OnePlus 15 vs 15R Comparison: Flagship or Smart Choice?

With the introduction of the new R series in the OnePlus flagship lineup, instead of offering an alternative to the expensive flagship number series, it created more confusion for users about whether to settle for the R series or spend more for a OnePlus top-of-the-line flagship. And this line is even more blurred by the recent OnePlus 15 series, which includes the OnePlus 15 and the OnePlus 15R. 

While there is certainly a difference between the OnePlus flagship killer R-series and the OnePlus 15-series, settling for the R-series is no less than a meaningful move.

If you are struggling to choose between the recently launched OnePlus 15R and the OnePlus 15, you will learn everything you need to know about these devices to help you pick the right one for your preferences.

OnePlus 15 vs. OnePlus 15R: Which One Should You Buy?

Right off the bat, let’s set the expectations 

Every company designs a product for a specific user; no single product satisfies 100 percent of users. This is why most buying guides still leave you to make your own decision. With this guide, I want to make it easy for you to make a clear decision.

If you don’t have time to read the entire article, here is the summary. If you care about cameras, wireless charging, and don’t mind spending a little extra, go and get the OnePlus 15; however, if you don’t have any expectations and want an all-rounder phone without spending too much, get the OnePlus 15R, it is the phone for most people. With that in mind, let’s get into the details. Before that, here are the specifications of both phones on paper. 

Specs Comparison: OnePlus 15 vs OnePlus 15R

Build and Looks: Almost Identical 

To help you decide, below are images comparing the two phones side by side. Found any difference? That’s right, you won’t find much of a difference between the OnePlus 15 and 15r. On the front, they look very similar, with thin bezels and a center punch hole. 

OnePlus 15 Vs OnePlus 15R Front Design Comparison:

OnePlus 15 Vs OnePlus 15R Rear Design Comparison:

The real difference you will notice when you look at the back of these smartphones. The biggest change this year is that OnePlus has moved from traditional round camera modules found on previous-generation 13-series phones to a square design on the OnePlus 15 Series. The OnePlus 15 has more cameras, so its camera module is wider. If you don’t care about the cameras, the design won’t impact your decision. 

And also, when holding both phones, they should feel the same due to their similar dimensions and almost equal weight. One big difference is that the OnePlus 15 has better protection with Gorilla Glass Victus 2, while the OnePlus 15R has Gorilla Glass 7i. So, the OnePlus 15 should better protect against accidental drops than the 15R; however, you can just use any case to protect the 15R from accidental damage, too. 

Also, both these smartphones come with a new action button, which replaces the iconic alert slider. I still prefer the alert slider over the action button, but now that it’s dead, we have no choice. Apart from this, you won’t find much of a difference in terms of build and design.

Winner: Tied 

Display: Again, Almost the Same

The OnePlus 15 comes with a 6.58-inch display, while the OnePlus 15R comes with a 6.83-inch display, again not much of a difference. Both phones are bigger and better for media consumption, gaming, or staring at the screen all day.

Both phones again feature full HD+ AMOLED 10-bit displays, but the AMOLED display that offers vivid colours and a huge 165Hz refresh rate makes them fluid all day. However, the OnePlus 15 features an LTPO display for improved efficiency. LTPO displays use dynamic refresh rates; it automatically adapts the refresh rate based on the content you are currently viewing.

For instance, instead of refreshing the display at 120Hz all the time, it drops to 1Hz if the content doesn’t demand it. This should help improve your battery life on paper. However, this is negligible in this case, since both phones offer almost equal battery life.

However, one big advantage of the OnePlus 15 is its better brightness control; you can even set it to 1, making it highly efficient and a better option if you often read in low-light areas. 

Winner: Tied.

Performance: Very Close

Performance is what differentiates these phones on paper, but in the real world, you won’t find much difference. As per specs, the OnePlus 15R comes with a slightly less powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, while the 15 comes with the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

While the Geekbench cores should be higher on the OnePlus 15, looking at the overall performance of these, whether it’s browsing or gaming, you won’t find much of a difference. 

OnePlus Oxygen OS further blurs the line between these two; no matter what you throw at them, they perform without breaking a sweat, and with the recent Oxygen OS 16, things got even better. If you think performance is the biggest differentiator between these two, you might be wrong, while in some cases, such as consistent performance, OnePlus 15 may beat OnePlus 15R, but for most people, for their most daily tasks, there isn’t much of a difference

Winner: OnePlus 15 for its better processor, but the OnePlus 15R is very close. 

Ram and Storage 

OnePlus offers more RAM and storage variants than the OnePlus 15R; however, the OnePlus 15R’s options sit in the sweet spot. For anyone considering a storage variant in 2026, it should be 256GB, maxed out at 512 GB. Coincidentally, the OnePlus 15R is limited to just these two options, even making your purchase easy. The OnePlus 15 can go up to 1 TB of storage for power users. So, for most people, the OnePlus 15R’s storage should be ideal. 

However, one big difference is that the OnePlus 15 comes with USB 3.2, while the OnePlus 15R comes with USB 2.0. This makes a significant difference. If you are looking to connect your phone to an external display, it’s not possible with the OnePlus 15R. Keep this point in mind before choosing the OnePlus 15R. 

Winner: OnePlus 15. Very close.

OS: Very Similar

Oxygen OS has remained my favourite Android OS for years, and with Oxygen OS 16, OnePlus has taken it to a whole new level. OnePlus Oxygen OS 16 is the smoothest OS I have ever used on a smartphone; it’s basically Color OS 16, but more polished for OnePlus.

You can access all AI features and a wide range of customization options. And there is nothing in software that the OnePlus 15R cannot do. Both come with Oxygen OS 16 out of the box, and OnePlus promises 4 years of software updates and 6 years of security patch updates, meaning no matter which phone you buy, you will be covered for the foreseeable future, assuming OnePlus continues to offer the best software support. 

Winner: Tied

Battery: Convenience

This is where the biggest difference lies. If you rely on wireless charging or already have a wireless charging setup you cannot sacrifice, the OnePlus 15R limits you. It doesn’t support wireless charging, so you have to deal with wires and clutter on your desktop again, but thanks to its larger size, you don’t have to deal with it often. With a single full charge, it should last a full working day. 

On the other hand, OnePlus supports 50W wireless charging via its proprietary AirVOOC standard; however, it still lacks MagSafe support, so you cannot attach any accessories. Apart from the convenience, you won’t miss much.

Fun fact: OnePlus 15R comes with 100 mAh extra juice compared to OnePlus 15, in terms of number OnePlus 15 comes with 7300 mah battery while the OnePlus 15R comes with 7400 mah battery, while the 100 mAh doesn’t make much of a difference, both phones offer almost equal battery life, however OnePlus 15 faster 100W wired fast charging does fast charge OnePlus 15 than OnePlus 15R’s 80w, however if you have a habit of charging your phone all night, this won’t make any difference and OnePlus 15R’s 80QW fast charging support is still fast enough to quickly charge your phone when you are in a hurry. 

Winner: OnePlus 15 does win, but OnePlus 15R is very close again. 

Camera: OnePlus 15 is a Clear Winner, But

I have very mixed opinions on the OnePlus 15’s camera because OnePlus downgraded it this year compared to the OnePlus 13 (there is no OnePlus 14). OnePlus dropped the Hasselblad branding and moved to its Details Max Engine. 

OnePlus 15 is definitely better than 15R, but let’s be honest: OnePlus phones are never about the camera, and the camera has always been the weak point. However, over the past few years, OnePlus has consistently improved the camera. For those who really care about the camera, there are some good alternatives like the Vivo X300 Series, the recently launched Vivo X200T, and the Motorola Signature, but if you want the best camera performance, the OnePlus 15 is definitely the right pick.

However, the biggest question is: how are the cameras on the OnePlus 15R compared to those on the OnePlus 15? There are definitely limitations. First, OnePlus does have hardware limitations. For instance, the OnePlus 15 features a triple-camera setup on the rear: 50MP (main), 50MP (telephoto), and 50MP (ultrawide), while the OnePlus 15R features 50MP (main) and 8MP (ultrawide). The second ultra-wide camera on the 15R is already less appealing. So, at the hardware level, you are already giving up on the flexibility.

So, you won’t get the versatility, apart from the main sensor, which is almost on par with the OnePlus 15’s main camera capabilities. The ultra-wide angle isn’t as impressive, and there is no telephoto lens. Both phones offer decent front cameras, but the OnePlus 15’s performs better in low light. 

Overall, if the camera is your biggest priority, or one of the biggest priorities along with performance and other OnePlus perks, then the OnePlus 15 is the best option. Otherwise, if the camera isn’t a deciding factor and you can live with a decent camera setup that does the job well for the price, then the OnePlus 15R isn’t a bad option either. 

Winner: OnePlus 15.

Final: Which One Should You Buy?

To summarize, for most people, the OnePlus 15R is a very decent option for daily tasks, whether watching movies, consuming media, using a smartphone outdoors, or seeking a large battery, smooth performance, Oxygen OS 16 features, better software upgrades, faster charging, and better battery life. However, if you care about cameras so much that the convenience of wireless charging is more important, then the OnePlus 15 is the way to go.

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