OnePlus 15 Evaluation: A Fusion of iPhone Attributes and Distinct Brand Brilliance

The OnePlus 15 represents a substantial enhancement compared to its predecessor, the OnePlus 13, bringing improvements in several essential aspects. It boasts a quicker processor, a remarkable 165Hz OLED screen, enhanced camera performance, and a more resilient construction. Despite these upgrades, the phone’s launch is slightly eclipsed by its bland design, the exclusion of certain hallmark OnePlus characteristics, and sporadic software glitches. Still, the OnePlus 15 distinguishes itself as an outstanding flagship device, featuring remarkable battery longevity, ultra-rapid charging options, and notable operating system functionalities.

**Pros:**
– Sturdy construction with IP69K rating
– Flat screen with excellent eye protection features
– Excellent for gaming with responsive touch and 165Hz refresh rate
– Superb battery duration and charging efficiency
– Impressive camera performance
– Six years of software updates

**Cons:**
– Absence of alert slider and a commonplace design
– Missing Qi2 magnets
– Can overheat during stress testing
– Software may experience bugs

The OnePlus 15 is set for global preorders starting November 13, with an official release on November 18. The starting price is $899 USD for the model with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, while the model with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage is available for $999 USD. Customers who preorder can receive a complimentary bonus item, like the OnePlus Watch 3, OnePlus Buds Pro 3, OnePlus AIRVOOC 50W Magnetic Charger, or a OnePlus 15 Phone Case, by ordering from OnePlus.com. The phone will be sold at OnePlus.com, Amazon, and Best Buy once U.S. availability is verified.

The design of the OnePlus 15 has shifted toward a more commonplace aesthetic, similar to the OnePlus 13S, which has faced some criticism for its resemblance to the iPhone. The Alert Slider has been substituted with a customizable Plus Key, which has limited functions. Despite these modifications, the phone upholds OnePlus’s reputation for speed and seamlessness, showcasing the best battery performance in a flagship phone, an impressive 165Hz OLED display, and a camera that performs admirably despite a hardware downgrade.

The display of the phone stands out, offering excellent brightness, image clarity, and eye-friendly features. However, the flat edges of the design might not suit everyone’s comfort, and the absence of built-in magnets for Qi2 charging is a downside. The OnePlus 15 excels in performance, featuring a large battery that provides nearly three days of usage along with remarkable charging speeds. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor guarantees top-notch performance, though some thermal challenges may occur during demanding tasks.

Operating on Android 16-based Oxygen OS 16, the OnePlus 15 introduces various AI functionalities and customization possibilities. Nevertheless, some users might find the iOS-like UI elements unappealing. The phone guarantees four OS updates and six years of security updates, ensuring lasting support.

Regarding camera functionality, the OnePlus 15 provides excellent image quality, even with certain hardware reductions. Remarkable features such as 4K120 video recording stand out, although telephoto performance might trail behind competitors at greater zoom levels.

In summary, the OnePlus 15 is a robust competitor in the flagship smartphone arena, presenting impressive performance, battery longevity, and display quality. However, its design decisions and software issues might not attract every user.

The OnePlus 15 Screen: Pioneering Smart Eye Care Capabilities and Ultra-Smooth Refresh Rate Establish New Quality Benchmarks, Competing with Samsung and Apple

With a 165Hz refresh rate, numerous eye care features, and an innovative touch response chip, this smartphone display is the most remarkable to date.

It’s difficult to accept that a smartphone display could surpass the current offerings, yet the OnePlus 15 is set to amaze once more with its 165Hz refresh rate, new eye-friendly enhancements, and an OLED panel engineered for maximum impact.

OnePlus is intensely dedicated to speed and gaming performance, providing a display that aligns more with “gaming phone quality” than with a standard smartphone. This includes not only the elevated refresh rate but also a specific touch response chip and a new fluid frame generation capability for compatible games, like Call of Duty Mobile.

OnePlus isn’t marketing this display as ultrabright, despite noticeable brightness improvements, and it is not following Samsung’s lead in using an anti-glare layer on the screen. How do the features compare? Let’s examine, and remember to check our complete OnePlus 15 review to see how the rest of the device excels.

Eye comfort and brightness

The OnePlus 15 features the latest TÜV Rheinland Intelligent Eye Care certification, incorporating a flicker-free and low blue light-emitting display. Brightness and dimming strategies are crucial for eye comfort, particularly in low-light conditions. Many devices, including the Pixel 10 Pro, employ low-frequency PWM dimming, which can be uncomfortable for some users.

The OnePlus 15 is exceptionally comfortable due to OnePlus’s adoption of DC dimming at medium to high brightness levels and 2160Hz PWM dimming at low brightness levels. Furthermore, the display’s modulation rate is impressively low, approximately one-third of that found in the OnePlus 13.

However, OnePlus does not provide dimming options for this display, so what you see is what you get.

OLEDs produce their own light, resulting in a decrease in brightness each time the image refreshes, known as modulation. Devices like the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 10 do not manage this brightness reduction at all, leading to a harsh strobing effect at a 100% brightness drop every cycle.

The OnePlus 15 effectively regulates this brightness reduction to a maximum of 35%, making the drop much less severe and comfortable for most individuals.

OnePlus introduced its first “reduce white point” accessibility feature with the Android 16-based Oxygen OS 16 update, which diminishes the peak brightness of the display for sensitive users. I’ve found maintaining an 80% reduction in the white point renders this the most comfortable flagship display I’ve encountered to date.

Additionally, OnePlus launched its first-ever Motion Cues feature in Oxygen OS 16, adding moving dots to the sides of the display for individuals who suffer from motion sickness. This is a tactic seen in Honor’s recent devices, and it’s an excellent option for those prone to motion sickness.

Users seeking the highest peak brightness will appreciate this display. It slightly outshines the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s display without resorting to unpleasant flickering PWM dimming like Samsung’s implementation but falls short of matching the brightness of the Pixel 10 Pro or Pixel 10 Pro XL’s displays.

All these displays provide ample brightness for outdoor use, though OnePlus hasn’t incorporated an anti-glare filter like Samsung’s S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra. Nevertheless, with the OnePlus 15’s fully flat display design, it should be relatively easy to find a quality tempered glass screen protector featuring an anti-glare layer.

Thanks to the high-frequency PWM dimming rate, viewing this display in complete darkness won’t strain your eyes. It also scales down to 1 nit by default or as low as 0.5 nits when the “reduce white point” feature is activated. That’s the dimmest I have ever observed a smartphone display to achieve.

Finally, the OnePlus 15’s OLED display exhibits no mura, unlike the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s display. Mura reflects how uniformly pixels are lit, a particularly vital aspect for an OLED screen.

As shown in the picture above, a consistent 50% grey image yields perfectly uniform pixel illumination when inspected through a macro lens. Displays with inferior mura may appear grainy, especially at low brightness levels, which has been a recurring criticism from Galaxy S24 and S25 users throughout the years.

Gaming, refresh rate, and resolution

Some worries were expressed regarding OnePlus’s choice of a higher refresh rate display, as it meant sacrificing some screen resolution. However, even at a reduced resolution of 2772 x 1272 pixels — compared to 3168 x 1440 on the One

OnePlus 15 Released Worldwide Sooner Than Anticipated, US Market Release Postponed

**OnePlus 15: A New Chapter in Smartphone Innovation**

The OnePlus 15 has been officially unveiled worldwide, signifying a substantial advancement in smartphone innovation with its revolutionary design and robust features. This flagship model from OnePlus presents multiple pioneering improvements that are poised to transform the user experience.

**Design and Display**

The OnePlus 15 features a sleek aesthetic, transitioning from its predecessor’s circular camera bump to a more refined, iPhone-like camera setup. The device is constructed with an aluminum frame that has a ceramic-like finish and flat edges, providing a contemporary and high-end appearance. The 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED screen boasts a 1.5K resolution, 1800 nits brightness, and an extraordinary 165Hz refresh rate, delivering users vivid visuals and fluid scrolling. The display is nearly bezel-less, with just 1.15mm bezels, optimizing screen area.

**Performance and Battery**

At its core, the OnePlus 15 is driven by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, ensuring swift app launches and uninterrupted multitasking. This is paired with a Touch Response chip and a WiFi G2 chip, enhancing gaming performance through quicker response times and reliable connectivity. The device is equipped with an enormous 7,300mAh battery, supporting 80W fast charging in the U.S. and 50W wireless charging, keeping users powered throughout the day.

**Camera and Imaging**

Photography lovers will enjoy the OnePlus 15’s superior camera configuration, comprising three 50MP lenses. The primary camera features a larger sensor and OIS, while the ultra-wide and periscope telephoto lenses provide flexibility with 3.5x optical zoom. The 32MP selfie camera is engineered for better light capture, enhancing low-light photography. The new DetailMax imaging engine further boosts image quality, turning each shot into a work of art.

**Software and Customization**

The OnePlus 15 operates on OxygenOS 16, built on Android 16, embracing the “Intelligently Yours” concept. This AI-enhanced OS provides personalized features like Plus Mind and Gemini-integrated Mind Space, enhancing user interaction. The device also introduces a configurable ‘Plus Key,’ substituting the classic Alert Slider, enabling users to customize their experience.

**Availability and Pricing**

Offered in Infinite Black, Sand Storm, and Ultra Violet, the OnePlus 15 comes in two primary configurations. The 12GB RAM + 256GB storage model is priced at $899.99 USD, while the 16GB RAM + 512GB storage model is available for $999.99 USD. The phone is currently on sale in Canada, with U.S. availability postponed due to a government shutdown.

The OnePlus 15 establishes a new benchmark in smartphone innovation, merging state-of-the-art features with a user-focused design, making it an attractive option for tech lovers and casual users alike.