Compact Flagships Showdown: OnePlus 15s vs. Vivo X300 FE – What to Expect 

The upcoming OnePlus 15s and Vivo X300 FE represent a new wave of compact flagship smartphones in India, targeting users who want high-end performance or advanced camera capabilities in smaller, more manageable devices. Both are expected to feature 6.3-inch OLED displays, IP69-rated metal frames, and large batteries—7,000mAh for OnePlus and 6,500mAh with 90W fast charging for Vivo.

The OnePlus 15s emphasizes performance with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and a 165Hz display, while the Vivo X300 FE prioritizes photography with a triple camera system including a 50MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom. Positioned below their respective main flagships, these devices are likely to appeal to gamers and power users in the case of OnePlus, and photography enthusiasts for Vivo. Their success will depend on balancing compact design with performance, battery life, and price competitiveness, marking a promising trend in the Indian premium smartphone market.

Compact Flagships Showdown: OnePlus 15s vs. Vivo X300 FE – What to Expect 

OnePlus 15s vs. Vivo X300 FE: The Battle of India’s Upcoming Compact Flagships 

The Indian smartphone market is witnessing an intriguing trend with major manufacturers reportedly developing more compact, high-performance devices. According to recent leaks, both OnePlus and Vivo are preparing to expand their flagship lineups with new models—the OnePlus 15s and Vivo X300 FE—catering to users who prefer flagship power in more manageable form factors without significant compromises on specifications. 

At a Glance: OnePlus 15s vs. Vivo X300 FE 

The Resurgence of Compact Flagships 

The smartphone industry has seen displays grow increasingly larger over years, often making devices difficult to operate with one hand. The reported development of the OnePlus 15s and Vivo X300 FE represents a strategic shift to address this gap in market. 

Both companies are leveraging their established flagship branding while adding new suffixes—”s” for OnePlus and “FE” (likely meaning “Fan Edition”) for Vivo—to denote these specialized variants. This approach allows them to target specific consumer preferences without diluting their main flagship messaging. 

Design and Build: Premium in Smaller Packages 

Shared Premium Materials 

Both smartphones are expected to share several high-end construction elements despite their compact dimensions. According to leaks, both devices will feature metal frames contributing to their premium feel and structural integrity. 

Perhaps more impressive for compact flagships is the rumored IP69 rating for both devices, offering protection against high-pressure water jets and dust ingress. This would place them among most durable smartphones on market, significantly surpassing the more common IP68 rating. 

Display Technology 

Both devices are tipped to feature 6.3-inch flat OLED displays with 1.5K resolution, potentially offering an optimal balance between pixel density and power efficiency. The key difference lies in refresh rates—the OnePlus 15s is expected to offer a 165Hz refresh rate, while the Vivo X300 FE will likely cap at 120Hz. 

Performance and Hardware: Power Differences 

Processor Divide 

The most significant technical difference between these two compact flagships lies in their processing power, which also suggests different positioning in market. 

The OnePlus 15s is expected to be powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, built on a 3nm process. This would place it firmly in the absolute top tier of Android performance, potentially matching what we’ve seen in the full-fledged OnePlus 15. 

The Vivo X300 FE, meanwhile, is tipped to use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 SoC, still high-end but likely a step below the Elite version in peak performance capabilities. 

Memory and Storage 

While detailed memory specifications haven’t been leaked yet, we can make educated guesses based on both companies’ recent strategies. The Vivo X300 FE will likely start at 12GB RAM with 256GB storage, while OnePlus 15s might offer similar or potentially higher base configurations. 

Battery and Charging 

Despite their compact sizes, both devices are rumored to house impressively large batteries—a notable engineering achievement that addresses one of traditional compromises of smaller phones. 

The OnePlus 15s is tipped to include a 7,000mAh battery, which would be exceptionally large even by modern smartphone standards. The Vivo X300 FE is expected to pack a 6,500mAh battery with support for 90W wired fast charging. 

Camera Systems: Diverging Approaches 

Vivo X300 FE Camera Capabilities 

The Vivo X300 FE appears to be positioning itself as the more camera-focused of two compact flagships. It’s tipped to feature a triple rear camera system headed by a 50-megapixel main sensor, accompanied by a 50-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom capability, and an unspecified ultrawide sensor. 

This camera configuration suggests Vivo is bringing meaningful camera innovations down from its higher-end models. The company’s partnership with Zeiss, prominent in the X300 Pro, might also influence the X300 FE’s imaging characteristics, particularly in color science and lens quality. 

OnePlus 15s Imaging System 

The OnePlus 15s is also rumored to feature a triple camera setup with a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 50-megapixel telephoto sensor, and an ultrawide camera. While detailed specifications are still scarce, OnePlus’s camera approach has traditionally emphasized consistency and reliability over extreme specialization. 

The Broader Flagship Context 

Competitive Landscape 

These compact flagships will enter a crowded premium smartphone market in India. The standard OnePlus 15 has already launched with a price starting at ₹72,999, while the OnePlus 15R is confirmed to launch on December 17 with expected pricing around ₹44,999. 

The Vivo X300 and X300 Pro are set to debut on December 2 with expected starting prices of ₹75,999 for the X300 and ₹109,999 for the X300 Pro. Both Vivo models will feature the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset and advanced camera systems developed in partnership with Zeiss. 

Market Positioning and Pricing 

While official pricing for the OnePlus 15s and Vivo X300 FE remains unknown, we can extrapolate based on existing product hierarchies. The Vivo X300 FE will likely be positioned below the standard X300, potentially starting between ₹60,000-65,000. Similarly, the OnePlus 15s would slot below the main OnePlus 15, possibly in the ₹55,000-60,000 range. 

Analysis: Who Are These Phones For? 

The OnePlus 15s Target User 

The OnePlus 15s appears tailored for performance-seeking users who prefer smaller devices. With its rumored top-tier chipset and high refresh rate display, it would particularly appeal to mobile gamers and power users who value smooth performance but find most gaming phones too large or flashy. 

The Vivo X300 FE Prospective Buyer 

The Vivo X300 FE seems designed for photography enthusiasts who don’t want to carry large devices. Its rumored capable camera system with telephoto capabilities would suit travelers, street photographers, and content creators who prioritize imaging versatility in a compact form factor. 

Challenges and Considerations 

The Compact Phone Conundrum 

While the idea of compact flagships has strong appeal in online forums, the commercial success of such devices has been mixed in recent years. Manufacturers must carefully balance size constraints with thermal management, battery capacity, and cost considerations. 

Market Timing and Competition 

Both phones will enter a market already crowded with compelling options across price segments. Their success will depend not just on their specifications, but on how effectively OnePlus and Vivo communicate their unique value propositions to consumers. 

Conclusion: A Welcome Trend for Indian Consumers 

The rumored development of OnePlus 15s and Vivo X300 FE represents a positive trend in the Indian smartphone market, offering consumers more choice in the premium segment. If these leaks prove accurate, Indian consumers could soon have access to two compelling compact flagships catering to slightly different preferences—raw performance versus imaging capabilities. 

As we await official announcements from both companies, these leaks suggest an exciting direction for the flagship market—one that acknowledges diverse user preferences beyond simply creating larger devices with incrementally better specifications. 

Important Note: The information in this article is based on unconfirmed leaks and rumors from tipsters. OnePlus and Vivo have not officially announced these devices or their specifications. We recommend following official company channels for confirmed information when these devices are officially launched.