The OnePlus 15 has arrived, and it's making waves with its impressive specifications and a few notable changes. It’s the first phone widely available with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, promising top-tier performance and improved power management. Boasting a massive 7,300mAh battery, a super-smooth 165Hz display, and a sleek design, the OnePlus 15 aims to be a powerhouse for both everyday users and mobile gamers. However, the camera performance, particularly after the dissolution of OnePlus's partnership with Hasselblad, presents a mixed bag that may leave photography enthusiasts wanting more.
Design and Display:
The OnePlus 15 sports a refined, minimalist design, a departure from the more flamboyant aesthetics of its predecessors. The squared-off design, reminiscent of the Pixel 10 Pro XL, offers a comfortable grip with gently curved edges. The rear camera module has been moved to the center, minimizing wobble when the phone is placed on a flat surface. The device features a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a dynamic refresh rate of up to 165Hz, ensuring ultra-smooth motion, especially during gaming. The display offers a 1272x2772 pixel resolution, supporting Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HDR Vivid for a vibrant viewing experience.
Performance and Battery:
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset is at the heart of the OnePlus 15, coupled with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X Ultra+ RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage. This combination delivers blazing-fast performance, easily handling demanding tasks and graphically intensive games. The "OP Gaming Core" enhances the gaming experience with features like Adaptive CPU Scheduler and HyperRendering. The standout feature is the massive 7,300mAh battery, offering exceptional battery life that can easily last for two days of regular use. The phone supports 120W SUPERVOOC wired charging and 50W AIRVOOC wireless charging, allowing for rapid refueling. OnePlus claims a full charge can be achieved in just 39 minutes using the included charger and cable.
Camera Performance:
The OnePlus 15 features a triple 50MP rear camera system, consisting of a main lens (Sony IMX906), an ultrawide lens (OV50D), and a telephoto lens (S5KJN5) with 3.5x optical zoom. While the main camera captures clean photos with good dynamic range and color balance in daylight, inconsistencies across the lenses and occasional overexposure issues have been noted. The 3.5x telephoto lens delivers sharp and detailed images, particularly in daylight, but struggles with color rendition in low-light conditions. The ultrawide camera produces above-average photos with good sharpness and detail, but colors may appear somewhat muted compared to the other two cameras. The end of the Hasselblad partnership appears to have impacted the camera's image processing, with some reviews noting heavy-handed contrast and sharpening. While the camera is capable of recording 8K video at 30fps and 4K video at up to 120fps with Dolby Vision HDR, the overall camera performance may not satisfy users seeking pro-grade photography. The 32MP front camera, however, offers autofocus and captures pleasing selfies in daylight.
Software and Other Features:
The OnePlus 15 runs on OxygenOS 16 based on Android 16, offering a smooth and polished user experience. It includes several AI-powered features such as AI Detail Boost, AI Unblur, and AI Reflection Eraser to enhance photo quality and editing. The device also features dual stereo speakers, an under-display fingerprint sensor, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and NFC.
Conclusion:
The OnePlus 15 is an excellent smartphone that excels in performance, battery life, and design. Its powerful processor, smooth display, and long-lasting battery make it a compelling choice for gamers and power users alike. However, the camera performance, while decent, may not meet the expectations of photography enthusiasts, particularly given the absence of Hasselblad's color science and tuning. If camera capabilities are a top priority, potential buyers might want to consider other flagship options. But for those seeking a well-rounded device with exceptional performance and battery life, the OnePlus 15 is a strong contender.
