OnePlus 15 Review: The Ultimate Speed Machine, If Cameras Aren’t a Priority

The OnePlus 15 arrives with an unusual story that may confuse buyers at first glance. Many readers spent the year expecting the company to follow the standard naming pattern, especially after the release of the OnePlus 13. Instead, OnePlus jumped directly to the OnePlus 15. The reason is simple: the company wanted a shorter delay between the Chinese and global launch schedules, and it chose to skip the number 14 due to cultural superstition tied to the number four in China.

1. Confusion About the Name

This release pattern means the OnePlus 15 lands in North America only weeks after its October debut in China. The rapid launch may suggest the phone is too close to the OnePlus 13, but that impression fades once you examine the upgrades. The new model features faster performance, a larger battery, and a polished software experience. Still, the core OnePlus philosophy remains intact, which will satisfy long-time fans and frustrate buyers who expect a more dramatic shift in identity.

2. Pros and Cons Summary

The OnePlus 15 brings strong performance, long battery life, and reliable everyday speed. However, the camera system still trails behind competitors, and the design feels too familiar.

Pros

• Fast processor that handles demanding apps
• Bright and responsive AMOLED display
• Large battery that lasts through extended use
• 80W charger included in the box

Cons

• Camera performance lags behind rivals
• Recycled design language
• Only four years of OS updates

3. Pricing and Availability

The launch of the OnePlus 15 in the US is tied to delays caused by the government shutdown. OnePlus confirmed that the device already passed all laboratory testing, but it cannot be sold until the FCC issues final clearance. As a result, the intended November 13 release date has been pushed back.

Pricing also sits in an uncertain space. The base 12GB RAM / 256GB storage model is expected to cost $900, while the higher 16GB / 512GB variant is listed at $1,000. The company states that both price points are subject to change due to current market conditions. This means the final US pricing may shift depending on supply chain costs and regulatory timing.

4. Hardware and Display

The OnePlus 15 continues the company’s visual style but lacks a bold identity. The design closely resembles the OnePlus 13s and 13T from earlier this year. This similarity also makes it look closer to Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro, giving the phone a less distinctive appearance.

Still, there are a few thoughtful touches. The sand storm finish brings a ceramic-like texture that feels premium in hand. The phone also remains impressively slim despite its massive 7,300mAh battery. The sand storm variant measures 0.31 inches thick, only slightly thicker than Samsung’s Galaxy S25 FE with a much smaller battery.

OnePlus removed the classic Alert Slider, but the new Plus Key offers flexible customization. You can assign the Alert Slider function to it, or use it to launch AI features, shortcuts, or tools.

The display has also changed. The OnePlus 15 uses a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 1,272 x 2,772 resolution and a refresh rate that climbs to 165Hz in supported games. The lower resolution compared to the OnePlus 13 is a trade-off to reach faster refresh speeds, since no available QHD panel currently reaches 165Hz. The brightness hits 1,800 nits, making the screen easy to see outdoors. Sharpness, color accuracy, and motion smoothness are strong highlights.

5. Cameras

The OnePlus 15 introduces the company’s new DetailMax imaging engine and ends the Hasselblad partnership. The phone uses three 50-megapixel sensors, but some lens specifications have changed. The main lens now has an f/1.8 aperture instead of f/1.6, and the telephoto lens shifts to f/2.8 from f/2.6. Both still include optical image stabilization.

Photo quality remains solid but inconsistent. In bright conditions, images look clean with good color temperature and natural tones. But in harsh lighting or nighttime scenes, dynamic range can falter. Shadows may appear too lifted, and slow shutter speeds can cause blur. The telephoto system performs well enough at 3x optical zoom but shows softness beyond 6x, even though OnePlus claims 7x lossless zoom.

The camera does excel in two areas. The first is color accuracy, which stays consistent across lenses and lighting conditions. The second is burst shooting, where the OnePlus 15 can fire up to 10 frames per second. This speed makes it easier to capture pets, motion, or sports.

OnePlus also added an underwater mode that swaps touchscreen controls for physical buttons, though its usefulness depends on climate and season.

6. Performance and Battery Life

The OnePlus 15 is the first phone in North America equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip. The performance is exceptional, with high benchmark results and impressive real-world speed. Paired with up to 16GB of RAM, the device runs heavy applications, games, and multitasking without slowdowns.

The ultra-high 3,200Hz touch sampling rate contributes to the feeling of speed. Gestures, scrolling, and gaming all feel immediate.

Only seven mobile games currently support full 165Hz gameplay, but the feature positions the device well for future game updates.

Battery life is a standout achievement. The new 7,300mAh Silicon NanoStack battery lasts around 38.5 hours in video testing, surpassing the OnePlus 13 by a wide margin. Charging is equally impressive: the included 80W SUPERVOOC adapter fills the battery from empty to full in roughly 40 minutes. Wireless charging is limited by the lack of Qi2 support, requiring OnePlus’s proprietary AIRVOOC system for its 50W speeds.

Read More About Our Article of, OnePlus 15 Battery Life: The Ultimate Charging Solution, published on November 15Tth 2025, SquaredTech.

7. Software

OxygenOS remains clean, fast, and visually polished. The new AI features stay tucked away unless you want to use them. Mind Space acts as a private hub for screenshots, summaries, voice notes, and scanned documents. A built-in language model can analyze saved content and provide context or insights.

Animations and gesture responses help the phone feel fluid. The quick settings panel is well structured, giving useful options without overwhelming the user.

Software support is the weak point. OnePlus promises four major OS updates and six years of security patches. This falls behind Google and Samsung, which offer seven years of support on their recent models.

8. Final Impressions

The OnePlus 15 continues the company’s tradition of prioritizing speed, display quality, and battery life. It offers outstanding daily performance but still trails competitors in camera output and long-term software support. Depending on final US pricing, the OnePlus 15 may sit at a challenging position against discounted alternatives like the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Still, for users who value speed above photography, the OnePlus 15 stands out as one of the strongest performance-focused phones of its generation. SquaredTech considers it a device with clear strengths that will appeal to buyers who want a fast, long-lasting phone rather than the best camera system. If pricing stabilizes, the OnePlus 15 could remain competitive well into 2026.

Comparison Table: OnePlus 15 vs OnePlus 13 and Pixel 10 Pro XL

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