OnePlus launched the OnePlus 15R smartphone in India today. It has several upgrades from last year’s OnePlus 13R such as new design, bigger 165Hz screen, faster SoC, improved front camera, bigger battery, and lots more. However, the price of the phone has increased once again. Is the phone a good upgrade to last year’s OnePlus 13R? Let us dive into the review and find out.
| Box Contents |
| Camera |
| Battery Life |
| Conclusion |
Box Contents
- OnePlus 15R in Mint Green colour
- 80W SuperVOOC charger
- USB Type-A to Type-C Cable
- Protective Case
- SIM Ejector tool
- Quick Guide
Display, Hardware and Design
The OnePlus 15r features a 6.83-inch (2800×1272 pixels) 1.5K AMOLED display with 60/90/120/144/165Hz variable refresh rate adaptive refresh rate. The phone has ultra-slim bezels on all the four sides. However, the LTPO panel is gone so it can only go down to 60Hz.
The phone has 450 PPI pixel density, and the display is bright since it has up to 1800 nits (HBM) / Peak Brightness. It offers good colour output since it has 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, and the sunlight legibility is good as well. You can select from vivid, Natural and Pro screen colour modes. The nature tone display feature adjusts the display based on the ambient lighting conditions.
The phone has full-brightness DC dimming and PWM dimming and can go as low as 1 nit (when you enable ‘reduce white point’), which is useful when using the phone in the dark. There is also Eye Comfort for Gaming. The phone has Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection. The display has achieved TÜV Rheinland Intelligent Eye Care 5.0 certification.
The phone also has HDR 10 support, which works for YouTube, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and Dolby Vision works for Netflix. You can enable video color boost from display settings, which increases the colors in select apps. There is also image sharpener option.
The phone doesn’t have a notification LED, but this has an always-on-display that shows contextual info and notifications all day or as per schedule. It has strong X-axis linear vibration motor.
The phone has a tiny punch-hole that houses a 32-megapixel camera. Above the display, there is an earpiece on the top edge that doubles up as a secondary speaker. It has an in-display ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, an upgrade from the optical fingerprint scanner in the predecessor.
Coming to the button placements and ports, the power button is present on the right side along with the volume rockers. The alert slider is on the left side is replaced by the plus key, which has several customization options.
You can also see the antenna bands, since this has a metal frame. The Dual SIM slot, primary microphone, USB Type-C 2.0 port and the loudspeaker grill are present on the bottom. The speaker vent is on the top, along with the microphone. The IR blaster has been moved to the back, inside the camera deco.
The Mint Green colourway that we have has a glass back with matte finish that doesn’t attract fingerprints. It also comes in Charcoal Black colourway that also features a glass back. The Electric Violet colourway that is exclusive to OnePlus in India uses fibreglass, and the panel includes a specialized coating that imprints the word “Ace” into the device’s rear aesthetic.
The rear camera design is similar to the OnePlus 13s and the OnePlus 15. The phone weighs 219 grams, which is slightly higher than the 206g 13R, mainly due to the bigger battery and the screen size. It is still thin at 8.3mm. The Electric Violet model is thinner and lighter at 8.1mm and 213g, respectively.
The phone also doesn’t miss on the waterproof ratings. The OnePlus 15R matches the OnePlus 15 with IP68, IP69 and IP69K ratings, so it can withstand water immersion at a depth of 2m for 30 min and high-pressure water jets at temperatures up to 80°C.
Camera
- 50MP rear camera with 1/1.56″ Sony IMX906 sensor, f/1.8 aperture, OIS
- 8MP 112° ultra-wide camera with f/2.2 aperture
- 32MP autofocus front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture, Up to 4K 30fps video recording
The camera UI in the OxygenOS 16 is familiar. There is Pro mode, Panorama, Macro, Slo-mo, Time-Lapse, Dual-View video, doc scanner, Underwater, Tilt-Shift and more. The rear camera offers 12.5MP output after pixel binning, and the front camera images are 32MP in size. The Ultra-Clear 26MP mode that can be enabled from settings combines data from multi-frame 12MP shots with a single 50MP high-resolution frame.
Daylight shots came out well, and the dynamic range is better with auto HDR. Zoom is decent, but not the best, mainly due to the lack of a telephoto sensor. Up to 10X looks good, but you lose details when you zoom further. The new DetailMax Engine does its job. Even without a telephoto camera, it can manage 1x 24mm portrait that can be used for normal shots and the 2x portrait mode offers 48mm, for medium long or medium portraits.
You can shoot macro from the main camera, but there is no macro mode, you can’t go close. Ultra-wide shots with the 8MP camera is decent. Low light shots are good with a lot of details and less noise. The night mode is useful, but it takes a few seconds to process. There is also a tripod mode. OnePlus says that it uses Clear Night Engine for low-light photography.
The 32MP autofocus front camera does a good job in daylight, and could be better in low light. Edge detection is decent in portrait shots, but it could be better.
Check out the camera samples.
It can record videos in up to 4K in 120fps rear main camera. Ultra-wide supports 1080p 30fps and the front camera supports 4K 30fps. There is slow motion 4K 120fps, 1080p at 240fps, and 720p 480 fps. Portrait video is still limited to 1080p 30fps from front and rear cameras, and it’s the same with the ultra-steady mode. There is OIS and EIS which does decent job.
Software, UI and Apps
The OnePlus 15R runs Android 16 based OxygenOS 16out of the box. It has Android security patch for November 2025. The phone will get 4 Android updates and 6 years of security updates. OxygenOS 16 offers AI-powered features, performance enhancements, a redesigned user interface, and new security protocols.
Flux Home Screen lets you reshape app folders with dynamic layout adjustments, you can resize and reposition icons, cards, and folders dynamically, Match icon colors automatically with wallpaper tones and more.
In addition to smoother user interface, there are improvements to productivity tools.
- AI Recording: Includes AI Clear Voice, real-time transcription, and speaker identification. Auto-generated titles help organize key discussion points efficiently.
- AI Writer: Converts short prompts into structured content such as posts, emails, or documents, and can summarize or convert long text into tables or mind maps.
- AI Assistant for Notes: Supports modular editing, allowing users to move, rearrange, or format note components with swipe or drag gestures.
In photos app there is a new AI Portrait Glow feature, Master Cut that offers speed adjustment, crop, rotation, and 4K export for enhanced video editing and Motion Photo Collage that combines multiple motion photos into cinematic collages.
OxygenOS 16 enhances cross-device integration and expands interoperability beyond Android, allowing seamless interaction between OnePlus devices, iPhones, and Macs.
OnePlus Lock adds advanced data protection features such as Call to Lock, Dual Verification, and Chip-Level Deep Lock, securing devices and data even when lost. With Private Computing Cloud sensitive data is processed within OnePlus’ Private Cloud, ensuring user information remains secure and inaccessible externally, said the company.
Out of 12GB LPDD5X Ultra RAM, you get 10.88GB of usable RAM, and about 6GB of RAM is free when default apps are running in the background. It also has DRE or dynamic RAM expansion feature, which uses the built-in storage as RAM. This has up to 12GB of additional RAM expansion. Out of 512GB UFS 4.1 storage, you get about 456.90GB of free storage. There are some pre-loaded apps like Netflix, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, but these can be uninstalled.
Plus Key and AI Plus Mind
The Plus Key that was first introduced with the OnePlus 13s lets you switch between ring, vibrate, and silent modes. Additionally, customization allows for quick access to features like the camera, translation, or flashlight. You can also set it to launch AI Plus Mind, which saves your content so that you can access them later.
It lets users save and organize important on-screen information — such as events, bookings, or listings — into a dedicated Mind Space, helping avoid information overload.
OnePlus has integrated Mind Space with Google Gemini. This allows Gemini to access information saved in Mind Space and combine it with its own large language model and real-time internet access, creating what OnePlus calls the “industry’s 1st personalized AI with Gemini”.
For example, you can ask Gemini to create an itinerary based on saved locations in Mind Space while cross-referencing the current weather forecast online. You can also ask Gemini for all the content saved on Mind Space. I asked for the gym membership details I had saved on Mind Space from Instagram, and it gave all the details.
Fingerprint sensor and Face unlock
The OnePlus 15R adopts an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor that unlocks the phone quickly, and it works even when your fingers are wet. The scanner’s sensitivity and compatibility are optimized to work best with the official tempered glass screen protector, says the company, so the experience might vary depending on the scanner. You can add up to 5 fingerprints. You can also use the fingerprint for app local and payments in apps.
Furthermore, you can change the fingerprint animation and also disable it, and also enable quick launch option to launch apps directly from the lock screen by holding the fingerprint. The phone also has face unlock feature.
Music and Multimedia
YouTube Music is the default Music Player. It doesn’t have Dolby Atmos, but has OReality Audio with customizable Smart, Movie, Game and Music modes. It doesn’t have FM Radio support. Audio through the stereo speakers is good without any distortion even in full volume. Audio through earphones is good as well.
This has Widevine L1, so that you can play HD content on Netflix and other streaming apps. It supports HDR content on YouTube, and Netflix. There is also Dolby Vision for Netflix.
Dual SIM and Connectivity
The OnePlus 15R has support for n1/n3/n5/n8/n26/n28/n38/n40/n41/n48/n66/
n77/n78 Network Bands in India. It Carrier Aggregation on 4G, but it doesn’t have eSIM support.
Other connectivity options include Wi-Fi 7 802.11 be (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 6.0, GPS(L1+L5), GLONASS(G1), BeiDou(B1I+B1C+B2a), Galileo(E1+E5a), QZSS(L1+L5), NavIC(L5). For India users, OnePlus has worked with TP-LINK to cut down Wi-Fi congestion and reduce in game lag for smoother, low latency gaming even on busy Wi-Fi networks. It has OTG support, and NFC support. The BeaconLink is a Walkie-Talkie functionality to connect with other supported OnePlus devices even without network coverage.
Moving on, the call quality is good, and we did not face any call drops and the earpiece volume was loud. The Clear Voice feature automatically blocks background noise in calling apps. It uses own calling app with call recording, AI call translation, summary and more.
The OnePlus 15R’s body SAR is 1.003/Kg and head SAR is at 1.078/Kg, which is well under the limit of 1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) in India.
Performance and Benchmarks
This is the first to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 platform. It also integrates the OP Gaming Core out of the box. It has a 2 + 6 all-big core architecture that uses 2 x Oryon Prime CPU at up to 3.8GHz, 6 x Oryon Performance CPUs at up to 3.32GHz.
The chip is fabricated using the TSMC 3nm Process Technology. It promises 36% improvement in overall performance, compared to predecessor. There is also a dedicated Touch Response Chip that offloads and accelerates all touch processing from the main SoC. It supports a 330Hz touch sampling rate and an ultra-high 3200Hz instantaneous sampling rate, much higher than most phones.
There is also Wi-Fi Chip G2 with advanced RF modules and enhanced algorithms, including SmartLink, designed to improve network connectivity in weak signal environments. It prioritizes gaming traffic to optimize connection stability and reduce stutter in challenging network conditions, said the company.
The phone has a 5,704mm² 3D VC vapor chamber for core heat dissipation and a white graphite back cover for additional thermal spread, and it has a total, 43940mm² heat dissipation area, the highest on a OnePlus phone till date.
We did not face any issues or frame drops in the graphic-intensive games like COD, BGMI and Genshin Impact, thanks to the new Adreno 829 GPU clocked at 1225MHz that promises 11% improved performance compared to the predecessor.
It offers 165fps gaming in select games such as Call of Duty: Mobile, Brawl Stars and Clash of Clans, and other games like BGMI needs game frame interpolation for 120fps. There is also improved gyroscope for better gaming experience, especially in FPS games.
Temperature during gaming hardly reached 41°C when playing Genshin Impact. In 3D Mark wild life stress test, it scored 67.5%. Temperature shot up from 36 to 43 degrees, which is not much. Check out the benchmarks below.
Battery life
Coming to the battery life, the phone packs a 7400mAh (typical) Silicon-Carbon battery, which is 1400mAh bigger than the OnePlus 13R. It uses advanced Silicon NanoStack technology, which incorporates an industry-high 15% silicon content in the anode for significantly greater energy density, said the company.
I got close to 8 hours of screen on time with close to 3 days of use, mostly on Wi-Fi, and occasional 5G use with Smart refresh rate. This is way better than the OnePlus 13R. The phone should last for the whole day, even for heavy users like gamers, on a single charge.
The Bypass Charging function supports direct device power without charging the battery, avoiding excess heat, and preserving battery longevity. The battery is designed to retain over 80% of its health after 4 years of use and operates reliably in temperatures as low as -20°C, said the company.
Since the phone has support for 80W fast charging, it can charge up to 50% in less than 30 minutes, and 100% in about an hour. You will have to enable fast charging option if you want to reduce the charging time, but the phone gets a bit hot. It doesn’t have wireless charging, which is not expected considering the price.
Conclusion
The OnePlus 15R is a substantial upgrade over the OnePlus 13R, particularly for power users and gamers who value raw performance and longevity. The shift to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 SoC ensures that the phone handles the most demanding tasks with ease, and the massive 7,400mAh battery sets a new benchmark for endurance in this segment. The 165Hz flat OLED display is a delight for gaming, even if the lack of LTPO technology is a missed opportunity for better power efficiency in daily use.
While the main camera performs well and the new design is attractive, the camera versatility takes a hit with the lack of a telephoto camera. If your priority is uncompromised battery life, blazing-fast performance, and a great screen for media, the OnePlus 15R is an excellent choice. But if you are a photography enthusiast looking for a versatile shooter, or if you were hoping for the value-for-money quotient of previous R-series phones, you might find the price slightly steep.
Pricing and availability
The OnePlus 15R is priced at Rs. 47,999 for the 12GB + 256GB model, and the 16GB + 512GB model costs Rs. 52,999. It is now available to pre-order from Amazon.in and other platforms with open sale starting from December 22nd.
Customers who pre-book OnePlus 15R can get OnePlus Nord Buds 3 (Harmonic Gray) worth Rs. 2,299 at no extra cost. There is Rs. 3,000 discount with HDFC Bank and Axis Bank cards, and the effective price is Rs. 44,999.
Alternatives
There is no direct competitor when it comes to performance and battery. OnePlus 13R is still at good option, and you will get the 16GB + 512GB model for the price of the 15R. If you spend more, there is OnePlus 13s with a faster chip in a more compact design. We will have to wait for next iQOO Neo series model to release in early 2026 since it will likely be the direct competition with a similar chip.
Pros
- 1.5K AMOLED display with up to 165Hz refresh rate is good
- Smooth performance and good gaming performance
- Decent cameras, 4K 120fps recording
- Solid build quality, IP68 + IP69 + IP69K ratings
- Excellent battery life with 80W fast charging
Cons
- No LTPO display
- No telephoto camera