4 surprising issues I like in regards to the OnePlus 15 after utilizing it for every week

With the 15, OnePlus is again at it once more with one other flagship Android smartphone, and, as ever, the handset is jam-packed with high-tech inside parts all wrapped inside a slim and engaging bundle. In direct distinction to its predecessors, nevertheless, the 15 adopts a new external design language that does away with the fan-favorite Alert Slider button, whereas additionally ditching the years-long Hasselblad partnership and the related shade science tech that had arisen from the now-defunct digital camera collaboration.

With a redesigned chassis that conforms to the competitors (moderately than doubling down on the distinctiveness of the OnePlus 13’s design), in addition to with the lack of Hasselblad-powered picture enhancements and the quick-access quantity slider, I actually had considerations over whether or not the 15 would nonetheless carry ahead the attraction of its forebears. Then once more, with trailblazing {hardware} specs like a large 7,300mAh battery, UFS 4.1 storage, and a 165Hz AMOLED show panel, I used to be equally enthralled with the product previous to even booting it up for the primary time.

Quick-forward by a few week, and I’ve found that there is a lot to like about the OnePlus 15. The handset launches globally on November 13 of this yr, following its October 27 release in China. In North America, it is accessible in a 12GB of RAM + 256GB of inside storage configuration for $900 USD / $1.300 CAD, and in a 16GB of RAM + 512GB of storage variant for $1,000 USD / $1,400 CAD. The bottom mannequin might be bought within the infinite black colorway, whereas the step-up mannequin will also be had in extremely violet or sand storm.

Listed here are my impressions after utilizing the sand storm OnePlus 15 out in the true world over the previous a number of days.

It feels tremendous premium

The OnePlus 15 is silky-smooth to the contact

With the OnePlus 15, it is exhausting to not begin the dialog with design. In contrast to final yr’s OnePlus 13, which featured a curved chassis and a round rear digital camera array, the 15 is blockier and extra industrial, whereas additionally sporting a brand new squared-off digital camera protrusion. In brief, the machine appears to be like and feels extra like a contemporary iPhone, Galaxy, or Pixel smartphone than ever earlier than, conforming with the sharper design language pattern first popularized by Apple with its iPhone 12 sequence in 2020.

Subjectively, I discover the brand new design to be engaging and minimalistic, although I am not solely keen on the redesigned digital camera hump. The square-in-the-left-hand-corner trope is drained, and I would nearly have most well-liked it if OnePlus had joined Google and Apple in embracing right now’s newfound full-width digital camera plateau period of smartphone design.

In any case, the OnePlus 15 is solidly constructed, with tactile, clicky buttons, zero {hardware} creakiness, and a luxurious-feeling etched rear glass panel that I discover extraordinarily satisfying to run my finger throughout. The facet rails are product of aluminum, however with a twist: unique to the beige-toned sand storm colorway I’ve on deck, a singular Micro-Arc Oxidation (MAO) approach has been utilized to the steel by way of a “plasma-based electrochemical course of.”

In accordance with OnePlus, this MAO approach leads to a mid-frame that is 3.4 instances more durable than an aluminum mid-frame and 1.3 instances as robust as a titanium one. Whereas I can not vouch but for its sturdiness, I’ll say that the ceramic-esque MAO end appears to be like and feels stellar.

Its display screen is the speediest I’ve ever used

165Hz outclasses a lot of the competitors

With the OnePlus 15, the corporate determined to buck the everyday high-end smartphone pattern of transport with an adaptive 120Hz OLED panel at Quad Excessive Definition Plus (HQD+) decision. As an alternative, the 15’s 6.78-inch show is able to a super-speedy 165Hz, whereas sacrificing barely on the decision entrance (1272 x 2772 pixels for a pixel density of 450 ppi, versus the 13’s 510 ppi). There isn’t any two methods about it: the OnePlus 15 has an unbelievably glorious show, with crisp colours, Dolby Vision and HDR10+ assist, and a pulse-width modulation (PWM) dimming pace of 2160Hz for improved eye consolation.

In the true world, I personally cannot inform a lot, if any, distinction between 120Hz and 165Hz refresh charges, although your mileage might differ. I additionally discovered no real-world consequence to the marginally decrease pixel density — every little thing continues to be pin sharp. When you’re an avid cell gamer, and if you happen to’re hoping to place the steel to the steel with the telephone’s all-new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, then the added display screen responsiveness will most undoubtedly come in useful.

Silicon-carbon know-how makes this potential

In typical OnePlus vogue, the 15 is on the prime of its recreation in relation to state-of-the-art inside specs. Other than being one of many first smartphones to launch with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, it options the quickest UFS 4.1 flash storage tech accessible, one of many highest PWM shows on the market, and it is one of many few handsets to function full IP68/IP69K water and dust resistance (able to being immersed into 6.56 ft (2 meters) of contemporary water for up half-hour, whereas having the ability to survive excessive strain water jets at scorching temperatures).

For me, nevertheless, the crowning jewel of the OnePlus 15′ specification lineup is its insanely big 7,300 mAh inside battery pack. Utilizing new silicon-carbon battery chemistry, the corporate has been in a position to squeeze extra vitality right into a smaller bodily bundle, and it merely blows the remainder of the Western cell competitors out of the water. By comparability, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 5,000 mAh battery, and the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL has a 4,870 mAh energy pack — we have but to see these respective lineups change away from conventional lithium-ion and in the direction of a extra energy-dense silicon-carbon resolution.

In follow, the OnePlus 15 is a stamina champ. Even with heavy video streaming, video recording, picture capturing, and GPS utilization, I repeatedly finish the day with 25% battery left within the tank, which provides me greater than sufficient wiggle room to work with. After all, we aren’t solely positive whether or not silicon-carbon batteries will show as hearty as their lithium-ion counterparts in the long term, however that is one thing that may make itself recognized in due time.

OxygenOS 16 is fairly slick

Say howdy to Parallel Processing 2.0

Out of the field, the OnePlus 15 ships with OxygenOS 16 working on prime of Android 16. OxygenOS is without doubt one of the extra customizable and feature-rich Android skins out in the marketplace, and I discover that it balances simplicity and suppleness moderately effectively. The Apple-inspired visible design is a bit take-it-or-leave-it for my part ( I vastly prefer Google’s own Material 3 Expressive UI), however OxygenOS does really feel prefer it’s nonetheless doing its personal factor as effectively, which I respect.

OnePlus has carried out a know-how it calls Parallel Processing 2.0 into the software program stack, which permits for smoother gesture-based navigation when interacting with person interface components. The OnePlus 13 launched Parallel Processing when opening and shutting apps final yr, and a couple of.0 expands on this by working throughout the App Drawer, World Search, launching widgets, and extra. There’s numerous technical work occurring behind the scenes to make for a extra fluid UI right here, and I respect OnePlus’ dedication to offering a stutter-free telephone expertise.

Then, in fact, there’s the AI. OxygenOS 16 is crammed to the brim with AI options, together with AI recorder, AI Portrait Glow, AI Scan, and AI PlayLab. Notably, OnePlus has constructed a devoted Plus Thoughts area inside the interface that acts as a Google Gemini-powered hub for all of your screenshots, much like Nothing’s Important House. There’s even a devoted AI Plus key right here, although this comes at the unfortunate expense of the classic Alert Slider I’ve come to depend on through the years for silencing notifications with out having to take a look at my telephone display screen.

This machine was supplied to Pocket-lint by OnePlus.