OnePlus 15

Brilliant battery life, stellar performance and top-notch cameras, in an understated yet durable design

- JOHN VELASCO

PRICE 256GB, £708 (£849 inc VAT) from oneplus.​com

OnePlus’ latest phone is a big step forward, in more ways than one. Since the number 14 is considered unlucky in China the manufacturer has skipped over it, moving directly from last year’s OnePlus 13 (see issue 366, p72) to this new top-tier handset. At the same time, the latest model comes with multiple new features that make it feel like more than a single generation's worth of progress.

The price is very competitive for a big-screen phone. While the Pixel 10 Pro XL and iPhone 17 Pro Max cost over £1,000, the OnePlus 15 starts at only £849 inc VAT. That gets you the Infinite Black finish with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, but it’s worth moving up to the 16GB version; this comes with 512GB of storage, plus additional choices of tasteful Sand Storm and Ultra Violet colouring. The price goes up to £980, but it’s still cheaper than its rivals, and there’s a range of trade-in deals available on the OnePlus website.

Strike a pose

The OnePlus 15 looks quite different to previous models. Gone is the distinctive circular camera hump on the back, replaced by a square housing that looks more iPhone-like. OnePlus also borrows the flat-edge design and rounded corners from Apple, making the whole thing feel a bit like a copy. Even so, I like the cleanness of the design, and I find the phone easier to hold in the hand than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, being shorter and narrower.

The frame uses a new MAO (micro-arc oxidation) technology that's super-smooth, almost matte-like to the touch, and highly scratch resistant. And the OnePlus 15 sets a new standard for smartphone durability with an IP69K rating, promising protection from high-pressure water jets at temperatures up to 80°C.

Bumper display