OnePlus Outshines Samsung S25 Ultra in Key Areas
▼ Summary
– The OnePlus 15 starts at $899 and features a 7,300mAh battery, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, and 80W wired charging.
– Its camera system is inferior to the previous model, with smaller sensors and less capable hardware, though it performs well in telephoto and far-distance shots.
– The phone excels in performance and battery life, lasting through heavy use and charging quickly, making it ideal for gamers and power users.
– It includes AI features like a programmable action button and Mind Space for local data storage, and has a durable design with an IP69 rating.
– The OnePlus 15 is not yet available for purchase in the U.S. due to delayed FCC certification from a government shutdown, though it will launch in Canada as scheduled.
For mobile gamers and power users seeking top-tier performance and exceptional battery life, the OnePlus 15 presents a compelling case against competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Starting at $899 for the model with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, this device packs a substantial 7,300mAh battery and supports 80W wired charging, all powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. While its camera system doesn’t surpass last year’s model and the phone isn’t yet available for purchase in the U.S., it carves out a distinct niche for demanding users.
Initial impressions of the OnePlus 15 might lead one to question just how far smartphone specifications can reasonably go. Does a device risk having overly high specs, or were those earlier, bulkier Android models with massive batteries actually previewing the industry’s direction? This handset certainly boasts an impressive array of features, even by forward-looking standards, including a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate and an IP69 rating for protection against high-pressure water.
It’s a relief that the phone’s design avoids the industrial look of some niche brands. Instead, it features the expected polished metal and glass construction, feeling substantial enough to justify its price without seeming gimmicky. To put it through its paces, the phone was taken on a trip to South Korea alongside rivals like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, leading to several revealing comparisons.
A consistent testing method involves using every reviewed phone without a case to best understand the designer’s original intent. The OnePlus 15 felt particularly secure for this approach. This model replaces the previous faux-leather back with a satin-textured fiberglass panel. The Sand Storm color option, with its tan and beige tones, includes a grippy side rail that provided confidence during everyday use outdoors.
This design shift means the OnePlus 15 loses some of its traditionally slim, contoured shape. It now more closely resembles the form factor of an iPhone Pro Max or a Google Pixel XL, which may disappoint those who valued the brand’s original aesthetic.
OnePlus emphasizes its display engineering, though perhaps not in the way most users expect. The bezels are remarkably slim at just 1.15mm, maximizing the screen area. However, the display resolution has been reduced from a 2K panel in the previous version to a new 1.5K panel. This trade-off likely contributes to the consistently smooth 165Hz refresh rate while conserving battery power, a balance familiar from traditional monitors. This performance held up during extended sessions of reading blogs and playing graphics-intensive mobile games on flights.
During gaming, the OnePlus 15 didn’t show signs of performance throttling until about 30 minutes in. This stands in stark contrast to the Samsung and Google flagships, which began dropping frames and feeling uncomfortably warm within the first five minutes. This robustness is a credit to both the new Snapdragon chipset and OnePlus’s own CPU Scheduler, which intelligently allocates processing power specifically for gaming.
While not aimed squarely at hardcore gamers, the OnePlus 15 is clearly designed with this growing audience in mind. From software that stabilizes frame rates and temperatures to a dedicated Wi-Fi chip supporting the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard, it currently stands alone as the premier choice for mobile gamers among mainstream phones.
Unexpectedly, OnePlus also appears to be a leader in practical mobile AI features. The classic three-position alert slider has been replaced by a programmable action button. While it can be set for common tasks like activating the flashlight or camera, its most useful function is launching a feature called Mind Space.
Similar to other digital notebook features, Mind Space is a local database for storing screenshots and voice recordings. The onboard AI, Gemini, can then reference this stored information to answer questions. For instance, saving images of travel emails and notices allowed for quick queries about flight schedules, weather, and required documents while abroad.
Camera performance, however, reveals the phone’s compromises. After conducting various photo tests in Seoul, the conclusion is clear: every camera sensor on the OnePlus 15 is technically inferior to the one on the OnePlus 13, featuring smaller sensors and less advanced hardware. To compensate, the company is relying on improved AI software processing and the capabilities of Qualcomm’s image signal processor.
This software-based approach works, but only to a degree, and will particularly appeal to those who prefer sharper images. For standard wide and ultrawide shots, photos from the OnePlus 15 appear vibrant with higher contrast than previous models. The HDR processing is less aggressive than on Samsung or Google devices, striking a good balance between subject detail and brightly lit backgrounds.
The phone performs notably better with long-distance and telephoto shots. In many situations, its 120x optical zoom can reproduce distant signage and text more effectively than even Samsung’s 200-megapixel camera. There is some generative AI involved in the processing, a common practice nowadays, but it’s applied subtly in a way most users will find beneficial.
The main weakness emerges in low-light conditions. The smaller sensors struggle to capture sufficient light, resulting in photos where faces lack sharpness, objects lose definition, and colors appear less natural. While no flagship phone truly masters night photography, the OnePlus 15 lags behind its premium rivals in this specific area.
The standout feature, without question, is the massive 7,300mAh battery. After full days in Korea spent taking photos and videos, using GPS navigation, and exploring, the phone consistently had enough power to last into the next morning. On occasions when a recharge was needed, the 80W wired charging brought the battery from zero to fifty percent in roughly the time it takes to get ready in the morning.
Ultimately, the OnePlus 15 is not a radical reinvention of its predecessor, which is a positive considering how capable that model was. With this new device, OnePlus is reinforcing its core strengths: outstanding battery life, remarkably fast charging, and raw performance. At its starting price of $899, it is the definitive choice for mobile gamers, power users, and tech enthusiasts, provided they can accept its secondary camera capabilities.
A final important note: at this time, OnePlus cannot sell the 15 in the United States as it awaits FCC certification, a process delayed due to the recent government shutdown. The company confirms the device has completed all necessary lab tests and the application has been submitted, with hopes for a swift approval. U.S. customers can register on the OnePlus website to be notified when the device becomes available. The phone will launch in Canada as scheduled on November 13.
(Source: ZDNET)
