Phone (3a)
OnePlus 15
🏆 Verdict
OnePlus 15 is the better pick overall by 32 points, leading in Charging, Performance and Battery. The gap is large; Phone (3a) only makes sense for a lower price or one specific feature.
Phone (3a) offers more for the money ($379 vs $899 at launch).
By category
Performance
OnePlus 15 is faster with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (performance index 100 vs 52). You notice it in heavy games and video editing, less in daily use. OnePlus 15 has more RAM (16 GB vs 12 GB), which helps multitasking.
Camera
OnePlus 15 zooms further optically (3.5× vs 2×).
Battery
OnePlus 15's battery is 2,300 mAh larger (7,300 vs 5,000 mAh), about 46% more. Real battery life also depends on chip and display efficiency.
Charging
OnePlus 15 charges faster over cable (120W vs 50W). Only OnePlus 15 supports wireless charging.
Display
OnePlus 15 has the larger screen (6.78" vs 6.77"). OnePlus 15's display is smoother at 165Hz vs 120Hz. Phone (3a)'s screen gets brighter (3,000 vs 1,800 nits), which shows outdoors. OnePlus 15's screen is sharper (450 vs 388 ppi).
Build & durability
OnePlus 15 is rated IP69 vs IP64 on the other.
Updates
OnePlus 15 should get OS updates for longer (4 vs 3 years, per the maker's policy at launch).
Specifications
| Phone (3a) | OnePlus 15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| 8 GB / 12 GB | RAM | 12 GB / 16 GB |
| 128 GB / 256 GB | Storage | 256 GB / 512 GB |
| 6.77" AMOLED | Display | 6.78" LTPO AMOLED |
| 120 Hz | Refresh rate | 165 Hz |
| 2392×1080 (388 ppi) | Resolution | 2772×1272 (450 ppi) |
| 3,000 nits | Peak brightness | 1,800 nits |
| 50 MP | Main camera | 50 MP |
| 8 MP | Ultrawide | 50 MP |
| 50 MP · 2× | Telephoto | 50 MP · 3.5× |
| 32 MP | Front camera | 32 MP |
| 5,000 mAh | Battery | 7,300 mAh |
| 50 W | Wired charging | 120 W |
| None | Wireless charging | 50 W |
| IP64 | Water & dust rating | IP69 |
| plastic | Frame | aluminium |
| 201 g | Weight | 211 g |
| 3 years | OS updates (estimated) | 4 years |
| $379 | Launch price | $899 |
| 2025-03 | Released | 2025-10 |
Official source: Phone (3a) · Official source: OnePlus 15
⚠ Data pending confirmation: OnePlus 15
Phone (3a)
Pros
- 3,000 nits peak
- Lower price ($379)
Cons
- Slower chip
- Smaller battery
- Slower charging (50W)
- No wireless charging
OnePlus 15
Pros
- Faster chip (Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5)
- 16 GB RAM
- 3.5× optical zoom
- 7,300 mAh battery
- 120W charging
Cons
- Dimmer screen
- Pricier ($899)
How is the score calculated?
Each phone gets 0–100 points in seven categories (performance, camera, battery, charging, display, build, updates), computed only from its published specs, then combined with fixed, published weights. A gap under 2.5 points counts as a tie. The performance index is an estimate based on benchmark results published at launch.
Figures come from the manufacturers’ official pages. Some specs vary by market. We do not sell devices or earn commissions.