OnePlus 15 debuts in China with a new design, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and a bigger battery
OnePlus has officially launched its latest flagship, the OnePlus 15, in China. The smartphone succeeds last year’s OnePlus 13 and introduces key upgrades across design, performance, and battery life. The most striking change is its bold new design, marking the end of the circular camera module that defined several generations of OnePlus flagships. While the switch to a square camera layout may divide opinions, it certainly gives the device a more refined, modern look.
Another major shift is in imaging, as the OnePlus 15 moves away from its long-standing Hasselblad partnership, opting instead for in-house camera processing under the new DetailMax image engine, which gives the company full control over tuning and optimisation.
Like all OnePlus flagships, the OnePlus 15 also comes with Qualcomm’s latest. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 promises up to 20 percent faster performance and 35 percent better CPU efficiency compared to the previous generation. Paired with up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB UFS 4.1 storage, it’s built for demanding workloads, multitasking, and high-end gaming. While it’s likely to be one of the most powerful Android phones this year, actual benchmarks will confirm how much of that improvement translates to everyday use.
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The device runs ColorOS 16 (based on Android 16) in China, while the global and Indian variants will ship with OxygenOS 16 instead.
The OnePlus 15 features a 6.78-inch third-generation BOE Flexible AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution (1,272×2,772 pixels) and a refresh rate of up to 165Hz, a first for the brand. It supports a peak brightness of 1,800 nits, 330Hz touch sampling, and full DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage. Notably, it’s also the first mainstream smartphone to support 165 FPS gaming, promising ultra-smooth animations and improved responsiveness for gamers.
OnePlus has also introduced a square-shaped triple rear camera setup, replacing the circular module seen on earlier models. The design bears some resemblance to the OnePlus 13s, so the change might feel natural and not something drastic. OnePlus 15 is also said to offer a more durable design along with a fiberglass layer for a smooth and premium texture.
The phone will be available in three finishes — Absolute Black, Misty Purple, and Sand Dune.
Not just design, the OnePlus 15 also marks the brand’s shift from Hasselblad for its camera system. OnePlus is introducing its own DetailMax image engine with the OnePlus 15, which gives the company complete control over image tuning and to fully harness the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s imaging power. In terms of specs, the OnePlus 15 features a triple 50MP camera system — a primary (f/1.8, 24mm), an ultra-wide (f/2.0), and a telephoto (f/1.8) lens. The new flagship supports 3.5x optical zoom, which is an upgrade over the OnePlus 13’s 3x optical zoom. Expect clearer and more detailed zoom shots with the 15. The setup can also record 8K video at 30fps, while a 32MP front camera handles selfies and video calls.
OnePlus 13 delivered flagship-level camera performance, but its performance was still behind the likes of the Vivo X200. More in-house control could result in improved results as we’ve seen in Google Pixel phones, iPhones, and Samsung’s flagships.
While the hardware appears impressive on paper, its real-world imaging quality will determine whether this setup can meaningfully differentiate itself from competitors like the Xiaomi 15 series or the Vivo X200 series.
Powering the device is a 7,300mAh battery, a significant increase over its predecessor (6,000mAh), with support for 120W wired and 50W wireless charging. The battery capacity and charging speeds together position it among the more long-lasting and fast-charging options in the flagship space. It would also give the OnePlus 15 a major leap over the premium flagships from Apple, Samsung, and Google, which still offer comparatively smaller batteries.
In China, prices for the OnePlus 15 start at CNY 3,999 (Rs 50,000 approx) for the 12GB + 256GB variant, going up to CNY 5,399 (Rs 67,000) for the top-end 16GB + 1TB model. Sales begin October 28th via the company’s online store. OnePlus has already teased the launch of the OnePlus 15 in India, which will most likely take place next month.
The OnePlus 15 looks like a strong refresh with a larger battery, faster chipset, smoother display, and upgraded cameras. The new design is also expected to feel like a much-needed change for buyers who want to see something new with OnePlus flagships. Its in-house imaging direction signals a new chapter for OnePlus cameras, though it remains to be seen how it performs against top-tier rivals. How these upgrades reflect in real-world usage is something we’ll have to wait and see. But considering OnePlus’s track record with high-performing flagships, there’s quite a lot expected from the latest handset.
There’s quite a lot to look forward to with the OnePlus 15, especially in terms of cameras, gaming, and battery life. All these make the new OnePlus 15 one to watch out for, and wait, if you’re looking for an all-rounder flagship. If you’re still on an older OnePlus or any other Android flagship, the OnePlus 15 might make for a meaningful upgrade. However, those with the OnePlus 13 might want to wait for detailed reviews to see if the upgrade is worth it or not.
