Best High-End Smartphone: How to Choose | Frandroid

The OnePlus 15R is a success! Received with an 8/10 in our columns, it particularly impresses for its formidable autonomy, for a relatively low price of €729. The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, launched last summer, was priced at €750, and received the same rating from our journalist. A duel that already promises to be close!

Which is the better smartphone of the two? Answer in this comparison.

The technical sheets of the OnePlus 15R and Samsung Galaxy S25 FE

An impersonal Samsung, but lighter

Of the two, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is slightly more compact than its competitor. This is notably thanks to its smaller screen, 6.7″, but above all to its infinitely smaller battery. It weighs 190 grams, compared to 213 or even 219 grams for the OnePlus 15R depending on the finish chosen. Both smartphones consist of an aluminum frame and a glass back.

The screen is also protected by glass. A much more resistant model on the Samsung smartphone (Gorilla Glass Victus+ against Gorilla Glass 7i). However, both are IP68 certified, and even IP69K for the OnePlus 15R, which further improves its resistance to everyday hazards.

The OnePlus smartphone has a small peculiarity in the subject of the Plus Key button, similar to the action button on the iPhone, which serves as a shortcut to various functions. In appearance, the S25 FE is therefore much more classic and impersonal. Note, however, that only it accepts eSIM cards.

A relatively equivalent screen

More compact (by a little), the screen of the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is, according to our probes, brighter than that of its competitor (1,780 nits compared to 1,307 nits). It is therefore a little more readable outdoors, and does better justice to HDR content.

Moreover, the colorimetry is to the advantage of the OnePlus 15R, as is the fineness of the display (the 1.5K resolution changes everything). For the refresh rate, OnePlus also goes a little further with a ceiling of 165 Hz, compared to 120 Hz on the S25 FE. A nice figure, which will however only find its use with gamers who play compatible games. A false argument for most consumers therefore.

Samsung ahead of AI

Samsung was the first to integrate artificial intelligence into the heart of its user experience. With the Galaxy AI suite, we benefit from a wide variety of very sophisticated tools, allowing us to retouch photos, proofread and correct texts, summarize web pages or even translate telephone conversations in real time.

OnePlus, for its part, offers its own version of these same tools – but less convincing. However, it is distinguished by the Mental Space, a sort of secure safe in which you can store memories (voice memos or screenshots), and which the AI ​​will be responsible for categorizing. The software will then offer us reminders, events or to-do lists based on what is recorded there. Clever, and rather useful if you take the trouble to take an interest in it.

Now, Samsung maintains a clear lead when it comes to updates. Its S25 FE, like its big brothers, will receive seven major Android updates, compared to four for its competitor. At the same price, it makes a real difference.

OnePlus far ahead on performance

If the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE comes out on top in terms of performance, its Exynos 2400 chip is simply no match for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 of the OnePlus 15R. From the very latest generation, it offers stellar performance – on par with those of last year’s very high-end smartphones. Without being a slow smartphone, the S25 FE falls behind in all benchmarks, and also in demanding games.

Samsung teaches photography lessons

The OnePlus 15R’s photo configuration is clearly its weak point. By only offering a single serious sensor on its 730 euro smartphone, OnePlus is holding out the stick to be beaten. Without being particularly brilliant, the photo score of the S25 FE seems much fairer for its price.

OnePlus 15R :

• Grand-angle : 50 Mpx, f/1.8, OIS ;
• Ultra grand-angle : 8 Mpx, f/2.2 ;
• Selfie : 32 Mpx, f/2.0.

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE :

• Grand-angle : 50 Mpx, f/1.8, OIS ;
• Ultra grand-angle : 12 Mpx, f/2.2 ;
• 3x telephoto lens: 8 Mpx, f/2.4, OIS;
• Selfie : 12 Mpx, f/2.2.

The wide angle of the two smartphones is relatively similar. The quality of the photos is identical; what changes is essentially the digital processing applied by the manufacturer to each photo. In this regard, OnePlus seems a little more cautious with colors, but plays a lot on contrast to bring a wow effect to its photos. Samsung, as usual, is a little heavy-handed on saturation (especially blue). A matter of preference above all.

The secondary module of the OnePlus 15R is quite poor. The fault of its 8 megapixel resolution. The shots are not very detailed, but have the same expertise in terms of exposure and dynamics. From a distance, the photos are rather pleasant, even, and can highlight landscapes. But the small definition length of the S25 FE allows it to win the round.

Finally, only the S25 FE offers a true optical zoom. With its 3x lens, it captures sharper images than its competitor, who must, to achieve the same result, crop in an image captured with its main sensor. However, it should be noted that the very low definition of the S25 FE can work to its disadvantage when comparing, pixel-perfect, the photos with those of its competitor.

A OnePlus 15R twice as durable

Another KO victory for the OnePlus 15R. Thanks to its gargantuan 7,400 mAh battery, it beats the S25 FE (4,900 mAh). In our tests, we didn’t manage to get more than a day of use out of the Samsung, while the OnePlus 15R remained valiant for three days!

Charging is also much faster on the OnePlus 15R. Compatible with wired charging at 80 W, it returns to color in 1 hour. Allow 10 to 15 minutes more on the Galaxy S25 FE. Note, however, that the latter is compatible with wireless charging (Qi 2).

OnePlus 15R or Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: which one to choose?

We were right to predict a close duel. Everyone delivers an exemplary performance, and has as many arguments as faults. However, upon closer inspection, it seems to us that the OnePlus 15R is currently the best deal of both.

If battery life and performance are your two main criteria, then the OnePlus 15R is for you. We also remember that it comes with 256 GB of basic storage, compared to 128 GB for the S25 FE. That also counts towards the price.

For its part, the Samsung has an almost perfect software part, and a more versatile photo configuration. Its screen is also a little brighter (but less defined) than that of its competitor.