India’s flagship smartphone market has received a major new entrant as OnePlus officially launched the OnePlus 15, bringing a host of top-tier specifications and signalling a shift in the brand’s pricing and design strategy. According to several reports, the device begins at ₹72,999 for the 12 GB + 256 GB variant and carries substantial hardware upgrades.
Flagship Performance Meets High Refresh Productivity
OnePlus has equipped the OnePlus 15 with a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display offering QHD+ resolution and a maximum refresh rate of 165 Hz — a rare characteristic even among flagship smartphones. The display boasts a peak brightness of 1,800 nits in high-brightness mode, and OnePlus has emphasised smoother touch response and gaming latency improvements. Under the hood sits the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, paired with either 12 GB or 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512 GB of UFS 4.1 storage, positioning the device as a true performance contender.
Massive Battery and Advanced Charging: A Longevity Statement
OnePlus has pushed battery capacity notably upward with the OnePlus 15, introducing a 7,300 mAh cell — the largest ever featured in one of its smartphones. The device supports 120 W wired charging and 50 W wireless charging, a combination that aims to deliver both endurance and speed. This move reflects growing consumer focus on longer uptime and faster recharge cycles, particularly among power users and gamers.
Cameras, Build and Pricing: A Premium Package
For photography, the OnePlus 15 features a triple 50 MP rear camera setup, comprising a Sony IMX906 main sensor with OIS, a 50 MP telephoto lens offering 3.5× optical zoom, and a 50 MP ultrawide lens. The front camera is a 32 MP Sony IMX709 unit. OnePlus has also bolstered durability: the device carries IP66, IP68, and IP69K ratings covering dust, immersion, and high-pressure water jets. The initial pricing starting at ₹72,999 places the OnePlus 15 within true flagship territory in the Indian market — a significant shift for the brand known historically for aggressive value.
How This Signals Strategy and Market Impacts
For OnePlus, the OnePlus 15 represents more than a new device — it’s a statement of intent. By raising the baseline price and adding premium features, the company is positioning itself more clearly in the flagship segment rather than purely value. The combination of ultra-high refresh display, large battery, and top-tier chipset suggests the brand is targeting gaming-centric and power-user audiences. For the Indian market, this could affect competitor positioning: brands tuning their flagship or upper-mid models may need to accelerate upgrades in display, battery, or performance to stay competitive. For consumers, the elevated starting price means upgrade decisions may lean more on value trade-offs (feature sets versus cost) than before.
What to Look for Next
With its launch now announced, attention will shift to real-world performance, software optimisation, and after-sales service — especially given the increased investment required by buyers. Monitoring how OnePlus handles updates, battery endurance, and camera performance in everyday usage will be key. Whether the OnePlus 15’s premium price unlocks the expected value will also determine how the brand navigates future launches and how competitors respond.
In the wider smartphone landscape, the OnePlus 15 could mark the moment when “value-flagship” devices truly transition into elevated pricing and capabilities. The question now is whether users accept the higher tier, and whether competitors reply with matching features or strategic repositioning.
