The Indian smartphone market is ready for another big moment as OnePlus 15R prepares to launch in India on December 17. Positioned as a premium sub-flagship, the device is grabbing headlines for one major reason — it will be the first smartphone globally powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. With powerful internals, a massive battery, and a smooth display, the OnePlus 15R aims to redefine expectations from the popular R-series.
OnePlus 15R Launch Details and Availability
The OnePlus 15R launch in India will take place alongside the OnePlus Pad Go 2 during a special anniversary event. The launch event will be streamed live online at 7 PM IST, making it easily accessible for fans across the country.
Once unveiled, the smartphone is expected to go on sale via Amazon India, the official OnePlus online store, and selected offline retail partners. As with previous launches, early buyers can expect attractive bank discounts and launch offers.
Expected Price in India: Premium Tag with Premium Power
While OnePlus has not officially confirmed pricing, industry leaks suggest that the OnePlus 15R price in India may start between Rs 47,000 and Rs 49,000 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant. A higher-end model with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage could cross the Rs 52,000 mark.
Although this is higher than the OnePlus 13R, the price hike reflects rising chipset costs and upgraded hardware. With bank offers, the effective price could drop by Rs 3,000–Rs 4,000, making it more competitive.
Design: Minimal, Modern, and Extremely Durable
The OnePlus 15R design follows a clean and modern approach inspired by the OnePlus Ace 6T. It features a square rear camera module with dual sensors, a centered OnePlus logo, and a premium metal frame.
What truly sets it apart is durability. The phone comes with IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings, offering protection against dust, water immersion, and high-pressure water jets. Color options include Charcoal Black and Minty Green.
Smooth AMOLED Display Built for Gaming
The OnePlus 15R display is expected to feature a 1.5K AMOLED panel with a 165Hz refresh rate, ensuring ultra-smooth scrolling and responsive gameplay. The screen size is likely around 6.8 inches with high brightness levels and full DCI-P3 color coverage.
This display setup makes the device ideal for gamers, content consumers, and users who value fluid animations and fast touch response.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 5: A Performance Powerhouse
At its core, the OnePlus 15R packs the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, built on an advanced 3nm process. Benchmark listings reveal impressive performance scores, making it the most powerful R-series phone to date.
The phone will run OxygenOS 16 based on Android 16, along with advanced features like the G2 Wi-Fi chip and a dedicated Touch Response Chip for faster input recognition.
Camera Setup: Mixed Changes but Better Selfies
The OnePlus 15R camera setup includes a 50MP primary sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide camera. While the telephoto lens has been removed compared to the previous generation, OnePlus is focusing on image processing through its in-house DetailMax imaging engine.
On the front, the device gets a massive upgrade with a 32MP selfie camera featuring autofocus and 4K video recording — a first for the R-series.
Biggest Battery Ever on a OnePlus Phone
Battery life is one of the biggest highlights. The OnePlus 15R battery is rated at a massive 7,400mAh, making it the largest battery ever seen on a OnePlus smartphone. This should easily deliver two days of usage for most users.
The phone is expected to support at least 80W fast charging, though wireless charging has not yet been confirmed.
Should You Buy the OnePlus 15R?
The OnePlus 15R clearly targets users who prioritize performance, gaming, display smoothness, and battery life. While the camera setup may not appeal to photography enthusiasts, the overall package makes it one of the most powerful sub-flagship phones launching in India.
If you are looking for near-flagship performance without crossing ultra-premium pricing, the OnePlus 15R could be a strong contender — especially if you grab it with launch offers.
