Meizu 15 Plus vs OnePlus 5: A Detailed Comparison of 2017 Flagships
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user seeking a balance of performance and value, the OnePlus 5 emerges as the slightly better choice. While both phones offer comparable battery endurance (83h), the Snapdragon 835’s generally more efficient thermal profile and wider software support give it a slight edge.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Meizu 15 Plus | OnePlus 5 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| 1, 3, 5, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2018, April. Released 2018, April | 2017, June. Released 2017, June |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 153.8 x 78.3 x 7.3 mm (6.06 x 3.08 x 0.29 in) | 154.2 x 74.1 x 7.3 mm (6.07 x 2.92 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 177 g (6.24 oz) | 153 g (5.40 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~494 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.95 inches, 97.6 cm2 (~81.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~73.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Optic AMOLED |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.5 GHz Mongoose M2 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.45 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo) |
| Chipset | Exynos 8895 (10 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G71 MP20 | Adreno 540 |
| OS | Android 7.1.2 (Nougat), Flyme 7.3 | Android 7.1.1 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 10, OxygenOS 10.0.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 12 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.3", 1.55 µm, dual pixel PDAF, 4-axis OIS 20 MP, 1/2.8", 1.0 µm, AF, portraits only | 16 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.12µm, PDAF 20 MP, f/2.6, 36mm (standard), 1/2.8", 1.0µm, 1.6x optical zoom, AF |
| Features | Laser AF, Six-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | HDR, panorama, dual-LED flash |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@30/120/480fps, Auto HDR |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm | 16 MP, f/2.0, 20mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p (gyro-EIS) |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| - | Dirac HD sound | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, SBAS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 24W wired | 20W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3300 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray, Yakin, Ink | Midnight Black, Slate Gray |
| Models | - | A5000 |
| Price | About 480 EUR | About 500 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -94.1dB / Crosstalk -94.2dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 83h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.914 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 69dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 77dB |
| Performance | GeekBench: 6122 (v4.4) | GeekBench: 6604 (v4.4) GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Meizu 15 Plus
- Potentially more refined software experience (subjective)
- Faster wired charging (24W vs 20W)
- Unique design aesthetic
- Exynos 8895 prone to thermal throttling
- Limited software support and updates
- Less established community
OnePlus 5
- More efficient Snapdragon 835 chipset
- Wider software support and updates
- Larger and more active user community
- Slightly slower wired charging (20W)
- Design may appear less premium to some
- Image processing can be overly aggressive
Display Comparison
Both the Meizu 15 Plus and OnePlus 5 feature displays with an 'infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) and a 3.914 sunlight contrast ratio, suggesting similar outdoor visibility. However, the context data lacks specifics on panel type (AMOLED is highly probable for both) or resolution. Given Meizu’s focus on aesthetics, it’s plausible they invested in a slightly more color-accurate panel, but without detailed measurements, this remains speculative. The OnePlus 5’s display was praised for its color vibrancy, while the Meizu 15 Plus likely aimed for a more natural calibration.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but this provides little insight. The key differentiator would be sensor size and image processing. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, OnePlus generally prioritized fast and reliable image capture, while Meizu often focused on a more stylized, sometimes oversaturated, look. The absence of any mention of advanced features like dual cameras or optical image stabilization (OIS) suggests both phones relied on software processing to enhance image quality. Any 2MP macro or depth sensors, if present, would likely offer limited real-world benefit.
Performance
The core of the performance difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 5’s Snapdragon 835, built on a 10nm process, is known for its efficiency and sustained performance. The Meizu 15 Plus utilizes the Exynos 8895, also 10nm, but with a heterogeneous core configuration – four high-performance Mongoose M2 cores at 2.5 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.7 GHz. While the Mongoose cores theoretically offer higher peak performance, they are known to be less efficient than Qualcomm’s Kryo cores (2.45 GHz and 1.9 GHz in the Snapdragon 835). This translates to a higher likelihood of thermal throttling under sustained load on the Meizu 15 Plus, potentially impacting gaming and demanding applications. The Snapdragon 835’s Adreno 540 GPU also provides a performance advantage in graphics-intensive tasks.
Battery Life
Interestingly, both the Meizu 15 Plus and OnePlus 5 achieve an endurance rating of 83 hours. The Meizu 15 Plus offers 24W wired charging, while the OnePlus 5 supports 20W. This suggests the Meizu 15 Plus *could* charge slightly faster, but the difference is unlikely to be substantial. The comparable endurance ratings indicate that despite the different chipsets, both phones manage power consumption effectively. The Snapdragon 835’s efficiency likely contributes to maintaining this endurance despite potentially higher peak power draw.
Buying Guide
Buy the Meizu 15 Plus if you prioritize a potentially more refined software experience (though support is limited) and appreciate the design aesthetic. Buy the OnePlus 5 if you value consistent performance, a larger community, and a more readily available software update path, even years after release. The OnePlus 5 is the safer bet for long-term usability.