The smartphone world is constantly evolving, and every year, flagship phones strive to outdo their predecessors with new chips, improved displays, longer battery life, and more refined design elements. For fans of OnePlus, the jump from the OnePlus 13 to the OnePlus 15 has been one of the most talked-about upgrades in 2025.
On paper, the 15 promises significant upgrades: a newer chipset, a larger battery, a smoother screen, and a more premium design. But as with many “generational leap” devices, things aren’t all black and white; some features get better, some get compromised, and which phone is “better” depends on what you value.
In this blog, we’ll walk through display & design, performance, battery & charging, cameras, software & user experience, and who each phone is best for. By the end, you’ll have a clear view of whether the OnePlus 15 is worth your money or whether the 13 remains a solid flagship even now.
Major Differences Between the OnePlus 13 and 15
Though the OnePlus 15 and 13 have many similarities, they have a few differences that you must know before buying them. For your clear understanding, let us see each difference briefly.
1. Display
One of the headline upgrades of the OnePlus 15 is the screen’s refresh rate. The 15 boasts a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a refresh rate of up to 165 Hz, which makes animations, scrolling, and especially gaming feel extremely smooth.
By contrast, the OnePlus 13 offers a slightly larger 6.82-inch AMOLED screen but with a 120 Hz refresh rate. Although lower in refresh rate, the screen is QHD+ (higher resolution: 1440×3168 px), making it sharper and crisper, especially for media consumption (movies, reading, high-resolution images).
So the trade-off is clear: 15 provides smoother motion (great for gaming and UI fluidity), while 13 offers higher resolution, which is better for clarity, detail, and perhaps longevity if you care about screen sharpness.
Another relevant metric: though the 15’s brightness and panel tuning are very good (with impressive brightness under typical conditions), some reviewers note that while image quality remains very strong, the shift from QHD+ to a “1.5K / FHD+-class resolution” on 15 is noticeable if you care about pixel density or watch 4K/HD content.
2. Design and Build
Beyond the screen, the two phones also differ in build and styling. The OnePlus 15 moves to a flat-edge design, with a square rear camera module and a nano-ceramic metal frame, giving it a more angular, modern flagship look.
Also, 15 brings in improved durability and ruggedness: stronger glass (e.g., Gorilla Glass Victus 2) and higher ingress-resistance ratings, including IP69K, which suggests better protection against dust, water, and environmental extremes compared to 13.
The OnePlus 13, in contrast, has the more “classic” curved/back design many flagships have, with a rounded aesthetic and a circular/less aggressive camera layout. For many, that opulent, refined flagship feel of 13’s design still appeals, especially if you prefer aesthetics over ruggedness or minimalism.
Image source-Android Authority
3. Performance
One of the biggest improvements with the OnePlus 15 is under the hood. It has a new chipset, better efficiency, and is better for gaming.
The 15 uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (a 3 nm chipset), a generational upgrade over the 13’s Snapdragon 8 Elite. Thanks to that, the 15 delivers better CPU/GPU efficiency: according to benchmarks, the jump translates to significantly higher performance while also being more power-efficient.
OnePlus also bundles gaming-oriented enhancements, improved thermal management, better sustained performance under load, and optimizations for gaming.
For many users, gamers, power users, and people who multitask heavily, this upgrade in raw performance and sustained speed matters a lot. Apps launch faster, heavy workloads (editing, large apps, heavy games) run more smoothly, and future-proofing is stronger.
That said, the OnePlus 13’s older Snapdragon 8 Elite is still very capable for everyday tasks, social media, movies, and moderate gaming, so the performance will remain excellent even today. It may not match 15 in head-to-head heavy tasks, but for general usage, it remains more than sufficient.
4. Battery and Charging
Battery life is another area in which the OnePlus 15 pulls ahead quite visibly. The 15 packs a massive 7,300 mAh battery, compared to the 13’s 6,000 mAh unit. That’s about a 21–22% increase in capacity.
Charging on the 15 is also upgraded: it supports up to 120W wired fast charging, and (in many markets) 50W wireless charging remains supported. The result: real-world battery life on the 15 is significantly better.
For heavy users, gaming, video streaming, social apps, and navigation, you’ll likely get close to, or exceed, a full day and a half or even two days of moderate use. Many reviewers highlight that this makes the 15 ideal for gig use, travel, long commutes, or extended screen time without worrying about recharging.
On the 13, while the 6,000 mAh battery + 100W fast charging (and 50W wireless charging) was already solid and delivered good endurance, it’s clearly behind 15 in stamina.
So, if you value battery life, long hours away from a charger, the 15 is a big win. If you use your phone moderately or charge nightly, 13’s battery is probably “good enough.”
5. Camera
Both phones keep a triple-50 MP rear camera setup (wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto) plus a 32 MP front selfie camera. But there are important differences in sensors, tuning, zoom, and imaging philosophy.
What’s new in the OnePlus 15?
- The main camera uses a newer sensor (Sony IMX906), replacing the 13’s Sony LYT-808.
- The periscope telephoto lens now offers 3.5× optical zoom (versus 3× on the 13), a modest but real upgrade in zoom reach.
- The ultra-wide lens uses a different sensor (OV50D or similar, depending on region), and
- OnePlus reportedly switched to its own image-processing engine, abandoning the previous years’ collaboration with Hasselblad.
- On the front camera, while still 32 MP, the 15 adds autofocus and improved video/selfie capturing, which helps in dynamic lighting or varied scenarios.
What does OnePlus 13 still do well (or maybe better)?
The OnePlus 13 used sensors tuned and optimized over a longer time (with Hasselblad colour calibration), many reviewers and users feel that images from the 13 have slightly richer details or more “flagship-grade” output under certain conditions.
The 13 also had a slightly larger main sensor size/pixel (depending on variant), which can benefit detail, low light, or dynamic range in some situations.
Image source – Tech Advisor
Moreover, when a phone maker changes imaging engines and sensor pipelines, the “real-world output” can differ significantly even with similar megapixels. Some users value the older system’s rendering aesthetic (perhaps slightly more contrasty or “film-like”) over the newer, possibly more “clinical” or “realistic” processing of 15.
In short: Yes, the latest OnePlus 15 brings updated sensors, better zoom, newer processing, but that doesn’t guarantee that every photo will be objectively “better.” For certain kinds of shooters (e.g., nightscapes, portrait stills, professional-style photos), 13 might remain competitive.
6. Software, Features, and Additional Differences
Upgrades in hardware often come along with soft improvements, and the OnePlus 15 vs 13 is no different.
- The 15 ships with the newer OS version (Android 16 + latest version of the manufacturer UI), which tends to offer newer features, possibly longer future update support than the 13.
- Thanks to the new chipset and improved internals (RAM + storage speed, etc.), tasks involving heavy multitasking, editing, resource-heavy apps, and gaming tend to perform more fluidly and efficiently on 15.
- Build-quality and durability improvements in 15 (better frame/glass, higher IP rating, more rugged build) might matter if you are rough on phones, travel, outdoor use, or unpredictable environments.
On the other hand, some purists or longtime fans of OnePlus might point out that the shift from the previous camera-tuning (with Hasselblad or previous calibration) to a new imaging engine might change “the character” of photo output in ways that don’t always please. There’s also a slight reduction in screen resolution (from QHD+ to a lower “1.5K / FHD+-class” panel), which may matter to folks who consistently enjoy high-res video, reading, or media.
OnePlus 15 vs 13 – What Should You Consider?
You should strongly consider the OnePlus 15 if:
- You’re a heavy user: gaming, streaming, social media, multitasking, and want a phone that handles all of that smoothly, plus lasts long on battery.
- You care about battery life, seldom want to charge, or need a phone that comfortably lasts a full day or two.
- You value modern design, flat edges, durable build, sleek looks, and IP-rated ruggedness.
- You want a more “future-proof” phone in terms of performance, software support, and overall longevity.
- You like a smoother UI experience, like gaming, scrolling, and animations, thanks to the 165 Hz display and updated internals.
You can prefer the OnePlus 13 if:
- You prefer a sharper display (higher resolution QHD+) over an ultra-smooth refresh rate.
- You value “classic” flagship feel, perhaps better camera rendering (depending on your style), refined build aesthetic, and tried-and-true tuning.
- You are a more moderate user: browsing, watching videos, social media, and don’t need the absolute top-end performance or battery headroom.
- You care more about photography in certain lighting conditions, or you prefer the previous generation’s imaging and “look” of photos.
- You want flagship-level performance but with possibly a better balance of display quality vs performance for cost, especially if you can get 13 at a discounted price now.
What Should You Give Up (or Accept) with 15 vs 13?
Despite the many upgrades, the shift from 13 to 15 isn’t a universal win. There are a few trade-offs:
- Resolution vs Refresh Rate: 15’s lower-resolution panel (relative to 13) may look less sharp to some users, especially for reading text, browsing, or viewing high-res media.
- Camera tuning changes: Even with newer sensors, abandoning the tried-and-tested imaging calibration may lead to different output that some may find less “flagship-like.” Real-world results may vary.
- Aesthetic preferences: The more angular, modern design of 15 might appeal less to those who prefer classic curved phones. The change in frame, module design, and possibly feel might be subjective.
- Cost vs benefit: If you already own a 13 (or a similar phone), the incremental gains in 15 may not justify the cost, unless you really need the extra performance or battery.
Is the OnePlus 15 Worth the Upgrade?
At the end of the day, the OnePlus 15 represents a significant evolution over the OnePlus 13, particularly in performance, battery life, charging, durability, and smoothness. For a user who pushes their phone hard, gaming, heavy multitasking, long hours away from a charger, 15 is probably worth it. It feels more modern, more future-ready, and built to last.
However, the OnePlus 13 remains a very compelling smartphone, with a sharper (QHD+) screen, a mature camera system, balanced performance, and an aesthetic that some may still favour. For moderate users, or those who care more about display fidelity and balanced usage rather than peak performance, the 13 remains a smart flagship drop-in even today.
In short: OnePlus 15 is equal to a flagship for performance and battery + modern design; OnePlus 13 is equal to a balanced flagship with a sharp screen and proven quality.
If I were you and I were buying a phone today, I’d lean toward the OnePlus 15, unless I cared deeply about display resolution or preferred the “old-school” flagship feel, in which case the OnePlus 13 remains a perfectly valid, maybe even smarter, choice.
Final Thoughts
Flagship phones have become more about balance than about single features. With the 15, OnePlus seems to have aimed for raw performance, endurance, and future-proofing, and largely succeeded. But that means making choices: lower screen resolution, different camera philosophy, and a design language that may not resonate with everyone.
If you opt for the OnePlus 15, you get a phone ready for the next 2–4 years of heavy use. If you stick with (or buy) the OnePlus 13, you’re choosing a still-powerful, balanced device that maximizes display sharpness, proven camera results, and a classic flagship feel.
Whichever you pick, both remain among the strongest Android flagships in 2025.