Not what we anticipated
The OnePlus 15R just isn’t the worth flagship we had been hoping for. Whereas it does provide just a few options which have improved over the 13R, the upper value and lack of vital options makes this fairly a disappointing launch.
Execs
- Vibrant AMOLED panel
- Nice battery life
- Good efficiency
- IP68 and IP69 water resistance
Cons
- No telephoto lens
- Underwhelming cameras
- Prices greater than the 13R
- Bland design
- No 16GB mannequin this time
Seize it when you can
The OnePlus 13R is $100 cheaper than the 15R and also you get a devoted telephoto digital camera right here. It is simply as highly effective, lighter, fees on the identical price, and comes with a brighter AMOLED show.
Execs
- Extra sturdy design
- Terrific {hardware}
- Upgraded fundamental digital camera
- Excellent battery life
- Comes with 256GB storage as normal
- Fluid software program
Cons
- Takes practically an hour to cost
- Auxiliary cameras nonetheless not so good as fundamental lens
- Water resistance restricted to IP65
OnePlus 15R vs. OnePlus 13R: Design and show
OnePlus had an iconic round digital camera island design for the previous two generations, however that is been traded in for a extra generic look with the brand new 15 sequence. The OnePlus 15R seems lots just like the OnePlus 13s, the compact flagship from mid-2025. The 15R has a fairly forgettable design, and its colours do not actually assist it stand out. The Electrical violet shade is the one enjoyable colour, however that is restricted to only one area for now.
Construct high quality is strong nonetheless, and the OnePlus 15R comes with an upgraded fingerprint sensor and as much as an IP69 ranking for mud and water resistance. It is thicker and heavier than the OnePlus 13R, which is noticeable. The 15R additionally misses out on the basic Alert slider, which has been changed by a customizable “Plus Key” button.
One of many 15R’s massive redeeming qualities is its show. OnePlus has used a 1.5K decision LTPS AMOLED panel, and we have discovered it to be extraordinarily good. The corporate is hyping the 165Hz refresh price, however that is solely actually usable in a handful of video games. Below regular utilization, the show runs at 120Hz for essentially the most half. OnePlus makes use of a customized Panda glass for scratch safety that is not as impact-resistant as Corning’s answer.
The OnPlus 13R is immediately recognizable as a OnePlus gadget. It is lighter and slimmer than the 15R, making it simpler to carry and use for longer intervals. It retains the Alert slider, which we have all come to know and love through the years, letting you rapidly change between silent, vibration, and ringer modes.
The telephone makes use of the older-style optical fingerprint sensor, which isn’t unhealthy, but it surely will not be as correct or fast because the ultrasonic one used within the 15R. The final bit, the place the 13R lags behind, is the waterproofing. With simply an IP65 ranking, the telephone is simply rated to resist splashes of water, not heavy ingress or submersion.
The show of the OnePlus 13R holds up effectively in opposition to the 15R. It is roughly the identical dimension and determination, and although the refresh price is simply 120Hz, it may well get a lot brighter, reaching 4,500 nits at peak. OnePlus additionally makes use of one thing referred to as Aqua Contact on the 13R’s panel, which primarily helps you to use the show usually even when water is on it.
Between the 2 telephones, based mostly on design alone, I might decide the OnePlus 13R. It additionally is available in simply two colours, however I believe it seems higher, and I like the truth that it is lighter.
OnePlus 15R vs. OnePlus 13R: {Hardware} & specs
The OnePlus 15R is likely one of the first telephones to function Qualcomm’s latest value-flagship chip, referred to as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. If you happen to’re confused in regards to the naming conference, you are not alone. It is a step down from the Elite-branded chips however can also be barely stronger than the 8 Gen 3 chip discovered within the 13R.
For starters, it is constructed on a smaller 3nm node (vs. 4nm), makes use of Oryon CPU cores much like these in Qualcomm’s laptop computer chips, and packs newer Wi-Fi and 5G modems. Briefly, the 15R will ship greater benchmark scores than the 13R, however for many day-to-day duties, there should not be any tangible distinction.
The brand new power-efficient chip and a a lot bigger 7,400mAh battery enable the 15R to attain significantly better battery life figures. You’ll be able to simply use this telephone for 2 days straight with none fear about charging. There isn’t any wi-fi charging, similar to the 13R, however you get 80W quick charging, and the charger comes within the field.
The OnePlus 15R begins at $700 for 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, and the $800 for 512GB of storage. OnePlus has saved the RAM the identical throughout storage tiers, not like earlier than. The telephone solely is available in two colours — Charcoal Black and Mint Breeze.
|
Class |
OnePlus 15R |
OnePlus 13R |
|---|---|---|
|
OS |
OxygenOS 16 (based mostly on Android 16) |
Android 15 (as much as 4 OS upgrades) |
|
Colours |
Charcoal Black, Mint Breeze, Electrical Violet (India solely) |
Astral Path, Nebula Noir |
|
Display screen Dimension |
6.83 inches |
6.78 inches |
|
Display screen Decision |
2,800 x 1,272 |
2,780 x 1,264 |
|
Display screen Sort |
1.5K AMOLED |
AMOLED |
|
Refresh Charge |
165Hz LTPS |
120Hz LTPO |
|
Processor |
Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 |
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
|
RAM |
12GB |
12GB |
|
Storage |
256GB, 512GB (not expadandable; 512GB just for Charcoal Black) |
256GB (not expandable) |
|
Cameras |
50MP fundamental, 8MP ultra-wide, 32MP entrance |
50MP fundamental, |
|
Audio system |
Stereo Audio system, Dolby Atmos assist |
Stereo Audio system, Dolby Atmos assist |
|
Battery |
7,400mAh |
6,000mAh |
|
Wi-fi Charging |
No |
No |
|
Bluetooth |
6.0 |
5.4 |
|
Water Resistance |
IP68, IP69, IP69K |
IP65 |
|
Mobile |
5G |
5G |
|
Dimension |
163.41 x 77.04 x 8.3 mm |
161.7 x 75.8 x 8 mm |
|
Weight |
214-215 grams |
206 grams |
The OnePlus 13R remains to be retailing for a similar $600 that it launched at. That is for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant. In some areas like India, you may even get a 16GB/ 512GB variant. After all, the 13R may also be discovered at discounted costs throughout gross sales, one thing the 15R will not see for some time.
The 13R makes use of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which remains to be a really succesful chip from 2024. There’s some thermal throttling that kicks in after half-hour of sustained load, however this threshold remains to be higher than what we noticed on the OnePlus 13. Efficiency is improbable, be it gaming or multitasking.
Battery life is equally good due to the 6,000mAh capability. Similar to the 15R, you may count on to go as much as two full days earlier than needing to cost it once more. Charging time is a bit longer, although, because the 13R makes use of a single-cell battery vs. twin cells.
OnePlus 15R vs. OnePlus 13R: Software program
The OnePlus 15R ships with OxygenOS 16, which relies on Android 16. It is slated to get 4 OS upgrades and 6 years of safety updates. This newest model brings a bunch of helpful AI options, a brand new design language, and higher customization. We have carried out a deep dive into all of the finest Oxygen OS 16 options, so remember to test it out for all the small print.
The OnePlus 13R can even get the identical set of options when you replace it to the most recent software program model. When it comes to performance, each telephones needs to be practically similar. The 13R can even obtain as much as 4 OS upgrades and 6 years of safety patches.
OnePlus 15R vs. OnePlus 13R: Cameras
The OnePlus 15R has one massive omission within the digital camera division, and that is the shortage of a telephoto digital camera. I am unsure what possessed OnePlus to take away it when the 13R was the primary R-series telephone to get it, and all of us liked it for it.
There is a 50MP fundamental and an 8MP ultrawide on the again, however the entrance digital camera is upgraded to a 32MP sensor. The principle digital camera module itself just isn’t unhealthy, however the ultrawide is objectively worse than the 13R. Selfies from the 15R ought to look a bit higher in comparison with the 13R, however be ready for worse zoom photographs.
The auxiliary cameras on the OnePlus 13R aren’t significantly nice both, however the telephone nonetheless delivers good photographs with the first sensor. The telephoto digital camera with its 2x optical zoom delivers crisp, magnified images, one thing that we thought was missing with the 15R.
OnePlus 15R vs. OnePlus 13R: The selection is apparent
Android Central’s Harish Jonnalagadda could not have mentioned it higher in his overview — do not buy the OnePlus 15R. The enhancements given to it merely don’t justify the misplaced options and better value. Plus, the truth that it seems fairly uninteresting and boring in comparison with its predecessor is another excuse to keep away from it.
The OnePlus 13R is likely one of the finest OnePlus telephones, and although it would lack some uncooked benchmark efficiency, it is nonetheless a strong worth flagship that is not even been round for a full yr. I think about demand for the 13R ought to spike, which may put it out of inventory earlier than anticipated, so seize one when you can.
OnePlus appears to have missed the ball fully on its 15 sequence, and neither telephone is particularly spectacular when in comparison with its predecessor. It appears the corporate is making an attempt to pivot the quantity sequence in the direction of the cellular gaming viewers, which might clarify the give attention to greater batteries and quicker shows, and the much less significance given to the cameras. I assume the gross sales of the 15 sequence will resolve if the corporate will proceed down this path or revert again to providing correct worth flagships.
Skip this one
The OnePlus 15R is not a nasty telephone, per se, however you will get extra worth from the OnePlus 13R which was solely launched solely in Jan of 2025. Except the value drops by $100 or extra, there’s merely no purpose to purchase this whereas the 13R is round.
Merely the most effective
The OnePlus 13R is wanting like even higher worth than when it launched, particularly in comparison with the 15R. It is an ideal all-rounder with a clean and brilliant show, massive battery, respectable cameras, and good efficiency.
