The OnePlus 15 comes with the same clamshell charger that was jettisoned late last year, according to Bill Bao, head of product for North America at OnePlus.
In a video shot by The Verge, it’s clear that the white-accented USB-A to USB-C cable is included in the classic red book-style case and is joined by compartments for the SIM tray removal tool and a card providing some stickers reading “Never Settle” — discreet as it is, without a color-matching booklet or other frills. OnePlus’ latest flagship is all about the marquee specs, including a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a 7,300mAh battery with fast wired and wireless charging, and that versatile periscope camera. But the headline improvements also share space with some glaring retreats, which contribute to a larger narrative that OPPO is using OnePlus as a shield for its premium Find X devices — pulling the strings when it needs to, so to speak.
What Sparked the Accusation Against OnePlus 15
It’s all there on paper. You would think the OnePlus 15 would be a slam dunk. In real life, though, it’s basically a sidegrade to its predecessor in crucial respects. The main, telephoto, and ultrawide cameras all sport new sensors that are smaller, while the primary and periscope lenses have been outfitted with narrower apertures. The new 3.5x periscope provides a touch more range than the earlier 3x unit, though overall imaging hardware is a haircut from the recent high point for the brand.
The screen is a similar story. OnePlus traded in a QHD+ 120Hz display for a 1.5K 165Hz OLED. The company argues the panel is more expensive and that QHD+ at 165Hz technically isn’t possible, but that doesn’t erase the optics of a resolution drop in a flagship tier that trades on spec bragging rights. Even the beloved alert slider is gone, replaced with a fully remappable shortcut button that will surely split loyalists.
Early benchmarks also highlight heat under sustained loads on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a familiar trade-off when you’re pushing for maximum performance. None of these choices ruin the phone, but together they slow momentum after OnePlus finally achieved balance and took several generations to get its cameras right.
A Pattern Across Generations of OnePlus Flagships
This isn’t the first wobble. The OnePlus 10T had wireless charging and the alert slider removed. OnePlus 11 launched without strong water resistance or best-in-class cameras. The OnePlus 12 was a step in the right direction, but it still felt a shade short of the category leaders. Then there was a great OnePlus 13, followed by the more compromised OnePlus 15. The momentum is a little bit of one great thing followed by another.
Fans can recite high points like the 7T, 9 Pro, and 13, and lows when it wasn’t in value leadership or polish-wise. That pendulum nourishes the sneaking suspicion that whenever OnePlus steps too close to true flagship parity, the following model scales it back.
The OPPO Factor and Portfolio Protection
For those who don’t know, OnePlus is a subsidiary of OPPO, with the two companies operating within the same ecosystem and sharing resources such as R&D, supply chains, and software foundations. OxygenOS and ColorOS are two sides of the same coin when it comes to codebase, and there’s plenty of shared hardware. Portfolio lanes matter in that world. The likes of OPPO’s Find X Pro devices are the group’s supposed “halo phones” that tend to command a higher price than a OnePlus flagship. With OnePlus already clocking in at roughly an 85–90% similar experience, and for less, the risk of cannibalization is very real.
Consider branding leverage. OnePlus was the first to popularize its camera collaboration with Hasselblad, a notable calling card. This Find X generation keeps the Hasselblad name and color science, while the OnePlus 15 doesn’t. That’s a handy optics swap to concentrate all the prestige on the OPPO side of the house.
Distribution is another tell. It was released in the US, where carriers account for about 85% of smartphone sales, according to Counterpoint Research. OnePlus has struggled to achieve ever-present, widespread carrier support, which of course holds back mainstream distribution exactly where marketing muscle and subsidies can take sales trajectories to an entirely new level. Other places, where the brand and channels are stronger for OPPO, now get prioritized.
Alternative Explanations Worth Considering
There are less conspiratorial reads. Prices of some components are wildly inconsistent from one supplier to the next, and going with one display or another can be driven by what panels are available at any given time. There just isn’t the thermal headroom on leading-edge chipsets, so trade-offs have to be made. And OnePlus has slotted eminently competent recent flagships below true “Ultra” phones, pursuing a thin band of value: more capable than those at the low-cost end from rivals, but not with spiking prices. Compromises like smaller camera sensors or shaved IP ratings are an expected part of the tightrope to keep you from shuddering at sticker shock.
Both geopolitical scrutiny and certification overhead may also dampen appetite for massive carrier investment in the US. For instance, if the measure of validation and marketing outlays exceeds anticipated volume, a brand might decide to intentionally abandon that channel — even at the loss of mindshare.
What the Market and Analyst Data Suggests
Analysts at IDC and Counterpoint have pointed out that growth in the premium segment is faster than the overall market, and users are coalescing around devices offering clear camera-led advantages. OPPO continues to be a top-five vendor globally by volumes in many quarters, and this can raise OnePlus in the standings, albeit within the low single-digit share across North America. In that light, focusing some of the halo tech (Hasselblad tuning and top-end sensors) on the Find X line feels more like classic brand stratification than sabotage.
Yet the signal from the OnePlus 15 is a bit mixed. When enthusiasts see smaller sensors and resolution dropping right after a camera breakthrough generation, the message comes across as that of deliberate containment.
What to Watch Next for OnePlus and OPPO Strategy
Three markers will clarify intent.
- Camera parity: if future OnePlus flagships return to larger sensors, brighter lenses, and more advanced color science, the 15’s decisions were probably tactical.
- Branding and partnerships: if Hasselblad is exclusive to OPPO’s most expensive phones, that’s a durable moat.
- Distribution: any new US carrier deals would signal a desire to grow beyond the enthusiast niche.
For now, the OnePlus 15 is a conundrum — a phone with exceptional battery life and an even faster screen that somehow still falls back in the two most important areas for premium buyers. Whether that’s portfolio discipline or a mistake, the message to punters is straightforward enough: if it’s cameras and resolution you value above all, compare very carefully with OPPO’s Find X Pro tier before signing up.
