A reviewer shares their positive impressions after a week of using the OnePlus 15.

After using the OnePlus 15 for two weeks, I am honestly surprised at how much this phone has shifted my perspective. For years, OnePlus has been trying to infiltrate the iPhone–Galaxy–Pixel market in the US, with little success. However, the OnePlus 15 feels like the company finally stopped trying to be different and focused on what is important. Oddly, that may be what impressed me the most.

OnePlus chose practicality over style

When I first saw the OnePlus 15, I was shocked by how ordinary it appeared. The signature design language is gone, the Alert Slider is gone, and the curved screen is gone. From a distance, it resembles another iPhone imitation.

I still do not adore the design after two weeks, but I understand it better.

The simple appearance results in a more durable and practical phone. The flat sides improve drop protection, the flat display makes screen protector installation easier, and the tough IP rating makes it feel ready for anything.

The OnePlus 15 has a slightly smaller primary camera sensor and removes the Hasselblad logo, implying that camera quality was declining. However, after taking hundreds of photos, I believe it is a significant improvement.

Photos appear more natural and warmer, without the oversharpened aesthetic. Detail is significantly improved due to the 26MP default shots, and night photos finally look normal and not like an HDR explosion.

It is not all flawless. Ultra-wide camera shots appear colder than those from the main camera, and some features, such as adding a portrait effect to a regular image, are missing. However, I see progress. I did not feel like I was using a mid-range camera this time.

Performance is incredible

I'm not much of a gamer these days, but you cannot ignore this level of performance.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 handles everything with ease. Even after long gaming sessions, there is no throttling. OnePlus created a mini gaming phone, as seen by the results of the demanding 3D Mark Wildlife Extreme stress test: 99% stability, no throttling, and blazing-fast performance.

I also appreciate that OnePlus does not overcharge for upgrades like another fruit company. The base model has 12GB of LPDDR5X Ultra RAM and 256GB of storage, but I recommend spending an extra $100 for the 16/512GB model with Ultra+ RAM, which is the fastest available.

This is combined with OnePlus' focus on optimizing animations for smoothness and the UI's responsiveness. Also, the refresh rate is 165 Hertz! While this only works for certain games, the phone still functions as a standard 120Hz device in daily use, giving you an advantage in those few competitive games.

Unfair Battery Life

This aspect impressed me the most.

The contrast is now striking: the OnePlus 15 has a 7,300 mAh battery, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which costs nearly half as much, has a 5,000 mAh battery!

And our PhoneArena battery tests confirm the phone's excellent battery life:

30+ hours of light use

12 hours of YouTube streaming

Nearly 14 hours of gaming

I am running out of superlatives, but this is truly incredible. This was a two-day phone for me, even on heavier usage days.

Charging is also remarkable, but we are used to fast charging from OnePlus phones, so we may take it for granted. Still, a full charge in just 45 minutes is a great feature.

Desired Improvements

Overall, my experience with the OnePlus 15 has been great, but I did notice some areas for improvement.

The software is the most important. Copying iOS is not acceptable, and I wish OnePlus would add some personality to the UI. Furthermore, many apps are not well optimized, with blank spaces or odd font sizes.

Here are a few more minor issues I have:

The display can reach almost 3,500 nits of brightness, BUT it needs a better anti-reflective coating.

Software update support for four years lags behind Samsung and Google.

There is no Qi2 magnetic wireless charging.

The speakers get loud, but sound muddy at higher volumes.

I don't believe any of these are deal-breakers, but they prevent the phone from truly competing with mainstream flagships.

So, is the OnePlus 15 the phone to buy in 2025 and early 2026?

I believe it makes a compelling case, unless you absolutely need the best camera system, where Apple or Samsung still have some advantages.

However, if you are okay with a "very good" camera, you will get "insane" battery life, similarly impressive fast charging, and a lower price. Not bad, right?

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