OnePlus has long struggled to gain a firm foothold in the competitive US smartphone market. Despite periods of promise, the company now trails behind giants like Samsung and Apple, and even competitors like Motorola and Google. The OnePlus 15 aims to change that with a redesigned aesthetic and a focus on raw performance, but does it deliver?
A Fresh Look, But Familiar Tradeoffs
The OnePlus 15 abandons the distinctive round camera module of its predecessors for a more conventional square bump. The unique marble-like back finishes are gone, replaced by flat color options: Infinite Black, Sand Storm, and Ultra Violet. While the design isn’t groundbreaking, it’s a deliberate shift away from past iterations. The launch has been slightly delayed due to the US government shutdown, but the phone is expected to be available on all major carriers soon.
Battery Life Redefined: Two Days Without Worry
The standout feature of the OnePlus 15 is its massive 7,300-mAh silicon-carbon battery. This is the largest battery in any mainstream smartphone currently sold in the US, dwarfing the 5,000-mAh cells found in competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. In real-world testing, the phone consistently lasted two full days on a single charge, even with moderate to heavy use.
Users can easily achieve over 10 hours of screen-on time, a figure rarely seen in flagship devices. The phone’s fast-charging capabilities are also impressive, reaching 80% from 15% in just 30 minutes. However, OnePlus continues to prioritize wired charging, offering only standard Qi wireless charging support, lacking the faster Qi2 magnetic alignment found in some competitors.
Performance Unleashed: The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
The OnePlus 15 is the first smartphone in the US to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. Benchmark scores confirm its dominance, surpassing even the iPhone 17 Pro Max in multi-core CPU performance. In practical terms, this translates to flawless gaming, even at maximum settings. Demanding titles like Genshin Impact run smoothly at 60 frames per second without overheating.
Beyond the processor, the phone boasts ultra-fast UFS 4.1 storage, high-speed RAM, and a blistering 3,200-Hz touch sampling rate. The 165-Hz AMOLED display, though a step down in resolution from the OnePlus 13, remains sharp, bright, and responsive. The phone’s IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K rating makes it one of the most durable on the market.
Common Pitfalls: Design, Software, and Cameras
Despite its strengths, the OnePlus 15 isn’t without flaws. The Sand Storm model is notoriously slippery, posing a risk of accidental drops. Some software decisions in OxygenOS feel unnecessarily borrowed from iOS, and the AI-driven features, including the new Plus Key, are intrusive for users who prefer a clean experience.
The four-year OS upgrade and six-year security update policy is adequate but falls short of the seven-year support offered by Samsung and Google. Finally, the camera system, while competent, doesn’t challenge the industry leaders. The 50-megapixel triple-camera setup delivers solid results, but lacks the sharpness and dynamic range of competitors like the Pixel 10 Pro XL.
The Verdict: A Powerful Contender
The OnePlus 15 is a compelling choice for users who prioritize battery life, performance, and value. While the design and camera system don’t redefine the smartphone landscape, the phone’s two-day battery life, lightning-fast charging, and top-tier processing power make it a standout contender. If you’re tired of daily charging and demand raw performance, the OnePlus 15 is a worthy alternative to the established giants
