OnePlus 15 Review: Say Goodbye to Battery Anxiety
▼ Summary
– The OnePlus 15 offers strong value with a powerful Snapdragon processor, a large battery, and a fast screen, though its price has increased from earlier models.
– Despite its speed, long battery life, and competitive pricing, the phone has software and camera shortcomings that make it less recommendable than rivals or OnePlus’s previous flagship.
– The US release of the OnePlus 15 is delayed due to FCC approval issues from a government shutdown, with no exact launch date available.
– The phone features a sleek, conventional design similar to competitors, with lightweight construction, IP69K sealing, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner.
– OnePlus achieved an impressive engineering feat by including a 7,300 mAh battery without increasing weight compared to last year’s model or competing phones with smaller capacities.
The OnePlus 15 arrives as a compelling contender in the premium smartphone market, blending top-tier performance with a remarkably long-lasting battery at a competitive price point. Priced at $899, this device features the most advanced Snapdragon processor available, a massive battery capacity that leads its class, and an exceptionally fluid high-refresh-rate display. While it may not deliver the most polished software or the strongest camera system, the OnePlus 15 excels precisely where it aims to, offering speed, endurance, and value that undercut many rivals.
Potential buyers in the United States should note that the launch timeline has encountered a delay. Due to a recent government shutdown, the Federal Communications Commission has not yet approved the OnePlus 15. The manufacturer has committed to releasing the phone as soon as regulatory clearance is obtained, though a specific release date remains unconfirmed.
In terms of design, the OnePlus 15 adopts a more universal aesthetic compared to its recent predecessors. It now bears a closer resemblance to devices from Samsung, Apple, and Google than the distinct look of the OnePlus 13. Despite this shift, the phone is impeccably constructed, feeling surprisingly light at 211 grams given its powerful internals. It boasts robust build quality with an IP69K rating for dust and water resistance and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. An ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor provides fast and reliable authentication, matching the performance found on other leading smartphones.
OnePlus 15 Key Specifications
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- Memory: 12GB or 16GB RAM
- Storage: 256GB or 512GB
- Display: 6.78-inch OLED, 2772 x 1272 resolution, 1–165 Hz adaptive refresh rate
- Camera System:
- 50 MP primary with OIS, f/1.8 aperture
- 50 MP ultrawide, f/2.0 aperture
- 50 MP 3.5x telephoto with OIS, f/2.8 aperture
- 32 MP front-facing camera, f/2.4 aperture
- Software: Android 16 with 4 years of OS updates and 6 years of security patches
- Battery: 7,300 mAh with 100 W wired charging (80 W using included adapter), 50 W wireless charging
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, NFC, Bluetooth 6.0, sub-6 GHz 5G, USB-C 3.2 Gen 1
- Dimensions & Weight: 161.4 x 76.7 x 8.1 mm; 211 grams
A standout achievement is the integration of a 7,300 mAh battery without adding bulk or heft compared to last year’s model or current competitors. Leading phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL typically feature batteries around 5,000 mAh. Incorporating nearly 50 percent more capacity while maintaining a sleek and manageable form factor represents a significant engineering accomplishment.
(Source: Ars Technica)
