OnePlus has Launched the OnePlus 15 globally this week and in few weeks ago in China, and it’s the first time two OnePlus flagships have been launched in a year. The first to have support for 120W wired charging, 165Hz refresh rate, first flagship to not have an Alert Slider, and the first to come without Hasselblad camera collab setup after 2020, first flagship from 6T to come without a QHD resolution display.
This time, OnePlus’s Flagship OnePlus 15 has so many upgrades in terms of Charging, Battery, Performance, and in some areas of Display. Compared to the predecessors, the OnePlus 12 and 13, the phone also has so many huge downgrades, alongside a few upgrades.
OnePlus 15 has launched in India at a much higher price than the OnePlus 13. Most of the YouTubers or Influencers have only mentioned upgrades in their tweets or videos, leading to a lack of spreading knowledge of the downgrades in the phone.
In short, the OnePlus 15 is both overpriced and downgraded compared to the OnePlus 13, particularly in camera hardware, haptics, display resolution, and sensors.
Downgrades
As mentioned earlier, the OnePlus 15 has more downgrades than upgrades. All Downgrades will be detailed below.
Cameras
Coming to cameras,
Let’s start with the specs of both the OnePlus 15 and its predecessor OnePlus 13.
OnePlus 13:
- 50MP Main: LYT-T808, 1/1.4″, OIS
- 50MP Ultrawide: Samsung JN5, macro up to 2.5 cm
- 50MP 3x Telephoto: LYT-600, 1/1.95″, OIS
OnePlus 15
- 50MP Main: Sony IMX906, 1/1.56″, OIS
- 50MP Ultrawide: OmniVision OV50D
- 50MP 3x telephoto: Samsung JN5, 1/2.75″, OIS
Here, the major upgrades are in the Main sensor of the OnePlus 15, which is an IMX906 sensor, which is just a mid-range sensor used in mid-range phones like Samsung’s Galaxy A55 and Xiaomi’s last year’s 14T. For a Flagship with a launch price tag, starting from ~₹70,000 – it’s a gimmick.
Another major upgrade is the Telephoto sensor, which is significantly smaller than last year’s Flagship OnePlus 13, resulting in less low-light performance and details.
Haptics
Another downgrade is in the Haptics Section of the OnePlus 15.
OnePlus 13 has AAC CSA+0916 Turbo (602 mm²)
OnePlus 15 has AAC ESA1016 (560 mm²)
This clearly shows the latest Flagship OnePlus 15 having a smaller haptics motor, which means weaker vibrations and feedback.
Speakers
OnePlus 15 also has downgrades in the Speakers on the bottom side.
OnePlus 13: AAC 1115E, 165 mm²
OnePlus 15: AAC 1510, 150 mm²
Here also, it shows clearly that the OnePlus 15 has a Smaller driver on the bottom speakers, so it might make lower loudness and less bass response.
Microphones
Coming to the downgrades in Mics, last year’s OnePlus 13 had 4 microphones, but the New OnePlus 15 only has 3 microphones, which affects noise cancellation and audio clarity in video recording or during voice recordings.
Display
Coming to Downgrades,
The previous generation, the OnePlus 13, had a 6.82-inch display with 3168×1440px or 2K+ resolution.
But the all-new OnePlus 15 only has a 6.78-inch display with 2772×1272px or 1.5K resolution.
Even though the flagship OnePlus 15 adds a 165Hz Refresh Rate during gaming, it sacrifices the 2K display panel.
Nowadays, 1.5K display is very common in ₹30k and ₹35k mobile phones, making it hard to justify the ₹70k+ price range.
Not only resolution, but according to some Sources, OnePlus 15 uses a BOE X3 display panel, and reportedly suffers from poor uniform bezels. OPPO Find X9 and OnePlus Ace 6 of China use Tianma panels. Despite BOE X3 being better, it fails to give more consistent results like the Find X9 & Ace 6.
NFC
Another downgrade is in the NFC contact area; last year’s OnePlus 13 came with a Full-area NFC, while the latest OnePlus 15 features a reduced NFC area.
This smaller NFC contact area leads to reduced accuracy & range while using Tap to pay or While Using NFC, compared to the OnePlus 15.
Other Component Downgrades
OnePlus 15 has a Touch IC downgraded from 3910p → 3910v, Ambient light sensors reduced from 4 to 2, and the Alert Slider replaced by an independent switch for multiple functions (which is considered as upgrades or downgrades due to different views by People).
Conclusion
OnePlus 15 emphasises display brightness and refresh rate for marketing, but internal tests show the display’s Bezel uniformity issues.
Many of the downgrades directly affect real-world usage, like camera details, haptics, audio, display resolution, and sensors.
Combined with controlled posts of influencers, the OnePlus 15 reviewers show serious concerns about transparency.
Even though the OnePlus 15 was launched at a bit higher price than the OnePlus 13, it has more Downgrades than major upgrades.
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