iPhone 16 Plus vs OnePlus 15
This is a classic rivalry: the iPhone 16 Plus against the OnePlus 15, Apple against OnePlus, both in flagship smartphone territory. Taken area by area, the OnePlus 15 wins 4 of 5. That doesn’t make the iPhone 16 Plus a bad choice, but it does set the baseline.
At a glance
- Display OnePlus 15 wins
- Performance Tie
- Memory & Storage OnePlus 15 wins
- Camera OnePlus 15 wins
- Battery & Charging OnePlus 15 wins
- Price iPhone 16 Plus wins
- Display0.0
- Memory & Storage1.8
- Camera1.7
- Display10.0
- Memory & Storage3.6
- Camera5.3
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The OnePlus 15 has a 165 Hz display instead of 60 Hz
If refresh rate is one of your priorities, this settles it: the OnePlus 15 leads clearly with 165 Hz to the iPhone 16 Plus’s 60 Hz. A higher refresh rate makes scrolling, animations and games look smoother. Once you’re used to it, a lower-rate screen can feel sluggish by comparison.
-
The OnePlus 15 has 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB
The numbers aren’t close. The OnePlus 15 lists 256 GB for base storage, while the iPhone 16 Plus lists 128 GB. Base storage is what you get without paying extra. Photos, videos and apps add up quickly, so more space at the entry price is real value.
-
The OnePlus 15 has an extra rear camera
A clear win for the OnePlus 15: 3 against 2. Few specs in this matchup are as one-sided. An extra rear camera usually means another focal length (ultra-wide, telephoto or macro) and more freedom in framing.
-
The iPhone 16 Plus has a 0.42 oz lighter build
Only a little separates them: 7.02 oz on the iPhone 16 Plus, 7.44 oz on the OnePlus 15. Weight shows up every time you hold the phone above your face in bed or type one-handed for a long stretch.
-
The OnePlus 15 has a sharper 50 MP ultra-wide
Here the OnePlus 15 pulls well ahead of the iPhone 16 Plus, with 50 MP compared to 12 MP. A sharper ultra-wide keeps more detail at the edges of landscape, architecture and group shots.
Design & Size
- iPhone 16 Plus 6.33 in × 3.06 in × 0.31 in
- OnePlus 15 6.35 in × 3.02 in × 0.32 in
In overall size, the iPhone 16 Plus and the OnePlus 15 are close enough that you’d struggle to tell them apart by dimensions alone. Pick the iPhone 16 Plus and you save 0.42 oz.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 16 Plus | OnePlus 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6.33 in | 6.35 in |
| Width | 3.06 in | 3.02 in |
| Thickness | 0.31 in | 0.32 in |
| Weight | 7.02 oz (winner) | 7.44 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68/IP69 (winner) |
| Frame | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Display
OnePlus 15 leads
For display, the verdict is easy: the OnePlus 15 leads, and not by a little. In its favor, the OnePlus 15 has a 165 Hz display instead of 60 Hz. You notice refresh rate every time you scroll a feed or a web page, which is why the OnePlus 15 feels more fluid in everyday use. Anyone shopping mainly on display should start with the OnePlus 15.
Refresh rate
iPhone 16 Plus: 60 Hz OnePlus 15: 165 Hz Smoother motion is one of the most visible display upgrades, and adaptive high-refresh panels can slow down on static content to save power.
Always-on display
iPhone 16 Plus: no OnePlus 15: yes It’s a small convenience you use many times a day, and on efficient panels the battery cost is modest.
Performance
Too close to call
Swap one for the other and you’d lose nothing on performance. The takeaway: performance is not where these two differ.
CPU cores
iPhone 16 Plus: 6 OnePlus 15: 8 Treat the core count as background information; the chipset name tells you far more about real performance.
Memory & Storage
OnePlus 15 leads
When it comes to memory & storage, the OnePlus 15 is comfortably ahead. The OnePlus 15 stands out with 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB. If you shoot a lot of video or keep music and maps offline, base storage is one of the specs you’ll feel most over the years. So if memory & storage tops your list, lean toward the OnePlus 15.
Base storage
iPhone 16 Plus: 128 GB OnePlus 15: 256 GB The OnePlus 15 starts with more room, which means fewer “storage full” warnings and less time deleting old videos.
Camera
OnePlus 15 leads
If camera is high on your list, the OnePlus 15 makes the stronger case by a wide margin. The OnePlus 15 adds an extra rear camera. More cameras help most when each covers a different view, so check the table to see what the OnePlus 15’s extra lens adds. Net result: the OnePlus 15 leads this part of the comparison.
Rear cameras
iPhone 16 Plus: 2 OnePlus 15: 3 The count alone doesn’t guarantee quality, but the OnePlus 15 gives you more lenses to choose from.
Ultra-wide camera
iPhone 16 Plus: 12 MP OnePlus 15: 50 MP Ultra-wide cameras often lag behind the main one, so the OnePlus 15’s higher resolution helps narrow that gap.
Battery & Charging
OnePlus 15 leads
The OnePlus 15 takes battery & charging by a nose. The OnePlus 15 scores with faster 50 W wireless charging. Faster wireless charging makes a pad or stand more practical as your main way to top up. If battery & charging is your priority, the OnePlus 15 is the phone to pick.
Wireless charging
iPhone 16 Plus: 25 W OnePlus 15: 50 W If you rely on a wireless pad at your desk or bedside, the OnePlus 15 refills quicker there.
Software & Updates
For software & updates, the differences are in the specifics (component names and types), so the table is the place to look.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPhone 16 Plus | OnePlus 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.7 in | 6.8 in |
| Panel type | OLED (Super Retina XDR) | LTPO AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 2772 x 1272 |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | N/A (not specified) |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 165 Hz (winner) Smoothest display in class |
| Peak brightness | 2,000 nits | N/A (not specified) |
| Always-on display | No | Yes (winner) |
Performance
| Spec | iPhone 16 Plus | OnePlus 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A18 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| CPU cores | 6 | 8 |
| Process node | 3 nm | 3 nm |
| RAM | N/A (not specified) | 12 GB |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPhone 16 Plus | OnePlus 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 128 GB | 256 GB (winner) |
| Max storage | 512 GB | 512 GB |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | iPhone 16 Plus | OnePlus 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 48 MP | 50 MP |
| Ultra-wide camera | 12 MP | 50 MP (winner) |
| Telephoto camera | N/A (not specified) | 50 MP |
| Optical zoom | N/A (not specified) | 3.5× |
| Rear cameras | 2 | 3 (winner) |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 32 MP (winner) |
| Max video | 4K60 Dolby Vision | N/A (not specified) |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | iPhone 16 Plus | OnePlus 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | N/A (not specified) | 7,300 mAh Biggest battery in class |
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | 27 h | N/A (not specified) |
| Wired charging | N/A (not specified) | 120 W Fastest wired charging |
| Wireless charging | 25 W | 50 W (winner) |
| Port | USB-C (USB 2) | USB-C (USB 3.2) |
Software & Updates
| Spec | iPhone 16 Plus | OnePlus 15 |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | iOS 18 | OxygenOS 16 (Android 16) |
| Promised OS updatesManufacturer commitment | N/A (not specified) | 4 years |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 16 Plus | OnePlus 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6.33 in | 6.35 in |
| Width | 3.06 in | 3.02 in |
| Thickness | 0.31 in | 0.32 in |
| Weight | 7.02 oz (winner) | 7.44 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68/IP69 (winner) |
| Frame | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Price
| Spec | iPhone 16 Plus | OnePlus 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $899 | $900 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
Only $1 separated these two at launch, in favor of the iPhone 16 Plus. The OnePlus 15 costs $1 more, and for that you get a 165 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB.
These are US launch prices, recorded November 2025; what you pay today may be higher or lower.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone 16 Plus if…
- you want the lighter phone (7.02 oz vs 7.44 oz)
- you want more value for your money ($1 less at launch)
- you already know your way around Apple’s products
Choose the OnePlus 15 if…
- you game or scroll a lot and like motion to look fluid (165 Hz vs 60 Hz)
- you shoot a lot of photos and video (256 GB vs 128 GB base storage)
- you want more lenses to choose from (3 vs 2 rear cameras)
- you often shoot landscapes, buildings or group photos (50 MP vs 12 MP ultra-wide)
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the iPhone 16 Plus or the OnePlus 15?
For most people, the OnePlus 15 is the stronger choice, unless what you want most is a 0.42 oz lighter build.
Is the iPhone 16 Plus bigger than the OnePlus 15?
They’re practically the same size. The difference between the iPhone 16 Plus and the OnePlus 15 is too small to matter.
Which has the better camera, the iPhone 16 Plus or the OnePlus 15?
The OnePlus 15 leads on camera specs thanks to an extra rear camera and a sharper 50 MP ultra-wide. Processing and personal taste also play a big part in photos.
Which has the better screen, the iPhone 16 Plus or the OnePlus 15?
Going by the numbers, the OnePlus 15’s screen comes out ahead: a 165 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and an always-on display.
Which costs less, the iPhone 16 Plus or the OnePlus 15?
The iPhone 16 Plus is the cheaper option, launching at $1 less than the OnePlus 15 (launch prices as of November 2025).
Is the iPhone 16 Plus lighter than the OnePlus 15?
Going by the official figures, the iPhone 16 Plus weighs 0.42 oz less than the OnePlus 15.
Executive Summary
Apple makes the iPhone 16 Plus, OnePlus makes the OnePlus 15, and both want the same spot on your shortlist. Here’s where I land. Honestly, a 165 Hz display instead of 60 Hz on the OnePlus 15 does a lot of the persuading for me. On top of that, the OnePlus 15 adds 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB. That said, the iPhone 16 Plus answers with a 0.42 oz lighter build, which some people will value more.
I’d steer portability fans toward the iPhone 16 Plus and display fans toward the OnePlus 15.
My pick: the OnePlus 15, unless you value a 0.42 oz lighter build above everything else.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.