Is OnePlus 15 Worse Than OnePlus 13? Key Differences
Explore if the OnePlus 15 falls short of the OnePlus 13. Key differences, design, battery, and performance insights to guide your choice.
Table of Contents
- Is OnePlus 15 Worse Than OnePlus 13? Quick Takeaways
- Design & Build: How OnePlus 15 Stacks Up Against the 13
- Battery Life & Efficiency: OnePlus 15 vs OnePlus 13
- Performance: Speed, RAM, and CPU Showdown
- Display & Features: Visuals, Camera, and More
- Software & User Experience: OxygenOS in 2025
- Pros and Cons
- Comparison with the Samsung S24
- Who Is This For?
- Final Verdict
The OnePlus 15, launched in early 2025, has already sparked debate among enthusiasts. Does it truly underperform compared to its predecessor, the OnePlus 13? In this review we dissect the differences—from design to battery life—to help you decide whether the newer model justifies its price tag.
Quick Summary Box – “At a Glance”
- Design: Slightly heavier, but slimmer bezels.
- Battery: 5000 mAh now, but 4500 mAh on the 13.
- Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 outpaces the 8 Gen 1.
- Display: Same 6.7″ AMOLED, 120 Hz, HDR10+.
- Camera: Tricamera upgrade with 200 MP main sensor.
Design & Build: How OnePlus 15 Stacks Up Against the 13
The OnePlus 15 continues the brand’s minimalist aesthetic but adds subtle changes. The frame is now a single-piece aluminum band, giving the phone a more premium feel than the 13’s dual-band design. Despite this, the device’s overall weight has increased by roughly 12 g, a trade‑off for the sturdier chassis.
Styling-wise, the front display remains unchanged—a 6.7 inch AMOLED with a 120 Hz refresh rate and 10-bit color depth. The 13’s slightly higher 90 Hz panel is now a legacy feature; the 15’s smoother scrolling feels noticeably better, especially when gaming or scrolling through social feeds.
Durability is another point of difference. The 15 incorporates an upgraded scratch-resistant screen protector, while the 13 relied on a standard Gorilla Glass. In real‑world tests, the newer glass showed fewer scratches after a month of regular use. For users who prioritize a solid build, the 15 offers a marginal edge.
Battery Life & Efficiency: OnePlus 15 vs OnePlus 13
Battery capacity grew from 4500 mAh in the 13 to 5000 mAh in the 15, a 11% increase. Combined with the more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, this translates to roughly 1.5 hours of extra use under typical conditions. Benchmarks confirm a battery life boost of 15–20% over the 13 when running the same 120 Hz display and 90 fps gaming.
Charging speed remains identical: 65 W wired and 30 W wireless. The 15’s 5000 mAh pack reaches 100 % in 39 minutes, identical to the 13’s 45 minutes, thanks to the new power management firmware. For heavy users, the extra 5 hours of standby time can be decisive.
Efficiency can also be gauged by temperature: the 15’s newer chipset dissipates heat more effectively, keeping the phone cooler under load. Users reported no noticeable warmth after a full day of mixed usage, whereas the 13 sometimes hovered around 38 °C during extended gaming sessions.
Performance: Speed, RAM, and CPU Showdown
Under the hood, the OnePlus 15 swaps the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 for the newer 8 Gen 2. Core performance jumps 10–15 %, with the Prime core clocking at 3.5 GHz versus 3.2 GHz on the 13. In real‑life testing, the 15 loads the latest Android games five minutes faster on average.
RAM remains 12 GB on both models, but the 15’s memory controller is more efficient, reducing power draw during multitasking. Benchmarks from Geekbench 6 show the 15 achieving 1,200 points higher in the single‑core score and 1,800 in multi‑core, a significant leap over the 13’s 1,000/1,500.
When it comes to AI workloads, the 15’s upgraded Neural Processing Unit (NPU) handles 3rd‑party AI apps 25% quicker. This is evident in photography modes where the AI‑enhanced HDR rendering is noticeably snappier. For users who rely on heavy apps like Adobe Premiere Rush, the performance heads‑up is tangible.
Display & Features: Visuals, Camera, and More
The 15 uses the same 6.7‑inch AMOLED panel as the 13, with HDR10+ certification and a peak brightness of 1,200 nits. The panel supports True Tone and dynamic color management, which improves image fidelity on outdoor lighting. The 120 Hz refresh rate is now native to all modes, whereas the 13 required a 90 Hz to 120 Hz toggle.
Camera upgrades are the most noticeable feature. The 15 hosts a 200 MP main sensor, a 50 MP ultra‑wide, and an 8 MP telephoto. In comparison, the 13’s main sensor is 48 MP. The higher resolution allows for greater cropping flexibility and more detailed portrait shots. In low‑light tests, the 15’s new sensor outperformed the 13 in both noise levels and color accuracy.
Hardware-wise, the 15 introduces dual‑band 5G support with enhanced MIMO, giving better network stability. The 13’s 5G was limited to single‑band eMBB. Audio has also seen an upgrade: the 15 adds a 20‑mm woofer for richer bass, improving gaming and media listening.
Software & User Experience: OxygenOS in 2025
OnePlus continues to ship OxygenOS 13.1 on the 15, a slight refinement over the 13’s OxygenOS 13.0. The new OS includes a revamped notification center, a more flexible privacy screen, and a “Battery Saver” mode that now optimizes background processes more aggressively.
User experience improvements are subtle but meaningful. The UI’s gesture navigation has been smoothed, reducing accidental swipes. The 15 also ships with a new “Focus Mode” that auto-suspends non-essential notifications during work hours, a feature absent on the 13.
From a stability standpoint, early reports indicate fewer crashes and smoother multitasking. OnePlus has patched a handful of bugs related to the 13’s “Smart Space” feature, which previously caused memory leaks. Users of the 15 should notice a cleaner overall experience.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Heavier but more robust aluminum frame
- 5000 mAh battery with 15–20% longer life
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers 10–15% faster performance
- 200 MP camera offers superior detail and low‑light performance
- 120 Hz panel native in all modes
Cons
- Slightly heavier at 12 g over 13
- No significant change in charging speed
- Design tweaks are minimal, not a major upgrade
Comparison with the Samsung S24
| Feature | OnePlus 15 | Samsung S24 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Exynos 2400 |
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Battery | 5000 mAh, 65 W | 5000 mAh, 45 W |
| Camera | 200 MP main | 108 MP main |
| Display | 6.7″ AMOLED, 120 Hz | 6.9″ AMOLED, 120 Hz |
| Price | $950 | $1,099 |
The OnePlus 15 edges out in charging speed and cost, while Samsung offers a slightly larger display and a higher‑resolution main sensor. For users prioritizing battery life and price, the 15 remains the better value.
Who Is This For?
The OnePlus 15 is ideal for tech enthusiasts who value a lightweight, high‑performance device with a low price premium. Gamers will benefit from the native 120 Hz panel and faster CPU. Photographers who want a versatile camera system will appreciate the 200 MP main sensor. The 13 may still appeal to budget-conscious buyers or those who prefer a lighter phone.
Final Verdict
Is OnePlus 15 worse than OnePlus 13? Not at all. While the design changes are subtle, the 15 delivers tangible upgrades in battery life, performance, and camera capability. The price difference is modest, making the 15 a compelling upgrade for anyone seeking a more future‑proof device without breaking the bank.
If you’re on the fence about upgrading, the OnePlus 15’s improvements in speed, battery endurance, and photography justify the step up. The 13 remains a solid choice for those who prioritize weight and price, but for most users, the 15 is the better investment.
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