OnePlus 15 vs Realme GT 8 Pro Gaming Test: Which Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Phone Delivers Better Performance?

OnePlus has officially launched its latest flagship, the OnePlus 15, in India, marking it as the first Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 device in the country. While OnePlus's next-gen model doesn't look like a gaming phone, the features it brings truly make it one for gaming enthusiasts. In addition to Qualcomm's processor, OnePlus introduces OP Gaming Core technology, OP FPS Max, and the OP Performance Tri-Chip with the all-new OnePlus 15, which addresses key challenges in mobile gaming.

It's not alone in the market - Realme is also gearing up to launch its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5-powered GT 8 Pro in India on November 20. In the meantime, we've got our hands on both the phones for a performance showdown. So, let's see how both have optimized the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 under the hood. Let's dive in.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: Powerful Smartphone Chip Yet

The all-new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is claimed to be Qualcomm's most powerful mobile platform yet. The next-gen processor is built on TSMC's advanced 3nm (N3P) process and has custom Oryon cores in a 2+6 configuration, featuring two Prime cores clocked at 4.6GHz and six Performance cores at 3.62GHz.

The GPU now runs at 1.2GHz, offering a 23% better performance and a 20% reduction in power consumption compared to the previous model. On the graphics side, the latest Adreno GPU delivers up to 23% higher gaming performance and 25% better ray tracing. It now runs at 1.2GHz, providing a 23% increase in performance and a 20% reduction in power consumption. The GPU also features 18MB of dedicated memory, which boosts performance by up to 38%.

The chip also includes the next-generation Hexagon NPU, which is 37% faster and offers up to 40% power savings over the previous generation. These optimizations help sustain high frame rates without excessive battery drain or overheating.

Moreover, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is the first to support the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec. For connectivity, it integrates Qualcomm's X85 modem, delivering download speeds up to 12.5Gbps and upload speeds up to 3.7Gbps.

OnePlus 15 vs Realme GT 8 Pro: Benchmark Scores

First, we started with benchmark testing, running AnTuTu, Geekbench 6, Geekbench AI, and AnTuTu storage tests. The Realme GT 8 Pro achieved a slightly higher score on AnTuTu compared to the OnePlus 15. During the Steel Nomad Light stress test, the OnePlus 15 kept crashing, while the Realme GT 8 Pro managed to run, though its temperature reached 58°C.

Here's how both phones performed in our benchmark tests:

OnePlus 15 vs Realme GT 8 Pro: Real-World Gaming Test

In our two-hour testing session with both the OnePlus 15 and GT 8 Pro, we ran BGMI, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Genshin Impact. Starting with BGMI, both phones ran smoothly and supported 120fps gameplay with the settings at Smooth and Ultra Extreme.

However, the OnePlus 15 delivered a more consistent performance, maintaining frame rates between 118-120fps, while the Realme GT 8 Pro showed fluctuations, dropping to around 90fps. In terms of thermals and power consumption, the OnePlus 15 reached 40°C with an estimated total power draw of around 5W, while the Realme GT 8 Pro peaked at 42°C, consuming around 6.7W during gaming.

Moving to Call of Duty: Mobile, the title has officially partnered with OnePlus to bring 165fps gameplay support. That said, 165fps support in Call of Duty: Mobile is available only at Low + Ultra settings and is limited to Team Deathmatch mode. In Battle Royale, the frame rate remains capped at 120fps.

In Battle Royale, both phones offered a smooth experience at up to 120 fps. However, when we switched to Team Deathmatch, the Realme GT 8 Pro didn't perform as consistently as the OnePlus 15, dropping FPS to about 102fps.

We ran Genshin Impact, where both phones support gameplay at 60fps. The OnePlus 15 maintained an average of 59.8fps, delivering stable and consistent performance throughout the session. In contrast, the Realme GT 8 Pro averaged around 50fps. Moreover, we also tried GRID Legends on both phones, but the game kept crashing, probably due to an optimisation issue.

After the gaming session, there was about a 3-4% difference in battery drain between both the phones. The OnePlus 15 has a bigger 7,300mAh battery but did not really provide bigger gains, compared to the 7,000mAh on the GT 8 Pro.

OnePlus executive further explained:

"We're definitely not targeting to have a gaming phone. We're making our phones better for gaming. That's a different approach. Some people might think we'll make a gaming phone in the future - never say never - but right now, that's not the goal."

Verdict

Overall, the OnePlus 15 offers smooth and consistent gameplay, while the GT 8 Pro showed frame rate drops during our long session, something that may be fixed with future updates. However, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 still needs some time for better optimisation. Since these are the first batch of phones powered by Qualcomm's latest processor, such issues are expected.

So, if you're currently planning to buy a phone for gaming, you can go for the OnePlus 15. There is a chance that the GT 8 Pro could be cheaper compared to the OnePlus 15. We'll have to wait until November 20 for the official announcement.