recording, along with real-time LUT previews—features typically reserved for creator-focused devices.
Battery and Charging
The 7,300mAh silicon carbide battery is arguably the OnePlus 15’s strongest asset. The phone easily lasts a full day and a half under heavy use. Even after extended gaming and benchmarking sessions, the remaining battery percentage is unusually high.
Charging speeds remain a highlight: the 120W wired charger fills the battery in around 35 minutes. Wireless charging reaches 50W via AirVOOC, though a magnetic case is required.
Price and Availability
The OnePlus 15 is available in India at:
₹72,999 (12GB + 256GB)
₹79,999 (16GB + 512GB)
Launch offers include a ₹4,000 HDFC Bank discount, complimentary OnePlus Nord Buds 3, a 180-day replacement guarantee and a lifetime display warranty against green-line issues.
Verdict
The OnePlus 15 commands a higher price than before, but rising component costs across the industry make this the new reality. What matters is whether the phone delivers a flagship-level experience—and it does. Performance is outstanding, gaming stability is unmatched in this segment, battery life is exceptional and OxygenOS continues to impress. The display is strong, too.
The camera hardware doesn’t hit the same heights as previous generations, and the 165Hz promise remains limited in real-world use. But for users who value speed, longevity, gaming performance and overall fluidity, the OnePlus 15 stands out as one of the most compelling premium smartphones currently available in India.
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