The OnePlus 15 is official and months ahead of its Indian launch schedule, the company has revealed it to the world minutes after Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 broke cover. Obviously, Qualcomm’s newest and most capable mobile chip was expected to be a part of the specifications sheet, and sure enough, OnePlus featured it as the flagship feature. However, unlike the previous few generations, the OnePlus 15 is more than just a vehicle for Qualcomm’s newest chipset.
Skipping the number 14, the OnePlus 15 reveal confirms a substantial redesign and a commitment to being one of the first devices globally to feature the cutting-edge Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 platform. An early announcement hints that OnePlus is committed to doing a global launch on November 13 and arriving early in the competitive US market.
OnePlus 15: What has changed?
The most notable change to the OnePlus 15 is a complete overhaul of the phone’s aesthetic. Ever since the OnePlus 13s debuted a new design language, it was expected that the OnePlus 15 could take it further. Moving away from the distinct circular camera module on the OnePlus 13, the OnePlus 15 adopts a boxier, more square or vertical pill-shaped camera bump on the rear panel.
Official teasers and leaked images showcase this shift, with the tri-camera system (rumoured to feature three 50MP sensors) now housed in a prominent top-left array. This design change, while moving toward a more conventional look, aligns the flagship with recent trends in the high-end smartphone space (reminiscent of iPhone 17 Pro?).
Other than the new design, the OnePlus 15 is also going to feature the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, which will be the first of its kind in North America. Hence, this launch will give the OnePlus 15 a competitive edge over rivals like Samsung and Google by securing the latest mobile silicon.
OnePlus has confirmed that the 15 will feature an ultra-high 165Hz refresh rate display, which will one of the fastest in the industry, promising superior fluidity, especially for high-end gaming. Accompanying this high-performance display will be a massive 7,300 mAh battery — a significant upgrade over the OnePlus 13’s battery with support for 120W wired and 50W wireless charging. This could be a major draw for power users.
No more Hasselblad cameras
In a major change for its branding strategy, the long-standing collaboration with Hasselblad has officially been concluded. The OnePlus 15 will instead debut the company’s new in-house DetailMax image engine. While some early whispers suggest smaller physical camera sensors compared to the OnePlus 13, OnePlus claims the new DetailMax engine will make use of advanced algorithms to deliver “breathtakingly clear and truly real” images, focusing on clarity and authenticity over brand partnership. This sounds promising.
OnePlus 15 expected launch date
The global rollout is slated for November 13, which is notably earlier than previous launch cycles. It seems that OnePlus is seeking to take advantage of the holiday season shopping this year in the hope of moving more units. An India launch is also expected to happen early, thus making the OnePlus 15 a worthy competitor to the recently launched iPhone 17 series.
