OnePlus has teased the upcoming OnePlus 15 Sand Storm on its community forum, hinting at a striking new look that breaks from the understated design of the 14.
The post doesn’t reveal much beyond the name, but that alone is enough to spark speculation about texture, colour, and materials.
“Sand Storm” immediately brings to mind the sandstone finish of early OnePlus phones, a grippy, tactile design that stood out in a sea of glossy slabs. It doesn’t, at least from various images posted to Weibo, seem like this version will have such a texture.
OnePlus has said that the design has been “Inspired by deserts” and the “Aerospace-grade toughness is achieved through a high-voltage plasma process that adds a ceramic coating directly on the metal frame -3.4 times harder than aluminium mid frame and 1.3 times as tough as titanium mid frame.”
Beyond the finish, more can be gleaned from the images. The rounded camera housing has been swapped for a squarer module, and the classic Alert Slider, a OnePlus hallmark, will likely be replaced by a customisable Plus Key, the brand revealed earlier in the year.
More than just looks
Of course, OnePlus will not rely on design alone. The 15 will launch with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon chip.
Battery life, cameras, and software are still under wraps, but recent models like the OnePlus 12 and 14 showed the company’s willingness to push charging speeds and camera partnerships with Hasselblad. The 15 will likely continue that trend while layering on a bolder physical design.
It is unusual for a phone teaser to generate this much curiosity from a single name, but “Sand Storm” hints at a welcome return to personality. If it delivers the texture and grip fans are hoping for, the OnePlus 15 could feel refreshingly different in a market full of smooth, slippery glass.
