The OnePlus 15 has officially launched in India, making headlines as the first flagship in the country to feature the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. With this release, OnePlus is setting the stage for next year’s flagship smartphones, but the company has also made some bold changes—especially in terms of performance and camera capabilities. Is the OnePlus 15 a true comeback for the brand, or does it fall short in some areas? Here’s a detailed review after a month of hands-on experience.
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Unboxing and First Impressions
The OnePlus 15 comes in a signature big red box, which includes the phone, a color-matching case, paperwork, a 120W super-fast charger, a Type-A to Type-C cable, and a SIM ejector tool. Everything you need is right in the box, a refreshing change from many other brands.
Design and Build Quality
OnePlus continues its tradition of introducing a new design with every flagship. The OnePlus 15 is available in three colors in India: Infinite Black, Sandstorm, and Ultraviolet. The Sandstorm variant stands out with its unique ceramic-like coating and fiberglass back, making it more durable than the other versions, which use Corning Glass 7i. The phone is surprisingly lightweight for its large battery, weighing around 212-215g. The camera module has shifted from a circular to a “squirkle” design, giving it a fresh look.
No More Alert Slider
For the first time, the iconic alert slider is gone, replaced by a new “plus key.” This button is customizable and integrates with the new Mindspace app, which uses AI to organize your information, create calendar events, and even generate travel itineraries with Google Gemini integration.
Display Excellence
The OnePlus 15 features a 6.7-inch LTPO display with a 165Hz refresh rate, making it one of the smoothest screens available. The bezels are almost non-existent, and the display supports HDR10, HEVC, Dolby Vision, and the latest codecs. With a peak brightness of up to 4,000 nits, outdoor visibility is excellent. The phone also includes an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner for quick unlocking.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life is a major highlight, thanks to a massive 7,300mAh battery with advanced silicon-carbon anode technology. In real-world use, the phone easily lasts up to two days, even with heavy usage and the display set to 165Hz. The 120W fast charger included in the box can fully charge the phone in about 35-40 minutes. The OnePlus 15 also supports 50W wireless charging, magnetic wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging.
Software: Oxygen OS 16
Running on the latest Oxygen OS 16 (based on Android 16), the OnePlus 15 offers a smooth and responsive experience. New features include parallel processing, advanced AI tools for photo editing and caption generation, and improved device connectivity with OPlus Connect, allowing seamless file transfers between Android, iOS, and Mac devices. The phone is promised four years of Android updates and six years of security updates.
Performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
The OnePlus 15 is the first phone in India to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, paired with top-tier RAM and storage. It also includes custom Wi-Fi and touch response chips for enhanced gaming and multitasking. Benchmark scores are impressive, and real-world performance is equally strong, with fast video editing and high frame rates in games like Call of Duty and BGMI.
Camera: A New Direction
The OnePlus 15 features a 50MP triple camera setup but drops the Hasselblad branding for the first time in five years. Instead, it uses OnePlus’s in-house Detail Max Engine, which leverages AI for sharper images. In good lighting, the camera captures highly detailed 26MP photos, and the color consistency across lenses is excellent. Night mode is improved, though some blur can occur with shaky hands. Video capabilities are robust, supporting up to 8K 30fps and 4K 120fps in Dolby Vision.
Conclusion: Is the OnePlus 15 Worth It?
Starting at ₹68,999 (with bank offers), the OnePlus 15 is a compelling flagship, especially for performance enthusiasts. With a massive battery, cutting-edge display, and top-tier processor, it stands out as one of the best performance phones of the year. The camera, while different from previous models, delivers impressive results thanks to software enhancements. With a lifetime green warranty and two-year battery health warranty, OnePlus is backing its hardware with strong after-sales support.
