OnePlus confirms global launch for OnePlus 15 and unveils new ‘Sand Storm’ design

• OnePlus has confirmed the OnePlus 15 will launch globally
• The Chinese phone maker also revealed a new Sand Storm edition of the new phone, featuring a new material on the frame
• The phone is likely to launch in China before other markets

OnePlus has confirmed that the recently revealed OnePlus 15 will launch globally and sport a brand new design and color option labeled Sand Storm.

The company revealed the new phone in black during a recent Qualcomm event in China, but this is the first we’ve heard of the new Sand Storm design option. According to OnePlus, this is more than just a new colorway and adds micro-arc oxidation (MAO) to the frame and camera housing.

The MAO process creates a crystalline oxide layer on metals like aluminum or titanium, which can offer additional protection against wear and tear. OnePlus says this coating is 3.4 times harder than an aluminum mid-frame and 1.3 times tougher than a titanium mid-frame.

Additionally, the rear panel of the phone will be made of fiberglass, an increasingly popular choice due to its light weight and strong resilience. It’s not yet clear whether these design specs will apply to all OnePlus 15 models, or just the Sand Storm edition.

True to its name, the Sand Storm edition of the OnePlus 15 comes in a fetching sandy beige color – and though the design itself hasn’t landed to the best reactions, I’m a big fan of this subtle color.

Though OnePlus says the new phone will launch globally, it’s likely that the new handset will launch in the company’s domestic market of China before going international, based on previous launches.

The current-generation OnePlus 13 is our pick for the best Android phone money can buy (naturally, it also ranks as the best OnePlus phone). Its speedy performance, excellent cameras, and ludicrous battery life saw it shoot to the top of our rankings when it was released internationally at the start of 2025.

So, the OnePlus 15 has some big shoes to fill. We’ve not been given full specs for the new phone yet, but we do know it’ll have the next-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, and OnePlus’ new DetailMax image processing engine.

Let us know your thoughts on the OnePlus 15 in the comments below, and be sure to check out our OnePlus 13 review.

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