OnePlus 15R goes on sale in India: should you buy it over OnePlus 15?
After successfully launching the OnePlus 15R (review) in India on November 17th, the handset is now available for sale. Potential buyers can grab the smartphone via Amazon.in, OnePlus’ official website, and offline retail stores such as OnePlus Experience Stores, Reliance Digital, Croma, Vijay Sales, and Bajaj Electronics. The OnePlus 15R India price starts at Rs 47,999 for the base 256GB variant, while the 512GB variant costs Rs 52,999. As part of the launch offer, OnePlus has announced an instant Rs 3,000 discount with a bank offer, bringing the smartphone’s effective price down to as low as Rs 44,999.
The OnePlus 15R is available in Mint Green, Charcoal, and Electric Violet colour options. As observed in our OnePlus 15R review, the Mint Green colour variant appears very subtle and fresh. There is a matching colour case provided in the box to keep the look of the phone new for a long time. The smartphone should appeal to users looking for a no-nonsense, performance-focused device and who can live without extras such as wireless charging, a telephoto lens, or class-leading camera hardware.
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The OnePlus 15R undercuts the OnePlus 15 by roughly Rs 15,000 while delivering comparable performance, battery endurance, and display quality.
OnePlus 15R key specs
- 6.83-inch LTPS AMOLED 165Hz 1.5K display
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 SoC, 12GB LPDDR5X Ultra RAM & UFS 4.1 storage
- 50MP+8MP dual rear cameras
- 32MP front camera
- 7,400mAh battery, 80W SuperVOOC charging
Table of Contents
OnePlus 15 vs OnePlus 15R
OnePlus 15: Cutting-edge performance
The OnePlus 15 is an ultra-flagship smartphone priced in India starting at Rs 72,999. The handset features a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with the same specifications as the OnePlus 15R: 165Hz refresh rate, 3,200Hz touch sampling rate, and 1.5K resolution. However, the flagship features an LTPO display rather than an LTPS display. The former is more power-efficient and offers a wider refresh rate, dropping to as low as 1Hz, resulting in smoother animation compared to the LTPS.
Moreover, the OnePlus 15 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, which is the most powerful Android chipset in the market right now. This is paired with up to 16GB LPDDR5X Ultra+ RAM and 512GB UFS 4.1 storage. The combination delivers ultra-smooth performance for multitasking, editing, and gaming. Moreover, the handset is capable of playing games at a maximum 165fps while maintaining impressive thermal efficiency.
In optics, the OnePlus smartphone features a triple-camera system with a 50MP primary, ultrawide, and telephoto lenses. The front camera is a 32MP shooter. Both setups have been optimised by the in-house DetailMax engine. Although cameras are not the USP of smartphones, the OnePlus 15 captures quick, reliable photos for social media.
The OnePlus 15 features a 7,300 mAh battery, supported by 120W wired and 50W wireless charging. This has been an impressive combination for the device, making it the top choice among the latest flagship smartphones. The handset runs OxygenOS 16 out of the box, which feels polished and well optimised. The 4+6-year software support also looks excellent for the smartphone. Lastly, the design has been enhanced in both appearance and durability. The OnePlus 15 features a squircle camera module instead of a circular one and is IP66, IP67, IP68, IP69, and IP69K certified for high-temperature and water-jet resistance.
OnePlus 15R: Sub-flagship, but similar DNA
The OnePlus 15R shares most of its traits with the OnePlus 15 (review). The software experience remains identical, and the smartphone supports gaming at 165fps as well. Moreover, the OnePlus 15R’s front and primary camera are capable of capturing similar results, with their 32MP and 50MP Sony 906 sensors, respectively, which are the same as those of its elder sibling.
While the 15R may not offer the fast 100W charging speeds or wireless charging support, it packs a relatively large 7,400mAh battery that delivers excellent endurance both synthetically and in real-world use. The 80W fast charging speeds top up the device from 20-100 percent in less than 50 minutes.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 SoC on the OnePlus 15R might be a notch below the OnePlus 15’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, but you can still expect a snappy performance, handling everything you throw at it without fuss or losing its cool, except while gaming at 165fps for extended duration. This, coupled with an underwhelming ultrawide camera and inconsistent low-light performance, is a notable reason to think twice before buying the smartphone.
However, there are still plenty of reasons to consider the OnePlus 15R. The handset is thermally efficient when playing games such as BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile at moderate frame rates. The OnePlus 15R’s design, which is subjective, doesn’t feel as premium as the more expensive OnePlus smartphone; however, it offers a similar level of durability, up to an IP69K rating.
Should you buy OnePlus 15R over OnePlus 15?
Yes, you should buy the OnePlus 15R if you want maximum value with minimal compromises. The handset is a successful attempt by the company to offer flagship-grade performance at a much more affordable price.
The OnePlus 15 is worth considering only if you don’t want to compromise on cutting-edge performance, additional camera flexibility, and premium features beyond core usability.
