Thanks to advances in battery technology, the days of charging your phone several times a day may have come to an end. The OnePlus 15 aims to deliver battery performance that will make you forget your phone even has a charging port.
Silicon-carbon batteries instead of classic lithium-ion batteries: Thanks to this new technology, capacities around 20 percent higher are possible with the same size. Manufacturers from China, such as Xiaomi and Honor, have been leveraging this for some time now and equipping their smartphones with significantly larger battery storage units. But not here. Due to transportation restrictions, Xiaomi, Honor, and similar companies typically install smaller batteries in their models for the global market than they do in the models for the Chinese market. But the new OnePlus 15 isn’t perturbed by these issues.
The OnePlus 15’s XXL Battery
The OnePlus 15 comes with a 7300 mAh battery. This is significantly more than the standard 5,200 mAh currently found in flagship smartphones. With a 6.78-inch display, the OnePlus 15 is not compact, but it is no different in size and weight from other top smartphones.
Visually, the new OnePlus 15 makes quite an impression. With its matte colors, discreet camera, and minimalist logo, the smartphone appears more elegant than previous generations. It also feels great while handling due to its metal frame and minimally roughened surface. The back is made of so-called “Crystal Shield Glass”. Coins or keys should not even scratch this in your pocket. Our test also confirms this: all scratches can be easily wiped off.
The back is not only stylish, but also very durable Image source: Timo Brauer / inside digital
High-End Features
The technical features are also impressive: The OnePlus 15 is the first smartphone to be launched with the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. This is the fastest processor ever available for Android smartphones. In the coming months, it is also likely to make its debut in the top smartphones from Samsung, Xiaomi, and others.
It’s no wonder, then, that the OnePlus 15 sets a new performance record in our tests. 2,884,072 points in the AnTuTu benchmark. This is obviously an exaggeration, as the smartphone can only maintain this extremely high performance for approximately 10 minutes. A second run of the test is not possible, as the smartphone then switches off due to overheating and becomes so hot that it is barely touchable. Another performance test fails on the first run due to overheating. However, this is not a problem in everyday use. Even with demanding apps and games, the phone does not get unusually hot.
The display of the OnePlus 15 Image source: Timo Brauer / inside digital
The display is razor-sharp with a resolution above Full HD, offers first-class colors and viewing angles, and is also bright enough for use in direct sunlight. The refresh rate of 165 Hertz is even higher than the usual 120 Hertz, but this is not noticeable in everyday use. As you would expect in this price range, the smartphone can dynamically control its refresh rate and reduce it to 1 Hertz to avoid wasting energy unnecessarily when using the Always-On-Display, for example.
Battery Performance: Truly XXL?
Talking about the battery: This is where the new OnePlus 15 really shines. As already mentioned, the battery is huge at 7300 mAh, and the battery life is correspondingly excellent. With a runtime of 32 hours and 23 minutes in our battery benchmark, the smartphone outperforms any other top smartphone and is likely to secure the battery crown this year. The battery life is also impressive in everyday use. Even on a day with a lot of screen time, you don’t have to plug it in. And with less intensive use, two days are easily possible.
If the smartphone does run out of power at some point, recharging doesn’t take very long despite the large battery. It takes just 56 minutes to fill the battery from 0 to 100 percent. Charging takes place with up to 120 watts, although a corresponding power supply unit is not included in the scope of delivery. Wireless charging is also possible.
Triple Camera With 50 Megapixels
Let’s examine the cameras and their results. The OnePlus 15 features three rear cameras, each with a 50-megapixel resolution. In addition to the main camera, there is a telephoto camera with 3.5x optical zoom and an ultra-wide-angle camera with a 116-degree field of view. A 32-megapixel camera is available at the front for selfies.
The cameras on the OnePlus 15 Image source: Timo Brauer / inside digital
Despite the poor weather during my week with the OnePlus 15, the camera is impressive, at least during the day. The images are razor-sharp, and the smartphone has no problems capturing moving subjects. However, there is room for improvement when it comes to balancing between the different lenses. The pictures taken with the ultra-wide-angle camera are somewhat paler than those taken with the main camera, and the zoom camera has slightly warmer colors.
Another problem becomes apparent in the dark. While photos taken in complete darkness turn out well and capture the subject realistically, bright lights give the smartphone a hard time, leaving streaks, and the focus is no longer right. Time will tell how well OnePlus can solve this problem with an update.
OnePlus 15 Review: Final Thoughts
In the test, the OnePlus 15 presents itself as an elegant upper-class smartphone with top performance, an excellent display, and a truly first-class battery life. The camera is also impressive during the day, but OnePlus needs to improve its night photography.
The OnePlus 15 starts at $899 – a fair price for the features it offers. The price for the memory upgrade is also worth mentioning. The basic version comes with 256 gigabytes of storage space, while the upgrade to 512 gigabytes costs just $100 more. Most other manufacturers charge far more for their memory upgrades. Unfortunately, the phone is not yet available in the US due to the government shutdown delaying certification by the FCC.
Pros of the OnePlus 15 in the test
- elegant design
- excellent display
- maximum performance
- best battery life ever in a top-of-the-range smartphone
- inexpensive memory upgrade
Cons of the OnePlus 15 in the test
- the camera has problems at night
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