The OnePlus 15 is shaping up to be a bold experiment in smartphone design, but early leaks suggest buyers may face a trade-off. 
While the new flagship could boast an eye-popping 165Hz refresh rate display, it may also step back in resolution compared to its predecessor.
According to reliable leaker Digital Chat Station, the OnePlus 15 will feature a 6.78-inch 1.5K panel – smaller and less sharp than the 6.82-inch 2K display found on the OnePlus 13. The advantage, however, comes in smoothness: a 165Hz refresh rate paired with a new performance engine that reportedly lets the phone push games at 165 FPS. This could make the OnePlus 15 one of the most fluid gaming phones on the market.
The leak also hints at a new “Moon Rock Black” color option, described as a deeper, richer black than any previous OnePlus finish. While this may be a subtle aesthetic shift, it could help the device stand out in a crowded market where design often makes the difference.
Interestingly, OnePlus appears to be chasing numbers already pushed by some Chinese competitors, while major global flagships are more conservative. Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra, Google’s Pixel 9 Pro, and Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro top out at 120Hz, while the standard iPhone 16 still ships with a head-scratching 60Hz screen. That makes OnePlus’s jump to 165Hz impressive on paper – but not necessarily meaningful in real-world use.
For most users, displays above 120Hz already feel buttery smooth, and everyday apps don’t fully exploit those speeds. Even mobile gaming struggles to justify the jump, given battery constraints and limited optimization. In other words, while the OnePlus 15’s display could sound like a gamer’s dream, its resolution downgrade might leave others questioning the compromise.