Over its twelve years on the market, OnePlus has transitioned from a company that offered “near-flagship” phones at mid-range prices to an established player with devices across most price segments. This marks our first review of a OnePlus smartphone at Senses, though we have previously tested and been impressed with both their tablets and watches, and the reviewer has personally owned several older models.
Now, we turn our attention to a true flagship offering. OnePlus promotes its latest device with the slogan “Power On. Limits Off,” and this philosophy extends beyond just performance maximization; the phone also integrates a larger battery capacity than any other manufacturer has achieved in its class. How does the OnePlus 15 fare against its competition? We delve into the details below.
Design and Build Quality
Upon unboxing the OnePlus 15 from its distinctive red packaging, the initial impression is one of a rather understated and generic design.
Our review unit arrived in the ”Infinite Black” finish. This matte black variant features a textured back that offers excellent grip and effectively resists fingerprints. The aluminum frame contributes to a robust in-hand feel. The camera module protrudes minimally from the chassis, ensuring the phone lies perfectly stable on a flat surface despite its off-center placement.
The build quality is remarkably high. This is further emphasized by the phone’s extensive IP rating, encompassing IP66, IP68, and IP69K standards. Theoretically, this certifies the device to withstand high-pressure water jets at 80 degrees Celsius and 100 bar, a testament to its durability.
For those desiring a more distinctive aesthetic, the “Sand Storm” color variant is available. This version features a fiber-reinforced polymer back, designed to mitigate the risk of cracks, complemented by a frame treated with Micro-Arc Oxidation (MAO) to achieve a ceramic surface reportedly harder than titanium.
A significant design alteration, and one that may be contentious among loyal OnePlus enthusiasts, is the removal of the iconic ”Alert Slider.” This mechanical toggle has been replaced by a new ”Plus Key.”
The Plus Key is a programmable button offering various functions. However, it lacks the direct, tactile feedback of the Alert Slider, which allowed for quick silent mode activation without removing the phone from one’s pocket. This omission removes a distinctive feature that set OnePlus apart. Yet, one might consider the relevance of a dedicated hardware toggle for silent mode in 2026, when many users routinely keep their phones muted by default. From this perspective, the evolution or removal of the feature is understandable.
The stereo speakers warrant commendation. They deliver surprisingly robust audio quality for a mobile device.
Display
The display is a flat 6.78-inch LTPO OLED panel. We appreciate OnePlus’s complete departure from curved edges, a choice that mitigates the risk of accidental touches and simplifies the application of screen protectors (a factory-installed protector is pre-applied).
The resolution is 1.5K (2,772 x 1,272). While some may consider this a comparatively lower resolution for a flagship device, with a pixel density of 450 ppi, we observed no discernible difference in clarity compared to a 2K screen. OnePlus states this decision was made to optimize battery life and facilitate the higher 165 Hz refresh rate.
For users sensitive to screen flicker, it is worth noting that the display employs high-frequency PWM dimming at 2,160 Hz at low brightness levels.
The display supports a refresh rate of up to 165 Hz. This higher frequency is primarily activated in compatible games. For general navigation and browsing, a 120 Hz refresh rate is maintained, offering exceptional fluidity. Responsiveness is also instantaneous, largely attributable to a dedicated touch-chip that provides an “instant touch sampling rate” of 3,200 Hz. The interaction feels remarkably direct and immediate.
Performance and Software
Powering the device is the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, featuring Qualcomm’s Oryon cores clocked at an impressive 4.6 GHz. This is complemented by a separate graphics chip and a dedicated Wi-Fi chip to ensure connection stability. Our review model is equipped with 16 GB of LPDDR5X Ultra+ RAM, contributing to its exceptionally rapid performance. Regardless of the application, the device responds with remarkable speed.
Early in our test period, the phone exhibited some heat generation issues, leading to crashes during demanding benchmarks like 3DMark. However, this behavior was not observed during normal use, only under sustained extreme load. OnePlus appears to have addressed this with a software update that optimized processor load management, as subsequent stress tests have been unable to replicate the initial issues.
During extended gaming sessions in titles such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile (where the 165 Hz mode is utilized), performance consistently remains stable. The “360 Cryo-Velocity” cooling system, which incorporates a vapor chamber and aerogel elements to insulate the screen from heat, proves highly effective.
The software is OxygenOS 16, based on Android 16. Its operation is exceptionally smooth, attributed to what OnePlus terms “Parallel Processing 2.0.” The interface presents a clean and elegant user experience. While we generally prefer a completely stock Android experience (as found on Pixel devices), this implementation is highly commendable.
The “Plus Mind” AI initiative is deeply integrated. Users can press and hold the Plus Key to analyze on-screen content and save it to their “Mind Space.” While it functions adequately for organizing information, its practical utility felt somewhat limited during the review period; despite concerted efforts to integrate it into daily workflow, its value proposition remained questionable. It can be likened to an evolved version of “Pixel Screenshots” on Pixel phones, with the notable advantage of full functionality with Swedish language content.
OnePlus pledges four major OS updates and six years of security updates. While acceptable, this commitment falls slightly short of the longer support cycles offered by competitors such as Samsung, Google, and Apple.
Battery and Charging
This aspect represents the phone’s most significant strength. Utilizing its ”Silicon NanoStack” technology, OnePlus has successfully integrated an impressive 7,300 mAh capacity into this relatively slim device. Battery life is, unequivocally, exceptional. Throughout our review period, the phone consistently achieved two, and occasionally nearly three, days of usage on a single charge.
The phone supports charging at up to 120 W. However, achieving this speed necessitates a proprietary OnePlus charger, which is regrettably not included in the box. With the appropriate charger, a full charge takes just over 40 minutes, and a 50% charge can be achieved in approximately fifteen minutes. When tested with our standard office chargers, we observed a maximum input of around 50 W, extending a full charge duration to approximately an hour.
Naturally, the phone supports wireless charging. Here too, proprietary OnePlus chargers with ”AirVOOC” support are required to attain the maximum speed of up to 50 W. With standard Qi chargers, the power is limited to 15 W. Unfortunately, the phone lacks integrated magnets for MagSafe/Qi2 compatibility.
Camera
OnePlus previously collaborated with Hasselblad, but this partnership has concluded. The company now employs its proprietary imaging technology called “DetailMax Engine.” The main camera utilizes a Sony IMX906 sensor. This software operates by stacking unexposed RAW data to optimize dynamic range. In daylight conditions, the results are generally good, though the software can sometimes lead to excessive processing.
The 50 MP main camera consistently captures high-quality images in daylight. Photos are sharp, colors are vibrant, and dynamic range is commendable. However, in low-light conditions, the limitations of the smaller sensor become apparent.
Images captured in low light exhibit more noise and lack the crispness observed in competitors like the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Nevertheless, the performance is commendable, and in certain scenarios, differentiating between images captured by the OnePlus 15 and the Pixel 10 Pro XL can be challenging. Closer inspection on a larger display, however, often reveals the Pixel’s superior detail, such as better texture rendition on walls, less smudging, and sharper tree branches.
The telephoto lens, offering 3.5x optical zoom, performs adequately, but it does not quite deliver the exceptional results observed from competitors like the Google Pixel 10 or Xiaomi 15 Ultra. In well-lit conditions or for indoor portraits, its performance is strong.
Performance diminishes in suboptimal lighting conditions. OnePlus utilizes its ”DetailMax Engine” technology to digitally compensate, but this can sometimes result in overprocessed or ‘smudged’ images. While the output is certainly not poor, it falls short of the benchmarks set by rival flagships.
In terms of video capabilities, stabilization is excellent, and the ability to record in 4K at 120 fps with Dolby Vision is impressive. A minor drawback, however, is the discernible transition when switching between lenses during recording, which manifests in shifts in both color and image position.
A selection of images captured during the review period is presented below.
Conclusion
The OnePlus 15 foregoes some of its unique design identity and absolute top-tier camera performance to instead deliver perhaps the market’s best battery life and exceptional overall performance.
The recommended retail price is approximately 11,990 SEK, but at the time of testing, the phone is available for under 10,000 SEK. This price point is notably lower than competitors’ ”Ultra” models. For this investment, consumers receive a device that is exceptionally fast, remarkably durable, and boasts unparalleled battery life.
For users prioritizing camera performance above all else, alternatives such as a Pixel, Samsung S-series, or Xiaomi Ultra may be more suitable. However, for those who engage in extensive gaming, consume significant media, or simply seek a device with extended battery endurance, the OnePlus 15 stands out as an compelling choice.
This device ranks among the best available in the Android market currently. With a slightly sharper camera and an equally generous level of software and security updates comparable to Google/Samsung, it would have garnered an even higher rating. As it stands, it earns a strong score of eight.
Oneplus provided review units for this test. The sender of materials has no editorial influence on our tests; our reviews remain independent, prioritizing the interests of our readers and consumers.
