OnePlus 15 confirmed to cut important things to optimize performance

OnePlus has just confirmed that the OnePlus 15's display will have a lower resolution. The new phone will have a 1.5K resolution screen with a 165Hz refresh rate, compared to the OnePlus 13's QHD+ 120Hz screen.

The company says the reason is that it is currently not possible to combine a QHD+ display with a 165Hz refresh rate. The OnePlus 15 is scheduled to launch in China next Monday, and we already know it will have a 165Hz refresh rate.

OnePlus 15 will have the world's fastest 165Hz display.

There were earlier rumors that the device would sport a lower resolution display, and now OnePlus has officially confirmed this information.

OnePlus China President Li Jie Louis confirmed on Weibo that the OnePlus 15 will be equipped with a 1.5K resolution screen. This is a step down in terms of specifications compared to OnePlus' recent flagship models that used QHD+ screens.

However, the leader affirmed that this was a technical decision and not to cut costs. OnePlus said that they chose to reduce the screen resolution because they could not currently combine a QHD+ screen with a 165Hz refresh rate.

“Due to limitations in light-emitting materials and circuit technology, the industry is currently unable to achieve 165Hz + 2K simultaneously,” Louis wrote, adding that the OnePlus 15’s 165Hz + 1.5K display is the “ultimate solution” and is the industry’s first 1.5K display to achieve a 165Hz refresh rate.

To get the high speed, OnePlus was forced to cut the resolution to 1.5K instead of QHD+ on the previous generation.

Notably, this leader said that the OnePlus 15's screen is actually more expensive than the OnePlus 13's screen. He affirmed that every component from the light-emitting material, driver to circuit design must be "self-developed and restructured".

Another reason that OnePlus may not have mentioned is battery life. While current flagships (especially from Chinese manufacturers) have large batteries, this advantage can be reduced if you use a QHD+ screen with an extremely high refresh rate.

However, this used to be an issue with 120Hz QHD+ displays, but LTPO display technology and software have helped optimize power consumption efficiency.

Regardless, it’s understandable why OnePlus fans are disappointed with this decision. The company’s flagships have always been known for their high-quality displays, and OnePlus has used QHD+ displays on every flagship since the OnePlus 10 Pro. In fact, all of its Pro models, starting with the OnePlus 7 Pro in 2019, have had this resolution.

It’s also worth noting that OnePlus’s sister brand, realme, has gone the other way, having just launched the GT8 Pro with a 144Hz QHD+ display. However, OnePlus executives still claim that the 165Hz display offers “an unprecedentedly smooth experience and is the future of mobile display experiences.”