After spending a week with the OnePlus 15, I found myself rethinking what I expect from a flagship phone. For years, OnePlus has struggled to carve a unique space in the highly competitive US smartphone market dominated by the iPhone, Galaxy, and Pixel series. This time, however, the OnePlus 15 feels like it has shifted strategy—moving away from trying to stand out for the sake of it and instead focusing on what truly matters. Surprisingly, that grounded approach is exactly what caught my attention.
A Practical, No-Frills Design
At first glance, the OnePlus 15 looked surprisingly generic. The iconic elements that once defined OnePlus—like the Alert Slider, signature design language, and curved display—are gone. From a distance, the phone almost resembles an iPhone clone. While I’m still not enamored with the design after a week, it’s clear that OnePlus has prioritized practicality over style this time.
Unexpected Camera Improvements
The camera specs initially made me skeptical: the main sensor is slightly smaller than before, and the beloved Hasselblad branding has been removed—signs that might indicate a step back. Yet, after capturing hundreds of photos, I was pleasantly surprised. The camera performance actually felt like a step forward in real-world use.
Blistering Performance for Power Users
If you’re looking for a powerhouse, the OnePlus 15 won’t disappoint. During the demanding 3D Mark Wildlife Extreme stress test, the phone showed 99% stability with zero throttling—impressive for a gaming phone. The base model already includes 12GB LPDDR5X Ultra RAM and 256GB storage, but for just $100 more, the 16GB/512GB Ultra+ RAM version is worth considering.
Battery Life That Stands Out
The OnePlus 15 packs a 5,000 mAh battery, rivaling even the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which is priced nearly twice as high. Real-world battery life tests from our in-house PhoneArena battery tests confirm exceptional endurance:
- Over 30 hours of light usage
- 12 hours of continuous YouTube streaming
- Almost 14 hours of nonstop gaming
Areas for Improvement
While my overall experience was positive, certain aspects need refinement. The software feels too much like an iOS copy, lacking a unique OnePlus personality. Some apps appear unoptimized with awkward font sizes and empty spaces. Here are some other points worth noting:
- Display brightness reaches nearly 3,500 nits, but could use a better anti-reflective coating
- Software update support lasts four years, shorter compared to Samsung and Google
- Missing Qi2 magnetic wireless charging
- Speakers get loud, but sound muffled at high volumes
Is the OnePlus 15 the Flagship to Buy in 2025?
The OnePlus 15 may not wow with flashy design, but its blend of practical design, solid camera upgrades, stellar performance, and outstanding battery life make it a compelling choice. If you're after a no-nonsense, high-performing smartphone that doesn’t carry a premium price tag for minor upgrades, this phone deserves serious consideration as we enter 2025.
