OnePlus 15 smartphone review – They keep churning out the hits!

REVIEW – When someone asks me what brand of Android phone I recommend, I say OnePlus immediately, with no hesitation. I feel like they give you more value for your dollar, and I enjoy their design philosophy more than Samsung’s. The newest OnePlus flagship has just been revealed, and I’m here to tell you all about it. Let’s take a look at the new OnePlus 15.

⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $899.99 – $999.99
Where to buy: OnePlus

What is it?

The OnePlus 15 is the latest flagship Android smartphone from OnePlus.

What’s included?

• OnePlus 15 smartphone
• 80W SUPERVOOC Power adapter
• Type-A to Type-C charging cable
• Quick Start Guide
• Safety Information and Warranty Card
• Screen Protector (pre-applied)
• SIM Tray Ejector
• USB Dongle (Type-A to Type-C)

Check out my unboxing video:

Tech Specs

Design and features

You’re probably wondering what is going on with the model numbers and why OnePlus skipped from the 13 to the 15. The reason is that the number fourteen is unlucky in Chinese because when it is pronounced, it sounds like the word death. Yikes, I don’t blame them for skipping it. Mystery solved!

The new OnePlus 15 is available in 3 colorways. There’s Infinite Black, Ultra Violet (limited stock), and Sand Storm, which is the version that I received. The Sand Storm color gives this phone a slight military vibe.

The back cover of the Sand Storm version of the phone and the camera module are both made of fiberglass, while the frame (sides) is made of MAO (Micro-Arc Oxidation)- treated metal. According to OnePlus…

This eco-friendly, plasma-based electrochemical process—derived from aerospace engineering—creates a ceramic-grade coating on the metal surface. The result is a mid-frame that is 3.4 times harder than an aluminum mid-frame and 1.3 times as tough as a titanium mid-frame, providing exceptional protection against daily wear and tear.

Unlike traditional anodizing processes that require acidic chemicals, MAO is more environmentally friendly, aligning with OnePlus’s commitment to sustainable innovation. This fusion of extreme durability, a uniquely smooth and cool-to-the-touch feel, and cleaner production makes OnePlus 15’s construction a testament to thoughtful, forward-thinking engineering.

The new look is an obvious change from the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 12, which both featured round camera modules. It’s been replaced by a vaguely familiar square camera module (at least for iPhone people). I kinda miss the round module… But the new style is nowhere near a deal breaker.

The top edge of the phone has speakers, a microphone, and a built-in IR blaster that you can use with the included app to control TVs, lights, and more.

On the opposite end, you’ll find the SIM card tray, a USB-C port, more speaker slots, and another microphone.

The right rail/side has a one-piece volume rocker button at the top and the power button below it. Both buttons have excellent tactile feedback.

The left side features the new Plus Key, a programmable button that lets you perform actions such as saving to the Mind Space app, controlling sound and vibration, enabling do not disturb, launching the camera, turning on the flashlight, recording audio, translating speech, and taking screenshots. But unlike the Action Button on iPhones, there doesn’t appear to be a way to configure it to launch a specific app, which is a bit of a letdown.

In hand, the OnePlus 15 is lightweight (noticeably lighter than my iPhone 16 Pro Max) yet a solid phone. When I perform my patented Gadgeteer Squeeze test™, it doesn’t creak, crack, or rattle.

Display

The OnePlus 15’s display is very nice. It’s wonderfully flat, unlike the previous OnePlus 13’s display, which had rounded edges. When I compare it to my iPhone 16 Pro Max, there isn’t much difference at max brightness. I have zero complaints about the brightness, crispness, and vividness of the OnePlus 15’s display.

It’s also fast and responsive when tapping and scrolling through long pages of text.

Gamers (I’m not one) will be happy to hear that the OnePlus 13’s display can reach 165Hz for games like Call of Duty: Mobile, Brawl Stars, and Clash of Clans that support native 165fps. With the new 360° Cryo-Velocity Cooling System, which integrates a 5,731 mm2 3D vapor chamber for core heat dissipation, an aerospace-derived aerogel insulation layer that minimizes surface heat transfer, and a white graphite back cover for uniform thermal distribution, the phone will stay cooler during long gaming sessions.

And like previous phones that I’ve reviewed from OnePlus, the 15 comes with a pre-installed screen protector, which I wish was standard across all phone brands. I’m still kicking myself for not installing a screen protector on my iPhone 16 Pro Max the minute I unboxed it because it seemed to get a scratch instantly 🙁

Camera

OnePlus decided not to continue working with Hasselblad for its camera module for the 15, but after taking many photos with this new phone, I’m not sad. I’ve been using the OnePlus 13 for quite a bit of my product shots in my reviews and since switching to the 15, I’m not noticing much of a difference in the quality. I’m still happy and feel that the OnePlus 15 is a solid shooter in most environments, except maybe night pics, where it could use a bit of improvement.

OnePlus 15 photo samples

Click the images below to see the full-sized version (these are straight out of the phone with no edits).

User interface and apps

OnePlus uses OxygenOS as its operating system for its phones. It’s stock Android with an extra layer of features, similar to Samsung’s One UI. The OnePlus 15 runs Android 16/OxygenOS, so it has the latest and greatest features.

When it comes to bloatware, OnePlus doesn’t fill their phones with a bunch of unnecessary apps as some other phone makers tend to do, so that’s a huge plus, in my opinion.

Since I’m primarily an iPhone user, I love using some of the cool features OnePlus offers, like Smart Sidebar and split screen. When I go back to the iPhone, I miss these two features so much.

The Smart Sidebar is a small slide-out launcher window that you can customize with your most used apps. Using the sidebar makes it easier to use the Open Canvas feature, which allows you to split the screen to run two apps at the same time. I really wish the iPhone had this feature! I know it’s not as useful as a folding phone like the OnePlus Open, but it can be pretty handy.

A feature worth noting is the Share with iPhone feature. Share with iPhone is an AirPlay-like feature that allows you to wirelessly share files with an iPhone by touching the top edges of the phones together. However, you must install an app on the iPhone for this feature to work. The first time you tap the two phones together, a notification appears on the iPhone that prompts you to download and install the O+ Connect app. Then, the OnePlus phone creates a hotspot for the iPhone to connect to before receiving the files.

There’s also an O+ Connect app for your desktop (Windows and Mac) that lets you easily copy files back and forth between the phone and the computer. This is great for people who have a Mac because you can’t use AirDrop to copy pics to your computer like you can with an iPhone to a Mac. You have to jump through hoops with special apps when you’re dealing with Android and Macs. The O+ Connect desktop app makes it much easier.

OnePlus also has an iPhone dynamic island copycat feature called Live Alert Capsules. These capsules appear depending on the app you’re using. I’ve seen them when playing YouTube videos and music.

I also noticed that the control panel on the OnePlus looks almost identical to the iPhone’s control panel.

Face unlock and fingerprint unlock

In my OnePlus 12 review, I talked about how happy I was that the phone let me unlock it with my face (like Face ID on the iPhone), even in total darkness. But I was super annoyed that the same couldn’t be said for the OnePlus 13 and now the OnePlus 15 is missing that feature too 🙁 That means when I’m checking my phone in the middle of the night or under the covers early in the morning, I have to use a numeric code to unlock the phone.

Why don’t I use my fingerprint to unlock the phone? Well, that’s a feature that almost NEVER works for me on any phone. One of my friends always says that I’m an alien… but I think it’s because I have dry fingertips. I successfully registered a fingerprint during setup, but since then, unlocking with my finger has worked about 1 time in 10. Face unlock works great as long as it’s not in total darkness. <sniff>

Overall performance and battery life

I don’t like putting a bunch of performance graphs in my reviews because I don’t think graphs and specs accurately reflect what it feels like to actually use a phone. That said, I have no complaints about the OnePlus 15’s performance. All my favorite apps launched quickly, and scrolling through webpages and apps felt smooth and zippy. I’m not a gamer, so I didn’t test this phone with any games. No matter what apps I tried, I couldn’t find a way to slow down this phone.

Now, let’s talk battery life.  The OnePlus 15 has freaking crazy-good battery life thanks to its 7300 mAh battery. I had zero problems getting through more than a full day using the OnePlus 15 for all of my normal tasks (email, reading ebooks, watching YouTube videos, Marco Polo video chat sessions with family members, texting, a few calls, Instagram scrolling, snapping pictures, short videos, etc. On days when I didn’t do much with the phone, I could easily get through two days on one charge!

And when the battery needs to be topped up, this phone charges crazy fast using a cable and the included 80W SUPERVOOC charger. Plugging it in for a few minutes provides hours of use, which is fantastic! If you prefer wireless charging, it tops up quickly that way too. Better still, the OnePlus cases even provide MagSafe magnets, so you can use the phone with MagSafe chargers and accessories.

Gamers will be happy about the Bypass Charging features which allows the phone to be powered directly from the outlet while gaming. This bypasses the battery to minimize heat generation to ensure consistent performance during marathon gaming sessions. It also helps preserve long-term battery health. Even if you’re not a gamer, OnePlus engineered the battery to maintain over 80% of its health after 4 years of use.

Making and receiving calls with the OnePlus 15

Making and receiving calls is definitely my least-used function on any smartphone these days, but I tested this feature and had no issues with either side of the calls that I placed or answered. Volume levels and clarity on both sides of the call were fine.

OS and security update promise

OnePlus keeps the same promise that they made with the previous phone model. The OnePlus 15 will have 4 years of OS updates and 6 years of security updates.

Final thoughts

The OnePlus 15 is an outstanding flagship that delivers on every front: a flat, vibrant display, a refined camera system, and truly amazing battery life. I absolutely love everything about it. The performance is snappy, the software is clean, and the thoughtful extras like Smart Sidebar and Open Canvas make daily use a pleasure. If you’re coming from a OnePlus 12 or older, the upgrade is a no-brainer. Get one now! 😉 However, if you’re already rocking a OnePlus 13 that’s still in great shape, the real-world experience between the two is remarkably similar. The OnePlus 15’s fresh look, flat display, and even better battery are welcome improvements, but they don’t drastically change how the phone feels in your hand or how it performs day to day. For most, the OnePlus 15 is a fantastic choice, but for current OnePlus 13 owners, the upgrade is more about aesthetics and longer battery life than a revolutionary leap in features.

What I like about the OnePlus 15

• Flat display
• Nice camera
• Amazing battery life
• Snappy performance
• Extra little features like Smart Sidebar, Open Canvas, and Gestures

What needs to be improved?

• Fix face unlock so that it works in total darkness, like it did on the OnePlus 12

Price: $899.99 – $999.99
Where to buy: OnePlus
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by OnePlus. OnePlus did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.

Check out these other OnePlus reviews!

• OnePlus Pad 3 review – This Android tablet gives you a lot of bang for your buck!
• OnePlus Watch 3 review – a solid big smartwatch with battery for literal days
• OnePlus 13R Smartphone review

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