OnePlus 15 review
Design and handling
The new OnePlus 15 adopts a new design language that's very similar to the one we saw with the Oppo Find X9 series. The camera arrangement on the OnePlus 15 is slightly different, though.
Subjectively speaking, we like the new design better as it's slicker and less flashy.
OnePlus 15 vs. Oppo Find X9 Pro
The device has a flat design - flat front and back panels and flat side frame. Depending on the color you choose, however, you will get a different back material. The Ultra Violet color we have in the office has a light-responsive surface, but it's still made of glass, Gorilla Glass 7i, to be exact. Interestingly, the back surface feels very rubbery and soft to the touch. It's even hard to believe that this is glass. It doesn't attract fingerprints and smudges, and it's quite grippy.
The Infinite Black paint job uses AG glass, while the Sand Storm variant uses a fiber-reinforced plastic back. Notably, the Sand Storm version uses a different process for the side frame, called MAO (micro-Arc Oxidation), which is allegedly more environmentally-friendly compared to the usual anodization of aluminum, and it also makes the material itself more durable. According to OnePlus' own lab data, the MAO-treated aluminum is 3.4x tougher than standard aluminum and 1.3x stronger than titanium. In theory, the frame should easily withstand normal drops, so bumps and scrapes won't appear.
Speaking of sturdiness, the display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2 sheet, and the phone itself is IP68/IP69K-rated, which is a step up from last year's model and slightly above the industry's standard even for flagship devices. OnePlus says it can be submerged up to 2 meters for 30 minutes.
OnePlus 15
The side frame of the phone is business as usual, except for the Plus Key located on the left side of the frame near the upper corner. You can assign different quick actions or shortcuts to the dedicated button. Additionally, OnePlus has included an IR blaster housed between the camera sensors on the back.
OnePlus 15
As for the SIM card tray, it holds two physical SIM card slots, but if you use eSIM, one of them will be disabled.
The fingerprint reader is ultrasonic, and it's conveniently placed under the screen. It's not too high up the panel or too close to the bottom bezel. It's fast, responsive and reliable. No issues at all.
All in all, we like the design and feel of the handset, but make sure to check out all three colors as each has its own distinct in-hand feel, and you might like how some of these feel and dislike others.
