OnePlus is officially launching the 15R, the company’s mid-range alternative to the OnePlus 15. The handset is now available for pre-order and will go on sale starting January 8 on the company’s site.
The smartphone costs $999.99 for the base model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. This RAM/ROM storage configuration is available in all colourways — these colours include Charcoal Black and a pretty Mint Breeze handset. The $1,149.99 model features 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage; however, this is only available in Charcoal Black. The device has a matte back and I like the way it feels in my hand. It’s quite similar to the OP15, but without the telephoto shooter, the camera on the rear looks very sleek.
Even though this is, in theory, a mid-range option, the handset still has a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor. In my time with the phone, I was able to play several Marvel Snap matches without the phone warming up at all, and the device offers impressive benchmarks. A Geekbench 6 test shows a single-core score 2,796 and a multi-core score of 8,971, which is lower than the OnePlus 15 and even some Snapdragon 8 Elite devices like the ROG Phone 9, but it matches the likes of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The phone features a 6.83-inch display with a 2800 x 1272-pixel resolution and up to 165Hz refresh rate, which is great for gaming. It also has a 50-megapixel shooter and an ultrawide 8-megapixel camera. It also has a 32-megapixel selfie camera. Camera experience is fine, but the OP15 and other devices offer better shooter experiences; there are even more affordable handsets like the Pixel 9a, which offer more detailed and vibrant photos.
Additionally, the OnePlus 15R has a 7,400mAh battery with an 80W SuperVOOC charging and even IP69 water resistance. Similar to the OnePlus 15, the handset sports OnePlus AI with an AI Recorder, AI Writer, AI Scan, and AI Portrait Glow, which will help with AI lighting. There’s also the AI Key and the company’s Plus Mind, which allows you to create quick screenshots, and your device will use AI to analyze the screenshot. If there are dates in the screenshots, OnePlus AI will create a calendar event, which I absolutely love. You can learn more about my thoughts on OnePlus AI in my full review of the OnePlus 15.
I’m impressed by the OnePlus 15R. It might not be the best of the best, but cramming a huge battery, 12GB of RAM, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, a 165Hz refresh rate and a huge 7,400mAh battery into a phone that costs $999 is impressive, and should be noted by some competitors. You won’t get that perfect camera experience, but if you’re not someone who takes a lot of pictures, then this device is definitely worth considering.
You can pre-order the OnePlus 15R now.
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