iPhone 15 vs OnePlus 12R: A Deep Dive into Performance, Battery, and Value

The iPhone 15 represents Apple's latest mainstream offering, while the OnePlus 12R aims to deliver flagship-level performance at a more accessible price point. This comparison dissects the core differences between these two devices, focusing on real-world usability and identifying which phone best suits different user needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For users deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem prioritizing seamless integration and a refined camera experience, the iPhone 15 remains a strong choice. However, the OnePlus 12R delivers comparable performance with significantly faster charging and superior battery endurance, making it the winner for Android enthusiasts and power users.

PHONES
Phone Names Apple iPhone 15 OnePlus 12R
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 53, 66 - A30901, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A30901, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2023, September 122024, January 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, September 22Available. Released 2024, February 06
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame, glass back
Dimensions147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm (5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 in)163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm (6.43 x 2.96 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight171 g (6.03 oz)207 g (7.30 oz)
Display
ProtectionCeramic Shield glassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1179 x 2556 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~461 ppi density)1264 x 2780 pixels (~450 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~86.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 2000 nits (peak)LTPO4 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1600 nits (HBM), 4500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUHexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetApple A16 Bionic (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUApple GPU (5-core graphics)Adreno 740
OSiOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1Android 14, up to 3 major Android upgrades, OxygenOS 15
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual48 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 0.7µm-
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec.4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, Dolby Vision HDRHDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.0µm
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, DisplayPortUSB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band
Features
SensorsFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
ChargingWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update 4.5W reverse wired100W wired, 100% in 26 min
TypeLi-Ion 3349 mAhLi-Ion 5500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Blue, Green, Yellow, PinkIron Gray, Cool Blue, Electric Violet, Sunset Dune
ModelsA3090, A2846, A3089, A3092, iPhone15,4CPH2609, CPH2585, CPH2611
Price€ 519.00 / $ 396.00 / £ 449.99 / ₹ 50,990€ 410.84 / $ 399.95 / £ 649.00
SAR1.12 W/kg (head)     1.14 W/kg (body)1.19 W/kg (head)     0.82 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.98 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)-

Apple iPhone 15

  • Superior peak display brightness for outdoor visibility
  • Optimized software and ecosystem integration
  • Strong video recording capabilities (assumed)

  • Slower charging speeds compared to OnePlus 12R
  • Lower battery endurance in active use
  • Ecosystem lock-in

OnePlus 12R

  • Blazing-fast 100W wired charging
  • Longer battery life in real-world usage
  • More affordable price point

  • Lower peak display brightness
  • Android ecosystem fragmentation
  • Wireless charging absent

Display Comparison

The iPhone 15 boasts a peak brightness of 1643 nits, significantly outshining the OnePlus 12R’s 1181 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both utilize OLED technology, the iPhone 15’s display is likely to offer more accurate color reproduction, a hallmark of Apple’s displays. The OnePlus 12R, however, benefits from a larger screen size (assumed, based on typical OnePlus offerings) which may appeal to media consumers. The iPhone 15’s support for Qi2 wireless charging is a future-proofing step, though it requires iOS 17.2.

Camera Comparison

The context data only indicates 'Photo / Video' capabilities for the iPhone 15, lacking specific sensor details. However, Apple typically prioritizes computational photography and video quality. The OnePlus 12R’s camera specifications are also absent, but OnePlus generally focuses on delivering versatile camera systems. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. However, Apple’s image processing pipeline is renowned for its natural-looking results, while OnePlus often leans towards more vibrant, saturated colors. The absence of details on OIS and aperture sizes hinders a complete assessment.

Performance

The OnePlus 12R leverages the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm), an octa-core processor with a Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.2 GHz. This contrasts with the iPhone 15’s Apple A16 Bionic (4nm), a hexa-core chip. While core count differs, both are built on a 4nm process, ensuring excellent efficiency. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is known for its strong GPU performance, potentially giving the OnePlus 12R an edge in graphically demanding games. However, Apple’s A16 Bionic excels in single-core performance and optimized software integration, leading to a fluid user experience. The iPhone 15’s RAM configuration is not specified, but the OnePlus 12R likely features LPDDR5x RAM, contributing to faster data transfer speeds.

Battery Life

The OnePlus 12R demonstrates a clear advantage in battery endurance with an active use score of 14:32h, exceeding the iPhone 15’s 13:20h. More significantly, the 12R’s 100W wired charging allows for a full charge in just 26 minutes, a stark contrast to the iPhone 15’s 30-minute 50% charge. The iPhone 15 offers 15W wireless charging via MagSafe and Qi2, but the OnePlus 12R lacks wireless charging. The OnePlus 12R also includes 4.5W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the iPhone 15.

Buying Guide

Buy the Apple iPhone 15 if you need a tightly integrated ecosystem, prioritize video recording quality, and value Apple's software support. Buy the OnePlus 12R if you prefer Android's customization options, demand blazing-fast 100W charging, and prioritize maximizing battery life without sacrificing performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the OnePlus 12R get hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a thermally efficient chip, and the OnePlus 12R likely incorporates a robust cooling system. While some heat generation is inevitable during prolonged gaming, the 4nm process and optimized thermal design should prevent significant throttling, maintaining consistent performance.
❓ Is the lack of wireless charging on the OnePlus 12R a significant drawback?
For users who heavily rely on wireless charging, its absence is a notable omission. However, the incredibly fast 100W wired charging largely mitigates this, allowing for a full charge in under 30 minutes. Many users will find the speed of wired charging a more practical benefit.
❓ How does the A16 Bionic's performance translate to everyday tasks on the iPhone 15?
The A16 Bionic delivers exceptionally smooth and responsive performance for all everyday tasks, from browsing and social media to video editing and multitasking. Apple’s tight software integration further enhances this experience, resulting in a fluid and lag-free user interface.
❓ What iOS 17.2 update brings to the iPhone 15's wireless charging capabilities?
The iOS 17.2 update enables support for the Qi2 wireless charging standard on the iPhone 15. Qi2 offers improved efficiency and alignment compared to the older Qi standard, potentially leading to faster and more reliable wireless charging speeds.