Pros & Cons
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- Category-leading battery life
- Excellent screen
- Quick performance
- Superb value
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- No mmWave
- Limited availability
OnePlus 15 Specs
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 26 hours, 11 minutes |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 50MP, 50MP, 50MP; 32MP |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Dimensions | 6.35 by 3.02 by 0.32 inches |
| Operating System | Android 16 |
| Screen Resolution | 2,772 by 1,272 pixels |
| Screen Size | 6.78 |
The OnePlus 15 (starting at $899.99) marks a rethink in the company's flagship phone strategy. It sheds the dated look of the last few generations of OnePlus phones, which included slim metal frames and sleek glass panels, in favor of a blocky appearance that mimics but still stands apart from Samsung and Google phones, thanks to a stone-like finish. It shines with class-leading battery life, doubling that of Galaxy S and Pixel phones. OnePlus also crams in all the latest components, including a bright screen, modern radios, good cameras, and more powerful video capture tools. These combine to make it one of the company's strongest offerings in years. It's worth a close look if you're seeking something different for less money, though it's not available in carrier stores. Despite its higher price, however, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (starting at $1,299.99) remains our Editors' Choice for Android phones due to its even better display, smarter Galaxy AI, superior cameras, S Pen stylus, and longer support commitment.
Design: A Brand New Look That Really Works
OnePlus has moved on from the design language that it's used for what feels like a decade, and I'm grateful for it. Although the OnePlus 15's design is unique among phones made by OnePlus, it now aligns more closely with products from Google and Samsung. Rather than looking slim and curvy like the OnePlus 13, the latest phone is thick and chunky, similar to the Pixel 10 Pro XL (starting at $1,199). The rounded corners and edges are gone, replaced by a basic, rounded rectangular shape with flattened side edges and simple colors (Infinite Black, Sand Storm, or Ultra Violet). I don't dislike the shape, though perhaps it doesn't stand out as much as OnePlus intends.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)It's a sizable piece of hardware, measuring 6.35 by 3.02 by 0.32 inches (HWD) and weighing 7.44 ounces. It's fairly close to not only the OnePlus 13 (6.41 by 3.01 by 0.33 inches, 7.51 ounces), but the Pixel 10 Pro XL (6.41 by 3.02 by 0.33 inches, 8.18 ounces) and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (6.41 by 3.06 by 0.32 inches, 7.69 ounces). Despite weighing less than the Pixel, it somehow feels denser.
OnePlus goes all out with the finishes. The company says it is using a micro-arc oxidation system with a plasma-based electrochemical process to apply a ceramic coating the the metal frame. OnePlus claims that this process is environmentally friendly and yields a frame that is stronger than aluminum and titanium. I don't know about that, but it feels like hardened clay pressed thin onto metal, and that's all right with me. It's wonderfully smooth in a way that's both grippy and slippy at the same time. It almost feels like stone.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)In addition to the tougher outer skin, OnePlus seals up the innards above and beyond what the competition offers. The phone meets the IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K standards for dust- and water-proofing. Essentially, not only can the phone be submerged in two meters (about 6.5 feet) of fresh water for up to 30 minutes, but it is also protected from high-temperature, high-pressure water jets. You can stuff it into your vest when waterskiing or jet skiing and feel confident that it'll survive the adventure. Most other flagship phones, including those from Apple, Google, and Samsung, stop at IP68, which amounts to 30 minutes in 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) of water.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)The basic ports and controls aren't all that different from what you'll find on other phones at this price. The power button and volume toggle are located on the right edge, with the power button positioned below the volume toggle. These controls are somewhat flat and lack sufficient feedback for my taste. A single small button adorns the left edge and acts exactly like the iPhone's Action Button. A long press launches one of about eight predetermined actions, including the flashlight, camera, or other apps. The signature OnePlus ringer switch is nowhere to be found. The bottom edge holds the dual-sided SIM tray, USB-C port (3.2 Gen 1), and speaker grille, from left to right. You'll find a second speaker grille on the top edge.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)There's not much to see on the rear panel other than the squircle-shaped camera module. For years, OnePlus has favored large, circular camera modules that contrast sharply with the blocky designs from Google and Samsung. The company has ditched that in favor of a compact square containing two lenses in a vertical pill, along with a third lens and flash set apart. It's a somewhat familiar design, but I like how discreet it is.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)I like that OnePlus has moved firmly away from its older designs, which were becoming dated. However, it stepped right into the mix with its two main competitors in a way that leaves it little space to stand out visually, aside from the stone-like finish.
Display: Bright, Sharp, Fast, and Smooth
For the 15, OnePlus dials back the size and resolution of the 13's screen, but amps up every other technical aspect. The result is a fantastic display that should appeal to all types of users.
The LTPO panel measures 6.78 inches and fits 2,772 by 1,272 pixels into its 20:9 shape for a density of 450 pixels per inch (ppi). For comparison, the OnePlus 13 has a 6.82-inch screen with 3,168 by 1,440 pixels at 510ppi. Don't you worry: the 15's screen is more than sharp enough for all your needs.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)It supports a variable refresh rate of 1Hz to 120Hz under normal operation, but can run at up to 165Hz in gaming mode. Its predecessor stopped at 120Hz. This higher refresh rate gives it smoother performance when it matters. Games can run at up to 165 frames per second (fps) to match the display. OnePlus partnered with a handful of publishers that will supply capable titles at launch, including Call of Duty and Clash of Clans. In addition to being faster, the new screen is brighter: It improves from an average brightness of 1,600 nits to an average of 1,800 nits. OnePlus did not share the screen's maximum brightness rating.
It's sharp, bright, fast, colorful, and one of the best screens I've seen this year. For comparison, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 6.9-inch OLED panel with 3,120 by 1,440 pixels, a 1Hz to 120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, and the Pixel 10 Pro XL has a 6.8-inch OLED panel with 2,992 by 1,344 pixels at a peak brightness of 3,300 nits.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)As it often does, OnePlus ships the phone with a pre-applied screen protector. It's not the best, and it easily collects fingerprints, dirt, and hair. I suggest you remove it.
Performance: Quick, But Restrained
The phone is one of the first to ship with Qualcomm's latest chip, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. The processor is paired with either 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.1 storage ($899.99) or 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage ($999.99). These are the same options and prices as last year's OnePlus 13. Surprisingly, the company isn't selling a model with 1TB of storage (and there's no slot for memory cards). The Pixel ($1,549) and Galaxy ($1,659.99) are both available in 1TB configurations for more money.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)OnePlus is using what it calls a 360 Cryo-Velocity Cooling System, with a 3D vapor chamber to help keep thermals under control. It's a multi-layer assembly of materials, measuring 8.89 inches squared. Google's Pixel relies on the company's own Tensor G5 processor, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra uses Qualcomm's generation-ago Snapdragon 8 Elite.
In everyday use, the phone flies. It transitions smoothly from one app to the next, without stuttering or lag. It can run dozens of apps at a time, its multitasking features work without fail, and OnePlus' AI tools run smoothly. The phone also did well on benchmarks.
(Credit: PCMark/Geekbench/GFXBench/PCMag)Starting with Geekbench 6, which pushes the CPU cluster, the OnePlus 15 scored 3,669 on the single-core test and 11,333 on the multi-core test. That compares favorably with 10 Pro XL (2,340 and 6,430) and the S25 Ultra (3,121 and 9,937).
Running PCMark 3.0 assesses how phones handle various everyday tasks. On this test, the OnePlus reached 16,657, while the Pixel topped 15,722, and the Samsung surpassed them both with 20,502. These scores are rather surprising. The Pixel 9 Pro XL (17,847) and S24 Ultra (18,200) both beat the OnePlus 15 on this test, too, despite their generationally older processors.
I also had the phone run the GFXBench Aztec Ruins High Tier test, where it scored 60fps. Given the GPU chops inside the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, this is surely an artificially low result due to software on the phone; I've reached out to OnePlus to confirm. The Pixel achieved 75fps, while the Galaxy reached 86fps on the same test.
Gaming on the phone, particularly with OnePlus' gaming tools, feels terrific and somewhat contradicts the benchmarking results. With OnePlus' Game Assistant, you can organize your games, choose animations, create albums for screenshots, and optimize the playback resolution. The tool also automatically pauses notifications. I took a spin at Asphalt: Legends, and not only did the game run flawlessly, but it looked absolutely gorgeous.
Battery: Quick-Charging, Long-Lasting, and Best in Class
The OnePlus 15 has one of the highest-capacity batteries available from a flagship phone. Where most competing devices have approximately 5,000mAh batteries, the OnePlus 15 has a 7,300mAh battery—nearly 50% larger. OnePlus claims to be relying on Silicon NanoStack technology to incorporate 15% silicon content into the anode, increasing the cell's energy density. The OnePlus 13 had a 6,000mAh battery.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)I tested the battery by streaming a YouTube video over Wi-Fi with the screen's brightness set to maximum. It lasted a staggering 26 hours and 11 minutes, better than the 13's 24 hours and 28 minutes. The OnePlus 15 absolutely crushed the Pixel 10 XL (12 hours and 35 minutes) and the Galaxy S25 Ultra (14 hours and 15 minutes). I had a hard time getting the battery to drop below the 50% mark over the course of a week of regular use.
In addition to lasting for nearly ever, the phone charges quicker than most any phone available in North America. It can handle wired charging at up to 80W using OnePlus's proprietary SuperVooc tech, and can charge at a peak of 100W with the company's optional 100W Dual Port GaN adapter. An 80W brick is included with the phone. Using it to recharge the phone from 0% takes just 31 minutes. Furthermore, the phone can charge wirelessly at up to 50W using the company's AirVooc technology, as well as reverse charge wirelessly at 10W, which is double the rate of most phones. In comparison, the Pixel 10 Pro XL maxes out at 30W, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra maxes out at 45W.
Like a gaming phone, the OnePlus 15 supports bypass charging. This means you can plug the phone in and power it via wire without charging the battery. The benefit here is that it keeps the device cool during gameplay while preserving battery health. Speaking of which, OnePlus claims the battery should provide 80% of its original capacity (or 5,840mAh) after four years of use.
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If battery life is your main concern, the OnePlus 15 is one of the best-performing Android phones we've tested.
Connectivity: Futureproof
The OnePlus 15 gives North America buyers an almost world-class experience. Like the OnePlus 13, its 5G support is limited to low- and mid-band spectrum, meaning sub-6GHz and C-band but not mmWave. That's a shame, because OnePlus 15 buyers won't have access to the absolute fastest service in the US. While it is technically compatible with the three major networks, the phone hasn't been certified by the FCC yet. In fact, OnePlus can't sell the phone until it passes the FCC's muster. There's no word on when that will be. The delay is due to the US government shutdown, and not a fault of OnePlus. None of the US carriers has voiced plans to sell the phone, but it will be available online from OnePlus, Amazon, and Best Buy. I tested it on T-Mobile's network via Google Fi in New Jersey, where it reached speeds in line with other flagship phones.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)The OnePlus 15 hit a maximum download speed of 405Mbps and a maximum upload speed of 45.5Mbps, while the Pixel 10 Pro XL recorded 393Mbps down and 41.1Mbps up in the same spot. The phone's SIM card slot supports up to two physical cards, or you can use one physical card and an eSIM for two lines of service if needed.
You also receive the latest version of every other radio type. That means Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, dual-band GPS, and NFC. This means your OnePlus 15 will support the best-available mid- and close-range wireless protocols for years to come.
I tested the phone on my Wi-Fi 6 network at home against the Pixel, and both phones performed admirably. The OnePlus hit 665Mbps down and 175Mbps up, and the Google phone hit 672Mbps down and 188Mbps up from the same spot. I brought both phones to the end of my network, where they both still performed well, averaging 115Mbps down and 82Mbps up.
I'm particularly excited about the Bluetooth radio, which supports Low Energy, as well as advanced codecs, including LDAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, and LHDC 5.0. This is excellent news if you like to stream high-quality music.
Furthermore, the dual-band GPS radio ensures the phone performs better navigating through both dense urban streets and leafy woods far afield.
Audio: Clean, Loud, and Adjustable
This phone is terrific for making calls, listening to music, or catching up on your favorite video feeds. The earpiece delivers clean audio for calls that reaches 79.9dB. The speakerphone gets louder at 87.2dB. Both levels are all you need to hear callers in most spaces.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)You can toggle a handful of advanced audio modes to enhance or customize your experience, including Clear Voice (which filters out background noise), Sound Profiles (for movies, gaming, and music), Holo Audio (which places alarms and other sounds in different locations), and Haptics (for customized vibrations). The Clear Voice tool is effective for tamping down environmental sound, and I suggest you turn it on and leave it on.
When I sampled our test track, The Knife's "Silent Shout," I was generally pleased with the depth of the low-frequency background rhythm and the clarity of the highs. As always, your favorite Bluetooth headphones or speaker will provide the best experience.
Cameras: A Step Forward for OnePlus
The OnePlus 15 marks the first phone in years that's not co-branded with Hasselblad. You won't see the German camera company's logo on the camera module. OnePlus developed the 15's camera seemingly on its own this time around. If you only glance at the spec sheet, you might think the OnePlus 15 has recycled the cameras from the OnePlus 13. While the outward numbers are indeed the same year over year, plenty is new behind the lenses.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)To start, it features a 50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, and 50MP periscopic telephoto camera trio, similar to last year, but with all three sensors being different from year to year. The company swapped out the Sony LYT-808 main sensor from the OnePlus 13 for a Sony IMX906, for example, and the Sony LYT-600 telephoto sensor for an Omnivision OV50D.
The main camera's 50MP shooter features a six-element lens with an f/1.8 aperture and an 84-degree field of view (FoV). The ultra-wide camera also has a six-element lens at f/2.0 with a 116-degree FoV, and the telephoto camera has a four-element lens at f/2.8 and a 30-degree field of view. The latter supports 3.5x optical zoom and 7x "optical quality" zoom by using the central portion of the sensor. You can reach up to 120x zoom with the Ultra Res Zoom tool, which combines optical and digital zooming.
OnePlus has taken a page from Apple in how it applies processing. Where phone makers often bin 50MP sensors down by a factor of four to produce 12.5MP images, OnePlus is blending the detail of 50MP resolution photos with the brightness of 12MP images to create a final 26MP result. It's doing this across all three cameras. Apple refers to this technology as its Fusion camera on the iPhone.
OnePlus's cameras have been hit or miss over the years. The 15 produces clear pictures that are sharper, brighter, and more accurate than in the past, though they don't quite reach the quality you'll get from the Pixel or S25 Ultra. I appreciate the consistent focus, clean look, and proper exposure across most of the sample shots I took, both in good and low-light conditions. However, photos taken at night show more grain.
Plenty of advanced features cater to the scene at hand, such as a macro mode, portrait shooting, time-lapse and slow-motion, bursts at 120fps, as well as the Master mode, which lets you take control of all the settings (brightness, aperture, ISO, shutter speed, and so on). These provide you with a great deal of creative freedom.
The selfie camera has 32MP with a Sony IMX709 sensor that uses an RGBW pixel arrangement. OnePlus says it can capture 60% more light than last year's selfie cam. The result is clear selfies that do justice to the given scene.
OnePlus ups the ante when it comes to video. The phone features 4K120 capture in Dolby Vision HDR, which allows you to adjust playback speed after the fact and achieve clean, sharp, colorful, and contrast-rich results, regardless of the content. Your dog has never looked this good running around the backyard. Serious videographers will appreciate advanced features like real-time tone mapping, which adjusts brightness and white balance in real-time, ensuring a consistent tone. The results are excellent. It's not quite on par with the Pixel or Galaxy S lines, but it's very close.
Software: A Clean UI With Simple AI
OnePlus ships the phone with Android 16 on board and the latest version of its OxygenOS. The company plans to support the phone with four years of OS and six years of security updates, which falls short of the seven-year commitments from Google and Samsung for their phones. Most notably, OnePlus is making a stronger push into AI for the first time. The company says it is using AI to target user pain points rather than throwing gimmicks at them.
(Credit: OnePlus/PCMag)First, OnePlus has carried over its Mind Space and added a tool called Plus Mind. Similar to the Pixel Screenshots feature, snapping a screenshot using Plus Mind adds the image to the searchable Mind Space, complete with a time stamp and more.
Plenty of basic AI tools are also available, including AI Recorder (which transcribes meetings or calls), AI Portrait Glow (which fixes portrait lighting), AI Scan (which captures searchable PDFs using the camera), and AI PlayLab (which offers language translation, image generation, and video generation). They are all housed in a single location and are easy to find and use, although none offer anything we haven't seen from Google or Samsung. And Google Gemini is present, including Gemini Live, for all your natural language queries and live conversations.
OxygenOS 16 itself is excellent. It's not as simple as some of OnePlus' older software builds, but it makes tasteful and useful changes to Google's base Android 16 layer. I've become accustomed to using the OnePlus Shelf, for example, which can be a convenient way to organize widgets and data points, such as your step count, storage, or notes. The app drawer is flexible and searchable, while Car Sick mode is genuinely helpful at warding off that queasy feeling in your stomach if you can't read in a moving vehicle.
While I'm glad to see more AI on board the OnePlus 15, Google and Samsung provide more advanced and pervasive AI tools on their Pixel and Galaxy phones, respectively.