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ZDNET Highlights
- The OnePlus 15R launches with an attractive performance package priced at $699.
- It has LTPS AMOLED display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor and 7,400mAh battery.
- The device features a dual camera system at the back, and has a fairly simple design.
OnePlus’ R-series phones are known for their value-for-money proposition. This often comes at the expense of camera versatility as the company focuses more on powerful performance, flagship-grade displays, and long-lasting battery life at a more affordable price point. newly released oneplus 15r There are no exceptions 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 bigger than the OnePlus 15 – all of which comes for $699 in the US. It’s designed for those who don’t want to spend extra on the top-tier OnePlus 15 but still want similar performance and experience, and I love it.
What’s new in OnePlus 15R?
The OnePlus 15R follows the same design language as the more expensive OnePlus 15. It has a rectangular camera module, flat sides, curved corners and an AI key (similar to an action button) on the left side. It looks especially good in the new Mint Breeze variant, which has a beautiful light green color on the back. You can also buy it in Charcoal Black and India-exclusive Electric Violet color options.
At first glance, the OnePlus 15R may look 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 that it is protected not only from submersion in water but also from high-pressure jet spray.
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On the front, you get a 6.8-inch LTPS AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution and 165Hz refresh rate. In day-to-day use, it can continuously refresh at 120Hz to deliver a butter-smooth experience, while the higher refresh rate works for some mobile games, such as call of duty mobileOverall, it remains a fast, responsive and bright screen,
The new phone from OnePlus is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, which is equivalent to last year’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC. It is paired with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage. I found that titles like red Dead Redemption Loads fast even on high graphics settings. It can easily handle graphics-intensive tasks without any hassle, which is great to see at this price.
The OnePlus 15R runs on Android 16-based OxygenOS 16.0 and houses a massive 7,400mAh battery that supports 80W fast wired charging, capable of charging from 5% to 50% in less than 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 have to test the phone further and compare its performance to competing Android phones, but you can easily expect at least a day’s use.
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Unfortunately, the OnePlus 15R doesn’t have a telephoto camera. Instead, the company is working on a 50MP primary camera and an 8MP ultrawide-angle camera.
The main sensor is the same as its more expensive brother and particularly impresses with 4K 120fps videos and daylight photos. It relies more on artificial blur 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 completely passable, as I see it.
Pricing and Availability
oneplus 15r The 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant is priced at $699 in the US, and is available for pre-order today ahead of the December 22 sale date. It appears OnePlus is taking no chances with this release – the FCC blocked the older OnePlus 15 a month ago – so those looking to buy an affordable flagship phone can now consider it.
