Apple’s iPhone 16e to face a fierce gaming performance rival in this new mid-range Android

Just a few months ago, we saw Apple release the iPhone 16e, a mid-range alternative to the brand’s flagship that packs more performance power than much of the Android competition, offering a great gaming experience. However, the iPhone 16e’s days of dominance could be drawing to a close, with the OnePlus 15R coming soon. If this successor to the OnePlus 13R is as impressive as what we’ve seen from the Chinese tech brand before, it could be quite a tempting proposition.

OnePlus has started teasing the 15R via social media, following the recent launch of the 15 flagship. As of yet, we don’t have any confirmed specs, but the 15R is likely a global version of the Ace 6, which OnePlus revealed in China last month. The highlight of the Ace 6 is that it packs a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which just so happens to be the same processor powering top-tier performance in the highest-ranked picks from our guide to the best gaming phones.

Outside of its processor, the Ace 6 also packs a massive 7,800 mAh battery and an AMOLED display capable of 165Hz refresh rates, which is a whopping 105Hz more than what the iPhone 16e offers. In simple terms, that should make for incredibly smooth visuals in all the best mobile games, especially those that enable you to dial up the refresh rate past 120Hz, such as Minecraft and Dead Cells.

The only thing worth noting about those specs is that it’s quite possible the 15R’s battery might not be quite as big as 7,800 mAh. In recent months, we’ve seen global launches feature smaller battery packs than when launching in China, such as with the RedMagic 11 Pro, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’d be lacking in battery life. It all depends on how efficient the device is.

Unfortunately, we haven’t got any indication of when the OnePlus 15R might launch or how much it might cost, outside of a website listing that says “coming soon.” With that in mind, we’ll be keeping a close eye on the brand’s social media channels going forward, and we should hopefully get more information before long.