The OnePlus 15R is a compelling mid-range smartphone positioned between the premium OnePlus 15 and more budget-friendly competitors. Priced at $700, it delivers a high-end experience in several key areas – notably its exceptional battery life and innovative fingerprint sensor – while making strategic compromises to hit that price point.
Battery Life and Key Features
The standout feature of the OnePlus 15R is its massive 7,400-mAh silicon-carbon battery. This allows for two full days of typical use, even under heavy load from streaming, gaming, and photography. This capacity is significantly larger than most phones, which typically range from 4,200 to 5,000 mAh. The phone also includes a hypersonic fingerprint sensor, an uncommon feature for this price range, offering faster and more reliable unlocking than traditional optical sensors.
Performance and Design
The OnePlus 15R uses a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip, a step down from the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the OnePlus 15. However, performance remains strong enough for gaming, multitasking, and recording high-resolution video. The design closely resembles the OnePlus 15, with the primary difference being a dual-camera setup instead of a triple-lens array. The phone comes in two colors: mint breeze and charcoal black. A programmable “Plus Key” button adds customizable shortcuts, though it lacks the full app launch capabilities of Apple’s Action button.
Display and Gaming
The 6.8-inch display offers a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, standard for this price range. While some games can utilize a higher 165Hz refresh rate, this feature is not consistently available, which is an unusual limitation given the phone’s price. Despite this, gaming performance is solid, with titles like Dead Cells, Red Dead Redemption, and Fortnite running smoothly at high settings.
Camera Performance
The camera setup includes a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens and an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens. Photo quality is good in daylight, though colors tend to lean warm. The lack of a telephoto lens is a significant omission. Low-light performance is adequate, but selfies may be inconsistent in focus and color accuracy.
Software and Updates
The OnePlus 15R will receive four years of software updates and six years of security updates, which is less than Samsung and Google’s seven-year commitment. The phone ships with a 55-watt fast charger, though it supports up to 80-watt charging speeds with an additional OnePlus wall plug. Wireless charging is not supported.
The Bottom Line
The OnePlus 15R offers a strong balance of features and performance for its $700 price tag. It excels in battery life, includes an innovative fingerprint sensor, and delivers smooth gaming. However, the lack of wireless charging, the omission of a telephoto camera, and the shorter software update commitment are significant trade-offs.
If these compromises are acceptable, the OnePlus 15R is an excellent choice for users who prioritize long-lasting battery and solid performance over premium extras. Competitors like the Google Pixel 9A and Samsung Galaxy S25 FE may offer a better overall experience for those willing to spend slightly more or less.
