OnePlus 15 Leak: 165Hz Display for Gaming, But Cameras Take a Hit

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TL; DR
  • OnePlus 15 is rumored to have a 6.78-inch LTPO OLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate.
  • Cameras look downgraded compared to the OnePlus 12 and 13, with smaller sensors and possible end of Hasselblad branding.
  • Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip, up to 7,800 mAh battery, and the new Plus Key.

The OnePlus 15 seems to be one of the most unusual flagships from the brand. Leaks suggest it will push display smoothness to the extreme with a 165Hz refresh rate panel, but at the same time, the cameras could see a noticeable downgrade compared to the OnePlus 12 and 13. Instead of being a balanced flagship, this phone looks like it’s being built for gamers first.

The display will reportedly be a 6.78-inch LTPO OLED with 1Hz–165Hz adaptive refresh rate support. That makes it even faster than the 144Hz displays seen on gaming phones, and way ahead of the 120Hz on most premium flagships. 

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The higher refresh rate could just be a gimmick though, unless OnePlus pushes for native 165 FPS support in games, which is suggested by DCS. But even this will come with a cost: the resolution is said to drop to 1.5K, down from the 2K on the OnePlus 13

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Downgraded Cameras?

OnePlus 13
OnePlus 13

The bigger concern is the camera setup. The OnePlus 13 already faced criticism for replacing the IMX581 ultrawide with a weaker Samsung JN1. Now, the OnePlus 15 is rumored to use even smaller sensors in both ultrawide and telephoto. 

As per OnePlusClub on X, the periscope telephoto in particular will be based on the JN5 sensor (1/2.76-inch), which is far smaller than what OnePlus used in past flagships. Even the main sensor might shrink if OnePlus switches from the LYT-808 to the LYT-700. 

On top of this, the same leak suggests that the Hasselblad partnership may end, with OnePlus reportedly introducing its own in-house image tuning brand called LUMO. That means no Hasselblad color science, Master Mode, or XPan features.

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Here’s how the three flagships compare on cameras:

OnePlus 12OnePlus 13OnePlus 15 (Leaked)
Main SensorLYT-808 (1/1.4-inch)LYT-808 (1/1.4-inch)LYT-808 or LYT-700 (1/1.4-inch or 1/1.56-inch)
Ultra-wide SensorIMX581 (1/2-inch)JN1 (1/2.76-inch)JN5 (1/2.76-inch)
Telephoto/PeriscopeOV64B (1/2-inch, 3X)LYT-600 (1/1.95-inch, 3X)JN5 (1/2.76-inch, 3X periscope)
Macro CapabilitiesVia telephoto Via ultra-wide Via telephoto 

If this leak is accurate, the OnePlus 15 could take decent shots in daylight, but low-light, zoom, and ultrawide quality are likely to take a step back.

Elsewhere, the OnePlus 15 is tipped to come with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip, up to 16GB RAM, 1TB storage, and a massive 7,000 to 7,800 mAh battery. Charging speeds remain unknown, but we can expect speeds somewhere around 100W. 

The new Plus Key is also coming to the OnePlus 15, ditching the iconic Alert Slider on the OnePlus 13. Design-wise, leaks hint at a move to a square camera bump with flat display edges like the OnePlus 13s (review), ditching the circular module seen in older models.

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OnePlus 15 Launch Date 

Launch is expected in China around October 2025, with global and Indian releases in January 2026. From what we know so far, the OnePlus 15 looks like a gaming-first device rather than a true all-rounder flagship. And I don’t think this is the right approach, especially since it involves downgrades. What’s your take? Let me know in the comments section below.

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Mehtab AnsariMehtab Ansari
Mehtab Ansari is the Assistant Editor – Features & Reviews at Smartprix, where he writes about smartphones, laptops, audio gear, and everything in between. A computer science student by degree but a tech nerd by heart, he’s been into consumer tech for years and started reviewing products professionally in February 2024. He’s especially into photography and audio, often spending more time testing a smartphone’s camera than he probably should. For him, tech isn’t just work, it’s what he’s always thinking about.

Expertise 

Smartphones, laptops, tablets, monitors, smartwatches, photography, and audio gear. I’ve reviewed over 60 products across these categories on Smartprix in the past year and a half.

Education - Bachelor of Computer Applications – Nizam College, Hyderabad (2022–2025) | Joined Smartprix -February 2024 | Published Reviews & Stories - 723

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