OnePlus 15R Review: All Power, No Compromise

The OnePlus "R" series has been my favorite smartphone lineup over the past 4 years, just because of the value for money they offer, keeping the company's former identity of delivering "flagship killers" still alive. I adored the 11R, 12R, and even the 13R, and I've been trying the most recent addition to this lineup for the past week, and I don't think I am impressed. Why do I feel so? Find out in this OnePlus 15R review. 

OnePlus 15R Unboxing 

Before starting with the review, here is a quick look at all the contents you will get with the OnePlus 15R:

OnePlus 15R: Build and Design 

The "R" series phones have heavily borrowed the design from OnePlus' more premium siblngs. So, this year's OnePlus 15R follows in the same footsteps of the OnePlus 15 which also launched quite recently. At first glance, this phone looks underwhelming, with none of the design elements standing out. 

It has flat aluminium sides, a plain back which could be glass or fiber plastic depending on the colour variant, and a pretty simple camera bump comprising 2 lenses. The older OnePlus 11R also featured 2 lenses, but the circular camera ring added a much a personal touch to those devices. I can't say the same about 15R. 

However, the in-hand feel is actually good despite it being a jumbo-sized phone. The back panel has a soft matte texture, and the button placement and fingerprint sensor hit the right spots when holding the device. I have the black variant, and it uses the same Micro-Arc Oxidation ceramic-like coating as the OnePlus 15, so it feels more premium to the touch than it looks. 

It is surely a big phone that is a hassle to carry if you have small pockets or tight jeans. The problem worsens with a cover applied to the phone, so I used it without one for the most part. Thankfully, OnePlus didn't skimp on the essentials, offering IP68/69K protection, so it is completely unbothered by splashes or even a dunk in water. 

OnePlus 15R: Display Quality

I know we don't hear the term "Phablet (Phone + Tablet)" anymore, but it would be the perfect word to describe the OnePlus 15R screen. This display is a massive one, which is great if you enjoy watching content on the big screen, but can't be bothered to carry around a tablet with you. It's a bold and beautiful panel, delivering crystal clear visuals and punchy colours. 

I was watching some movies for the OnePlus 15R review, and I loved the sharpness in visuals, despite the panel having only 1.5K resolution. The stereo speakers take the entertainment experience up a notch, delivering loud, thumpy audio unlike the flat-sounding setup on the Oppo Find X9. So, I had more fun playing action or horror movies with lots of blasts or jump scares on the 15R. 

It's also one fast panel, going all the way up to 165Hz on supported games, and as mentioned in my OnePlus 15 review, this kind of smoothness just spoils you. Playing your favorite games on this screen makes other phones feel sluggish. However, it is a downgrade from the OnePlus 13R since it's an LTPS panel, so the screen doesn't go down to 1Hz from 120Hz or 165Hz. 

That said, the screen brightness is just enough to survive direct sunlight. Overall, it is a decent screen, especially if you are a gamer or love watching content on the go. But it isn't winning any awards for the best display mobile phone, like the older OnePlus 12R, which had an LTPO display. 

OnePlus 15R: Performance Tested

The OnePlus 15R is the first smartphone to come with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. This is technically the successor to the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4. But it is almost on par with the Snapdragon 8 Elite in terms of performance and benchmark numbers, as you can see below. 

Its performance is the best in the segment, and the same reflects in gaming too. It is one of the few Android phones that can actually run Genshin Impact at 120 FPS with frame interpolation. And the gameplay experience is as smooth and stable as playing it natively at 120 on an iPhone. There were minimal frame drops, and I could enjoy the game at the highest graphic settings. 

Call of Duty: Mobile and BGMI run at a blazing 165 FPS natively on the 15R. It's so smooth that I want to make it my default gaming phone. And the best part is, unlike its elder brother, it doesn't even get that hot after long gaming sessions. So if you are looking for the best gaming mobile phone on a budget, this has to be the best pick in 2026. 

OnePlus 15R: Software and Updates 

What more can I say about OxygenOS 16 that I haven't before? It's the best Android software skin there is, and I can argue with any Pixel or One UI fanboy about it. It is clean, looks modern, and feels amazing to use every day. I have already expressed how I like the new glass-like design, the new Flux themes, and every other little change added to this operating system in my OnePlus 13s Review. 

There is also a host of AI features, which let you write notes, summarize calls, and use MindSpace to keep notes of all things important. However, the feature I loved the most is OnePlus's implementation of the dynamic island. It supports Android's new Live updates, and it works really well. I used it for Google Maps directions, and it shows me the progress and directions without even opening the app itself. 

OnePlus 15R Camera Review 

The OnePlus 15R is clearly a gaming phone, which could be why the company didn't even bother with a telephoto lens this year. That said, it features the same main sensor as the OnePlus 15 and coupled with the new DetailMax engine, it delivers some actually good photos. 

As you can see, the colours look slightly vibrant, but mostly close to the natural scene. It makes dull shots look better, without overdoing saturation. The details are also pretty neat, even at 2x and 5x, which is pretty good for the main sensor alone. However, the closer you zoom, the softer the subject starts to appear. It also takes decent-quality macro photos, but it is a struggle to focus on the objects this close.

I wandered around the cold streets of Connaught Place to capture some night shots for the OnePlus 15R review and managed to get some charming photos. The main lens definitely holds its own at night, taking good photos without overblowing exposure or adding a halo effect like the OnePlus 13s. However, as soon as you zoom in, you can see the lack of detail in the images. 

The 8 MP ultrawide lens does the job. Given the smaller sensor, there is a severe lack of quality. The post-processing does make the photo look appealing. But don't expect any high-end ultrawides from this phone. 

However, the selfie camera is not that bad, to be honest. It takes good photos, with enough details, and keeps the skin tone mostly natural. However, the portrait mode is a hit and a miss. Its edge detection completely plurs my messy hair, but sometimes it manages to blur things pretty accurately. 

OnePlus 15R: Battery and Charging

In terms of battery life, the OnePlus 15R is a horse for a long race, and I am not joking. Somehow, OnePlus managed to pack in a behemoth 7400 mAh battery inside this phone, and it refuses to die. I used it for a day, playing games, running benchmarks, and using it as a Wi-Fi hotspot, and I still got almost 7 hours of screen time. In normal usage, you can push it to get around 9 hours of screen time. 

This is great, especially for gamers who play multiple matches for long hours. I have played 4 battle royale matches in CoD: Mobile, and the phone was still at 63% wanting to go on for more. And the charging speed is no slouch either, as the 80W adapter can refill the 15R from 0–100% in just over an hour. So suffice it to say that this is one of the best battery mobile phones in the segment by a long mile. 

OnePlus 15R Review: Should You Buy It? 

The OnePlus 15R is definitely a performance beast in disguise. It might not have the flashy looks of its rivals, but it packs more than enough substance to make up, with its large display, excellent performance, and jaw-dropping battery life. It is a gamer phone through and through, but without the aesthetic flair that comes with phones like the ROG Phone 9 Pro. 

So if you're a hardcore gamer, seeking a phone that can keep up with your gaming-centric lifestyle, and also captures solid photos on the side, you won't find any better options than the OnePlus 15R. I'd say it is even better than the iQOO 15, just going by the price-to-performance ratio.