The newly launched OnePlus 15, unveiled on November 13, has officially arrived in India with a starting price of Rs 72,999. Naturally, it’s already being compared to the OnePlus 13, which is still on sale for Rs 65,999. With a refreshed design, powerful internals, and a focus on high-performance upgrades, the OnePlus 15 positions itself as a major step forward. Here’s a detailed comparison to help buyers decide which flagship offers better value.
Design & Build:
The OnePlus 15 comes in three colour variants, each featuring a different back panel material.
- Sand Storm: Fibreglass back; lightest at 4 grams less than the other models
- Infinite Black: AG glass back
- Ultra Violet: Glass back
Both glass variants weigh 215 grams. Unlike the OnePlus 13, the new model does not offer an eco-leather option, though it’s slightly lighter by 1–3 grams compared to the previous flagship.
Display: Sharper on the 13, Smoother on the 15
The 15 model uses a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED panel with FHD+ (2772 × 1272) resolution, a 165Hz refresh rate during gaming, and 1800 nits peak brightness.
The OnePlus 13 features a slightly larger 6.82-inch LTPO 4.1 AMOLED display with QHD+ (3168 × 1440) resolution and 1600 nits peak brightness.
The OnePlus 15 sports the tough Corning Victus 2 on its display, offering solid protection against drops and scratches. The OnePlus 13, on the other hand, is protected by Ceramic Guard glass, a very durable material in its own right.
Both support HDR10+, HDR Vivid, and Dolby Vision. Display protection differs:
- OnePlus 15 – Corning Victus 2
- OnePlus 13 – Ceramic Guard glass
The OnePlus 13 wins on sharpness and brightness, but the 15 brings smoother motion and better gaming thanks to its higher adaptive refresh rate.
Performance: The Power Upgrade
The OnePlus 15 runs Android 16 with OxygenOS 16 and is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset featuring an octa-core CPU clocked at 4.6 GHz. It posts an impressive AnTuTu score of 4.18 million or higher.
The OnePlus 13 uses the older Snapdragon 8 Elite platform clocked at 4.32 GHz and runs Android 15 with OxygenOS 15.
Both devices feature the same impressive 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The big difference is the speed: the OnePlus 15 gets a serious performance boost thanks to its upgraded, lightning-fast UFS 4.1 storage.
Connectivity upgrades on the OnePlus 15 include:
- Wi-Fi 7
- Improved Bluetooth codecs
- Enhanced Wi-Fi chip
- New AI features like Plus Mind and Gemini AI
Battery & Charging:
The new OnePlus 15 is getting a seriously huge battery, jumping all the way up to 7,300 mAh! That’s a big step up from the OnePlus 13’s 6,000 mAh. Basically, you can comfortably expect your phone to last way longer – think all-day use and then some!
Both phones charge super fast, but the 15 takes the lead with a blazing-fast 120W wired charge compared to the OnePlus 13’s very quick 100W wired charge.
Charging speeds:
- OnePlus 15 – 120W wired charging
- OnePlus 13 – 100W wired charging
Getting power into these devices is a breeze with blazing-fast 50W wireless charging. But what’s really cool is that your phone can also become a mini power bank! You can quickly top up smaller accessories like earbuds using 10W reverse wireless charging (just lay them on the phone’s back). And if a friend desperately needs a battery boost, you can even connect a cable and share 5W of power with them through reverse wired charging.
Both support:
- 50W wireless charging
- 10W reverse wireless charging
- 5W reverse wired charging
Cameras: Triple 50MP on Both, But New Optimisations
When it comes to photos, both the 15 and the older 13 are serious contenders, thanks to their fantastic triple-lens 50-megapixel camera systems. The newer OnePlus 15 offers a complete setup – wide, telephoto, and ultra-wide – plus Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) to keep your shots steady and sharp. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 13 brings a unique touch with its Hasselblad color tuning, making your pictures look rich and professional right out of the box.
Both phones share the same amazing camera system. You get a super-versatile setup on the back with three 50-megapixel cameras that work together to capture brilliant photos no matter the lighting or situation. And for your selfies? There’s a sharp 32-megapixel front camera ready to take fantastic, high-resolution shots.
Both phones support:
- 50MP+50MP+50MP Rear Camera
- 32MP Front Camera
- 8K video recording
- 4K/1080p 60fps front camera
Good news on the speed and durability front! Both phones are ready for the blazing-fast 5G network. Plus, if you happen to spill a drink or get caught in the rain, don’t sweat it – they both have excellent water and dust resistance (that’s the top-tier IP68/IP69 rating, for those who know the tech spec!).
