2025 has been a busy year for OnePlus, with nearly a dozen different launches across the globe across various categories. However, it was one of the more controversial years for the brand, and it signaled a change in direction for the company, which may not have been appreciated by its fans.
Loser: OnePlus Open 2
The year started with a decline, with the company canceling its foldable plans for 2025 in February. The 2023 OnePlus Open was a phenomenal product, not just because it was an excellent foldable, but also because it was an excellent smartphone. It was expected to be followed by the OnePlus Open 2, a rebranded Oppo Find N5 that would continue the legacy of its predecessor.
But while Oppo was allowed to have its foldable moment with the N5, the OnePlus version was cancelled, putting the company’s foldable roadmap on hold indefinitely. Little did we know then that this would be the beginning of a worrying pattern.
Winner: OnePlus 13S
Thankfully, the company’s first major smartphone launch went well. The OnePlus 13s solves the age-old problem of choosing between a compact design, flagship performance, and good battery life. Here was a phone that, for the first time, could manage all three.
The phone was not without its flaws. Despite claims of being a flagship, the only area that felt like a flagship was the display, everything else, especially the cameras, were clearly mid-range. Luckily, it also didn’t cost as much as a flagship, so the whole package still remains attractive.
oneplus 13s 5g
| 256GB 12GB RAM | ₹ 54,999 |
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| 512GB 12GB RAM | ₹ 59,999 |
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Probably the biggest drawback of this phone is its limited availability, as it is only available in India, and its variant, the OnePlus 13T, is only available in China. Why this is so remains a mystery.
Loser: Nord 5
When OnePlus announced the Nord 4 last year, it made a big deal about its design, and rightfully so. That phone had a beautifully machined aluminum unibody design with a flush glass panel on top that stood out from the crowd and evoked memories of a time when everything wasn’t a metal and glass sandwich with flat edges.
Then, you ask, why is the Nord 5 not only a flat-sided sandwich, but made entirely of plastic? Were Nord 4’s designers sent on permanent leave and replaced by AI “artists” from Pinterest? Was any budget allocated to the design department at OnePlus this year?
oneplus nord 5 5g
| 256GB 8GB RAM | ₹ 33,999 |
$785.00 |
| 512GB 12GB RAM | ₹ 39,999 |
$660.00 |
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Admittedly, the Nord 5 is better than the Nord 4 in other areas, especially battery, and the Nord 4’s design doesn’t match up with any other OnePlus phone launched last year, including other Nord phones. But who says all phones launched in a year have to look the same? Perhaps we need to go back to a time when two back-to-back releases from the same brand looked like they came from two different galaxies. In any case, going from stunning unibody aluminum sleekness to lumpy plastic should be a punishable offence.
Winner: Nord CE5
Nord CE devices are considered affordable smartphones and are often forgettable. In fact, I had to look up what the previous models looked like because I can’t commit them to memory for longer than it takes to read this sentence.
With such a low threshold, the Nord CE5 performed quite well this year. Unlike the Nord 5, this model shines compared to its predecessor, and in my opinion, it is the best looking phone launched by OnePlus this year. There’s something about the simplicity of its design that makes it seem more sophisticated than basic, especially in the striking blue color.
OnePlus Nord CE5 5G
| 128gb 8gb ram | $605.00 |
€296.19 |
| 256GB 8GB RAM | $635.00 |
€289.99 |
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When I had both of the new Nord phones, I naturally gravitated toward the CE5, even though the Nord 5 is more impressive on paper. This would never have happened with the previous generation model, where the CE variant produced a stronger yawn than industrial-grade melatonin. The Nord CE5 is simple, but it’s not boring, and that makes all the difference.
Loser: OnePlus 15
The OnePlus 13 was absolutely phenomenal when it came out late last year and missed our 2024 list by a slim margin. In fact, it’s one of the best phones you can buy today, even after a full year. So how can one of the best phones of recent times be improved? Apparently, you don’t do that. In fact, you make it worse.
Objectively worse performance. Objectively worse set of cameras. Even the poor haptic motor was not spared. And a design that looks like a police sketch of an iPhone made in a dimly lit room. OnePlus 15 looks as if someone has made it with malice.
oneplus 13
| 256GB 12GB RAM | ₹ 63,999 |
$999.99 |
| 512GB 16GB RAM | ₹ 70,999 |
$649.99 |
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Of course, other aspects of it are better than the OnePlus 13. But that’s what can be expected from a new product. Nowadays we have become accustomed to manufacturers making incremental or sometimes no updates from generation to generation. But it’s rare to see a phone outright screw up in so many key areas and also have the audacity to be more expensive. What a disappointment.
Winner: OnePlus 15R
At first, the OnePlus 15R looked like it would follow suit like its bigger brother. Removing telephoto from the OnePlus 13R was another self-goal in a series of self-goals from the company this year. And the design looks like the designer took half a day off and never came back to finish it.
But in every other aspect, the OnePlus 15R is an improvement over its predecessor. Better performance, better battery life, better fingerprint sensor, better build quality and better speakers. Even the main rear camera isn’t too bad, thanks to the new image processing engine, as long as you ignore the ultra-wide that was used to shoot the original The Blair Witch Project.
oneplus 15r 5g
| 256GB 12GB RAM | ₹ 47,999 |
€699.00 |
| 512GB 12GB RAM | ₹ 52,999 |
£729.00 |
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exciting? No, but a solid mid-ranger that will get the job done.
Loser (Bonus Round): OnePlus
In recent years, OnePlus has solidified itself as a serious player in the smartphone market. The company had everything from popular budget offerings, strong mid-rangers and flagships that were at par with the best in the industry.
However, this year has shown that the powerful people at the company are no longer interested in OnePlus competing in the big leagues. Whether it’s halting the company’s foldable roadmap, snatching up the Hasselblad partnership, or shifting a handful of devices from being all-around premium flagships to being more of a ridiculous gaming device (apparently with a more gaming-focused model on the way), it’s clear that this brand is now getting step-motherly treatment from its parent company.
But you know who isn’t? Oppo. From launching its foldable, keeping its Hasselblad partnership exclusively to itself, and having a proper flagship model with all the bells and whistles, it couldn’t be more clear that Oppo intends to take over as the premium brand in the family.
However, despite several such efforts in the past, the Oppo brand has yet to emerge as a serious contender in the premium segment, especially in western markets. Meanwhile, OnePlus has retained its mindshare and marketshare over the years, despite attempts to damage the brand. But that may change.
There is no point in shortening words; The circus is easy to see for anyone with seeing eyes. And it’s especially ridiculous because of the way it’s being carried out. It’s like having some pain in your right foot, and your solution to fix it is to start hammering your left foot to make the first one look better in comparison.
Perhaps this conjecture is completely unfounded. Perhaps the true OnePlus flagship and foldable lineup is just around the corner. Perhaps whatever happened this year was an accident. only time will tell. But if you’re a OnePlus fan and you’ve seen everything that’s happening, maybe it’s time to make your voice heard. OnePlus deserves better than being made a sacrificial lamb and fading into the background. Remember the motto.