The iQOO 15 and the OnePlus 15 are two of the biggest smartphone launches in India this year. Both come with the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. However, they focus on slightly different things. The iQOO 15 is all about long battery life, a bright 2K AMOLED screen, and features made for gaming. The OnePlus 15, on the other hand, focuses on super-smooth performance with a fast 165Hz display, and versatile camera options. Both phones also offer unique software experiences, as iQOO 15 runs on OriginOS 6, while OnePlus 15 comes with OxygenOS 16, and both are priced competitively in India. In this comparison, we’ll look closely at their display, performance, camera, battery, software, and overall value.
The iQOO 15 sports a large 6.85-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a sharp 2K resolution combined with 144Hz refresh rate. The panel is very bright, reaching up to 6,000 nits of peak brightness and as high as 2,600 nits in the High Brightness Mode.
Meanwhile, the OnePlus 15 has chosen to go with a slightly smaller 6.78-inch LTPO display with 1.5K resolution but compensates for this by offering an even faster refresh rate of 165Hz, making it the ultimate device for those who need ultra-fluid interactions. The screen reaches 1800 nits in the High Brightness Mode.
Under the hood, the iQOO 15 runs with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, assisted by a dedicated Q3 gaming chip. The brand claims that this secondary chip assists in keeping frame rates smooth for extended or intensive periods of gameplay, while day-to-day usage feels consistently fast and snappy.
By contrast, the OnePlus 15 likewise uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 but takes this to the next level with its triple-chip architecture, housing a dedicated chip for improving the responsiveness of touches, while another is a Wi-Fi chip for ensuring more stable networking.
Furthermore, OnePlus houses a 360 Cryo-Velocity Cooling System that improves heat control, helping the phone to stay fast even during heavy use.
Also read: Is Google Meet down? Thousands of users unable to access video conferencing platform
The iQOO 15’s Q3 gaming chip ensures that high-end games run smoothly with minimal frame drops, making long gaming sessions more enjoyable. Gamers can expect consistent performance in graphics-intensive titles, while touch response and in-game actions feel highly responsive.
On the other hand, the OnePlus 15’s triple-chip setup, combined with the 360 Cryo-Velocity Cooling System, offers an edge for competitive gamers. Touch inputs registers faster, network stability is enhanced, and heat management ensures that the device maintains peak performance even during extended multiplayer or high-frame-rate gaming sessions.
The iQOO 15 has a triple 50MP rear camera along with a 32MP front camera. The headlining feature here is the larger primary sensor, which means better low-light photography through capturing more light and detail.
This year, OnePlus ditches the Hasselblad partnership and introduces its new DetailMax Engine. The triple camera setup is very versatile on the OnePlus 15. It comes with a 50MP main sensor with OIS, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 50MP periscope telephoto camera offering 3.5x optical and 7x lossless zoom. It also stands out in terms of video, where it can record at 4K 120fps Dolby Vision.
The iQOO 15 features a huge 7000mAh battery, which provides long-lasting endurance. It supports 100W wired charging and 40W wireless charging for quick refills despite its large battery size.
The OnePlus 15, on the other hand, boasts a next-generation 7300mAh Silicon NanoStack battery. It supports 120W wired charging, and the company claims that it will charge the entire device in roughly 39 minutes, while it also supports 50W wireless charging.
Also read: Qualcomm announces Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 SoC, to debut with OnePlus 15R on Dec 17
The iQOO 15 boasts the newly launched OriginOS 6, based on Android 16. For the first time, OriginOS is available officially outside of China, and it brings a cleaner, smoother experience compared to older FuntouchOS versions.
However, the OnePlus 15 comes with OxygenOS 16, which integrates several AI-powered features like Plus Mind, AI Writer, and AI Recorder, along with deep Google Gemini integration for enhanced suggestions, productivity tools, and system-wide intelligence.
iQOO 15 is launched in India at around Rs 72,999 for the 12GB + 256GB variant,and the top-of-the-line 16GB+512GB model comes in at Rs 79,999.
The OnePlus 15 starts at Rs 72,999 for the 12GB+256GB variant, and the top-of-the-line 16GB+512GB model comes in at Rs 79,999.