OnePlus Outshines Samsung S25 Ultra in Key Areas

For mobile gamers and power users seeking top-tier performance and exceptional battery life, the OnePlus 15 presents a compelling case against established rivals like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Starting at $899 for the model with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, this flagship leverages a massive 7,300mAh battery and 80W wired charging alongside the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. While its camera system takes a step back from its predecessor and US availability is currently on hold, the device carves out a distinct identity focused on raw power and endurance.

My initial reaction to the OnePlus 15’s specifications was a mix of awe and skepticism. Had smartphone development crossed into the realm of excess? Perhaps those bulky, high-capacity battery phones from years past were simply ahead of their time. The feature set is undeniably rich, featuring a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate, the next-generation Snapdragon chipset, and a robust IP69 rating for protection against dust and high-pressure water.

I was relieved to find that the phone’s design avoids the industrial aesthetic of some niche brands. It retains the premium feel of a polished metal and glass construction, with a satisfying heft that communicates quality. To put it through its paces, I took it on a trip to South Korea, comparing it directly with competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL.

I always test phones without a case to fully appreciate the design choices. The OnePlus 15 felt particularly secure in hand, encouraging this approach. The company replaced the previous faux-leather back with a satin-textured fiberglass panel. My review unit, the Sand Storm color, features a grippy side railing that provided confidence during one-handed use on busy streets.

This design shift means the OnePlus 15 abandons its traditionally slender profile. It now resembles the form factor of an iPhone Pro Max or a Google Pixel XL, a change that several people I met in Korea also noted. Those who cherished the brand’s unique design language might find this new direction disappointing.

OnePlus is emphasizing its display engineering, particularly the remarkably slim 1.15mm bezels that maximize the screen-to-body ratio. However, the display resolution has been reduced from a 2K panel to a 1.5K one. This trade-off likely contributes to the phone’s ability to maintain that buttery-smooth 165Hz refresh rate without draining the battery excessively. During my travels, whether I was scrolling through news feeds for hours or playing demanding mobile games on flights, the experience was consistently fluid.

Gaming performance is where the OnePlus 15 truly separates itself from the pack. During extended gameplay, it didn’t show signs of performance throttling until about 30 minutes in. This starkly contrasts with the Samsung and Google flagships, which began to drop frames and feel warm within the first five minutes. This robustness is a credit to both the new Snapdragon chipset and OnePlus’s proprietary CPU Scheduler, which intelligently allocates resources for gaming.

While I’m not a hardcore gamer, it’s evident this phone is engineered for that audience. From software that stabilizes frame rates and temperatures to a dedicated Wi-Fi chip supporting the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard, it stands as the premier choice for mobile gamers, with no other mainstream competitor currently matching its prowess.

Unexpectedly, OnePlus is also making waves with its mobile AI implementation. The classic alert slider has been replaced by a programmable action button. While you can set it for common tasks, I found its most valuable function was activating a feature called Mind Space.

Similar to other digital note systems, Mind Space is a local database for screenshots and voice recordings. The onboard AI, Gemini, can then reference this information to answer context-specific questions. In Korea, I saved images of travel documents and emails, allowing me to simply ask Gemini for my flight time or required paperwork, and it would pull the details directly from my stored images.

When it comes to camera performance, the reality is that compromises are inevitable. After extensive testing in Seoul, my assessment is mixed. On one hand, it’s undeniable that every camera sensor on the OnePlus 15 is technically inferior to those on the OnePlus 13, featuring smaller sensors and less advanced hardware.

To compensate, the company is relying heavily on improved AI software processing and the capabilities of Qualcomm’s image signal processor. This approach works reasonably well, particularly if you prefer a sharper image. For standard wide and ultrawide shots, photos appear vibrant with higher contrast than previous models. The HDR processing is also less aggressive than Samsung’s or Google’s, striking a pleasing balance between subjects and bright backgrounds.

The phone excels in telephoto photography, where its 120x optical zoom often produced clearer text and signage from a distance than even the Samsung S25 Ultra’s 200MP camera. There’s a touch of generative AI involved in the processing, a common practice nowadays, but it’s applied subtly and effectively.

The primary weakness emerges in low-light conditions. The smaller sensors simply can’t capture enough light, resulting in photos where faces lack sharpness, objects lose definition, and colors don’t look entirely natural. While no flagship phone truly masters night photography, the OnePlus 15 lags behind its premium competitors in this specific area.

The most impressive aspect of the device is its battery. That 7,300mAh cell is a game-changer. After full days in Korea filled with photography, constant GPS use, and web browsing, the phone consistently had enough power to last into the next morning. On the occasions I needed a quick charge, the 80W wired charging replenished the battery from zero to fifty percent in roughly the time it takes to get ready in the morning, a level of convenience that should be an industry standard.

Despite what the specifications might imply, the OnePlus 15 is not a radical overhaul of the OnePlus 13, which is a positive considering that model was already an excellent phone. With this successor, OnePlus is reinforcing its core strengths: phenomenal battery life, incredibly fast charging, and elite-level performance. At its $899 starting price, it is the definitive choice for mobile gamers and power users, though you will have to accept that its camera capabilities are merely very good, not class-leading.

A final important note: US sales of the OnePlus 15 are currently postponed. The device is awaiting certification from the Federal Communications Commission, a process delayed by the recent government shutdown. OnePlus has confirmed that all necessary lab tests are complete and the application is submitted, expressing hope for a swift approval. The company is encouraging potential US customers to register on its website for notifications. The phone will launch in Canada as planned on November 13th.

(Source: ZDNET)