As OnePlus gears up to launch a new budget-centric ‘N6’ smartphone in India, the roadmap for its traditional lineups remains shrouded in uncertainty. Fresh rumours reiterate that the compact OnePlus 15s may completely skip the Indian market. Furthermore, clarity is still lacking regarding the strategy for the flagship OnePlus 16 series expected later this year. If these reports hold weight, OnePlus could be eyeing a massive shift in its Indian product strategy.
OnePlus 15s India launch reportedly cancelled
In an X post, tipster Yogesh Brar talked about the OnePlus 15s India launch and how it’s not happening. The tipster seemed quite confident, adding that people should “move on” at this point. This isn’t the first time we’re hearing about the OnePlus 15s not launching in India. Earlier this year, in January, the same tipster had said that there are 90 percent chances of OnePlus not launching the 15s in India. Not just the 15s, the tipster also said that the OnePlus Open 2 won’t be launching globally or in India.
It’s unclear why OnePlus changed its plans, as the predecessor, OnePlus 13s (review), has been among the best compact flagships in India.
Interestingly, in April, another tipster had predicted that the OnePlus 15s would launch in India by Q2 end, but clearly that’s not happening.
The OnePlus 15s, if launched, would have been based on the OnePlus 15T, which launched in China this March. It has a 6.32-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, and a 7,500mAh battery with 100W wired and 50W wireless charging support. The OnePlus 15T also features a dual 50MP camera setup with a 3.5x periscope lens.
The absence of the OnePlus 15s in India will undoubtedly disappoint tech enthusiasts waiting for a true compact flagship. Without it, buyers miss out on a rare combination: top-tier performance and reliable cameras packed into a pocket-friendly form factor, all backed by OxygenOS and a massive battery. So if you’ve been waiting for the 15s, you might want to go ahead and get the 13s or other compact alternatives like the OPPO Reno 15 Pro Mini.
OnePlus 16 India launch still unconfirmed
The X post was primarily about the uncertainty of the OnePlus 16 India launch. The tipster says that nothing is finalised right now about the OnePlus 16. It’s still too early to say anything about the OnePlus 16 as we still have time before the flagship lineup makes its way to India. Also, since this is OnePlus’s key smartphone lineup, it would be a major decision for the brand to not launch it here. So it’s best to wait for more concrete details before jumping to conclusions.
