Specs and Speed
The OnePlus 15R comes with a big 6.83-inch AMOLED display with a up to 165Hz refresh rate. It runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor and uses OxygenOS 16, based on Android 16, out of the box. It is backed by a huge 7,400mAh battery along with support for 80W fast wired charging.
Pros
- Fantastic 6.83-inch AMOLED display with 165Hz refresh rate
- Massive 7,400 mAh battery
- 80W wired charging
- Fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor
- IP66, IP68, IP69, IP69K dust and water resistance
Cons
- No telephoto lens
- Big form factor
- Only four years of OS updates
Safe Choice
The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE comes with a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and is powered by the Exynos 2400 chipset. It has a 4,900mAh battery and features a triple-camera system led by a 50MP main sensor. This device also supports several Galaxy AI features.
Pros
- Super 6.7-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED display
- Telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom
- Wireless charging support
- Excellent Galaxy AI features suite
- Seven years of OS updates
Cons
- Smaller 4,900 mAh battery
- Charging brick not included in the box
- Exynos 2400 is noticeably less powerful than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5
Both phones are priced below $799, typical of flagship phones, but they are also not quite as affordable as entry-level flagships. So, if you’re looking for a premium mid-range smartphone, when comparing the OnePlus 15R vs. Galaxy S25 FE, which one is the better fit for you? Let’s take a closer look at how they compare.
OnePlus 15R vs Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: Pricing and availability
While previous OnePlus R-series phones offered more affordable pricing, OnePlus has priced the 15R at a relatively steep $699 in the U.S. The base variant includes 256GB of onboard storage and 12GB of RAM, while upgrading to the 512GB variant costs an additional $100.
At the time of writing, the OnePlus 15R is currently available for pre-orders in the U.S. and UK, with open sales beginning on January 8, 2026. That said, the phone is already available for purchase in a few markets, including India.
The OnePlus 15R comes in two color options, Charcoal Black and Mint Breeze, while a third option, Electric Violet, is exclusive to the Indian market.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is priced lower than the OnePlus 15R, starting at $649, but that base variant includes only 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. The upside is that upgrading to the 256GB version costs just $50, bringing the price in line with the OnePlus 15R. The Galaxy S25 FE is available in four colors, including Icyblue, Jetblack, Navy, and White.
OnePlus 15R vs Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: Design and build
For the past few years, Samsung’s Galaxy Fan Edition phones have followed a fairly minimal design language, closely resembling the base and Plus models, and that is exactly what you get with the Galaxy S25 FE. It features a clean, minimalist design with a plain glass back, three vertically stacked camera sensors, and flat edges. One notable detail across all color options is the silver aluminum side rails.
On the OnePlus 15R, you also get a simple design, though with a slightly larger camera module than the S25 FE despite housing only two sensors. It features rounded corners, flat edges, and an aluminum alloy frame.
In terms of dimensions, the Galaxy S25 FE has a smaller footprint than the OnePlus 15R. Samsung has given the S25 FE a Galaxy S25 Edge-like treatment by trimming down its thickness, which is quite noticeable.
The Galaxy S25 FE measures 161.3 x 76.6 x 7.4mm, while the OnePlus 15R measures 163.4 x 77 x 8.3mm. There is also a clear weight difference, with the OnePlus 15R weighing significantly more than the Galaxy S25 FE at 219g versus 190g.
When it comes to durability, however, the OnePlus 15R pulls ahead. OnePlus claims the phone carries four IP ratings, including IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K. This means it is resistant not only to splashes and water immersion but also to high-pressure hot water sprays.
While such conditions are unlikely in real-world use, it still highlights the device’s durability. The Galaxy S25 FE is no slouch either, with an IP68 rating that protects against water immersion for a limited time.
Up front, the OnePlus 15R offers a larger display than the Galaxy S25 FE. It features a 6.83-inch AMOLED panel with a refresh rate up to 165Hz and a peak brightness of 3,600 nits. That said, the glass used here is the slightly less robust Gorilla Glass 7i.
The Galaxy S25 FE comes with a more compact 6.7-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display that supports up to 120Hz refresh rate. Its peak brightness tops out at 1,900 nits. Samsung does, however, use the more premium Gorilla Glass Victus Plus for display protection, which is similar to what we see on its flagship smartphones.
OnePlus 15R vs Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: Hardware and specs
One of the biggest differences between flagship Galaxy smartphones and Fan Edition models has always been the chipset, and that remains true with the Galaxy S25 FE. While the Galaxy S25 uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite, at least in the U.S., the Galaxy S25 FE relies on Samsung’s own Exynos 2400 processor. It is capable enough for everyday use, but it is no match for flagship Qualcomm processors.
The OnePlus 15R, on the other hand, runs on Qualcomm’s latest flagship-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset. This is the sub-flagship processor introduced alongside the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, but it still brings custom Oryon CPU cores and much of the flagship experience at a lower price point.
One thing that stood out in our OnePlus 15R review was its performance. While it does not match the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, we had no issues with gaming or overall performance during daily use.
|
Category |
OnePlus 15R |
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE |
|---|---|---|
|
OS |
Android 16, OxygenOS 16 Four years of OS upgrades |
Android 16, One UI 8 Seven years of OS upgrades |
|
Display |
6.83-inch, AMOLED, 1272 x 2800 pixels, 165 Hz, Gorilla Glass 7i |
6.7-inch, Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 1080 x 2340 pixels, 120 Hz |
|
Processor |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 |
Samsung Exynos 2400 |
|
RAM |
12GB |
8GB |
|
Storage |
256GB, 512GB |
128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
|
Rear cameras |
50MP main + 8MP ultrawide |
50MP main + 8MP telephoto (3x) + 12MP ultrawide |
|
Front camera |
32MP |
12MP |
|
Ingress protection |
IP66, IP68, IP69, IP69K |
IP68 |
|
Connectivity |
Global 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, Infrared port |
Global 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC |
|
Security |
Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic) |
Fingerprint (under display, optical) |
|
Battery |
7,400 mAh |
4,900 mAh |
|
Charging |
80W USB-C fast charging No wireless charging |
45W USB-C fast wired charging 15W wireless, Qi2 compatible |
|
Dimensions and weight |
163.4 x 77 x 8.3 mm; 219g |
161.3 x 76.6 x 7.4 mm; 190g |
|
Colors |
Charcoal Black, Mnt Breeze, Electric Violet |
Icyblue, jetblack, navy, white |
When it comes to internal storage, the OnePlus 15R starts with 256GB and offers an option to upgrade to 512 GB. The Galaxy S25 FE starts at 128GB of storage, with 256GB and 512GB options also available.
RAM is another area where the OnePlus 15R has a clear advantage. It comes with 12GB of RAM as standard across all variants, while the Galaxy S25 FE tops out at 8GB of RAM even on the 512GB model.
As expected, neither phone offers a microSD card slot. One added bonus on the OnePlus 15R is the infrared port, which lets you control appliances like TVs and streaming devices.
When it comes to battery life and charging, OnePlus has long led this category among Android smartphones, and the OnePlus 15R only extends that lead. The OnePlus 15R packs a massive 7,400mAh battery with 80W fast charging, which should comfortably last a full day of use.
The Galaxy S25 FE comes with a respectable 4,900 mAh battery, which is solid by Samsung standards but small compared to the OnePlus 15R. It supports up to 45W fast charging and also includes Qi2 15W wireless charging, something you do not get on the OnePlus 15R.
Of course, battery life varies by usage, but if I had to pick one blindly, the OnePlus 15R would be my choice.
Turning to software, both smartphones run custom versions of Android. The OnePlus 15R and Galaxy S25 FE ship with Android 16 out of the box, with the former running OxygenOS 16 and the latter running Samsung’s One UI 8.
Both offer plenty of features and AI tools designed to make daily use easier, though Samsung’s software suite is arguably among the best available on Android. Features like Circle to Search, object eraser in the Gallery app, and AI-assisted writing are available on both devices.
Where the Galaxy S25 FE clearly pulls ahead is long-term software support. Samsung promises up to seven major OS updates for the Galaxy S25 FE, compared to OnePlus’ four years of major OS updates for the 15R. There are also additional Galaxy-only benefits, such as wireless Samsung DeX, which lets you turn your phone into a portable computing setup when paired with a monitor and mouse.
OnePlus 15R vs Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: Cameras
Turning our attention to the cameras, the Galaxy S25 FE clearly pulls ahead. It ships with a 50MP primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and features like dual-pixel PDAF and optical image stabilization (OIS). This is paired with a 12MP ultra-wide sensor offering a 123-degree field of view, along with an 8MP telephoto sensor that supports up to 3x optical zoom.
The OnePlus 15R drops the telephoto camera altogether and includes only a 50MP primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and an 8MP ultra-wide sensor with a 112-degree field of view.
Because there is no dedicated telephoto lens, optical zoom is limited to a 2x crop from the primary sensor. As a result, images at higher zoom levels tend to look softer and more grainy from the OnePlus 15R.
For video, both phones support recording up to 4K at 120 fps, but the Galaxy S25 FE also offers 8K video at up to 30 fps. We have not yet tested the cameras side by side, but based purely on on-paper specifications, the Galaxy S25 FE appears to be the stronger option.
OnePlus 15R vs Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: Which should you buy?
When it comes to choosing between the OnePlus 15R and the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, it is quite clear that these two smartphones are built for very different types of users.
The Galaxy S25 FE is a solid choice for anyone looking for a balanced smartphone with a capable processor, a versatile camera setup, long-term software support, an excellent display, and a well-rounded battery and charging experience.
The OnePlus 15R, on the other hand, is a performance-focused device that may fall behind on cameras but delivers near-flagship performance along with class-leading battery life and charging. Ultimately, it comes down to where your priorities lie and which category you fit into.
Performance First
The OnePlus 15R is a performance-packed smartphone powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset and paired with up to 512GB of onboard storage. You also get excellent battery life thanks to the 7,400 mAh battery and 80W fast charging combination, along with a strong display and stereo speaker setup.
Everyday All-rounder
The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is a well-balanced Fan Edition smartphone that delivers a solid all-around experience. It offers class-leading software support, a great display for media consumption, and a dependable balance of battery life and day-to-day performance.
