Continuing the same strategy OnePlus has followed the past few years, the company released two flagship phones at the end of 2025, the top-tier $900 OnePlus 15 and the mid-range $700 OnePlus 15R. This is the third year that OnePlus has used this phone strategy, which began with the then-$500 OnePlus 12R. At the time, I said OnePlus had killed its own flagship.
The $800 OnePlus 12 was the true flagship that year with the latest Snapdragon chip, tons of RAM and storage, a fantastic display and smooth software. Yet the 12R delivered almost 90% of the power and performance of the 12, but at several hundred dollars less.
Much the same is true this time with the 15 series. OnePlus made a few small changes to the 15R that don't really lessen the overall experience of using the phone, while still delivering a flagship-level phone. It has a fast new processor, a giant battery with fast charging, an expansive screen and the same software as the more expensive OnePlus phone.
As such, it's worthwhile to ask: Should you spend more for the flagship OnePlus 15 or does the OnePlus 15R provide everything you already need for less money?
Let's find out.
Watch this: OnePlus 15R Unboxing: First Look at the New Phone 00:37
Display
The first notable difference between these two phones is the display. The OnePlus 15 technically has a slightly smaller 6.78-inch display than the 6.83-inch display on the 15R. The smaller bezels on the OnePlus 15 make the difference essentially negligible. I personally prefer the slightly smaller footprint of the 15, but the size difference is basically moot.
The more important difference is the technology used in the displays. Both have 1.5K resolutions and up to 165Hz refresh rates. Even though OnePlus touts that faster refresh rate, you'll see the phone hit only 144Hz or 165Hz in supported games. Despite that limitation for gaming, both phones will run at 120Hz at all other times, which is still plenty fast.
The big difference is that the 15 uses an LTPO display, which dynamically refreshes from 1 to 165Hz, depending on what you're doing. This means the phone can lower it when your phone's not active, potentially saving some power, and then crank it back up when you'll notice it. The 15R uses an LTPS display, which can only switch between 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz and 165Hz. Technically, that means the screen on the 15R is not quite as smooth or power efficient, but in reality, you'd be hard-pressed to notice.
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