OnePlus 15R hands-on review

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Introduction

The OnePlus 15R is the latest premium smartphone from the company, and the companion to the flagship OnePlus 15 launched last month. As with previous R-series models, the OnePlus 15R sits between the true flagship and the more budget-oriented Nord 5. OnePlus refers to this as the 'value flagship', although what that term exactly means is up for debate.

The OnePlus 15R feels very similar to the Nord 5 due to the two phone's identical dimensions and weight. However, the 15R opts for more premium materials and also swaps out the chip for the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 - it's so new that this is the first phone we see with this chipset. The battery is also bigger at 7400mAh, the largest for a global OnePlus release.

Compared to the more expensive OnePlus 15, the 15R makes multiple concessions, most notably in the camera department. The chipset is also weaker than the flagship Elite model on the 15, and the charging is slower at 80W instead of 120W. We'll see how much of that actually matters.

Unboxing

The OnePlus 15R review unit featured here is the Indian bundle, which includes the phone, an 80W fast charger, a data cable, and a color-matched case. Depending upon the region, some of these items may not be available, as has become the norm for OnePlus releases.

OnePlus is also selling two magnetic cases for the phone, one with the company's hallmark sandstone finish, and the other with a hole pattern design that you can insert the provided rubber bits into to create a pattern.

Both cases feature magnets, allowing you to attach MagSafe-compatible accessories to the phone, such as car mounts. However, don't expect MagSafe or Qi2 chargers to work since the phone does not support wireless charging.