Many in the tech community consider the OnePlus 7 Pro to be the peak of what the brand could have achieved. It had great specifications with unique gimmicks that enhanced its appeal, had a no-nonsense software and a price tag that justified its ‘flagship-killer’ tag. Many Moons have passed since then, and the priorities at OnePlus have changed. Amidst cut-throat competition from fellow Chinese brands, OnePlus had to go for a mass-appeal strategy, and the latest OnePlus 15 is the best example of that notion.
Launched to celebrate the arrival of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, the OnePlus 15 ends up being an expensive premium smartphone, as prices now start from Rs 72,999. That’s just Rs 10,000 less than the Apple iPhone 17 – another premium smartphone that has been lapped up highly by the masses. Hence, the OnePlus 15 is now a full-blown ‘flagship phone’ rather than one that intends to bury it. Is that the case?
Let’s find out.
Design, Display and Audio
As OnePlus drops the partnership with Hasselblad, the OnePlus 15 goes for a major design overhaul when compared to its predecessors. The iPhone-inspiration is evident in the way this phone looks, especially with the camera deco and despite the artistry, it seems to have lost that ‘OnePlus uniqueness.’ At 215g and 8mm thick, it isn’t competing with the zero-figure iPhone Air at all – this is one heavy phone. The triple ingress protection ratings, including IP68, IP69, and IP69K, promise a higher grade of resistance to damage from dust, water, and high-pressure hot water jets.
The ceramic coating on the metal frame and the rear resists scratches like no other phone we have seen so far. On our Sandstorm OnePlus 15, various keys and coins left a lot of scratch marks, only to be rubbed away with a damp cloth. This means you no longer need to put it in a case to keep it scratch-free, even though OnePlus provides one in the box. The charging adapter is also present, which earns brownie points from us.
The refreshed design also shrinks the display bezels and the 6.78-inch OLED panel is a visual treat for the eyes. I don’t find the 1.5K resolution (2,772 x 1,272) panel to be a major letdown from the 1440p panel on its predecessor – it is plenty sharp and renders photos as well as apps in vibrant colours and deep contrast. The OLED panel gets plenty bright outdoors and for the enthusiasts, the display can max out its refresh rate to 165Hz in supported video games.
The stereo speaker setup on the OnePlus 15 is also a treat, reproducing audio with notable depth. There’s ample bass and the lows are dealt with nicely. If you watch a lot of YouTube or Netflix on your phone, the onboard speakers will keep you happy with great quality.
Performance and OS
The OnePlus 15 is a beast when it comes to raw performance, all thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. Although there are not many games or apps created to push this chipset to its limits, we tried a myriad of apps that most of you’d normally expose phones like these to – a combination of Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat and Facebook, and hour-long video game sessions of CarX Drift Racing 3, Call of Duty: Mobile and a host of indie titles. In the two weeks I used this phone, the OnePlus 15 never showed any dip in performance, even after a whole day. The thermal management is top-notch and while you may feel the frame go warm, it is difficult to make this phone tired.
What left a rather sour taste in this otherwise supercharged user experience is OxygenOS 16. OxygenOS 16 is essentially Oppo’s ColorOS 16, which is a far cry from the original OxygenOS experiences of the past. While it runs extremely smoothly and without any glitch, the interface seems visually cluttered without any uniformity in text and icons presentation. The cartoonish theme might appeal on an entry-level phone but it’s not what a phone of the OnePlus 15’s stature deserves. Unnecessary bloatware like App Picks, ‘Internet’ browser, Themes, and many more seem out of place – all of this is a major letdown. The Mind Space app is a good utility tool for organising screenshots using GenAI features and may come handy in the long run, but the AI experiences are a grade below what Samsung and Google offer in phones of this price range.
Cameras
The same old story continues with the cameras on the OnePlus 15. The Hasselblad partnership never seemed to fix the concerns and this new ‘DetailMax engine’ hardly seems bothered. The photography performance from the three onboard cameras are adequate at best – they don’t match up to what the iPhone 17 or Samsung’s Galaxy S25 have to offer. Regardless of the ambient light situation, the camera tends to make subjects warm. Human portraits generate undesirable reddish skin tones and the artificial background blurring could be a lot better. The same goes for the video recording, where the footage appears to be of a grade lower than this phone’s class. Given the brand’s track record, we don’t expect the company to make any improvements with future updates and hence, shutterbugs shouldn’t get it on the basis of promises.
In short, you’d be happy with the OnePlus 15’s cameras as long as you use the cameras for casual photography and occasional video recording, all intended for social media.
Battery
The battery performance is where the OnePlus 15 has made the most advancements. The 7,300 mAh battery, along with the energy-efficient combo of the new Snapdragon chip and OxygenOS 16, ensures two full days of battery stamina. Yes, you read that right – 2 full days! This is despite subjecting the phone to a rather abusive usage pattern. Even the idle charge drain is relatively lower, thus ensuring that you won’t need to carry the charger around.
And when you do need the charger, the 120W adapter takes approximately 45 minutes to fill up this giant battery. There’s support for wireless charging too, for those concerned.
OnePlus 15: Our verdict
The OnePlus 15, just like its predecessors, is unrivalled when it comes to delivering the sense of a smooth and unburdened user experience. Along with a never-ending battery and a scratch-resistant body, the OnePlus 15 is quite tempting, especially if you want a superior spec sheet.
Our only concern is the price that OnePlus demands – at Rs 72,999, it isn’t as value-for-money as its predecessors anymore. The Apple iPhone 17, starting at Rs 82,900, is a stupendously good package that checks all the boxes – a brilliant camera experience, a splendid display and unrivalled software experience. Similarly, Google’s Pixel 10 at Rs 79,999 is another great deal that prioritises a smarter AI experience with a superior user interface and equally capable cameras. In comparison, the OnePlus 15 only has its performance and battery life to rely on for drawing attention. It feels old school in comparison to its rivals.
Who should buy the OnePlus 15 then? If you fancy a combination of great battery stamina, a competent collection of hardware and a durable body, the OnePlus 15 at Rs 72,999 could be worth considering.
