Samsung S26 vs OnePlus 15: Monster Specs, 60W Charging & a 7,000mAh Battery Clash!

Launch Dates: Samsung’s new Galaxy S26 series is expected at a January 2026 Unpacked event ^[1]. Reports say Samsung will drop the S26 Plus name, instead offering Galaxy S26 (base), S26 Edge (super-slim variant), S26 Pro (mid-tier), and S26 Ultra ^[2]. OnePlus 15, meanwhile, is tipped to debut in China around October 2025 and reach global/India markets by early 2026 ^[3].
Performance & Software: OnePlus confirms the 15 uses Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip – “one of the very first devices in the world” to do so ^[4]. OnePlus CEO Pete Lau says it “delivers the speed, intelligence and efficiency our users demand” ^[5]. Samsung’s S26 Pro/Ultra will likely use the follow-up Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen2 (late-2025 launch) ^[6], with rumors of up to 16 GB RAM. Both phones will run Android 16, but Samsung’s will ship with One UI 8.5 featuring new AI tools ^[7], whereas OnePlus 15 runs OxygenOS 16 with a promised 5 years of OS updates ^[8].
Display & Charging: OnePlus 15 sports a flat ~6.8‑inch LTPO AMOLED screen (1.5K resolution) at an ultra-high 165 Hz refresh rate ^[9]. Samsung’s S26 Ultra is expected to retain a ~6.9‑inch display (similar to the S25 Ultra) at up to 120–144 Hz, possibly with new glass or AI‑powered privacy filters ^[10]. The big battery story: leaks claim the S26 Ultra will finally jump to 60W wired charging (vs 45W today) with roughly a 5,000 mAh cell ^[11] ^[12]. By contrast, OnePlus 15 is rumored to pack an enormous ~7,000–7,300 mAh battery and 100–120W wired charging ^[13].
Cameras & AI: Samsung’s S26 Ultra is expected to keep a 200 MP main sensor plus multiple telephoto lenses. Notably, tipster Ice Universe says its 50 MP periscope (5×) zoom will widen to an f/2.9 aperture ^[14], “significantly wider” than the S25 Ultra’s f/3.4, meaning “a brighter photo with less noise” in low light ^[15]. OnePlus 15 drops the Hasselblad name in favor of three 50 MP cameras (wide, ultrawide, 3× tele) ^[16]; a 200 MP periscope on a top model is rumored but unconfirmed. OnePlus says its in-house DetailMax imaging engine (AI-driven) will deliver “breathtakingly clear” photos ^[17]. On the software side, Samsung’s One UI 8.5 should debut Galaxy AI features like live “Meeting Assist” translation, “Touch Assist” (smart text reading), a smart clipboard (Summarize/Translate, etc.), and a “Social Composer” for auto captions ^[18], reflecting Samsung’s “strong push toward generative AI” ^[19] ^[20].
Price & Positioning: Rumors suggest the S26 Ultra will be very expensive – Times Now cites an Indian leak of ~₹159,990 (≈$1,900) ^[21]. OnePlus 15 is expected around ₹70,000 (≈$840) in India ^[22], similar to last year’s OnePlus 13 launch. In short, OnePlus aims to undercut rivals by packing flagship specs (Snapdragon Gen5, 165 Hz, huge battery) at a lower price, while Samsung builds in premium features and advanced AI software (and a higher price tag) for its Ultra model ^[23] ^[24].

Launch Timeline and Model Lineup

Samsung appears to stick to its traditional January launch. PhoneArena predicts a mid‑Jan/early‑Feb 2026 Unpacked event ^[25]. That report (by Iskra Petrova) also highlights a naming shake‑up: “rumors claim there won’t be a Galaxy S26 Plus anymore… instead we’ll be getting a Galaxy S26 Edge,” and only the Ultra keeps the “Ultra” name ^[26]. In other words, expect Galaxy S26, S26 Edge (the new slim “Plus” successor), S26 Pro, and S26 Ultra. Samsung itself hasn’t confirmed anything, but multiple leaks back this up ^[27] ^[28].

OnePlus is on a faster cycle. After skipping a “14” model, it officially teased the OnePlus 15 at Qualcomm’s September 2025 Snapdragon Summit ^[29]. Media reports say OnePlus 15 will launch in China in late October 2025, then reach global/Indian markets in January 2026 ^[30]. This matches OnePlus’s pattern of showing the new phone abroad, then a India/global roll‑out a few months later. A “15R” variant is also rumored for early 2026 at a lower price.

Performance and Battery

Chips: OnePlus 15 will be one of the first phones with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 platform ^[31]. Qualcomm claims this Gen5 chip has ~23% faster GPU and 37% faster AI processing vs Gen4 ^[32]. OnePlus CEO Pete Lau calls it a game‑changer: “The OnePlus 15… delivers the speed, intelligence and efficiency our users demand” ^[33]. Samsung’s new flagships typically use whichever Snapdragon is current at launch, so the S26 series is expected to use the forthcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen2 (launching late 2025) ^[34]. Rumors also mention up to 16 GB RAM. (Samsung often uses its own Exynos chips in some regions, but leaks haven’t confirmed that yet.)

Battery & Charging: Samsung is finally bumping charge rates. A tip posted by Ice Universe and reported by Moneycontrol confirms the S26 Ultra will jump from 45W to 60W wired charging ^[35]. Since Samsung still uses ~5,000 mAh batteries in its Ultra phones, leaks suggest the new Ultra will stick around 4,855 mAh (about 5,100 mAh typical) ^[36]. PhoneArena notes wryly that this “may feature the same 5,000 mAh battery as every top-tier Samsung flagship since 2020” ^[37]. Samsung seems focused on faster charge times rather than bigger cells.

By contrast, OnePlus has gone big on battery. Multiple leaks say OnePlus 15 will use an enormous 7,000–7,300 mAh cell ^[38]. The odd part: despite that huge capacity, OnePlus still supports ultra-fast charging – rumors say around 100–120W wired and ~50W wireless ^[39], comparable to (or slightly better than) today’s fastest phones. If true, that means OnePlus users get both record battery life and record charge speed. Both brands also promise IP68‑class dust/water resistance and flagship features like in-screen ultrasonic fingerprint sensors ^[40].

Design and Display

Samsung’s design rumors center on a more refined S‑Pen phone. Leaks show the S26 Ultra keeping the S‑Pen slot but with a rounded, more curved frame and glass ^[41] ^[42]. TechRadar says the screen will still be about 6.89″ (virtually unchanged from S25’s 6.9″) ^[43], albeit with possibly smaller bezels and new glass. In short, we expect a similar 6.9″ AMOLED (likely 1440p) and an adaptive refresh rate around 120–144 Hz on the Ultra. The S26 Edge is rumored to be extra-thin (~5.5 mm), making it Samsung’s slimmest phone ever if true ^[44].

OnePlus 15’s look has already leaked. The classic circular Hasselblad camera bump is gone – replaced by a vertical pill-shaped module (like an iPhone’s layout) with three lenses ^[45] ^[46]. The new glossy black “Absolute Black” finish is confirmed, with other colors like purple and sand on the way ^[47]. Up front, OnePlus 15 uses a flat AMOLED display (around 6.82″) with extremely slim 1.15 mm bezels ^[48]. The big news is the refresh rate: unlike the typical 120 Hz on rivals, OnePlus 15 will run at 165 Hz (confirmed by OnePlus China’s head) ^[49]. This should make animations and scrolling feel ultra‑smooth.

Camera Systems

Samsung’s S-series is known for camera prowess. Early leaks say the S26 Ultra will still have a ~200 MP primary sensor and multiple telephoto lenses. Crucially, Android Authority reports that Ice Universe claims the Ultra’s 50 MP periscope (5×) zoom will get a wider f/2.9 aperture ^[50]. By allowing more light in, that upgrade “enables increased light intake… a brighter photo with less noise,” especially in low-light or night scenes ^[51]. In short, Samsung’s goal is to improve zoom and portrait shots. The Ultra may also use software AI (like advanced HDR and low-light modes) on top of those sensors.

OnePlus 15 takes a different path. It drops its Hasselblad co-branding entirely. Instead, the standard 15 is said to use three 50 MP cameras: a wide, ultrawide, and a 3× telephoto ^[52]. (Leaks tease an optional 200 MP periscope on a hypothetical top-tier variant, but that’s unconfirmed ^[53].) OnePlus’s own DetailMax image engine – an AI/photo processor – is positioned as the hero. Company materials boast that this engine will produce photos that are “breathtakingly clear and truly real” ^[54] through “advanced algorithms and powerful processors.” So whereas Samsung focuses on optical zoom optics, OnePlus emphasizes computational photography.

Software and AI Features

AI is a major battleground. Samsung is aggressively expanding its Galaxy AI toolkit. SamMobile explains leaked One UI 8.5 features for S26: a “Meeting Assist” for live translation during calls, “Touch Assist” to intelligently process on-screen text, a smart clipboard offering Summarize/Translate/Correct commands, and a “Social Composer” that auto-generates captions or reviews from images ^[55]. In short, tasks like live captioning, content summarization, and caption creation will be built directly into the Samsung interface ^[56]. PhoneArena notes Samsung may even offer multiple on-device AI agents (Samsung’s Gauss, Google’s Gemini, Perplexity AI, etc.), hinting at an “agentic AI” future ^[57] ^[58]. Industry analysts suggest Samsung could even “team up with Perplexity AI” for S26 ^[59], underscoring how much Samsung is betting on AI to differentiate itself.

OnePlus 15 is more traditional software-wise: it ships with OxygenOS 16 (Android 16) and promises 5 years of major updates and 6 years of security patches ^[60]. Its new features will likely focus on camera and UI tweaks rather than massive AI revolutions. (However, its DetailMax engine is essentially an AI camera enhancement.) OnePlus also keeps the physical alert slider and fast haptic motors, staples of the OnePlus user experience, alongside any new AI-based tools it may add.

Price and Market Context

If rumors hold, Samsung is playing the ultra-premium card: Times Now reports the S26 Ultra could cost about ₹159,990 in India (~$1,900) ^[61], which is above even the S25 Ultra’s launch price. OnePlus 15, on the other hand, should be far cheaper: around ₹70,000 (~$840) in India ^[62], roughly the same as last year’s OnePlus 13 launch. In practice, this means OnePlus is undercutting many rivals (including Samsung’s own flagships) while matching or beating them on specs. For example, the OnePlus 15’s spec sheet (165 Hz display, Gen5 chip, giant battery) rivals any Android phone, yet at a ~$840 price it stays well below typical $1,000+ flagships ^[63] ^[64].

Ultimately, both devices enter a crowded flagship field. The OnePlus 15’s biggest rivals are Xiaomi’s new 17-series (themselves first-gen Snapdragon Gen5 phones) and the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra. Apple will have its iPhone 17 in late 2025, of course. But if these leaks prove true, OnePlus’s strategy is to offer “bleeding-edge specs” (exotic refresh rate, giant battery, latest chip) at a lower price, while Samsung is leaning into AI and its brand cachet to justify a higher price. Tech analysts point out that OnePlus often “undercuts rivals with similar specs” ^[65], so the 15 could steal market share from Galaxy and iPhone fans looking for value. Meanwhile Samsung’s focus on AI “magic” and camera prowess may appeal to enthusiasts who prioritize those features ^[66] ^[67].

In Summary: Rumors suggest the Galaxy S26 Ultra will arrive in early 2026 with refined design, a 200 MP main camera, upgraded 5× zoom (wider aperture), 60W charging, and lots of new AI software ^[68] ^[69]. The OnePlus 15 will arrive slightly earlier in China, packing the bleeding-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen5, a 165Hz AMOLED display, an enormous 7,000 mAh battery with 100+W charging, and new OnePlus‑branded imaging tech ^[70] ^[71]. Both are prime contenders, but they take different tacks: Samsung is pushing AI features and a storied camera lineup, while OnePlus goes for raw specs (speed, smoothness, battery) at an aggressive price. As tech insiders say, it’s a classic face-off of AI-powered polish vs. brute‑force performance for the 2026 flagship crown ^[72] ^[73].

Sources: Latest leaks and analyst reports from Android Authority, SamMobile, PhoneArena, Hindustan Times, Moneycontrol, AndroidCentral, AndroidGuys and others ^[74] ^[75] ^[76] ^[77] ^[78]. All info is based on unconfirmed rumors and should be taken with caution.

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