'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQL/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAANyryX//xAAdEAACAQUBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAACAwEABAURISJR/9oACAEBAAE/AH4vMhlcw+3ybYB8qhSzuTIV+9lOtc5VoDgtEA5ssMQGCL7OuzX/xAAVEQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAv/aAAgBAgEBPwCX/8QAFREBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL/2gAIAQMBAT8Ap//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The OnePlus 15 and Samsung Galaxy S25 are two flagship smartphones known for their camera prowess. The former is a newly launched mobile phone, while the latter has been selling for almost a year now.
Moreover, Samsung's S series phones are extremely popular in the Indian Android flagship market thanks to their excellent camera performance. Is the new OnePlus 15 better than the Galaxy S25 for photography and in other aspects? Let's find out in this detailed comparison of the two smartphones.
OnePlus 15 vs Samsung Galaxy S25: Detailed comparison
Specs comparison
Here are the specs of the OnePlus 15 and Samsung Galaxy S25:
Trending
The major differences between the two phones are in the processor, camera, and battery. However, there are some other differences as well. Let's start this comparison with the design and display section.
Design, build quality, and display
Both the OnePlus 15 and Samsung Galaxy S25 have excellent build quality, featuring aluminium frames and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front for added protection, strength, and rigidity.
However, the rear glass of the OnePlus phone only has Gorilla Glass 7i, which is not as strong as the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 found on the Samsung phone's rear glass. At the same time, the OnePlus 15's frosted/etched matte back finish makes it next to impossible to get scratches. Therefore, overall, it's a tie between the two phones in terms of build quality.
When it comes to design, both phones boast a modest look and nothing out of the ordinary. Therefore, it comes down to your taste.
The display quality and clarity of the two smartphones are also similar, but there's a huge difference in size. The OnePlus 15 features a larger screen, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 has a smaller screen and is more compact. The former also has Dolby Vision certifications and a higher 165 Hz refresh rate. Therefore, the OnePus phone wins in the display area, but not by a huge amount.
Performance, gaming, and software
Performance is one aspect where the OnePlus phone wins by a decent margin. It has the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which is a generation newer and around 30% faster than the Snapdragon 8 Elite found in the Samsung Galaxy S25.
The naming of the newest processor may seem odd. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 may sound like it's five generations ahead of the 8 Elite, but that's not true. You can blame Qualcomm for this confusion. Its flagship processors used to be called Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, 2, and 3, but then the company changed the naming scheme and started calling the 8 Gen 3's successor the Snapdragon 8 Elite instead of Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. Now, it has changed the naming pattern once again and decided to call its latest chipset "Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5."
Therefore, there's just one generation difference between the processors of the two phones. The OnePlus 15 is only about 30% faster, depending on the app or game you are running. Both smartphones also feature decently large vapour chambers to keep their temperatures down and maintain proper performance.
When it comes to the software side of things, both phones have custom Android skins. I personally prefer Samsung's OneUI, but that's a subjective consideration. I used to love OnePlus's OxygenOS before, but now it is just ColorOS wrapped in an OxygenOS theme, so it's not the same thing. Therefore, my current preference is OneUI, but users are free to choose OxygenOS.
Memory and storage
The OnePlus 15 comes in multiple RAM and storage configurations, including a 1 TB storage variant, that too a faster UFS 4.1 type storage. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S25 has only 12 GB of RAM, although this phone also offers multiple storage options. However, its storage type is UFS 4.0, which is slightly slower than the one in the OnePlus phone. Therefore, the OnePlus 15 wins here, but only by a small margin.
Camera performance
The OnePlus 15 features a 50+50+50MP rear camera setup, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 is equipped with a 50+10+12MP rear camera setup. However, higher megapixels don't necessarily mean better camera performance, and we have seen many examples of that.
That said, in this case, the OnePlus 15 does win in terms of camera. However, it's not due to higher megapixel numbers, but the actual optimisations and better signal processing algorithm by OnePlus this time around.
The OnePlus phone's main camera is only slightly better than the Samsung one during daylight, but it's much better at night. That's because OnePlus uses a stacked HDR exposure shot to get a much wider HDR and capture more light.
When it comes to ultrawide shots, the OnePlus 15 wins in terms of details and low-light performance. However, the Samsung Galaxy S25 manages to capture a wider field of view (FOV), which is more important in group shots. Therefore, it's a tie between the two phones when it comes to ultrawide shots.
However, the OnePlus 15 wins again in telephoto shots. Its 3.5x zoomed shots manage to capture more details, better colour contrast, and a bit more clarity. These improvements are also seen in video recording. Even the selfie camera in the OnePlus phone was much better. Essentially, it's a win for OnePlus in terms of camera performance.
Battery, charging, and pricing
The 7,000mAh battery inside the OnePlus 15 is a clear winner here. It easily delivers around two hours of battery life with mixed usage, while the Galaxy S25 barely manages to last a full day with the same usage.
Moreover, OnePlus smartphones have historically provided faster wired and wireless charging, and it's no different this time. The OnePlus phone wins again. It is currently selling for around ₹72,999 on Amazon, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 costs ₹80,999.
Which is the better smartphone?
The OnePlus 15 is a clear winner, not just in camera but in almost every other aspect. It has a better-performing main and telephoto camera than the Samsung phone, but ties in terms of ultrawide camera performance. The OnePlus smartphone also delivers better low-light photography.
You will also find the OnePlus 15 to be a better smartphone in terms of display, performance, storage, battery, and charging. It is also cheaper. However, while it does seem to be the better phone, public perception of Samsung's S-series phones is generally higher in India.
Therefore, it will be a tough battle for the OnePlus 15. Also, notably, it is better than the Samsung Galaxy 25 but not the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which is even more expensive.
