As OnePlus has just announced its latest mid-range phone, we’re keen to see how it compares to last year’s.
Considering the OnePlus 13R achieved a four-star rating and was hailed as being a “super sub-flagship device”, is it worth upgrading to the OnePlus 15R?
We’ve compared the specs of the OnePlus 15R to the OnePlus 13R so you can see what’s really new with the Android, and whether it’ll replace its predecessor in our best mid-range phone guide.
Pricing and Availability
At the time of writing, the OnePlus 15R is available to pre-order ahead of its official release on 15th January 2026, with a starting price of £649 for its 256GB model.
Now nearly a year old, although the OnePlus 13R has an official RRP of £679 (256GB), you can easily pick up the handset with a healthy discount – especially now the OnePlus 15R is available to order.
OnePlus 15R runs on Snapdragon 8 Gen 5
The OnePlus 15R boasts the title of being the first smartphone to launch with Qualcomm’s mid-range chipset, Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. While we’re yet to review either the phone or the processor, Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 is promised to see 36% faster CPU and 11% faster GPU speeds alongside up to 46% “better AI performance” than the previous chipset.
In comparison, the OnePlus 13R runs on 2024’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which at one time powered most of the best Android phones. Although slightly older now, we found the OnePlus 13R to offer plenty of power and, thanks to its on-board Dual Cryo-Velocity Vapor Chamber system, kept cool in the process too.
We also noted the OnePlus 13R was especially good at gaming, as it could run titles at max settings without warming up. However, OnePlus also promises the 15R is the “best choice for gamers” thanks to its chip and its 165Hz refresh rate, which we’ll dive into later.
OnePlus 15R has a larger battery
The OnePlus 15R not only sports a larger battery than its predecessor, but also than its pricier sibling, the OnePlus 15. At 7400mAh, we can expect the OnePlus 15R to alleviate battery anxiety and last comfortably for a day before needing to recharge. However, of course we’ll have to wait until we review the phone to confirm whether this is the case.
In comparison, the OnePlus 13R is fitted with a 6000mAh cell which is still larger than the likes of the Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. During our time with the handset, we found you can easily get at least one day out of it, and even two days depending on your usage.
However, despite its smaller capacity, we had a similar experience with the OnePlus 13R to that of the OnePlus 15, ending days with around 40% of juice remaining. Considering the OnePlus 15’s battery is just shy of the OnePlus 15R’s, this means we can reasonably expect a similar performance with the cheaper phone.
OnePlus 15R has IP66, IP68, IP69 and IP69K ratings
One area which let the OnePlus 13R down was with its IP rating. While the best smartphones and most of the best mid-range phones usually sport an IP68 rating, which means the handset can withstand submersion in water, the OnePlus 13R was only fitted with an IP65 rating.
That means that although the phone is dust-tight, it won’t survive a submersion in water. Instead, according to the IEC, IP65 means “water projecting in jets against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects”.
Fortunately, the OnePlus 15R more than makes up for its predecessor. While most phones have one or two (at a push) IP ratings, the OnePlus 15R is fitted with four: IP66, IP68, IP69 and even IP69K.
Essentially, this means that the OnePlus 15R is dust-tight and can withstand water submersion and even high-pressure and high-temperature water jets too. Is it overkill? Perhaps, but it’s certainly an improvement on the OnePlus 13R.
OnePlus 15R supports 165Hz
Much like the OnePlus 15, the OnePlus 15R boasts a mighty 165Hz panel. While this isn’t necessarily a visible difference from a 120Hz panel, a 165Hz refresh rate allows for faster reactions when gaming. Considering the OnePlus 15 is one of the best gaming phones, we’re hopeful that this means the OnePlus 15R is a viable affordable alternative.
This isn’t to say the OnePlus 13R’s display isn’t impressive, as its adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate makes everything feel smooth. You just might notice the difference when gaming.
OnePlus 13R has a 50MP telephoto lens
Surprisingly, the OnePlus 15R’s camera setup isn’t quite as high-specced as the OnePlus 13R. While both are equipped with a 50MP main lens and 8MP ultrawide, the OnePlus 13R benefits from a 50MP telephoto lens.
It’s a shame the OnePlus 15R doesn’t sport the telephoto lens, especially as we concluded that despite its lack of OIS, it does a “decent job at capturing photos of those things a little further away, as well as portrait shots”.
Even so, although on paper it seems both the 15R and 13R have the same main lens, the former’s is the same sensor as the OnePlus 15. Considering the OnePlus 15 was able to capture detailed images across all lighting conditions, this definitely bodes well for the OnePlus 15R.
Early Verdict
The OnePlus 15R is an interesting successor to the OnePlus 13R. It may boast a larger battery, a newer Qualcomm chipset and plenty of water-resistant ratings, but its camera setup isn’t quite as impressive compared to its predecessor.
We’ll refrain from giving a conclusive verdict until we review the OnePlus 15R. However, it’s fair to say the OnePlus 13R hasn’t aged quite yet, so if you’re sporting the older model, or are due an upgrade and are toying between the two, then it might be an even more affordable option.
