The OnePlus 15 has barely launched in China, but it’s already finding its way into the hands of eager international buyers. Thanks to import retailers like Giztop, the phone is available globally ahead of its official release — packing Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and flagship hardware at a surprisingly aggressive price.
Launched in China on October 27, the OnePlus 15 is the company’s first phone powered by Qualcomm’s 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. In China, pricing starts at CNY 3,999 (~$561) for the 12GB/256GB variant and goes up to CNY 5,399 (~$758) for 16GB/1TB. Importers like Giztop currently list it at the following prices:
12GB/256GB – $699
12GB/512GB – $799
16GB/512GB – $849
16GB/256GB – $749
16GB/1TB – $949
Buyers can choose between Black, Purple, and Titanium color options.
Early import units run ColorOS 16 (Android 16-based) with multi-language support, but also come with pre-installed regional apps and reportedly no official warranty — meaning any issues rely on seller policies.
The specs are undeniably premium: a 6.78-inch, 1.5K LTPO AMOLED display with 165Hz refresh rate. Thanks to the 8 Elite Gen 5, it can even hit 165fps in supported games, including Call of Duty Mobile, League of Legends Mobile, and Naruto Mobile. There’s a massive 7,300mAh battery this year, up from 6000 mAh of the OnePlus 13.
The phone packs a 7,300mAh silicon-carbon battery with 120W wired and 50W wireless charging, along with a 50MP triple-camera setup that includes a 3.5x periscope telephoto lens. Interested readers can check out our launch coverage for a full breakdown of features.
And for those willing to wait for the global version with localized software and warranty, November 13 seems to be the date to mark.
OnePlus has officially unveiled the OnePlus 15 in China, featuring Android’s best chip, a 165Hz screen, and a big battery. It’s also the first OnePlus phone in years to move past the Hasselblad camera partnership. Instead, the company is introducing its own LUMO Imaging technology.
The OnePlus 15 is a spec-heavy device in most areas, but the display is clearly the star of the show. At the launch event, OnePlus spent most of its time talking about the screen — and it’s easy to see why.
A world first
OnePlus claims the 15 is the first phone in the world with a 165Hz refresh rate. To be specific, 165Hz with 1.5K resolution. And the claims are that it improves response time by 10 milliseconds and display speed by 27%.
The company is leaning into gaming to make full use of this ultra-high refresh rate. The screen supports native 165fps gameplay for popular esports titles like Call of Duty Mobile, League of Legends Mobile, and Naruto Mobile, while it is also compatible with 144Hz and 120Hz modes.
The display itself is the third-generation “Oriental Screen ” from BOE built on OnePlus’ self-developed production line. OnePlus says its display metrics surpass DisplayMate A++ standards, with hardware-level low blue light, a 1-nit true dark mode, and industry-low flicker (SVM < 0.12) for improved eye comfort. It’s also the first display to receive the new “Little Gold Label” eye-protection certification in China.
Under the Hood
The OnePlus 15 runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. According to OnePlus, the SoC delivers 20% higher CPU performance, 35% lower CPU power draw, and 23% better GPU performance, all while consuming 20% less energy.
To make use of that power, OnePlus introduced what it calls a “Fengchi Gaming Core (in Chinese),” a system-level gaming optimization engine that enables sustained 165fps gameplay. The company also says it’s the first Android phone with touch-display synchronization for improved touch accuracy and consistency during long gaming sessions.
Networking performance also gets a boost from the new G2 esports network chip, which reduces latency by up to 65%, speeds up game updates by 71%, and improves video upload speeds by 42% under network congestion.
Of course, this level of performance generates heat. To manage that, the OnePlus 15 uses a “Glacier Cooling System” featuring an ultra-thin steel vapor chamber that increases liquid cooling space by 43% and doubles capillary water absorption efficiency. It also incorporates aerospace-grade supercritical aerogel to keep the phone cool to the touch.
Powering everything is a 7,300mAh battery with 120W wired and 50W wireless charging. OnePlus says a 5-minute charge gives up to 6 hours of video playback, while 13 minutes can refill 5,000mAh.
In real-world testing, the company claims the OnePlus 15 can run large FPS games at 165fps for up to 7.6 hours, stream short videos for 19 hours, or handle navigation for 12 hours straight.
The OnePlus 15 borrows a page from console gaming as it has a gyroscope of the same specifications used in the PS5 controller. Its 200Hz sampling rate improves aiming accuracy by 77% and cuts latency by 11%, claims OnePlus.
Cameras
For imaging, the OnePlus 15 debuts the LUMO Imaging System, pairing a 50MP Sony sensor with OIS, a 50MP ultrawide, and a 3.5x optical periscope telephoto lens of the same megapixel count. The camera supports 4K 120fps Dolby video recording. There is a 32MP sensor on the front for selfies.
On the software side, it ships with ColorOS 16, offering AI tools such as automatic video summaries, AI mind mapping, and quick bill recording. The phone also supports multi-device mirroring across Mac, iPhone, smartwatch, and PC. Other features include an IP69K rating, USB 3.2 Gen 1, and dual stereo speakers.
Price and Availability
The OnePlus 15 starts at 3,999 yuan (around $560) in China and is set to go on sale beginning on October 28.
Here’s the full pricing breakdown:
12GB + 256GB: 3,999 CNY (~Rs 49,530 | ~$560)
12GB + 512GB: 4,299 CNY (~Rs 53,250 | ~$600)
16GB + 256GB: 4,599 CNY (~Rs 56,970 | ~$645)
16GB + 512GB: 4,899 CNY (~Rs 60,680 | ~$690)
16GB + 1TB: 5,399 CNY (~Rs 66,890 | ~$760)
The phone comes in Mist Purple, Sand Storm, and Absolute Black.
For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.
OnePlus is set to launch the OnePlus 15 and Ace 6 later today in China. But just hours before the official launch, alleged price details for both devices have appeared on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.
According to the leak, the OnePlus 15 could start at 4,299 yuan (~ $605) for the 16GB RAM and 256GB storage model. The 16GB/512GB variant is said to be priced at 4,899 yuan (~ $690), while the top-end 16GB/1TB version could reach 5,399 (~ $760) yuan.
Meanwhile, the OnePlus Ace 6 is rumored to start at 3,099 yuan (~ $435) for the 12GB RAM and 512GB storage configuration. The higher-end 16GB/512GB variant could cost around 3,399 yuan (~ $480).
Both phones are also expected to come in a 12GB RAM and 256GB storage version, which would lower the starting price below what the leaked figures suggest.
It’s worth noting that these leaks come from an unverified source, so the prices should be taken with caution. OnePlus has not confirmed any of these numbers ahead of the launch.
OnePlus 15 / Ace 6 Specifications
Some key specifications of the OnePlus 15 have already been confirmed. The device features a 6.78-inch OLED display with a 2772 x 1272-pixel resolution and a 165Hz adaptive refresh rate.
It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and packs a 7,300mAh dual-cell battery. The camera setup includes a triple 50-megapixel camera setup on the back, including a periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, alongside a 32-megapixel front camera.
OnePlus 15
The Ace 6, meanwhile, sports a slightly smaller 6.83-inch 1.5K display and is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite with a massive 7,800mAh battery supporting 120W fast charging.
The phone is confirmed to feature an ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint sensor, a metal frame, and IP68/69/69K ratings. Its camera setup includes a 16-megapixel front shooter and a dual 50MP + 8MP rear system. The Ace 6 will reportedly come in Black, Quick Silver, and Flash White color options.
For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.
The OnePlus 15 is a direct successor to the OnePlus 13, which initially launched last year around the same time. The initial launch of the OnePlus 15 took place on October 27, while the global model will likely follow next month. The device does look different than its predecessor, as the company did make some notable design changes. Design is not the only thing that changed, here, though.
The new phone is, of course, more powerful overall, which we’ll talk about. It also comes with some changes that people may not be fans of. In any case, in this article, we’ll talk a lot more about the phone, even before its global debut. Once it arrives to global markets, we’ll fill in the gaps and update the information that is relevant to global users. With that being said, let’s get to it.
OnePlus 15 specs
OnePlus’ flagship smartphones bring top-of-the-line specs year-in, year-out. The same is the case here, as this phone is packed with powerful hardware. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC from Qualcomm, the company’s new flagship chip, fuels this smartphone. That chip is backed by 12GB/16GB of RAM and 256GB/512GB/1TB of internal storage. Just to be clear, OnePlus is using LPDDR5X RAM here and UFS 4.1 flash storage.
A 165Hz 1.5K AMOLED display is used, along with a 7,300mAh battery
A 6.78-inch AMOLED display sits on the front, with a resolution of 2772 x 1272 (1.5K). That translates to 450 PPI, and an aspect ratio of 20:9. This display goes up to 165Hz, though only during gaming. During regular use, it’ll go from 1-120Hz, as it’s adaptive. The peak brightness is immensely high, well over 4,000 nits, though you’ll never get to that point. The point is, the display is immensely bright when you need it to be.
A 7,300mAh silicon-carbon battery is used here. So, yes, even though the OnePlus 13 had a rather huge battery with plenty of capacity, OnePlus decided to improve upon that quite a bit. The phone jumped from 6,000mAh to 7,300mAh. 120W wired charging is supported (it will be limited to 80W in the US), along with 50W wireless charging. Android 16 comes pre-installed here with ColorOS 16 in China, while OxygenOS 16 will be included in the US.
Three 50-megapixel cameras sit on the back, while the phone is quite durable
There are three 50-megapixel cameras on the back. A 50-megapixel main camera (Sony’s IMX906 sensor, 1/1.56-inch sensor size) OIS, f/1.8 aperture, 84-degree FoV) is backed by a 50-megapixel ultrawide unit (OV50D sensor, 1/2.88-inch sensor size, 6P lens, f/2.0 aperture, 116-degree FoV). A 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (S5KJN5 sensor, 1/2.76-inch sensor size, 3.5x optical zoom, 4P lens, OIS, f/2.8 aperture, 30-degree FoV) also sits on the back. On the front, you’ll find a 32-megapixel Sony IMX709 camera sensor.
The phone has an in-display fingerprint scanner, an ultrasonic one. An IR blaster is included, as is Bluetooth 6.0. Wi-Fi 7 is, of course, on the table too, as is USB 3.2 Gen 1. There are two nano SIM card slots here, and a charger will be included, at least in some regions. The OnePlus 15 is IP66/IP68/IP69/IP69K certified, which means it has great water and dust resistance, to say the least.
OnePlus announced three color options
The device measures 161.42 x 76.67 x 8.10-8.20mm, while it weighs 211/215 grams, depending on the model. Three color options have been launched in China: Absolute Black, Mist Purple, and Sand Dune
The OnePlus 15 was announced only in China thus far. The phone’s pricing kicks off at CNY3,999 ($561) for the 12GB RAM model with 256GB of storage. It goes up to CNY5,399 ($758) for the 16GB RAM variant with 1TB of storage. Several other models are available in between. We’re expecting only a couple of models globally, though.
Where can I buy the OnePlus 15?
For the time being, the OnePlus 15 is only available to purchase in China. It launched in OnePlus’ homeland only, we’ll have to wait a bit before it makes its way to more markets. Once the global model launches, this section will be updated with new information and purchase links.
What carriers does it work on?
Only the Chinese variant was announced thus far, this section will be updated once the global model arrives.
What colors does the OnePlus 15 come in?
In China, the phone was announced in three color variants, Absolute Black, Mist Purple, and Sand Dune. Those are essentially black, purple, and beige colors. All three colors are rumored to arrive to global markets, though they will have different names, all three of them. At this point, we do know that the ‘Sand Dune’ color will be called ‘Sand Storm’ globally. That part has been officially confirmed, the other two colors, not yet.
What new upgrades does the OnePlus 15 have over the OnePlus 13, and what noteworthy features in general?
The OnePlus 15 is a more powerful smartphone than the OnePlus 13, there’s no doubt about it. Not everything on the phone is an upgrade over its predecessor, however. Well, most things are, but not everything. With that being said, in this section, we’ll highlight the upgrades and what seem to be downgrades. On top of that, we’ll simply highlight the best aspects of the phone itself, in general.
Even more processing power
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 from Qualcomm is used to fuel the OnePlus 15. That is Qualcomm’s most powerful chip to date, and a successor to the Snapdragon 8 Elite that is included in the OnePlus 13. There is no monumental difference when compared to the Snapdragon 8 Elite, but it’s better in a number of ways. Not only is it generally more powerful, but it brings upgrades in the GPU, NPU, and connectivity departments. A 23% improvement in GPU performance, 37% faster NPU, and more.
Faster storage
The OnePlus 15 ships with UFS 4.1 flash storage, compared to UFS 4.0 storage inside the OnePlus 13. That may not be something you’ll notice during day-to-day use, but UFS 4.1 is a notable improvement. It is not only faster, but it’s more power efficient too. A number of other improvements are included.
A gigantic battery
OnePlus opted to include a 7,300mAh battery inside the OnePlus 15. That is considerably more battery juice than what the OnePlus 13 delivered. That phone includes a 6,000mAh unit, which is also a silicon-carbon battery. That battery was plenty for that phone, and yet OnePlus decided to take things to a whole other level with the OnePlus 15. We do expect the OnePlus 15 to offer outstanding battery life.
Faster charging (slightly)
The OnePlus 15 supports 120W wired charging, compared to 100W charging on the OnePlus 13. Wireless charging remains the same. The thing is, this phone does include a larger battery, so the charging speed difference likely won’t be noticeable… when it comes to wired charging. Do note that the US will still get 80W wired charging, though.
Better display, even though it may not seem like it
The OnePlus 13 did ship with a sharper display than the OnePlus 15. The thing is, the difference will not be visible, and yet the OnePlus 15’s display is newer, more expensive, and technologically more advanced. It also supports a refresh rate of up to 165Hz for gaming, which is not something the OnePlus 13’s panel offered.
Bluetooth 6.0
The OnePlus 15 ships with Bluetooth 6.0 support, as expected. The OnePlus 13 included Bluetooth 5.4. Bluetooth 6.0 brings a number of improvements, including centimeter-level accuracy through channel sounding. It also brings improved audio latency and quality, and more efficient battery usage with decision-based advertising filtering. A number of other improvements are included.
OxygenOS 16
The OnePlus 15 ships with OxygenOS 16 out of the box. That is the latest version of OnePlus’ Android skin: It is based on Android 16, and it brings a refreshed UI, it’s immensely fast, has new animations, and so on. The thing is, the OnePlus 13 will get this UI as well, so chances are it won’t be much of a difference between the two. The point is, it is here, and it does make a difference.
The camera conundrum
On paper, the OnePlus 15 brings a camera downgrade to the table. It includes three 50-megapixel cameras on the back, with smaller camera sensors than the OnePlus 13. That goes for all three cameras, actually. That camera setup does not look great, in all honesty, but we’ll have to test it out to find out the truth.
What cases are available for the OnePlus 15?
OnePlus has confirmed the Sandstone Magnetic Case, Aramid Fiber Case, and Magnetic Hole Case for the Chinese market. We’re not sure if all of these will make their way to the global markets, but you can check them out below. The first two are kind of self-explanatory. The Sandstone case is a throwback to the original OnePlus smartphone, while the Aramid Fiber case is immensely thin and light. The Magnetic Hole Case brings a level of customization to the table. You can check them all below.
Images & Video
Should I buy the OnePlus 15?
Considering that only the Chinese OnePlus 15 variant has been launched at this point, it’s too early to tell whether the OnePlus 15 will be worth it. The price tag does seem quite appealing, but the smaller camera sensor do worry us. We can’t wait to review the OnePlus 15, however, so wait just a little bit longer while the global model arrives, and we’ll be able to share far more information about the device.
OnePlus has just announced its new flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 15. Do note that this launch took place in China, and it is the initial launch event for the phone. The global launch event is expected to take place next month.
With that being said, we already had a lot of details about the device. Plenty of information surfaced, while OnePlus revealed some info little by little over the last couple of weeks. Most of the information that leaked was also accurate.
The OnePlus 15 is now official with a brand new design
The OnePlus 15 has a brand new design. It is even more boxy than before. The phone features a flat display, a flat backplate, and a flat frame. Its corners are rounded, though, and the same goes for the corners of the phone’s camera island.
Speaking of which, the camera island is no longer round, it is now a square with rounded corners. It looks entirely different and sits in the top-left corner on the back of the phone. There are still three cameras included on the inside, though.
The phone has a centered display camera hole up top, and even thinner bezels than its predecessor. The bezels here measure 1.15mm all around. The phone does include uniform bezels, which means they’re the same thickness on all sides.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip is used, along with a 165Hz AMOLED display
This smartphone is quite powerful, needless to say. It is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. That is Qualcomm’s most powerful chip to date. It is paired with 12GB/16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 flash storage (up to 1TB). Storage expansion is not supported.
A 6.78-inch AMOLED display sits on the front, with a 1.5K resolution (2772 x 1272). That display goes up to 165Hz, but only during gaming. In regular use, it can go between 1 and 120Hz, as needed. It has high-frequency PWM dimming and gets immensely bright when needed.
OnePlus included a massive 7,300mAh battery here, along with 120W charging
A 7,300mAh silicon-carbon battery is included in the package too. That battery is a lot bigger than the already big unit in the OnePlus 13. 120W wired charging is supported here, along with 50W wireless charging.
There is an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner included too, while Bluetooth 6.0 is supported. The same goes for Wi-Fi 7. Android 16 comes pre-installed on the device, along with ColorOS 16. OxygenOS 16 will be included on the global model. The phone is also IP66/IP68/IP69/IP69K certified for water and dust resistance.
The cameras seem to be a downgrade, at least on paper
There are three 50-megapixel cameras included on the back of the phone. A 50-megapixel main camera (1/1.56-inch sensor size) is backed by a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera (1/2.88-inch sensor size, 116-degree FoV). The third camera is a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto unit (1/2.76-inch sensor size, 3.5x optical zoom). On paper, these cameras do seem like downgrades compared to the OnePlus 13. We’ll have to see if that’s true in actual performance.
The OnePlus 15 measures 161.42 x 76.67 x 8.10-8.20mm, while it weighs 211/215 grams. It comes in Absolute Black, Mist Purple, and Sand Dune colors. They will have different names in markets outside of China.
The device’s pricing starts at CNY3,999 ($561) for the 12GB RAM model with 256GB of storage, while it goes up to CNY5,399 ($758) for the 16GB RAM variant with 1TB of storage.
A recent report suggested that the OnePlus 15 will launch globally in November, and a new report just backs that information. The info comes from Sudhanshu Ambhore, a tipster.
It’s quite clear now, the OnePlus 15 will arrive to global markets in November
He went to X to say that the OnePlus 15 will be arriving to India next month. That basically confirms that it will arrive to global markets, as that’s the way OnePlus handles things. As a reminder, the initial launch of the phone will take place on October 27.
The tipster also confirmed that this will become the first Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 smartphone in India. Only two color variants will be arriving to India, however, Sand Storm and Black colors. The purple model will not be making its way there. The same could happen in other markets, though OnePlus could add a different color to accompany those two.
November 13 is likely the date
Speaking of the global launch, the previous report hinted at November 13 as the launch date. That could easily happen, so keep that in mind. The phone will likely become available not long after the launch event.
OnePlus has confirmed quite a few details regarding this phone, as it has been teasing the China launch. The company confirmed that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will fuel the device. Its color variants have also been confirmed and shown to the public.
The device will feature three 50-megapixel cameras on the back, while a 1.5K AMOLED display will sit on the front. That display will be flat, and it will offer a 165Hz refresh rate. The display will be made by BOE.
OnePlus also confirmed that a 7,300mAh battery will be included inside the phone. The OnePlus 15 will also support 120W wired and 50W wireless charging, in case you were wondering.
Login
