OnePlus 15R Launches with Impressive Specs, Samsung Galaxy S25 Series on Sale

January has been relatively quiet, with the spotlight on discounts for older models. However, there are also some exciting new releases to consider.

The OnePlus 15R is marked as “coming soon” on Amazon, and it will soon become available for purchase. This year's model boasts an impressive 7,400mAh battery, a substantial upgrade from the 6,000mAh found in the 13R, and improved water resistance with an IP68/IP69K rating, compared to the IP65 of its predecessor. It also features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 (non-Elite), an upgrade from the two-year-old Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

There have been some downgrades as well. The telephoto camera has been removed, while the main camera remains at 50MP with OIS, and the ultra-wide camera stays at 8MP. The 6.83-inch display offers a higher refresh rate of 165Hz, but it is not an LTPO panel like the previous model. Nevertheless, the 15R starts at $700 and includes a $100 gift card, enhancing its value proposition.

When considering the OnePlus 15R, it's worth also looking at the flagship OnePlus 15. While it has experienced some downgrades compared to the 13, it is only $200 more than the 15R, and it also includes the same $100 gift card offer.

The OnePlus 15 features an LTPO display, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, and a similarly large 7,300mAh battery with both 80W wired and 50W wireless charging capabilities. Additionally, it comes equipped with a 50MP 3.5x/80mm periscope camera.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, despite being a less successful model, is currently available at a significant discount. It features a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display with higher pixel density than the OnePlus models. Although the Snapdragon 8 Elite is an older chip, it outperforms the new vanilla Gen 5.

This device also lacks a dedicated telephoto camera, but it includes a 200MP main camera for in-sensor zoom capabilities. However, one notable drawback is its small 3,900mAh battery, which underperforms compared to others, offering only 12:06h of active usage time, in stark contrast to the OnePlus 15's 23:07h.

In the mid-range segment, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is available for under $500 for the base 128GB model. However, without a microSD slot, the 256GB version may be more appealing.

Alternatively, the Samsung Galaxy A56 is $50-$60 cheaper, depending on the chosen storage configuration (it too lacks a microSD slot). The S25 FE offers a more powerful chipset (Exynos 2400 vs. 1580), a superior camera setup (including an 8MP 3x/75mm telephoto module), better water resistance (IP68 vs. IP67), and a similar battery capacity (4,900mAh vs. 5,000mAh) with 45W charging and 15W wireless charging. The A56 will need a more significant price reduction to remain competitive.

The A56 also faces competition from the Google Pixel 9a, which is priced at the same $400 for the 8/128GB variant. The Pixel is smaller, featuring a 6.3-inch display (vs. 6.7 inches) and is narrower at 73.3mm (vs. 77.5mm). Although it’s not as fast, the Tensor G4 outperforms the Exynos 1580. While its charging speed is slower (23W wired vs. 45W), it does offer wireless charging, albeit at a much slower rate (7.5W). The battery capacities and endurance are similar (12:42h vs. 12:08h).

The Motorola Moto G Power (2026) was just launched last week, so there are currently no discounts. This mid-range device, priced at $300, is definitely worth keeping an eye on. It features a 6.8-inch 1080p+ 120Hz IPS LCD, a 5,200mAh battery with 30W wired and 15W wireless charging, and a robust build (IP68/IP69, MIL-STD-810H). The device is powered by the Dimensity 6300, offering expandable storage, and its camera setup includes a basic 50MP main camera (utilizing a tiny 1/2.88” sensor) and an 8MP ultra-wide camera.

Lastly, we have another affordable 5G option – the Samsung Galaxy A17. Powered by the Exynos 1330 (with expandable storage), it features a 6.7-inch 1080p OLED display (with a 90Hz refresh rate). The device includes a 5,000mAh battery with 25W wired-only charging and basic water resistance (IP54), alongside a standard camera setup which consists of a 50MP main camera (1/2.76”) and a 5MP ultra-wide camera.

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