The OnePlus 15 is the first smartphone in India powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the world’s fastest mobile SoC, and offers an early look at what the latest flagship mobile platform can do. The latest chipset represents one of the biggest architectural shifts in years, built around a next-generation Oryon CPU, upgraded Adreno GPU, and the latest Hexagon NPU for on-device AI. Together, these components mark a smarter, more efficient approach to mobile performance, one that adapts to real-world use instead of just chasing raw speed.
In the ongoing performance race between flagship chipsets, early benchmarks and gaming tests from the OnePlus 15 indicate Snapdragon is setting a strong early lead across CPU, GPU and sustained gaming performance metrics.
Redefining mobile performance
At the heart of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is the custom 3rd Gen Qualcomm Oryon CPU, reaching speeds up to 4.6GHz, which is the fastest clock speed seen on a mobile CPU. Qualcomm claims a 20% boost in CPU performance and, at the same time, enables a 35% gain in power efficiency over its predecessor, with an overall 16% SoC power saving, allowing devices to sustain top-tier performance for longer sessions.
Backing this is the Adreno GPU, now 23% faster with 20% lower power consumption. When combined with Adreno High Performance Memory (HPM) and its 18MB of dedicated cache, the new GPU renders complex scenes more efficiently by reducing memory fetches and improving data locality. Leading game studios, such as miHoYo, NetEase, and Tencent, are already leveraging features like Mesh Shading and Tile Memory Heap to optimise bandwidth, improve geometry handling and stabilise frame output in large, open-world environments. These architectural refinements directly benefit extended gaming, ensuring stable frame rates even during intensive sessions.
Benchmark numbers back it up
The OnePlus 15 is one of the first flagships to launch with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and as per our Test Labs, it achieved an AnTuTu score of 3,713,105, ranking it among the top-performing Android devices in current benchmark results. Beyond our internal scores, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 has also dominated recent global AnTuTu rankings, taking all top five positions across the Android segment.
On Geekbench, the device scored 3,500 in single-core and 10,511 in multi-core tests, showcasing the Oryon CPU’s formidable performance across both everyday and multi-threaded workloads. These scores aren’t just incremental improvements; they’re indicative of Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s reengineered CPU and AI task scheduling that maintains responsiveness without overheating.
Gaming that feels console-class
Snapdragon Elite Gaming suite continues to be a defining feature for mobile gamers, and with the 8 Elite Gen 5, the gains are tangible. The OnePlus 15 reached 121 FPS max (average 116.4 FPS) in BGMI and 164 FPS max (average 143.1 FPS) in Call of Duty: Mobile, without noticeable thermal throttling.
This consistency is thanks to the Tile Memory Heap and Mesh Shading technologies, which help maintain stable frame times while drawing less power. Paired with full Unreal Engine 5 support, the experience pushes smartphone visuals closer than ever to PC-level quality, something gamers will notice in smoother textures, dynamic lighting, and more realistic particle effects.
Qualcomm’s AI-Powered Data Traffic Engine within the X85 5G Modem-RF System further enhances the gaming experience by prioritising online gameplay packets, minimising latency, and stabilising connections during heavy network traffic, which is key for competitive titles.
Agentic AI: smarter performance, not just faster
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 isn’t just about brute force. Its new Hexagon NPU and Qualcomm Sensing Hub enable what Qualcomm calls “agentic AI”, an AI system that understands, learns, and adapts to the user. From contextual voice interactions to on-device image enhancement, the NPU’s 37% faster performance and 16% better power efficiency per watt allow devices to deliver smart experiences without relying entirely on the cloud.
Whether that means a camera automatically adjusting exposure during sunset, or your assistant summarising a call transcript in real time, the AI functions here feel genuinely integrated rather than layered on top.
Connectivity built for the hybrid era
Connectivity also sees major upgrades with the Qualcomm X85 5G Modem-RF, combining 5G Advanced capabilities with AI-assisted beam management for more reliable coverage. The new FastConnect 7900 system supports Wi-Fi 7 with up to 5.8 Gbps speeds and 40% power savings, while also offering up to 50% lower gaming latency thanks to AI-enhanced signal routing.
For creators and commuters alike, this means faster uploads, smoother video calls, and near-instant cloud syncs, even in congested networks.
A platform that sets the pace
The new Qualcomm Spectra AI ISP also plays a central role in how the platform handles photography. It is now a triple-processor system that collaborates directly with the Hexagon NPU, enabling advanced computational photography at the hardware level. The shift to a 20-bit pipeline provides four times the dynamic range of the previous generation, improving highlight retention and shadow detail. Capabilities like Night Vision 3.0 and real-time tone optimisation run directly through this AI-ISP flow, helping the camera deliver more stable colour and exposure across challenging scenes.
From professional-grade 8K HDR video capture to next-gen audio with Snapdragon Sound and aptX Lossless, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 represents Qualcomm’s most complete mobile platform yet.
While rivals are only beginning to talk about GPU innovation, Qualcomm’s early lead in CPU efficiency with its custom cores, AI intelligence, and network optimisation suggests that the gap may already be widening. Rather than chasing records, the 8 Elite Gen 5 emphasises stability and smart efficiency in everyday use.