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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The OnePlus 15R has launched, with a compelling performance package for $699.
- It offers an LTPS AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, and a 7,400mAh battery.
- The device features a dual camera system on the rear, and its design is rather generic.
OnePlus’s R-series phones are best known for their value-for-money proposition. That often comes at the expense of camera versatility as the company focuses more on powerful performance, a flagship-grade display, and long-lasting battery life at a more affordable price point. The newly released OnePlus 15R is no exception to that approach.
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The OnePlus 15R brings a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, a sharp LTPS AMOLED display, and a 7,400mAh battery that’s even larger than the OnePlus 15 — all for $699 in the US. It is designed for those who don’t want to spend extra on the top-tier OnePlus 15 but still desire a similar performance and experience, and I dig it.
What’s new with OnePlus 15R?
The OnePlus 15R follows a similar design language to the more expensive OnePlus 15. It sports a rectangular camera module, flat sides, curved corners, and an AI Key (akin to the Action Button) on the left side. It looks particularly nice in the new Mint Breeze variant, which features an elegant light green color on the back. You can also buy it in Charcoal Black and an India-exclusive Electric Violet color option.
At first glance, the OnePlus 15R may seem uninspiring, but it excels in durability. The device is rated IP66, IP68, and IP69 as well as IP69K for dust and water resistance. This means it is not only protected against water submersion but also against high-pressure jet sprays.
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On the front, you get a 6.8-inch LTPS AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate. In day-to-day use, it can continuously refresh at 120Hz to provide a buttery-smooth experience, while the higher refresh rate kicks in for certain mobile games, such as Call of Duty Mobile. Overall, it remains a sharp, responsive, and bright screen.
OnePlus’s new phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, which is comparable to last year’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC. It is paired with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of storage. I found that demanding titles like Red Dead Redemption also loaded quickly at high graphics settings. It can easily handle graphics-intensive tasks without breaking a sweat, which is great to see at this price point.
The OnePlus 15R runs on Android 16-based OxygenOS 16.0 and packs a massive 7,400mAh battery that supports 80W fast wired charging, capable of charging from 5% to 50% in under 30 minutes. That’s a step up from the OnePlus 15’s 7,300mAh battery, and a meaningful jump from my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s mere 5,000mAh cell. We’ll need to test the phone further and compare its performance to that of competing Android phones, but you can expect at least a day of use, easily.
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Unfortunately, the OnePlus 15R doesn’t sport a telephoto camera. Instead, the company is sticking with a 50MP primary camera and an 8MP ultrawide-angle camera.
The main sensor is the same as its more expensive sibling and holds its own, especially in 4K 120fps videos and daylight photos. It tends to rely more heavily on artificial blurs for portrait shots, but offers good dynamic range and detail in most captures. Compared to other phones in the same price range, the OnePlus 15R captures good-looking photos with its main lens. On the other hand, the 32MP selfie shooter is just passable, from what I’ve seen.
Pricing and availability
The OnePlus 15R is priced at $699 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant in the U.S, and is available for preorders today, ahead of its December 22 sale date. It appears that OnePlus isn’t experiencing any setbacks with this release — the FCC put the older OnePlus 15 on hold a month ago — so individuals looking to purchase a rather affordable flagship phone may now consider this one.