OnePlus 15R vs OnePlus 13R: Is it Worth the Upgrade or Not?
The budget flagship segment is heating up again with the launch of the OnePlus 15R, which is positioned as a lite flagship that builds on the successor to the OnePlus 13R. While both phones belong to the powerful yet affordable OnePlus R series, the newer 15R promises a fresh design, bigger battery, faster performance, and more. But when pitting it against the 13R, which still delivers strong performance and a versatile camera system, the choice isn’t as clear-cut as it might seem at first glance. So here’s how these two stack up.
Performance
The biggest difference between these two phones lies under the hood. The OnePlus 15R is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, a 3nm chipset that offers noticeable gains in both CPU and GPU performance compared to its predecessor, helping it handle heavy multitasking and gaming more smoothly. In comparison, the OnePlus 13R is based on the older Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 platform.

While this is still a capable and reliable processor for gaming and other intensive workloads, the 15R definitely pulls ahead thanks to its newer silicon, improved cooling solution. You won’t notice any difference in general use like social apps, web browsing, and media playback, but if performance longevity and future-proofing are priorities, the 15R’s edge is clear.
Visual Experience
Both phones feature a tall AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution. However, there are some notable pros and cons to the panels on both phones. The OnePlus 15R upgrades the refresh rate to 165Hz, but this is only accessible in certain games and not unlocked by default (which is still 120Hz).

On the other hand, the 13R has a 120Hz LTPO panel that brings improved power efficiency since the refresh rate can go as low as 1Hz. While neither display radically changes how you consume videos or browse content, the higher refresh rate on the 15R gives it a slight advantage for competitive gaming.
Different Approaches to Photography
OnePlus brought a major shift in focus with its entire OnePlus 15 series, which is evident when you compare to last year’s OnePlus 13 lineup. The OnePlus 13R has a more versatile camera setup that consists of a triple camera module on the rear. You get a 50MP main camera along with an 8MP ultra wide angle lens and a 50MP telephoto shooter with 2x optical zoom.

In contrast, the 15R simplifies the experience with a dual camera system on the rear. The 50MP + 8MP camera setup returns, but the telephoto shooter is dropped entirely. So you miss out on the versatility this year. But it does have an edge in selfie shots thanks to a 32MP front camera that also supports autofocus.
Battery & Charging

Battery life has become a major selling point for the 15R. It packs a huge 7,400mAh cell, one of the largest in the OnePlus lineup. In other words, you can expect a noticeably longer battery life even with heavy use. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 13R has a 6,000mAh battery pack. While this is a smaller cell, it still brings all day battery life. Both models also get 80W wired fast charging.
Pricing & Verdict
The OnePlus 15R is the more future-proof device with an advanced chipset, bigger battery, smoother display, enhanced selfie camera, and updated software. But the OnePlus 13R still holds strong as a balanced, more affordable option with a more versatile camera setup, especially if you consider the recent discounts. Unless you’re upgrading from an older phone, it is hard to recommend upgrading from the 13R to the 15R.
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