Samsung’s Galaxy S25 FE affords you a big-screen flagship expertise for much less, and now OnePlus has the right foil, within the new OnePlus 15R.
Whereas we’ve had time to sit down with the newest of Samsung’s FE telephones, the 15R simply made its debut, and impresses with some top-tier specs that give larger gamers like Samsung a run for his or her cash.
With the identical beginning worth of £649 within the UK, the place your cash is greatest spent between the OnePlus 15R and the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE relies upon squarely in your priorities.
Do you care about… design & sturdiness?
These are each premium-looking and feeling handsets, Samsung’s FE collection units itself other than the remainder of the flagship line it’s related to by that includes a silver Armour Aluminium body – no matter colourway – the place its foremost Galaxy S telephones are inclined to sport colour-matched frames.
This yr at the least, OnePlus has extra intently matched the look of the 15R to the full-fat OnePlus 15, which wasn’t as clear-cut with the 13/13R collection.
OnePlus’ transfer in the direction of extra rounded corners may make for barely nicer ergonomics, whereas the S25 FE mirrors the 15R’s flat, straight entrance, again and sides, however sports activities a sharper total look, particularly on the corners.
Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd
Internationally, you’ve solely received two selections of end for the OnePlus 15R: Charcoal Black or Mint Breeze (gentle, pale inexperienced), whereas Samsung provides you twice as many finishes to think about; with Navy, Icyblue, Jetblack and white.
As for sturdiness, the S25 FE makes use of barely older Gorilla Glass Victus+ entrance and again, whereas the OnePlus 15R makes use of extra trendy – however extra modest – Gorilla Glass 7i on the entrance, with matte-texture glass of unspecified sturdiness on the again. Each sorts of Corning-made glass are nice for smartphones, with Victus+ providing higher drop resistance (about twice that of 7i), while the 15R’s entrance glass will do a greater job of hold scratches at bay.
Each telephones are additionally IP68 mud and water-resistant, however the 15R goes above and past, sharing in its flagship sibling’s IP66, IP69 and IP69K-certified ingress safety too. As such, the Galaxy S25 FE is healthier for butterfingers who’re identified for dropping their telephone greater than common, whereas the 15R in any other case affords hardier {hardware} total; because of its extra scratch-resistant display and superior IP-rated safety.
Winner: OnePlus 15R
Do you care about… gaming efficiency?
Whereas Samsung’s top-tier gadgets attempt to ship holistically, OnePlus tends to prioritise efficiency before everything. As such, the OnePlus 15R is among the first telephones internationally to sport Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 SoC. It doesn’t pack fairly as a lot punch because the 8 Elite Gen 5 powering the OnePlus 15 (the identical chip additionally anticipated to energy subsequent yr’s Galaxy S26 lineup), nevertheless it’s constructed on the identical cutting-edge 3nm structure too.
Add to that 12GB of faster-than-average ‘RAM Extremely’ reminiscence and the {industry}’s greatest UFS 4.1 storage in both 256GB or 512GB flavours, and the 15R packs some really flagship-class internals. OnePlus didn’t cease there although, pairing these prime specs with a (usually) 120Hz AMOLED show able to boosting to 144- and even 165Hz, with choose video games (like Name of Responsibility: Cellular).
Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd
If that wasn’t sufficient, the telephone boasts a big vapour chamber, a standalone WiFi chip, and bypass charging to maintain thermal throttling below sustained load at bay, alongside software-level efficiency administration controls.
In distinction, the S25 FE’s core {hardware} simply isn’t as performant. The ageing 4nm Exynos 2400 chip operating the present is supported by slower (and fewer) RAM and storage in comparison with the 15R, alongside a smaller (admittedly extra energy environment friendly LTPO versus LTPS) 120Hz show, and fewer gaming optimisations on the software program degree.
The OnePlus 15R was made to run high-fidelity video games, the S25 FE can run them, nevertheless it’s not the telephone’s focus.
Winner: OnePlus 15R
Do you care about… battery life?
Since 2016’s explosive Galaxy Be aware 7 debacle, Samsung has been among the many extra reserved telephone makers with regards to pushing new battery tech and charging efficiency. That’s significantly obvious in 2025, a yr the place we’ve seen a sudden bounce in battery capability for lots of telephones, particularly from Chinese language producers like OnePlus.
Bodily talking, whereas the OnePlus 15R is barely marginally bigger than the S25 FE, its use of cutting-edge silicon-carbon (Si-C) battery tech has allowed the corporate to cram in far more milliampere-hours in comparison with Samsung’s newest almost-flagship.
Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd
The FE sports activities the identical 4900mAh capability battery and 45W wired charging speeds because the Galaxy S25+ (together with 15W wi-fi charging help), delivering related longevity of a day of use in return.
Now examine that to the 15R’s gargantuan 7400mAh battery (the best capability telephone battery in OnePlus’ historical past). In observe, this helps render the 15R a two and even three-day telephone on a single cost, even for those who do determine to sport so much on the go.
Certain, OnePlus’ telephone lacks the comfort of wi-fi charging altogether, nevertheless it makes up for it with considerably faster 80W wired charging too. Neither telephone comes with an influence adapter in-box in most markets, so that you’ll should fork out further money for one in both case.
Winner: OnePlus 15R
Do you care about… lengthy replace help?
Each OnePlus and Samsung have their very own interpretation of Android and each include a gamut of similarities, professionals and cons.
Due to Samsung’s international recognition, there’s a better probability you’ve encountered the corporate’s One UI person expertise earlier than, full with all its unique options and first-party Samsung apps.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
OnePlus’ OxygenOS affords an identical diploma of personalisation and first-party extras, in addition to its suite of OnePlus AI instruments for textual content and picture creation and adjustment, very related in method to Samsung’s Galaxy AI toolset.
Probably the most distinguished distinction between the software program expertise from every of those in any other case equally succesful choices is help. OnePlus has dedicated to a good 4 generations of OS updates and years of safety updates from launch with its high-end gadgets, together with the 15R.
Samsung, nonetheless, blows that out of the water, with an industry-leading seven years of each, making it the superior alternative for many who have a tendency to carry onto the identical telephone for greater than 4 years (or who need higher resale worth down the road).
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 FE
Do you care about… pictures?
One space that Samsung all the time pours lots of power into is the pictures expertise provided up by its telephones.
‘Nightography’ (low gentle nonetheless and video efficiency) has been a significant cornerstone of the Galaxy S digicam setup for a number of generations at this level, and whereas the S25 FE doesn’t have the model’s greatest digicam telephone {hardware}, it does have a reliable trio of sensors on the again, that work effectively in ample gentle, whereas nonetheless having the ability to ship pleasing pictures in dimmer situations too.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
As for OnePlus, their telephones’ ever-improving digicam efficiency doesn’t seem to have been stifled by the termination of a model partnership with famed digicam model, Hasselblad. Actually, I truly favor the feel and appear of pictures popping out of OnePlus’ personal new DetailMax Engine, when it comes to color, distinction and sharpness.
The OnePlus 15R additionally comes with a hidden expertise by having the ability to seize 4K video at as much as 120fps, however past that, its twin rear sensor setup lacks the consistency, adaptability and flexibility of the Galaxy S25 FE’s foremost, ultra-wide and 3x telephoto association.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 FE
OnePlus 15R vs Galaxy S25 FE: Conclusion
For those who’re in want of a telephone that’ll really feel like a critical improve – particularly on the subject of energy and battery life – the OnePlus 15R is the plain alternative right here. It’s additionally received a better skillset for cell gaming and having fun with media.
What it lacks is the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE’s endurance. One UI is somewhat heavier-handed as a person expertise, in comparison with OxygenOS, nevertheless it comes backed by Sammy’s extra sturdy help community. This newest FE additionally has the sting with regards to digicam versatility, which once more means it is likely to be extra useful in on a regular basis use, relying on what sort of person you might be.
With an equivalent beginning worth, the OnePlus 15R is the higher alternative within the brief time period, with its superior {hardware} targeted on efficiency. Longer software program help – and the long-term worth implication, on the subject of resale – are the primary causes you’d in any other case go for the S25 FE.