OnePlus 15R review: battery king with a camera problem

The OnePlus 15R is the little brother of the OnePlus 15 with two clear priorities: a top battery and more than decent performance.

The OnePlus 15R (€699 incl. VAT) offers, as we are used to from the R models, the same software experience as the top model and a similar flagship feel, but with clear concessions on certain parts. Here, that is mainly the camera setup.

Where the OnePlus 15 wants to be the all-rounder, the 15R feels like a phone you buy because you find two things important: a large screen with a high refresh rate and a battery that lasts so long that it changes your charging routine. And it succeeds with one major caveat: the cameras.

Aims above its price range in terms of design

OnePlus stays close to the popular design choices of the moment: a beautiful smartphone with sleek edges, a modern look and a finish that feels premium in the hand. The glass back is a big plus. Unfortunately, the camera island looks rather dull; by using two instead of three lenses, the back looks a bit more minimalist (and not in a good way). That immediately brings the design of the smartphone down, while it could actually have been much better.

Fortunately, in addition to the premium feel, the smartphone is also well protected. The 15R gets an IP68/IP69 certification, making it resistant to dust and water, the same as the OnePlus 15. That is a plus, especially if you use your phone intensively, for example while running on rainy days. Although: it only scores a D on drop resistance.

The fingerprint scanner is also a step forward. OnePlus uses an ultrasonic version instead of an optical one. It is faster and more reliable with wet or greasy fingers. Also new is the Plus Key, a programmable button on the side. It is reminiscent of Apple’s Action Button and can be set to, for example, switch between sound profiles, the camera or the flashlight. Handy, but also limited: you cannot start every app with it.

Large, bright and smooth display

The OnePlus 15R has a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 1445 cd/m². This is a phone made to consume content on: videos, e-books, long news articles. The resolution and brightness are excellent and the screen looks sharp and colorful, even when the sun is shining brightly outside.

The refresh rate is 120 Hz, which is standard in this price range. This ensures smooth animations and comfortable scrolling. Although the panel can go up to 165 Hz, this only happens with a number of games. For normal use, the screen just feels fast and pleasant.

Powerhouse without shortages

The OnePlus 15R runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, which puts it just below the absolute top. In practice, this mainly means that everything feels fast and smooth: apps open instantly, multitasking is smooth and heavy tasks are no problem at all.

In benchmarks, the 15R lags behind the OnePlus 15, which is equipped with the more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. You mainly see that difference in tests with prolonged and heavy loads. In daily use, the distinction is small, most people will not notice it.

More importantly, the 15R, unlike the Motorola edge 70, among others, performs stably without noticeable hiccups. OxygenOS feels smooth and mature.

OxygenOS 16

The OnePlus 15R runs on OxygenOS 16, based on Android 16, and offers exactly the same software experience as the more expensive OnePlus 15. That is an important plus, because OnePlus does not distinguish between its R models and flagships here. The interface is fast and clear with smooth animations. Personalization is present in the form of extensive always-on display options, theme colors, gestures and shortcuts. The different theme words, such as paws below, are already fixed and cannot be adjusted. AI functions are of course also present, but not intrusive or disruptive.

In terms of support, OnePlus promises four years of Android updates and six years of security updates. That is decent, but lags behind the seven years that Samsung and Google now offer.

Decent cameras, but not versatile

The OnePlus 15R has a 50-megapixel main camera and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle, and that’s it. No telephoto lens. That is perhaps the biggest miss compared to both the OnePlus 15 and the earlier 13R.

The 50-megapixel main camera of the OnePlus 15R shows its best side in daylight. In wide landscapes, such as the canal with trees and reflection on the water, the sharpness is consistent across the entire image. Reflections on the water remain calm, trees and banks are neatly captured and the camera keeps the image sharp. The color reproduction remains natural and pleasant, in this case especially in winter scenes. However, the focus is not always equally sharp.

In backlight and low sun, silhouettes remain clear and shadows are not lightened, but the lighter parts can quickly become bright. The result remains consistent and always looks beautiful.

At night, the OnePlus 15R shows its flaws. In evening and night images, details disappear quickly and dark parts look strange with a striking amount of noise. The photos are atmospheric, but clearly a bit too soft and less suitable for those who find sharp night shots important.

The lack of a telephoto lens becomes painfully obvious with distant subjects. The digital zoom does its thing, but clearly with less detail and sharpness, even in good light. Animals or birds remain somewhat recognizable but lack definition. This is the biggest weakness of the camera configuration and the clearest difference with the OnePlus 15.

Battery & charging: the selling point

The 7,400mAh silicon-carbon battery is without a doubt the most important selling point for the OnePlus 15R. This is one of the largest batteries you can currently find in a smartphone. For the time being, only the Oppo Find X9 Pro does better. In normal use with a lot of media consumption, camera use and navigation, two full days is not an exception. That changes how you handle your phone: you think less about charging and don’t put it on the charger so quickly.

If charging is necessary, it can be done wired via 55W with a charger in the box. After half an hour you are around 50 percent, which is quite impressive for such a large battery capacity. There is no wireless charging and that remains a miss, especially in this price range.

Who is the OnePlus 15R for (and not)?

The OnePlus 15R is not a phone for everyone, but it is for people who know what they find important. If battery life, smooth daily use and a premium feel are at the top of your list, this is one of the strongest options in its class. The lack of a telephoto lens and wireless charging are the biggest drawbacks. If you are looking for maximum comfort and camera capabilities, other models are probably better suited.

Tested: OnePlus 15R, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage, Energy label A – 699 euros incl. VAT