Oneplus 15 Vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: I've Used Both Android Flagships, And Here's Who Wins

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OnePlus has announced its caller flagship telephone earlier than expected. The OnePlus 15 is here, and it takes connected nan heavyweights for illustration Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra without costing a 1000 dollars (unless you configure it pinch much retention and RAM). It offers a large and agleam display, nan latest Qualcomm flagship processor, a immense battery, and overmuch more. 

So, should anyone bargain nan Galaxy S25 Ultra successful today's market? It turns out, location are still respective reasons to outpouring for Samsung's flagship, moreover if OnePlus is nan caller hotness.

Also: Forget Samsung S25 Ultra: This OnePlus flagship thumps nan Android elephantine successful meaningful ways

If you are undecided betwixt nan 2 phones aliases conscionable want to comparison nan latest OnePlus 15 to nan Galaxy S25 Ultra, you're successful nan correct place. I compared nan 2 flagships below, and here's nan 1 that'll amended suit your needs.

You should bargain nan OnePlus 15 if…

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1. You want a much durable phone

The OnePlus 15 is IP68 and IP69 rated for particulate and h2o resistance, whereas nan Galaxy S25 Ultra offers an IP68 rating. For nan unaware, IP68 is for submersion, while nan second is for h2o jets astatine temperatures up to 80°C, ensuring nan instrumentality tin withstand moreover much utmost conditions. These are much important successful day-to-day use, acknowledgment to a surface that tin withstand h2o droplets.

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You can't usage a Samsung aliases Apple phone's surface successful a drizzle aliases astir nan excavation because nan h2o droplets registry clone touches. I could beryllium replying to a matter connection and person to swipe disconnected nan surface consistently to get my connection right. By contrast, nan OnePlus 15's show allows you to interact pinch nan surface moreover erstwhile it's covered successful h2o droplets. This intends I tin alteration songs successful nan ablution and matter a friend adjacent a excavation without worrying astir h2o getting wrong nan telephone aliases interfering pinch my screen.

If you opt for nan Sand Storm variant, you get a much durable frame. According to OnePlus, this "MAO-treated mediate frame" offers amended durability than different variants -- making nan OnePlus 15 much durable for regular usage than nan Galaxy S25 Ultra.

2. You request your telephone to past much than a day

The OnePlus 15 features a 7,300mAh artillery capacity, which reportedly incorporates 15% silicon contented successful nan anode for enhanced power density (compared to nan manufacture modular of 10% silicon contented presently successful use). By comparison, nan Galaxy S25 Ultra sports an ageing 5,000mAh artillery capacity. In my usage, some these phones lasted longer than I expected, but that's because I kept my expectations debased erstwhile utilizing nan Samsung flagship.

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I've been utilizing nan OnePlus 15 for a week now. Yesterday, I began my time astatine 8 a.m. to spell to a conference. I utilized societal media apps for illustration WhatsApp, Instagram, captured a batch of photos utilizing nan default Camera app, navigated utilizing Maps, and listened to euphony connected Spotify. By meal time, I had 40% artillery near connected my phone.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra wouldn't past maine done nan evening connected days for illustration these pinch dense usage. On nan OnePlus 15, I've consistently clocked 9 hours of surface clip and still had plentifulness of artillery near for doomscrolling earlier bed. If you want your telephone to easy past you a time and spell up to 2 days connected mean usage, nan OnePlus 15 is your champion bet. And erstwhile you are debased connected battery, it'll besides complaint faster astatine 80W, arsenic compared to Samsung's 45W accelerated charging.

3. $200 successful savings sounds bully to you

The OnePlus 15 is powered by nan Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, arsenic compared to past year's Snapdragon 8 Elite connected nan Galaxy S25 Ultra. OnePlus has paired it pinch a 1.5K solution and 165Hz refresh rate-supported show alongside a ample vapor cooling system. It is arguably much powerful than nan Samsung flagship without breaking nan bank.

If you are fond of mobile games but don't want to walk much than $1,000 to get nan astir powerful flagship telephone connected nan market, nan OnePlus 15 would service you well. It is priced astatine $899 for nan guidelines variant, arsenic compared to nan Galaxy S25 Ultra's motorboat value of $1,300.

You should bargain nan Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if…

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

1. You want nan champion show connected a phone

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra builds upon nan already class-leading Galaxy S24 Ultra display. It added a amended anti-reflective coating to connection a much color-accurate display. This improves surface legibility successful some indoor lighting and nonstop sunlight. It's a pleasing surface for consuming content, reading, and browsing nan web. In fact, nan Galaxy S25 Ultra has my favourite show connected immoderate smartphone I've utilized truthful far.

Also: Why nan Samsung S25 Ultra is still my favourite Android telephone this twelvemonth - particularly astatine this price

In comparison, nan OnePlus 15 features a lower-resolution show and lacks an anti-reflective coating. It is still large and agleam pinch narrower bezels, but it doesn't person nan aforesaid pleasing-to-look-at experience. I'd emotion for Samsung to get OnePlus' AquaTouch exertion for amended usability successful definite environments. That said, I'd prime nan Galaxy S25 Ultra complete OnePlus' caller flagship telephone for contented depletion immoderate day.

2. An S Pen stylus intrigues you

Samsung has repositioned nan S Pen complete nan years -- moving it from nan Note lineup to nan Galaxy S series. It removed definite Bluetooth capabilities from nan Galaxy S25 this year. However, it is still fantabulous for jotting down speedy ideas and notes connected your phone.

If you for illustration penning connected your phone's screen, nan Galaxy S25 Ultra is nan only high-end telephone to connection this feature. Remember, you nary longer get features for illustration a distant camera shutter button, but it still comes successful useful astatine meetings. In contrast, nan OnePlus 15 lacks this capability.

3. You want longer package support

OnePlus is offering 4 years of OS support and 5 years of information updates pinch nan caller OnePlus 15. It runs Android 16 retired of nan box. In comparison, nan Galaxy S25 Ultra was launched pinch Android 15-based One UI 7 and received its first OS upgrade a mates of months ago.

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Despite that, it will past you longer than nan OnePlus 15 -- Samsung offers 7 years of OS and information updates. If you bargain nan Galaxy S25 Ultra correct now, it will past you 1 twelvemonth longer than nan OnePlus 15, provided you're good pinch nan overtime degradation successful artillery life.

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