OnePlus has launched its much-awaited OnePlus 15 in India, introducing a refreshed flagship powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. As the successor to the OnePlus 13, the new model enters the premium smartphone segment, competing directly with Apple’s iPhone 17. With both devices targeting high-end users, their pricing, features and performance place them among the most talked-about flagships of the year. Here is an in-depth comparison of the OnePlus 15 and the iPhone 17 to help buyers make an informed decision.

Prices

The OnePlus 15 has been introduced at a starting price of ₹72,999 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant, while the 16GB RAM with 512GB storage option is priced at ₹75,999. The phone is available in three colour options — Ultra Violet, Sand Storm and Infinite Black.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 begins at ₹82,900 for the 256GB base variant, and the 512GB variant is listed at ₹1,02,900 in India. Apple offers the device in White, Black, Sage and Mist Blue shades.

OnePlus continues to maintain a more affordable pricing strategy compared to Apple, especially in terms of specifications offered at similar price points.

Display

The OnePlus 15 sports a 6.78-inch QHD+ AMOLED display (1272×2772 pixels) with a refresh rate of up to 165Hz. It delivers 1800 nits of peak brightness and runs OxygenOS 16 out of the box. The high refresh rate and QHD+ resolution are targeted at users seeking smooth scrolling, fluid animations and gaming performance.

Apple’s iPhone 17 features a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, protected by the Ceramic Shield 2 layer. The device offers a variable refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz, powered by Apple’s adaptive ProMotion technology. While not as high as OnePlus’s 165Hz, the 120Hz panel is optimised for battery efficiency and Apple ecosystem integration.

Battery and processor

The OnePlus 15 stands out with a 7300mAh silicon-carbon battery, significantly larger than most premium smartphones. It supports 120W SuperVOOC fast charging and 50W AirVIIC wireless charging, enabling rapid top-ups for heavy users.

Apple, as usual, does not reveal exact battery capacity but claims up to 30 hours of video playback and 27 hours of streaming. The iPhone 17 supports Qi and Qi2 wireless charging standards and can fast charge using a 20W–40W adapter, which must be purchased separately.

Performance-wise, the OnePlus 15 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, built on a 3nm architecture with an octa-core configuration. It includes two performance cores and six efficiency cores, offering advanced gaming capabilities.

The iPhone 17 runs on Apple’s A19 Bionic chip, promising top-tier performance, thermal efficiency and AI-driven enhancements through Apple Intelligence.

Camera

The OnePlus 15 features a triple-camera setup on the rear. It includes a:

  • 50MP Sony IMX906 primary sensor
  • 50MP Samsung JN5 telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom
  • 50MP OV50D ultrawide lens with a 116-degree field of view

For selfies, it houses a 32MP Sony IMX709 front camera.

The iPhone 17 carries a 48MP primary sensor and a 48MP ultra-wide lens on the rear. On the front, it offers an 18MP selfie camera, integrated with Apple’s computational photography enhancements.

While OnePlus offers higher megapixel counts and zoom capabilities, Apple focuses on colour accuracy, consistency and software-driven image quality.

Dimensions and additional features

The OnePlus 15 measures 161.4 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm and weighs 215 grams, making it noticeably larger and heavier. The iPhone 17, on the other hand, measures 149.6 x 71.5 x 9.5 mm and weighs 177 grams, offering better one-hand usability.

Both devices support Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.0. In terms of AI, Apple offers Apple Intelligence, while OnePlus integrates Gemini AI and Plus Mind to improve user experience.

Which one to buy?

Both the OnePlus 15 and the iPhone 17 deliver strong performance, reliable battery life and polished software experiences. The choice ultimately depends on user preferences:

  • Choose OnePlus 15 if you prefer Android, want a bigger battery, faster charging, a higher refresh rate, or better value for money.
  • Choose iPhone 17 if you prefer iOS, want tighter ecosystem integration, better long-term software support and Apple’s renowned camera processing.

For premium smartphone buyers, both devices offer compelling reasons to upgrade, making the decision more about the ecosystem and price than pure hardware.