OnePlus 15 vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: Battery Beast vs Camera King (November 15, 2025)

TL;DR – Should you buy the OnePlus 15 now or wait for the Galaxy S26 Ultra?

Buy the OnePlus 15 now if you care most about battery life, charging speed, raw performance, and price.
Wait for the Galaxy S26 Ultra if you want the safest bet for cameras, software support, and Samsung’s ecosystem, and don’t mind paying a lot more and waiting a few months.

That’s the short version of the debate Android Authority, CNET, Engadget, ZDNet and others are having right now as OnePlus 15 reviews drop and fresh Galaxy S26 Ultra leaks land today. ^[1]

Let’s break down what’s new today (15 November 2025), then go deep on how these two Android heavyweights compare.

What’s new today: November 15, 2025

A quick rundown of the freshest news around the OnePlus 15 and Galaxy S26 Ultra:

Android Authority published a same‑day comparison asking “Should you buy the OnePlus 15 or wait for the Galaxy S26 Ultra?” and comes down on the side of the OnePlus 15 for most buyers, mainly because of battery, charging, and price. ^[2]
New OnePlus 15 reviews from AndroidGuys, Hindustan Times, and LiveMint praise its performance and insane endurance, while calling its new iPhone‑like design and camera a bit divisive. ^[3]
More international coverage (Wired, TechRadar, Droid‑Life and others over the last 48 hours) broadly agrees: this is probably the best battery life on any mainstream flagship phone right now, but the camera experience sits just shy of the very best from Apple and Samsung. ^[4]
Samsung leaks: a new report today details why the Galaxy S26 Ultra will “feel so much faster” than the S25 Ultra, thanks to upgraded 10.7Gbps LPDDR5X RAM and a 16GB variant. ^[5]
Other leaks this week confirm that all Galaxy S26 models get faster LPDDR5X RAM, a 200MP main camera on the Ultra, and 60W wired / 25W wireless charging with built‑in Qi2 magnets, while keeping a 5,000mAh battery. ^[6]

Put simply: OnePlus is shipping a real phone today, while Samsung is drip‑feeding specs for an early‑2026 monster.

OnePlus 15 in 2025: What the reviews now agree on

Specs snapshot

Across OnePlus’ own site and detailed breakdowns from PhoneArena and others, the OnePlus 15 looks like this: ^[7]

Display: 6.78‑inch LTPO AMOLED, 1.5K (1272 × 2772), up to 165Hz refresh rate
Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
RAM / Storage (global): 12GB/256GB or 16GB/512GB UFS 4.1
Battery:7,300mAh silicon‑carbon “Silicon NanoStack” battery
Charging: up to 120W wired, 50W wireless (80W cap in the US) ^[8]
Cameras (rear): 50MP main + 50MP ultrawide + 50MP 3.5x telephoto, with OnePlus’ new DetailMax Engine replacing the old Hasselblad tuning ^[9]
Software: OxygenOS 16 on Android 16, with OnePlus promising 4 OS updates / 6 years of security patches ^[10]
Durability: IP68 + IP69/IP69K water and dust resistance, flat glass and metal body ^[11]
Price: from $899 in the US (12/256) and ₹72,999 in India, with 16/512 costing $999 ^[12]

It launched in China on October 27 and went global on November 13, one of the fastest international rollouts in OnePlus history. ^[13]

Battery life: where the OnePlus 15 crushes everyone

This is the headline feature that every outlet is circling:

OnePlus’ own marketing calls it the first globally‑released flagship with a 7,000+mAh battery, promising up to 31 hours of video playback. ^[14]
Android Authority’s in‑depth testing shows the OnePlus 15 topping their 4K video playback and simulated Zoom‑call endurance charts, and still beating the Galaxy S25 Ultra in charging time despite having 2,300mAh more capacity. ^[15]
Wired’s review hit 10.5 hours of screen‑on time over two days, calling it “possibly the best battery life on a flagship smartphone today.” ^[16]
Droid‑Life says if battery life is your only priority, “there is no phone in the US that will last as long as this one will.” ^[17]
AndroidGuys reports two days of heavy use and up to three days of light use, again highlighting that 7,300mAh silicon‑carbon pack. ^[18]
And CNET’s own hands‑on (the one you linked) flat‑out says the 7,300mAh battery “deserves a medal,” which matches what everyone else is seeing.

When you finally do manage to kill it:

The phone supports up to 120W SuperVOOC wired and 50W AirVOOC wireless charging. Real‑world tests show around 40 minutes from 0–100% with the in‑box charger. ^[19]
In the US, speeds are capped at 80W due to local electrical regulations, but that’s still faster than almost any Samsung or Apple flagship. ^[20]

Net result: battery anxiety basically disappears with the OnePlus 15.

Performance and thermals

On the performance side:

OnePlus 15 is one of the first phones with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and Wired measured Geekbench 6 multi‑core scores over 10,000, even edging out the iPhone 17 Pro Max there. ^[21]
PhoneArena notes that it easily outperforms the already‑fast OnePlus 13 and competes well with Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra. ^[22]
AndroidGuys points to a “triple‑chip architecture” (main SoC + dedicated touch and network chips) and 165Hz display as giving the phone a genuine gaming edge. ^[23]

But it’s not all perfect:

Android Authority’s stress testing found that the OnePlus 15 can overheat under heavy sustained loads, backing out of extended benchmarks and getting uncomfortably hot during long navigation or gaming sessions. ^[24]

So the consensus is: blisteringly fast, but with thermal limits if you’re constantly pushing it to the edge.

Design and software: “The most iPhone‑like OnePlus yet”

Multiple reviews today point to a clear shift in OnePlus’ identity: ^[25]

The iconic circular camera bump is gone, replaced by a rectangular island in the top‑left corner.
The beloved alert slider has been removed again, replaced by a customizable “Plus Key”/Action Button that can trigger AI features or shortcuts.
The frame is flat and metallic, and in the new Sand Storm color it looks very much like an Android spin on Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro‑style design.
OxygenOS 16 takes heavy inspiration from Apple’s Liquid Glass design language, from animations to UI layout.

Some reviewers like the cleaner, more premium look; others (including Android Authority and LiveMint) feel like the phone has lost some of that “classic OnePlus” character. ^[26]

On the plus side:

OxygenOS 16 is fast, fluid and feature‑packed, now with AI tools like AI Detail Boost, Unblur, Reflection Eraser, AI Notes and Circle to Search built in. ^[27]

Cameras: good, but controversial

This is where the narrative really diverges across outlets:

Hardware: triple 50MP system (main, ultrawide, 3.5x telephoto) with OnePlus’ new DetailMax Engine and no more Hasselblad branding. ^[28]
Some reviews (AndroidGuys, TechRadar, Toisto) say the photos are excellent, with sharp detail, pleasing colors and even video good enough for content creators, rating the camera as genuinely flagship‑worthy. ^[29]
Others (Android Authority, Wired, 9to5Google, Engadget) argue that the new imaging pipeline can be inconsistent, with smaller sensors vs the OnePlus 13 and heavier AI processing sometimes hurting detail or color accuracy. ^[30]

CNET’s and ZDNet’s angles help frame the debate:

CNET’s battery‑focused hands‑on basically implies: if you can live with a “good enough” camera, the rest of the phone is spectacular.
ZDNet’s big camera shoot‑out between the OnePlus 15 and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra calls the contest “down to the wire,” suggesting that OnePlus has closed the gap considerably, but Samsung still has a reliability edge overall. ^[31]

So the camera is no longer a clear deal‑breaker, but if you want the very best camera experience, reviewers still tend to steer people to Samsung’s Ultra line or Apple’s top iPhones.

Galaxy S26 Ultra: What the latest leaks say (as of today)

The Galaxy S26 Ultra isn’t out yet, but after this week’s leaks we have a fairly detailed picture of what to expect.

Core hardware and performance

From reports out of Europe and Korea, plus today’s RAM deep‑dive, the S26 Ultra is shaping up like this: ^[32]

Display: ~6.9‑inch M14 OLED with QHD+ resolution, anti‑reflective coating and privacy‑focused angle‑limiting tech
Chipsets: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 “for Galaxy” in some regions, Exynos 2600 in others
RAM:
- 12GB LPDDR5X standard for the S26 series
- 16GB LPDDR5X (10.7Gbps) option for the Ultra, with ~26% higher peak memory bandwidth vs the S25 Ultra
Battery: highly likely to stay at 5,000mAh, in a slightly thinner 7.9mm body
Charging:60W wired and 25W wireless charging, with built‑in Qi2 magnets for more reliable magnetic accessories and charging. ^[33]
Software: One UI 8.5 with Android 16, and Samsung is expected to continue its 7‑year OS / 7‑year security update promise, as on the S24/S25 line. ^[34]

Today’s SammyFans report spells out why that RAM upgrade actually matters: with 10.7Gbps LPDDR5X, Samsung expects smoother gaming at QHD/120Hz, faster camera processing, quicker AI workloads, and better energy efficiency, even without a dramatically bigger battery. ^[35]

Camera: evolution, not revolution — but still likely ahead

Leaks across SamMobile, PhoneArena and European outlets all point to a refined version of the S25 Ultra camera setup, not a radical redesign: ^[36]

Rear cameras (rumored):
- 200MP main (new Sony sensor)
- 50MP ultrawide
- 50MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom
- plus additional sensors for focus / depth
Focus is on better low‑light shots, cleaner 8K video, faster HDR and more accurate previews, all made possible by the faster RAM and updated ISP/NPU rather than huge new sensors.

Given that the Galaxy S25 Ultra already tends to beat the OnePlus 13 in camera shoot‑outs, Android Authority’s comparison article argues it’s “reasonable to expect” the S26 Ultra will still outperform the OnePlus 15 for photography when it arrives. ^[37]

Price and launch window

European and US reports suggest the Galaxy S26 base model will start around $799, with the Ultra likely in the $1,249–$1,299 range, similar to or slightly above the S25 Ultra. ^[38]
Launch is widely expected in late January or February 2026, with sales following shortly afterward. ^[39]

So while OnePlus is shaking up the value end of the flagship space now, Samsung seems on track to deliver a more conservative, ultra‑refined premium flagship a few months down the line.

Head‑to‑head: OnePlus 15 vs Galaxy S26 Ultra (rumored) in the areas that matter

1. Battery and charging

Capacity:
- OnePlus 15: 7,300mAh
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 5,000mAh (rumored)

That’s roughly a 46% larger battery for the OnePlus 15.

Charging:
- OnePlus 15: up to 120W wired, 50W wireless (80W wired cap in the US) ^[40]
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 60W wired, 25W wireless, with Qi2 magnetic alignment ^[41]

Verdict: If battery life and charging speed are your top priorities, OnePlus 15 absolutely dominates — and it’s not close. Samsung narrows the gap with efficiency and Qi2 magnet convenience, but it can’t overcome a 2,300mAh disadvantage.

2. Performance and longevity

Both phones use Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5–class chips, though Samsung will likely market its usual “for Galaxy” variant with slightly different tuning. ^[42]
OnePlus already posts record‑breaking Geekbench multi‑core scores and feels lightning‑fast in daily use. ^[43]
Samsung, however, is pushing faster LPDDR5X RAM across the whole S26 line, with 16GB at 10.7Gbps on the Ultra. That should translate into smoother performance when everything is hammering the hardware at once (8K video, heavy AI, gaming at QHD/120Hz, etc.). ^[44]

On longevity:

OnePlus promises 4 years of major Android updates and 6 years of security. ^[45]
Samsung is expected to continue its 7‑year update commitment for the S26 family. ^[46]

Verdict: Today, OnePlus 15 is the performance king you can actually buy, but if you keep your phones for many years or care about long‑term camera/AI improvements, S26 Ultra’s extra RAM and longer update window will age better.

3. Cameras: OnePlus catching up, Samsung still the favorite

Based on everything we know right now:

OnePlus 15
- Triple 50MP setup with new DetailMax Engine.
- Some reviewers say it’s finally in true flagship territory; others see it as a small step back from the OnePlus 13’s Hasselblad‑tuned camera. ^[47]
- ZDNet’s S25 Ultra vs OnePlus 15 camera showdown calls it “down to the wire,” showing how narrow the gap has become. ^[48]
Galaxy S26 Ultra (rumored)
- Very likely keeps a 200MP main + 50MP ultrawide + 50MP telephoto 5x recipe, with more subtle hardware tweaks. ^[49]
- Camera gains mostly come from faster memory, better ISP/NPU and new software tricks – especially for low‑light, HDR, 8K video and portrait performance. ^[50]

Android Authority’s comparison leans heavily on this: if you’re a camera‑first buyer, the S26 Ultra (or even a discounted S25 Ultra) is still the safer bet. ^[51]

Verdict: OnePlus 15’s camera is finally “good enough” for most people, but Samsung’s Ultra line is still expected to be the camera champ once S26 Ultra lands.

4. Design, ecosystem and “feel”

OnePlus 15
- Flat sides, flat display, and a rectangular camera bump — it reads very “iPhone with an Android soul.” ^[52]
- New Plus Key and heavy OxygenOS 16 tweaks make it feel even more Apple‑influenced.
- Some reviewers love the premium Sand Storm finish and ultra‑thin bezels; others miss the quirky, unique OnePlus design language. ^[53]
Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Expected to refine Samsung’s now‑iconic Ultra silhouette rather than reinvent it: slim profile, familiar camera layout, and tight ecosystem ties to Galaxy Watch, Buds, Tab, and Galaxy Book. ^[54]

Verdict: If you want a phone that feels like part of a bigger, predictable ecosystem, Samsung wins. If you want something that looks fresh and pushes hardware design (IP69K, 1.5K/165Hz BOE panel, experimental AI features), OnePlus 15 is more adventurous, even if it borrows some of its homework from Cupertino.

5. Price and availability

OnePlus 15
- $899 starting price globally, ₹72,999 in India. ^[55]
- Available now across most markets.
- US launch is delayed because the phone is still awaiting FCC certification after the long government shutdown, but it’s on OnePlus’ US site for sign‑ups, and it’s already being sold in Canada. ^[56]
Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Expected around $1,249–$1,299 at launch, with the base S26 starting near $799. ^[57]
- Launch window: January–February 2026, so you’re looking at a wait of a few months. ^[58]

Verdict: OnePlus 15 undercuts the Ultra line by roughly $400, which is exactly the premium Android Authority cites as the trade‑off for Samsung’s better cameras and longer support. ^[59]

So… what should you do on November 15, 2025?

Let’s make the choice as practical as possible.

Pick the OnePlus 15 now if:

You want the best battery life and fastest charging you can get in a mainstream flagship today.
You value raw performance, high‑refresh gaming (165Hz) and ultra‑fast day‑to‑day speed above camera perfection.
You upgrade every 3–5 years, so Samsung’s extra update years don’t matter much to you.
You’re price‑sensitive and don’t want to spend Ultra‑money for marginal gains.
You can live with — or even like — the more iPhone‑inspired design and new Plus Key, and you’re okay with a camera that’s very good but not quite “best in class.”

Wait for the Galaxy S26 Ultra if:

You care deeply about camera quality and consistency, and want the safest bet there.
You plan to keep your phone for 5–7+ years, and Samsung’s long‑term update promises are a big deal.
You’re already invested in the Samsung ecosystem (Galaxy Watch, Buds, Tab, Book, SmartThings).
You don’t mind paying $1,200+ for a fully loaded flagship and waiting a few months for launch.

A smart middle option

Android Authority also points out one clever move: if you lean Samsung but don’t need the very latest, waiting for the S26 Ultra to launch could trigger big discounts on the S25 Ultra, which already beats most phones on camera and has a proven track record. ^[60]

Final word

As of November 15, 2025, the picture is pretty clear:

OnePlus 15 is the phone changing the conversation right now — a battery monster with top‑tier performance and aggressive pricing that undercuts Apple and Samsung while coming very close on the things that used to be its weaknesses.
Galaxy S26 Ultra is the incoming refinement champ — likely still the camera king and longevity leader, but more expensive and months away.

If you need a phone soon and you’re not obsessed with squeezing out the absolute best photos in every scenario, the balance of today’s reviews and leaks strongly favors buying the OnePlus 15 rather than waiting.

If you’re a camera nerd, ecosystem die‑hard, or you simply like Samsung’s way of doing things, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is still worth the wait — but now it knows it has some serious battery competition.

OnePlus 15 vs Samsung S25 Ultra — The Battery King Just Changed the Game

Watch this video on YouTube.

References