The competition
The OnePlus 15R starts at US $700/€700, which is about right for a premium phone with flagship hardware. The OnePlus 15R has an excellent AMOLED screen, top-notch chipset, outstanding battery life, capable cameras, and buttery smooth OS.
It’s hardly the only choice in this price bracket, though.
For starters, you should consider the more expensive OnePlus 15 as an alternative for its faster hardware, the additional zoom camera, and the more capable ultrawide one. The phone also supports a dynamic refresh rate for its display and wireless charging for the battery. The difference is about US $300/€300 if we equate for storage, but it may be worth it if those extra features are valuable for you.
The Poco F8 Ultra costs about the same as the OnePlus 15R, and it is worth considering too. The F8 Ultra has an even larger display, a faster processor and graphics courtesy of the Elite chip, and a 5x telephoto/telemacro camera. It does sound like a better deal.
The Motorola Edge 60 Pro is a thinner and lighter phone with a more beautiful design and equally tough build. It has a similarly good display and chipset, but offers a more premium camera kit on both ends, including a 3x telephoto camera. And considering the Edge 60 Pro price has dropped down to about €400, it should be around the top of your shortlists.
Finally, Xiaomi’s 15T Pro will bring you a Leica-infused camera configuration with a 50MP 5x telephoto/telemacro camera, a flagship Dimensity chip, a 144Hz OLED, and possibly an even more premium build. The price is the same, but the speed and the cameras are better.
OnePlus 15 • Xiaomi Poco F8 Ultra • Motorola Edge 60 Pro • Xiaomi 15T Pro
The OnePlus 15R is a very tempting offer in the US, too. It excels in its price bracket and offers pretty much unmatched features.
The first competitor in the US is the iPhone 17, which is about $100 over the 15R. The iPhone has an even tougher and more premium build, a more compact body, and top-notch performance. The camera kit is similar between the two phones. The iPhone’s battery life, however, remains inferior, and Apple’s iOS is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea.
The Galaxy S25 is another similarly priced flagship in the US, which comes in a compact form factor. It has a lower resolution display and uninspiring battery life, but it has a dedicated zoom camera and more powerful Elite hardware. We are still inclined to consider the 15R for its overall superior quality over the S25, but if performance or compact body comes first, this is the one.
You should also consider the cheaper $500 Motorola Edge (2025) and the $600 Nothing Phone (3), which we already mentioned as European rivals.
The Pixel 10 is another excellent US offer sold at a similar price. It is not as powerful, or as large, and its battery life is not that good, but the cameras are more versatile and, hey, it’s a Pixel, right?
Apple iPhone 17 • Samsung Galaxy S25 • Motorola Edge (2025) • Google Pixel 10
Our verdict
In the end, the OnePlus 15R doesn’t quite look like a proper flagship killer, but it does pack plenty of top-notch features.
The 15R features a likable and durable design that can be universally praised. Then there is the bright HDR display with a smooth refresh rate. Our positive impressions were topped off with absolutely incredible battery life.
Of course, we cannot but mention the powerful speakers, fast charging, and the more than adequate raw and sustained performance.
Cameras have become a pillar across modern smartphones, and the OnePlus 15R’s main camera offers superb photo and video quality across the board, plus incredibly solid video stabilization. The selfies turned out pretty good, and that basic 8MP ultrawide shooter saves above-average daylight photos.
Some of the things we didn’t particularly like are the limited use for the 165Hz refresh rate support and the lack of a proper telephoto camera – cheaper phones have better specs right now. And there is no wireless charging support, a feature that is quite popular in the US market.
But that’s about it. The OnePlus 15R is a very good smartphone, ticking all the right boxes and delivering on every promise. It’s just that there are better offers at a lower price in some markets. If you like the 15R but its price is not that competitive in your country, you should wait for a discount or maybe explore the alternatives. But if priced right, you will not regret its purchase.
Pros
Durable design, smudge resistant.
Bright OLED, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support.
Class-leading battery life, fast charging.
Great speakers.
Adequate performance.
Very good photos and videos from the main. Superb video stabilization.
Solid selfies, autofocus.
Smooth OxygenOS.
Cons
No telephoto camera.
Limited 165Hz refresh rate support.
Pricey at launch.