Introduction
The rapidly evolving smartphone market in late 2025 is filled with exciting flagship choices, and among the most buzzworthy are the OnePlus 15, iQOO 15, and Redmi K90 Pro Max. These devices have raised consumer anticipation by combining cutting-edge technology, powerful performance, innovative cameras, and vibrant displays. Choosing the perfect flagship can be challenging given how closely matched these devices are on paper. In this article, we deliver an exhaustive side-by-side comparison to help you make the best choice based on your priorities—be it gaming, photography, battery life, or price.
Design & Build Quality
The design is one of the first aspects users notice, and each of these phones brings its own flavor of premium craftsmanship.
OnePlus 15: Known for its sleek and elegant aesthetics, the OnePlus 15 offers a glass-metal sandwich design with smooth curves that fit comfortably in the hand. It boasts a refined and symmetrical look, available in multiple color finishes that add to its premium appeal. The phone weighs approximately 205 grams, balancing sturdiness and ease of handling.
iQOO 15: iQOO 15 is built with a focus on durability infused with sporty elements aimed at gamers and performance enthusiasts. It features a robust aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass protection on both front and back, ensuring resilience against scratches and drops. The design includes accented lines and RGB lighting on some editions, emphasizing its gaming pedigree.
Redmi K90 Pro Max: Redmi K90 Pro Max embraces a more modern and aggressive design with a reflective glass back and a metal frame. It offers an eye-catching color gradient option and matt finishes that minimize fingerprints. The device is slightly heavier at around 210 grams but balances this with an ergonomic grip.
Performance & Hardware
All three smartphones are powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, but their overall performance experience depends on RAM, storage, thermal management, and software optimization.
Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is the powerhouse behind these devices, built on a 3nm process for remarkable speed and energy efficiency. With octa-core configuration and up to 4.6 GHz clock speed, it handles multitasking and gaming effortlessly.
RAM & Storage:
OnePlus 15 offers configurations from 8GB to 16GB RAM with UFS 4.0 storage options up to 512GB.
iQOO 15 matches this with up to 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, sometimes optimized for better gaming heat dissipation.
Redmi K90 Pro Max has similar RAM and storage options but occasionally offers a smaller base RAM variant for budget-conscious users.
Thermal Management: iQOO 15 stands out with enhanced liquid cooling and vapor chamber technology, making it slightly better suited for prolonged gaming sessions without thermal throttling.
Software: All run on Android 16 with their respective UI skins—OxygenOS for OnePlus (clean and close to stock Android), Funtouch OS for iQOO (feature-rich), and MIUI for Redmi (highly customizable with regular updates).
Display Technology
Display quality is crucial for immersive media consumption, gaming, and daily use.
OnePlus 15: 6.78-inch Fluid AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution (2772 x 1272 pixels), 165Hz refresh rate, 1B color depth, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision support. It’s praised for vibrant colors and excellent brightness levels, reaching up to 1300 nits peak brightness.
iQOO 15: Features a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen as well but with 2K resolution (3200 x 1440 pixels) and 120Hz refresh rate. While it offers higher pixel density, the refresh rate is lower than the OnePlus 15’s. It also supports HDR10+ and wide color gamut for punchy visuals.
Redmi K90 Pro Max: Sports a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 2K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. It supports HDR10+ and includes adaptive refresh rate technology to optimize power consumption. It has good peak brightness but slightly less than OnePlus 15.
Each device offers smooth scrolling and crisp visuals, but OnePlus 15’s 165Hz display offers the fastest refresh, favored by gamers craving ultra-smooth animations.
Battery & Charging
Battery life is a decisive factor given flagship devices’ power-hungry displays and processors.
OnePlus 15: Packs a dual-cell 4800mAh battery supporting ultra-fast 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. Real-world usage generally lasts a full day with mixed usage, and 100W charging can replenish the battery from zero to 100% in about 25 minutes.
iQOO 15: Equipped with a larger 5000mAh battery and supports 120W fast wired charging, making it one of the fastest charging phones available. It generally delivers excellent endurance for gaming and multitasking.
Redmi K90 Pro Max: Comes with a 5000mAh battery as well but supports 67W fast wired charging and 50W wireless charging. Although the charging speed is slower than others, the battery lasts comfortably through a day’s heavy use.
For users prioritizing charging speed and endurance, the iQOO 15 leads slightly, but OnePlus 15’s balanced approach and wireless charging add convenience.
Camera Systems
Photography is a leading purchase factor, and all three phones bring versatile camera arrays with advanced sensors and AI enhancements.
OnePlus 15: Features a triple camera setup led by a 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor with OIS, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. It supports 8K video recording, advanced night mode, and AI scene recognition producing vibrant and detailed photos.
iQOO 15: Sports a 50MP main sensor (Samsung GN5), 12MP telephoto with 2x optical zoom, and a 13MP ultra-wide. It offers enhanced video modes like super slow motion and ultra-night video, appealing to content creators.
Redmi K90 Pro Max: Comes with a strong 200MP primary sensor (Samsung ISOCELL HP3) alongside an 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro. The high megapixel count ensures detailed shots, and the phone supports 8K video and advanced AI processing.
Each phone has distinct strengths: Redmi with sheer MP count, iQOO with telephoto versatility, and OnePlus with balanced photo quality and video features.
Software & User Experience
Each phone runs Android 16 but offers different user interfaces and additional features.
OnePlus 15: OxygenOS continues to provide a clean, fast, and bloat-free experience with useful customizations, gestures, and gaming mode optimizations.
iQOO 15: Funtouch OS is feature-rich with multi-window support, extensive gaming tools including frame rate boosters, and gaming-focused performance tweaks.
Redmi K90 Pro Max: MIUI delivers high customizability, frequent updates, and an ecosystem that integrates well with Xiaomi’s smart products but sometimes suffers from pre-installed apps.
User experience varies by preference—minimalists often favor OnePlus, while gamers lean toward iQOO’s toolkit.
Pricing & Availability
Pricing plays a critical role in choosing a flagship.
OnePlus 15: Launches at approximately ₹65,000 for the base model in India and comparable pricing globally.
iQOO 15: Positioned around ₹55,000-₹60,000, offering competitive pricing for flagship specs.
Redmi K90 Pro Max: More affordable at around ₹45,000-₹50,000, making it an attractive option for value-conscious buyers.
Availability depends on region, with India, China, and selected international markets prioritized.
Verdict & Recommendations
For gamers and performance enthusiasts: iQOO 15 is slightly ahead due to superior cooling, fast charging, and gaming-specific features.
For camera lovers: Redmi K90 Pro Max offers the highest megapixel camera and rich video features at a lower price point.
For balanced flagship experience: OnePlus 15 combines flagship display, sleek design, strong cameras, and clean software but at a premium price.
Choosing depends on what you value most—gaming, camera, or overall balance—with all three phones standing out as excellent flagship contenders in November 2025.