The OnePlus 15R is shaping up to be a more camera-conscious upgrade than its predecessors, with OnePlus confirming what it’s calling the best-ever selfie camera on an R Series device, and this time, the improvements aren’t just about bigger numbers.
For the first time in the R lineup, the OnePlus 15R will feature a 32-megapixel front-facing camera, doubling the resolution of the 16MP sensor found on the OnePlus 13R.
More importantly, it also gains autofocus, a feature that’s long been standard on higher-end flagships but notably absent from OnePlus’ value-focused R models until now. The result should be sharper, more reliable selfies, particularly in group shots or when shooting at arm’s length, an area where fixed-focus cameras often struggle.
Video gets a meaningful bump too. The OnePlus 15R can record 4K video at up to 30fps using the selfie camera, a sizable upgrade from the 1080p limit on the previous generation. For creators who rely on front-facing video for vlogs or social media, this alone could make the 15R a far more compelling option than earlier R Series phones.
These selfie upgrades don’t arrive in isolation. OnePlus has already confirmed that the 15R shares the DetailMax Engine from the flagship OnePlus 15, bringing the same computational photography features such as Ultra Clear Mode, Clear Burst, and the Clear Night Engine. On the rear, the phone also supports 4K video at 120fps, all displayed on a 165Hz 1.5K AMOLED panel, reinforcing the idea that this is a value flagship that’s closing the gap with OnePlus’ top-tier models.
Performance is another strong selling point. The OnePlus 15R will be the first globally available device powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, alongside OnePlus’ custom G2 Wi-Fi chip and a new Touch Response Chip designed to reduce input latency. It’s also backed by a hefty 7,400mAh battery, the largest OnePlus has ever fitted to a phone.
The OnePlus 15R will be fully unveiled on December 17 at a livestreamed event in Bengaluru, India. On paper, at least, this appears to be a rare R Series upgrade that meaningfully addresses one of its long-standing weaknesses, without straying too far from its value-first roots.
