In the world of smartphones, OnePlus is seen as a perennial market disruptor, offering flagship features (and fast & smooth running) at more accessible prices, often putting Apple and Samsung in a tight corner. Take for instance, the not-so-old OnePlus 13s; its compact form factor doesn’t mean any compromise on power or battery life, even its asking price is much lower than competitors. Now comes the OnePlus 15, an extremely fast gaming phone that looks and works like a regular handset. Here again, there are high-end specs and better value – something that users love the most.
Design, AI, and the New Camera Strategy
From the first touch, OnePlus 15 impresses you with its clean design, fantastic display, competent cameras and top-tier performance. It comes with IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings for protection against dust, water immersion, and high-pressure water jets. It is a durable phone with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 that can live with accidental falls and daily rough use. A new design with square-shaper camera island and a slimmer profile gives the phone a more professional and refined look. The 6.78-inch 165Hz display is bright and lively with accurate colour reproduction. There is good readability, even in bright sunlight.
However, there is no Alert Slider this time around; instead, there is a new customisable Plus Key that can be programmed to perform various functions, such as toggling between ringer modes, taking screenshots, or opening AI features. In fact, these AI features are all quite impressive, with a range of capabilities including text editing and generation, as well as image editing.
Powering the Beast
Inside, the device is driven by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform, paired with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage (our trial unit). The combination ensures seamless multitasking, fast gaming sessions and AI-driven optimisations. It is supported by a dedicated touch response chip that brings 3200Hz touch sampling for instant response to every interaction, and a standalone Wi-Fi chip that maintains strong, stable connectivity even in crowded network environments. I was surprised by the device’s ability to run two games simultaneously with the same fluidity.
The biggest upgrade is its 7300mAh battery, the largest capacity ever seen in a OnePlus flagship. The phone supports 120W SuperVOCC wired charging and 50W AirVOOC wireless charging for rapid power-ups. Its Bypass Charging function addresses a key gamer need, supporting direct device power without charging the battery, avoiding excess heat, and preserving battery longevity. In fact, the battery is designed to retain over 80% of its health after 4 years of use.
On the camera front, there are three 50MP rear snappers, a wide-angle, ultrawide-angle, and telephoto lens. The front selfie camera is a 32MP sensor. Unlike its predecessors, the OnePlus 15 does not have a Hasselblad camera this year. Instead, the company is using its own DetailMax camera system and Clear Night Engine (for night-time photos). For a user, there are improved colour tones and dynamic range. The photo output is good all around, at any time of day. Photos look natural and clear, zoom capabilities are good and videos are sharp, detailed and free of noise.
Overall, OnePlus 15 is a well-balanced phone with smooth and fast running and a long battery life.
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: 6.78-inches LTPO 165Hz display
Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform
Operating system: OxygenOS 16 (Android 16)
Memory & storage: 12/16GB RAM, 256/512GB storage
Cameras: 50MP+50MP+50MP (triple rear), 32MP front camera
Battery: 7300mAh battery, 120W SuperVOCC (wired), 50W AirVOOC (wireless)
Estimated street price: Rs 72,999 (12GB+256GB), Rs 79,999 (16GB+512GB)
