OnePlus has quietly introduced a third variant of the OnePlus 15R in India, adding 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage to a lineup that previously topped out at 12GB of memory, a move that stands out sharply against the backdrop of a global RAM shortage that has forced other smartphone manufacturers to scale back specifications rather than expand them. The OnePlus 15R initially launched with two variants, 12GB plus 256GB and 12GB plus 512GB, before the new third option was added to the lineup, currently limited to the Indian market.
The new configuration is priced at INR 61,999, roughly $657 based on current exchange rates, compared to INR 54,999 for the 12GB plus 256GB variant and INR 59,999 for the 12GB plus 512GB option previously available locally. This hardware update arrives despite a global memory shortage that has forced other tech brands to scale back device specifications, with AI data centers swallowing up the global component supply and driving RAM prices sharply higher. The decision to launch a higher-memory variant at a moment when most manufacturers are trimming specifications to manage rising component costs suggests OnePlus either secured favourable memory supply agreements ahead of the shortage intensifying, or sees sufficient demand from performance-focused buyers in India to justify the additional cost.
The core hardware otherwise remains unchanged: the OnePlus 15R features a 6.83-inch AMOLED screen with 1272×2800 resolution, a 165Hz refresh rate, and 3,600-nit peak brightness, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, alongside a 50MP main camera with optical image stabilisation, an 8MP ultrawide lens, a 32MP selfie camera, and a 7,400mAh battery supporting 80W wired charging. The additional RAM is particularly relevant for users who want to experiment with more demanding workloads, such as running large AI models on-device, a use case that has become increasingly common as smartphone manufacturers push on-device artificial intelligence as a key differentiator.
The variant currently appears to be exclusive to India, with no official confirmation of a wider international rollout, though industry observers have speculated that if OnePlus does bring the 16GB configuration to markets like the United States, where the lowest variant starts at $700, pricing could land around $775 to $800. That broader Western expansion faces complications, however, as OnePlus has been trimming down its global presence lately, downsizing its European corporate branches and dealing with shifting retail availability across the US market, raising real uncertainty about whether buyers outside India will get access to the higher-memory configuration at all. For now, the 16GB RAM variant remains a India-specific offering, giving the country’s performance-conscious buyers an unusually capable mid-range option at a moment when memory upgrades elsewhere in the industry have become the exception rather than the rule.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
