Early this year, I loved the OnePlus 13. It was a gem. Now, the brand is back strong. They are launching the OnePlus 15. This model looks a lot like the Realme GT 8 Pro. I tested that one recently too.

However, the OnePlus 15 brings its own changes. It possesses great strengths. But it also carries a huge flaw. In this article, I give you my honest opinion. I analyze this phone for you. Is it right for your usage? Let’s examine this together.

An Aggressive Price Against Competitors

Let’s talk about the price first. OnePlus strikes hard this year. The model with 12GB of RAM costs €979. The superior version goes up a bit. It offers 16GB of RAM for €1129.

These prices remain aggressive. Especially facing the Samsung S25 Ultra at its launch. OnePlus aligns here with the BBK group. We see a similar strategy at Xiaomi. The value for money seems excellent on paper. But does the design follow this logic?

A Clean Design and Careful Ergonomics

I am a fan of the design. It clearly beats the Realme GT 8 Pro. The style is clean. The camera block makes the difference. It looks very neat visually. I tested the matte black version. The finish on the back is ultra-pleasant.

However, I note a worrying detail. You can mark the back with your fingernail. These scratches might stay forever. Only time will tell. After nine months, the condition could degrade.

The ergonomics remain excellent though. The edges are flat. The corners are rounded. The phone weighs 215 grams. Some might find it heavy. Yet, it is not a brick. This weight is due to the battery. I will discuss this crucial point later.

The dimensions are massive. It is 16 cm high. The width reaches 7.67 cm. The thickness is 0.8 cm. The phone holds well in hand. It does not move on a table.

Finally, OnePlus integrates an action button. It replaces the old slider. You can configure this button. It launches the flashlight or camera. It is very practical daily. Three colors exist in France: Black, White, and Violet.

A Screen Built for Gaming and Multimedia

The front features a magnificent panel. It is a 6.78-inch LTPO screen. The definition is 1.5K. The refresh rate climbs to 165 Hz. This is rare. It matches the best gaming smartphones like the ROG Phone.

Touch responsiveness is crazy. The sampling rate reaches 3200 Hz. Latency is therefore almost zero. It is a joy for gamers.

OnePlus promises 4500 nits brightness. In reality, I have a different impression. We do not reach this peak in my opinion. However, it is enough for daily use. The screen stays readable even in full sun.

Concretely, it is one of the best screens today. Fluidity is impressive. I prefer the “Vivid” mode for colors. The “Natural” mode looks duller. For multimedia, it is perfect. You will not be disappointed.

OnePlus 15: Raw Power Under the Hood

OnePlus does not rely only on the processor. The brand talks about “Tri-Shields”. This combines three key elements. First, we find the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. Then, memory uses LPDDR5X Ultra Plus. Finally, storage is UFS 4.1.

These standards guarantee extreme speed. Games launch instantly. The system reacts immediately. OnePlus targets RedMagic performance here.

However, I must highlight a point. The phone heats up while gaming. After 10 minutes of Fortnite, the temperature rises. The system should theoretically cut apps. Fortunately, this does not happen in normal use.

Overheating mainly concerns demanding games. I noticed something interesting. A recent update limits the processor. This reduces overheating. It is a common strategy. I felt the same on the Realme GT 8 Pro. Despite this, the OnePlus 15 remains a power monster.

Record Battery Life: The Real Highlight

Here is the number one argument for this smartphone. Battery life is simply crazy. OnePlus integrated a 7300 mAh battery. That is huge. Yet, the phone remains quite thin. It is a real technical feat.

In real life, this changes everything. The phone lasts two days easily. Even with some gaming, it resists. For example, a game of Fortnite consumes only 7%. That is an excellent score.

For moderate use, you will be fine. You will almost forget your charger. Plus, charging is fast. Wired speed reaches 120 W. You recover full battery in 30 minutes.

Wireless charging is also present. It goes up to 50 W. OnePlus also guarantees longevity. The battery will keep 80% health after 4 years. It is reassuring for a long-term investment.

Photography: The Achilles’ Heel of the OnePlus 15

The phone seems perfect so far. But it has a flaw. The photo part disappoints largely. I am not the only one thinking this. It is a general observation.

OnePlus lost its partnership with Hasselblad. The “Detail Max” processing engine is gone. Worse still, the sensors are smaller. The regression is visible immediately.

The main sensor is a Sony IMX 906. It offers 50 megapixels. The aperture is f/1.8. By day, photos are decent. Sharpness is excellent. The rendering is quite natural. It is better than the Realme on this point.

But things get bad in low light. The software smooths textures too much. We get an “oil painting effect”. Digital noise is managed poorly. It is obvious on night shots.

The x3 optical zoom is just “OK”. In 2025, that is insufficient. As soon as we switch to x10, quality drops. The Realme GT 8 Pro does much better here. The Xiaomi 15T Pro is also superior for less money.

Video and Audio: A Mixed Bag

I tested video in 4K at 60 frames per second. Details are present. However, focus is a problem. The device takes time to focus. It is annoying when filming close objects.

The transition between cameras is fluid. Switching from rear to selfie works well. This is a good point for vlogs.

In video selfie mode, the field of view is good. The phone activates a virtual light at night. This lights up the face. But overall quality remains average. The sound captures the voice well, even with wind.

My Final Verdict on the OnePlus 15

What to think finally of this OnePlus 15? It has many undeniable assets. Its power is colossal. Its screen is beautiful. Its battery life is simply record-breaking. The design is also a great success.

However, photography is far behind the competition. It is a shame for a phone at this price. It disappoints more than the previous model on this specific point.

If photos are not your priority, go for it. This phone will satisfy you with its endurance. Gamers will love it too. But if you like photography, walk away. Look at Oppo or Xiaomi instead.