iQOO 15 vs OnePlus 15: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Flagship Battle in India

As of today, 28 November 2025, India’s premium Android segment is being defined by two phones: the iQOO 15 and the OnePlus 15. Both run Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and both sit in the same price band – but early reviews and fresh comparison pieces dropping today show they’re tuned for slightly different audiences. ^[1]

New coverage today, including a deep-dive iQOO 15 review from 91mobiles and a gaming‑focused comparison in Financial Express, largely agrees on one point: if you care about raw FPS and display brightness, iQOO 15 has the edge; if you want battery endurance and polished all‑round performance, the OnePlus 15 hits back hard. ^[2]

Below is a detailed, SEO‑friendly breakdown of price, specs, design, cameras, battery and software to help you decide which Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 flagship actually offers better value in late 2025.

iQOO 15 India launch recap

The iQOO 15 officially launched in India on 26 November 2025 and is positioned as a gaming‑centric flagship. ^[3]

Key India pricing (MRP & offers)

List price (India):
- 12GB RAM + 256GB storage – ₹72,999
- 16GB RAM + 512GB storage – ₹79,999 ^[4]
Launch offers:
- Up to ₹7,000 instant bank discount, plus exchange and coupon benefits; effective entry price around ₹64,999 is being quoted in Indian‑language coverage. ^[5]

Headline specs

Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) with dedicated Q3 gaming / computing chip for frame stability and ray‑tracing effects. ^[6]
Display:
- 6.85‑inch 2K LTPO OLED, up to 144Hz
- Samsung M14 “Lead” OLED panel, up to 6,000 nits local peak brightness and ~2,600 nits HBM
- Dolby Vision, anti‑reflective screen protector, and “Wet Finger Control” for better touch response with moisture. ^[7]
Cameras (rear):
- 50MP Sony IMX921 main with OIS
- 50MP ultrawide
- 50MP Sony IMX882 3x periscope telephoto (up to 10x hybrid zoom) ^[8]
Front camera: 32MP, supports up to 4K 60fps video. ^[9]
Battery & charging:
- 7,000mAh silicon‑carbon cell (4th‑gen anode tech)
- 100W wired fast charging (about ~45 minutes for a full charge in reviews)
- 40W wireless + reverse wireless charging ^[10]
Build: Flatter frame, redesigned Monster Halo light around the camera, IP68 + IP69 water/dust resistance, Legend (white) and Alpha Black finishes. ^[11]
Software: First phone in India with OriginOS 6 (Android 16), with 5 major OS updates and 6 years of security updates promised. ^[12]

Early verdict from reviewers

91mobiles and Geeky Gadgets highlight excellent performance, class‑leading brightness, solid battery life and much‑improved software, while calling the cameras “dependable but not best‑in‑class,” especially when it comes to selfie detail. ^[13]

OnePlus 15: the massively‑battery “performance at a premium” flagship

The OnePlus 15 launched in India earlier, on 13 November 2025, and has already been reviewed widely. It marks a shift for OnePlus from “flagship killer” to full‑fat flagship, with a big emphasis on battery life and smoothness. ^[14]

India pricing

12GB + 256GB: ₹72,999
16GB + 512GB: ₹79,999
Launch offers typically include ₹4,000 bank discount and exchange bonuses, bringing the effective price of the base variant to around ₹68,999. ^[15]

Headline specs

Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, with a dedicated touch‑response chip and a G2 Wi‑Fi / gaming network chip for low latency and 3,200Hz touch sampling in supported games. ^[16]
Display:
- 6.78‑inch LTPO OLED, “1.5K” (2772×1272) resolution
- Adaptive 1–165Hz refresh rate, HDR support and strong outdoor brightness. ^[17]
Cameras (rear):
- 50MP Sony IMX906 main
- 50MP Samsung JN5 3.5x telephoto with up to “7x optical‑quality zoom”
- 50MP OV50D ultrawide
Front camera: 32MP with richer video options up to 4K/120fps on some modes. ^[18]
Battery & charging:
- 7,300mAh silicon‑nanostack battery
- Up to 100W wired (80W charger in box in many regions) and 50W wireless
- Several reviews report two full days of mixed use per charge. ^[19]
Build: Flat metal frame, iPhone‑like rectangular camera island, ceramic‑coated rear, and triple ingress protection (IP68 / IP69 / IP69K). The classic Alert Slider is gone, replaced by a “Plus Key”. ^[20]
Software:OxygenOS 16 (Android 16) with heavy ColorOS influence, 4 Android version upgrades and 6 years of security patches. ^[21]

Many reviewers love its battery life, build quality and smoothness, but note that cameras are merely “adequate” for the price and the more iOS‑like OxygenOS 16 may not please long‑time OnePlus purists. ^[22]

Quick specs comparison: iQOO 15 vs OnePlus 15 (India)

Feature	iQOO 15	OnePlus 15
Chipset	Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 + Q3 gaming / computing chip	Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 + touch chip + G2 Wi‑Fi / gaming chip ^[23]
Display	6.85″ 2K LTPO OLED, up to 144Hz, Samsung M14 panel, ~6,000‑nit local peak, Wet Finger Control	6.78″ 1.5K LTPO OLED, 1–165Hz, very bright, gaming‑oriented 165Hz mode ^[24]
Rear cameras	50MP IMX921 main + 50MP ultrawide + 50MP IMX882 3x periscope	50MP IMX906 main + 50MP JN5 3.5x telephoto + 50MP OV50D ultrawide ^[25]
Front camera	32MP, up to 4K/60 video	32MP, more advanced front‑video options up to 4K/120 in some modes ^[26]
Battery	7,000mAh, 100W wired, 40W wireless	7,300mAh, up to 100/120W wired (region‑dependent), 50W wireless ^[27]
IP rating	IP68 + IP69	IP68 + IP69 + IP69K (marketing as “triple ingress protection”) ^[28]
Software & updates	OriginOS 6 (Android 16), 5 OS updates + ~6 years security	OxygenOS 16 (Android 16), 4 OS updates + 6 years security ^[29]
India list price	₹72,999 (12/256), ₹79,999 (16/512)	₹72,999 (12/256), ₹79,999 (16/512) ^[30]
Effective launch price	From ~₹64,999 with bank + launch offers	From ~₹68,999 with bank + launch offers ^[31]

Display & design: brighter vs faster

iQOO 15 is going all‑in on brightness and size. Multiple sources confirm that its 6.85‑inch 2K Samsung M14 OLED is among the brightest Android panels so far, hitting around 6,000 nits in small HDR highlights while the LTPO tech lets it drop refresh rate to save power. ^[32]

The panel is paired with an anti‑reflective layer and “Wet Finger Control”, which is more than a gimmick if you live in humid or rainy conditions. Geeky Gadgets also notes lower power draw thanks to the polariser‑free M14 tech. ^[33]

OnePlus 15, by contrast, trades a bit of resolution and size for sheer smoothness: its 6.78‑inch LTPO OLED can ramp from 1Hz all the way up to 165Hz in supported games. Reviews say it feels extremely fluid in everyday use and gaming, even if the 1.5K (“2.5D QHD‑ish”) resolution sits below the pure 2K spec on iQOO 15. ^[34]

On design:

iQOO 15 tweaks its established aesthetic: a cleaner back, flatter frame and a subtle Monster Halo light ring tucked under the camera module. 91mobiles calls the in‑hand feel premium and notes IP69 resistance as a real upgrade for durability. ^[35]
OnePlus 15 has gone full iPhone‑like slab – flat sides, rectangular camera bump, ceramic‑coated frame and back. Reviewers praise the scratch resistance but also say it has lost some “OnePlus identity,” and the new Plus Key replacing the Alert Slider has divided fans. ^[36]

If you like big, bright and slightly curvier, iQOO 15 will feel more immersive. If you want sharp edges, ultra‑premium materials and iPhone‑style minimalism, OnePlus 15 is closer to that world.

Performance & gaming: Q3 gaming chip vs cooling + touch magic

On paper, both phones use the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC – a 3nm flagship chip with big CPU/GPU gains and new AI capabilities. ^[37]

The differences are in co‑chips and tuning:

iQOO 15 adds a dedicated Q3 gaming / computing chip and a claimed 8,000mm² vapour chamber. LiveMint and Financial Express say this combo pushes very high AnTuTu scores (around 4.18 million) while keeping thermals in check, and 91mobiles reports identical battery drain to the OnePlus 15 in 30‑minute BGMI and CoD sessions. ^[38]
OnePlus 15 responds with a 360° Cryo‑Velocity cooling system, a touch‑response chip for ultra‑low latency, and a dedicated G2 Wi‑Fi chip aimed at stable online gaming. AndroidCentral and PhoneArena both describe it as one of the smoothest Android phones they’ve tested, though some coverage mentions mild heating in longer sessions. ^[39]

In benchmarks and pure FPS, iQOO 15 tends to edge ahead, but the gap is small. If you’re chasing the highest sustained frame rates and brightest visuals in games, the iQOO 15 feels slightly more aggressive. If you value touch accuracy, network stability and a 165Hz panel, the OnePlus 15 balances the experience differently.

Camera comparison: punchy vs controlled

Both phones lean on triple 50MP rear cameras plus a 32MP selfie shooter, but reviewers are seeing consistent differences in tuning and video features. ^[40]

iQOO 15 cameras

Triple 50MP setup with Sony IMX921 main and IMX882 periscope gives it serious hardware for zoom and low light, backed by several Vivo‑style modes (Street Photography, AI Visual, Basic Styles, etc.). ^[41]
91mobiles notes that photos often have cooler, more saturated colours and strong dynamic range, making them great for social media, though the finest details can lag behind OnePlus 15. ^[42]
The selfie camera is a weak point: colours can look soft or artificially sharpened. ^[43]
Video is a strong suit: 8K/30 from the main camera and 4K/60 from the front, with stable 4K/30 footage in testing. ^[44]

OnePlus 15 cameras

On paper, the OnePlus 15 has an equally serious array, including a higher‑zoom 3.5x telephoto and robust video options, with 8K/30 and up to 4K/120fps in some modes. ^[45]
However, multiple reviews (Financial Express, AndroidCentral, Financial Express’s dedicated OnePlus review) say the new DetailMax Engine and the end of the Hasselblad partnership have resulted in warmer, sometimes reddish skin tones and inconsistent colour. ^[46]
The cameras are described as “good enough for social media and casual use,” but not at the level of similarly priced iPhones and Galaxy S25‑series phones. ^[47]

In side‑by‑side tests from 91mobiles:

iQOO 15 often wins on exposure and dynamic range, especially in low light, and its ultrawide shots can show cleaner details in the background.
OnePlus 15 tends to hold slightly sharper fine detail and lower noise, especially at night, but with more aggressive warmth. ^[48]

Bottom line: if you prefer punchy, bright photos and creative shooting modes, iQOO 15 will likely feel more fun. If you want more flexible zoom and better video controls, OnePlus 15 still has an advantage there – despite its colour quirks.

Battery & charging: 7,000mAh vs 7,300mAh

On numbers alone, OnePlus 15 wins with 7,300mAh versus 7,000mAh on iQOO 15 – and reviewers broadly confirm that advantage. ^[49]

91mobiles’ iQOO 15 review notes that while synthetic tests show the OnePlus 15 lasting about four hours longer in PCMark, real‑world difference is much smaller: both phones lose ~5% in an hour of YouTube and ~5% in 30 minutes of gaming, comfortably lasting a full day of heavy use. ^[50]
Financial Express and other reviews call the OnePlus 15 “the end of range anxiety”, with two‑day battery life being realistic for many users. ^[51]

Charging:

iQOO 15:
- 100W wired, ~45 minutes to full, ~0–100% in under an hour;
- 40W wireless + reverse wireless. ^[52]
OnePlus 15:
- Up to 100–120W wired depending on region (80W brick in the box in India), around 45 minutes for a full top‑up despite the larger battery;
- 50W wireless charging. ^[53]

In short, OnePlus 15 is still the better choice if you want the absolute longest battery life, but iQOO 15 is very close in practice and charges nearly as fast.

Software & update promises: OriginOS 6 vs OxygenOS 16

This year is interesting because both phones ship with Android 16 out of the box, but their skins have very different flavours.

iQOO 15 – OriginOS finally comes to India

iQOO is ditching Funtouch OS in India and shipping OriginOS 6 instead – something that had previously been China‑only. ^[54]
Reviews describe OriginOS 6 as visually polished, highly customisable and smoother than earlier skins, though there’s still noticeable bloatware (50+ preinstalled apps on review units). ^[55]
iQOO promises 5 Android version upgrades and around 6 years of security updates, putting it among the longer‑supported Android phones in this price bracket. ^[56]

OnePlus 15 – OxygenOS continues to look more like ColorOS

OxygenOS 16 on the OnePlus 15 is widely described as essentially ColorOS 16 with OnePlus branding: smooth and feature‑rich, but visually busy with plenty of first‑party apps and custom services. ^[57]
Software support stands at 4 Android version updates and 6 years of security patches, still very competitive but slightly behind iQOO on OS versions. ^[58]

If you enjoy deep theming and don’t mind digging through settings, OriginOS on the iQOO 15 might feel fresh and fun. If you want consistent performance and a more “mainstream” Android skin, OxygenOS remains a safe bet – just no longer the minimalist darling it once was.

What’s new specifically on 28 November 2025?

For Google News and Discover readers checking in today, 28 Nov 2025, here’s what has changed in the last 24–48 hours:

Fresh iQOO 15 in‑depth reviews from outlets like 91mobiles have gone live, confirming strong real‑world battery life, excellent performance, and calling out the selfie camera as the main weakness. ^[59]
New comparison pieces, including Financial Express’ “ultimate buying guide” and several community/spec comparisons, solidify the narrative that:
- iQOO 15 is the better gaming phone thanks to its Q3 chip and brighter 2K display;
- OnePlus 15 is the better all‑rounder for people who prioritise camera versatility and maximum battery life. ^[60]
Sales on Amazon India list both phones at the same MRP, but show deeper bank discounts on iQOO 15 for launch week, making it notably cheaper to actually buy right now if you stack offers. ^[61]

Which one should you buy?

Both flagships start at ₹72,999 in India and share the same core chipset, so your choice really comes down to priorities rather than raw power.

Choose iQOO 15 if:

You’re a heavy gamer who cares about sustained FPS, ray tracing, and the brightest possible panel.
You love vivid, punchy photos and don’t mind a slightly weaker selfie camera.
You want OriginOS 6, longer OS support and are okay with some bloatware in exchange for powerful features.
You want more value for money right now, taking advantage of the deeper bank and launch discounts that drop the effective price closer to mid‑₹60,000s. ^[62]

Choose OnePlus 15 if:

You want the best battery life you can currently get in a mainstream flagship, and don’t want to think about charging more than every other day. ^[63]
You prefer cleaner zoom and more advanced video options, and can live with warmer colour tuning. ^[64]
You value build quality and durability – the ceramic‑coated frame, triple IP rating and scratch resistance are genuinely impressive. ^[65]
You’re already in the OnePlus ecosystem or simply prefer OxygenOS’ app integrations and features, even if it looks more like ColorOS these days.

Final take

In late November 2025, the “better value” question has a nuanced answer:

On paper specs and effective street pricing, iQOO 15 feels like the more aggressive deal for gamers and performance‑hungry users, especially once bank and exchange offers kick in.
For battery endurance, design and long‑term daily comfort, the OnePlus 15 arguably justifies its slightly higher effective price, provided you’re happy with its camera tuning and heavier skin.

Either way, India’s premium Android space is no longer just about Samsung and Apple – the iQOO 15 vs OnePlus 15 battle means power users have two very serious alternatives to consider this holiday season.

OnePlus 15 vs IQOO 15 vs Samsung S26 Ultra Came with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

Watch this video on YouTube.

References

iQOO 15 vs OnePlus 15: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Flagship Battle in India – Price, Specs & Reviews (28 Nov 2025)