OnePlus has surprised the market by launching its latest flagship, the OnePlus 15, earlier than expected, putting it directly in competition with Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra. With a powerful processor, massive battery, and competitive pricing, the OnePlus 15 challenges Samsung’s long-standing dominance in the premium segment. Here’s a detailed comparison of the two devices based on specifications and hands-on impressions.
OnePlus 15 Highlights
Durability:
The OnePlus 15 comes with IP68 and IP69 ratings, offering protection from dust, submersion, and high-temperature water jets up to 80°C. In comparison, the Galaxy S25 Ultra only carries IP68. OnePlus also introduces “AquaTouch” technology, allowing users to operate the screen even with water droplets—ideal for use near pools or in the shower.
The Sand Storm edition features an MAO-treated middle frame, boosting durability against everyday wear and tear, giving it an edge over Samsung in ruggedness.
Battery & Charging:
The OnePlus 15 packs a massive 7,300mAh battery, outperforming the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 5,000mAh unit. In heavy usage—social media, photography, navigation, and music—the OnePlus 15 still retains about 40% battery by day’s end. It also supports 80W fast charging, compared to Samsung’s 45W, enabling quicker top-ups.
Performance & Display:
Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, the OnePlus 15 features a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate and a large vapor cooling system. Despite its flagship-level performance, the OnePlus 15 starts at $899—$400 cheaper than Samsung’s $1,299 S25 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Highlights
Display & Visuals:
Samsung continues to lead in screen technology. The S25 Ultra offers a 6.9-inch QHD AMOLED display with improved anti-reflective coating, delivering outstanding color accuracy and visibility both indoors and outdoors. For video, gaming, or reading, Samsung’s display remains superior.
S Pen Support:
The S25 Ultra retains stylus functionality, inherited from the Note series, perfect for note-taking and productivity. While some Bluetooth features are removed, the S Pen remains a differentiating feature unavailable on OnePlus devices.
Software & Longevity:
Samsung promises seven years of OS and security updates, surpassing OnePlus’ four years of OS and five years of security patches, making it ideal for long-term users—even though battery degradation over time may be a consideration.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | OnePlus 15 | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.78″ AMOLED, 165Hz, 1800 nits | 6.9″ QHD AMOLED, 120Hz, 2600 nits |
| Weight | 211g / 215g | 218g |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
| Dimensions | 76.7 × 161.4 × 8.1mm | 77.6 × 162.8 × 8.2mm |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Battery | 7,300mAh, 80W wired, 50W wireless | 5,000mAh, 45W wired, 15W wireless |
| Camera | 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto (3.5x), 32MP front | 200MP wide, 50MP tele (5x), 10MP tele (3x), 50MP ultrawide, 12MP front |
| Price | $899 | $1,299 |
Verdict
The OnePlus 15 stands out as the better value option, offering superior battery life, improved water usability, greater durability, and a significantly lower price. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra excels in display quality, stylus support, and long-term software updates, making it a better choice for those prioritizing premium visuals and longevity.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to what buyers value more: affordability and dependability with the OnePlus 15, or premium features and future-proof software with the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
