OnePlus 15R vs OnePlus 13R: What’s new and which one is worth buying?
OnePlus 15R vs OnePlus 13R: We have compared the camera, design, display, battery, charging, chipset and other aspects of these two phones to make your buying decision a little easier.
OnePlus’ R-series has quietly carved a niche for itself in India by offering almost flagship performance without pushing the prices into ultra-premium territory. With the OnePlus 15R now official, the brand is once again introducing a phone that borrows heavily from its flagship playbook while remaining (relatively) accessible. That said, the OnePlus 13R isn’t exactly old news. It was launched earlier this year, is still widely available, and now costs significantly less. This makes the comparison less about “new vs. old” and more about whether the changes are practical enough to justify the additional expense. Here is a detailed comparison of OnePlus phones.
OnePlus 15R vs iPhone 13R: Price comparison in India
OnePlus 15R price in India starts at Rs 47,999 for the 12GB + 256GB variant and goes up to Rs 52,999 for the 12GB + 512GB model.
This is a clear jump from the OnePlus 13R’s starting price of Rs 42,999.
design and construction
Visually, the OnePlus 15R moves away from the bold circular camera layout of the 13R and opts for a cleaner, more restrained design. It shares design DNA with the more premium OnePlus 15 smartphone. The new circular-shaped camera module sits on the left side, with two lenses housed in a pill-shaped cutout. The flat frame design continues, but the simplified rear gives the phone a cooler look overall. The black panel of glass in purple finish looks mesmerizing.
A more functional change comes with the removal of the Alert Slider. In its place is the new Plus key, which was first seen on the OnePlus 13S. This button can be customized for shortcuts and AI-based actions, making it more flexible than a traditional slider. Durability is another clear win for the 15R. It now supports IP66, IP68, IP69, and even IP69K ratings, which is a big step up from the IP65 protection on the 13R. In real-world terms, the new phone is better prepared for dust, splashes, and more extreme conditions.
The OnePlus 13R still feels solid with its aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass protection, but the 15R leans more into the idea of ruggedness without looking bulky. Refreshing color options like Mint Breeze and Electric Violet also add more personality than the 13R’s more plain finish.
Display
Both phones continue the R-series tradition of strong displays. The OnePlus 13R features a 6.78-inch 1.5K LTPO AMOLED panel with a dynamic 1-120Hz refresh rate and up to 4,500 nits peak brightness. It is fast, efficient and well suited for different usage scenarios.
The OnePlus 15R goes slightly larger with a 6.83-inch AMOLED screen at the same 1.5K resolution. The main upgrade here is the 165Hz refresh rate, although it now supports LTPS technology. On paper, this might seem like a drop in efficiency, but in daily use, the screen still feels fluid and responsive. The ultra-high refresh rate mainly benefits limited games, but it’s not a deal breaker. It can go up to 3600 nits of maximum brightness. You can basically expect more or less similar performance on both devices.
Chipset
This is where the difference between the two phones becomes more apparent. The OnePlus 13R runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which remains a powerful and reliable chipset even today. However, the OnePlus 15R debuts the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, making it the first phone globally to use this 3nm processor. It is the first R-series model to move to a 3nm chip, which brings gains in both raw performance and efficiency.
Both phones feel fast and smooth for everyday tasks. The difference becomes apparent for gamers and power users, as seen in the benchmark results. The OnePlus 15R posted an AnTuTu score of around 2.8 million, compared to around 1.5 million on the 13R. The Geekbench multi-core score also shows a big jump, with the 15R hitting close to 9,800 versus the 13R’s 6,200.
The 15R also includes a dedicated G2 Wi-Fi chip and a touch response chip, which improves network stability and touch accuracy during gaming sessions. If gaming performance is a priority, the new model is a more robust choice.
camera
The camera strategy is where OnePlus has taken a slightly unexpected turn. The OnePlus 13R offers a triple-camera setup, consisting of a 50MP Sony LYT-700 main sensor, a 50MP 2x telephoto lens, and an 8MP ultra-wide camera. This setup gives users more flexibility, especially for portraits and medium zoom shots.
The OnePlus 15R makes things simple with a dual-camera system – a 50MP main camera with OIS and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. The telephoto camera is gone, which may disappoint some users. To compensate, OnePlus has brought over the DetailMax imaging engine from the flagship OnePlus 15. It improves image processing and unlocks 4K video recording at 120fps, which is a major upgrade over the 13R. The Hasselblad branding is no longer part of the package, but the video capabilities have clearly carried over.
On the front, the upgrade is more straightforward. The 15R has a 32MP autofocus selfie camera with 4K video support, while the 13R has a 16MP fixed-focus unit. For frequent video calls, vlogging, or content creation, this change is hard to ignore.
Battery and Charging
Battery life was already a strong point for the OnePlus 13R, thanks to its 6,000mAh cell and 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging. The phone comfortably lasts a whole day or more for most users.
The OnePlus 15R takes this further with a massive 7,400mAh battery, one of the largest we’ve seen in a mainstream smartphone. Charging speeds remain the same at 80W, but the larger capacity should translate into longer usage times, especially for heavy users.
Software and AI features
The OnePlus 13R runs OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15, complete with AI features like AI Search and photo enhancements. It promises four Android updates, taking it to Android 19 with six years of security patches.
OnePlus 15R has been launched with Android 16 and OxygenOS 16. It features deeper integration of the Plus key for quick AI tasks, as well as OnePlus’ new AI framework called Plus Mind. From a longevity perspective, the 15R naturally starts one version ahead.
So, which one should you buy? OnePlus 15R or OnePlus 13R?
The OnePlus 15R brings visible upgrades in performance, battery life, durability, display smoothness, and selfie camera quality. Plus, it makes a notable compromise by removing the telephoto camera found on the 13R.
If you already have a OnePlus 13R, upgrading primarily makes sense if you value long battery life, top-tier gaming performance, or plan to keep your phone for several years. For new buyers, the OnePlus 15R feels more future-ready overall, while the OnePlus 13R, especially at the discounted prices, remains a balanced option for those who want better camera versatility without spending extra.
