OnePlus 15 Design Officially Revealed: Meet the New Sand Storm Color and Flat Display

OnePlus has just lifted the curtain on the OnePlus 15 design, and it's packed with exciting upgrades. From the eye-catching Sand Storm color to a crisp flat display with ultra-thin bezels, here's everything you need to know about this flagship smartphone.

Stunning Sand Storm Finish Built Like a Tank

The OnePlus 15 design introduces the gorgeous Sand Storm colorway that feels as good as it looks. This isn't just another pretty phone—it's engineered with aerospace-grade nano-ceramic metal that puts regular smartphone materials to shame.

What makes this frame special? It's 134% harder than titanium yet 26.3% lighter, which means you get incredible durability without the extra weight. The frame also provides 26.6 times better heat dissipation than traditional materials, keeping your phone cool during intense gaming sessions or heavy multitasking.

The manufacturing process involves three advanced steps: military-grade micro-arc oxidation, proprietary ion coloring, and nano-scale pore sealing. This creates a finish that's not only beautiful but practically indestructible—344% harder than anodized aluminum.

Flat Display That's All Screen

Say goodbye to curved edges. The OnePlus 15 design features a stunning 6.78-inch flat OLED display with bezels so thin they practically disappear. At just 1.15mm around all edges, these are even slimmer than the competing Xiaomi 17's bezels.

The display specs are impressive: 1.5K resolution paired with a buttery-smooth 165Hz refresh rate that makes scrolling, gaming, and video watching incredibly fluid. While it trades the OnePlus 13's 2K resolution for this higher refresh rate, most users will notice the smoother performance more than the slightly reduced pixel density.

Camera Revolution with DetailMax Engine

The camera system gets a complete makeover with the OnePlus 15 design. Gone is the circular camera bump—replaced by a sleek rectangular module housing three advanced lenses. But the bigger news is what's inside: OnePlus's brand-new DetailMax Engine.

This marks the end of OnePlus's five-year partnership with Hasselblad, but it's not a step backward. The DetailMax Engine focuses on computational photography that delivers sharp, natural-looking photos without over-processing. Early reports suggest exceptional zoom performance and detail retention that stays crisp even when you examine photos closely.

Performance That Doesn't Quit

Under the hood, the OnePlus 15 design houses the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor built on a 3nm process. This flagship chip delivers impressive performance gains:

• 20% faster single-core performance

• 17% improved multi-core performance

• Benchmark scores around 3,832 single-core and 12,329 multi-core in Geekbench 6

The real game-changer is the massive 7,000mAh battery paired with 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. This combination means all-day battery life with lightning-fast top-ups when needed.

When You Can Get Your Hands on It

The OnePlus 15 design is set for a China launch on October 27, 2025, with global availability expected in November 2025. You'll have three color options to choose from:

• Sand Storm (the star of the show)

• Absolute Black

• Mist Purple

Smart Software Features

The device launches with ColorOS 16 in China and OxygenOS 16 globally, both based on Android 16. One notable change is the replacement of the traditional alert slider with a customizable Quick Key button that you can program for your favorite functions.

The software is optimized for the 165Hz display, supporting 165fps gameplay for compatible games, ensuring you get the most out of that smooth screen. Learn more about full specifications and updates on the official OnePlus newsroom.

Why This Design Matters

The OnePlus 15 design represents a significant evolution in smartphone engineering. The combination of aerospace-grade materials, ultra-thin bezels, and proprietary imaging technology positions it strongly against competitors like the iPhone 17 Pro and other flagship devices.

The move to in-house camera processing with DetailMax Engine gives OnePlus complete control over the photography experience, potentially leading to more consistent updates and optimizations compared to third-party partnerships.

With its revolutionary materials, cutting-edge display technology, and comprehensive performance upgrades, the OnePlus 15 design addresses both aesthetic preferences and practical durability concerns that matter to real users.

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