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OnePlus 15R Teardown Reveals an Unexpectedly Repair-Friendly Design

Highlights

The OnePlus 15R earns a strong repairability score of 8.5/10 in a new teardown video.
It equips standard Philips screws, easy access to the main board, a modular camera design, and a pull pouch for safer battery removal.
The glass back panel is glued and requires heat to remove, posing risks of cracks or internal damage.

OnePlus 15R teardown video is out. (Image credit -PBKReviews)

OnePlus 15R has just hit the stores and most of the popular tech reviewers have already shared their verdict. But if there is one thing that we wait for when a new phone arrives in the market, it is teardown review. PBKreviews are often the first ones to share the inner workings of a new phone and that’s exactly is the case with OnePlus 15R as well.

In the recently shared teardown video, PBKreviews suggests that OnePlus has focused on making repairs easier this time. This strategy has made OnePlus 15 earn an impressive repairability score of 8.5 out of 10. Here’s a quick look at everything we learn from the teardown video.

OnePlus 15R Teardown

OnePlus 15R teardown score. (Image credit -PBKReviews)

A major factor behind the high score is the phone’s accessibility. Instead of using proprietary screws, OnePlus has opted for standard Philips screws, which most users already have tools for. Accessing the main board is also simplified, as it requires removing just a single screw.

The camera modules follow a modular design and can be detached by popping them off the board, making replacements far less complicated. Even the lens cover can be removed separately by applying heat and gently prying it off, eliminating the need to dismantle the entire phone for small cosmetic repairs.

Battery replacement, which is often one of the most challenging aspects of modern smartphone repairs, is handled more thoughtfully on the OnePlus 15R.

The device includes a pull pouch for the battery, allowing it to be removed without aggressive prying that could damage or puncture the cell. Although the battery cables are tucked beneath graphite film and copper tape, the pull pouch significantly simplifies the overall removal process compared to fully glued batteries.

Drawbacks Highlighted During Teardown

Caption – OnePlus 15R teardown internal back design. (Image credit -PBKReviews)

The OnePlus 15R is not entirely free of drawbacks. The glass back panel is still held in place with adhesive rather than screws or clips. Opening the phone requires applying heat using a hairdryer or heat gun, which introduces a risk of cracking the glass if not done carefully.

Excessive heat can also damage internal components, so the initial opening process demands caution. Additionally, repairers must carefully peel away thin graphite film and copper tape to access the battery connectors, adding some complexity.

Replacing the display is the most time-consuming repair on the OnePlus 15R. The screen flex cable is not directly accessible and requires removing the back panel, multiple screws, the bottom cover, and the subboard. Once exposed, the display must be heated and pried off, and fresh adhesive needs to be applied when installing the replacement screen.

Overall, the teardown highlights that while the OnePlus 15R is not perfect, it stands out as a more repair-friendly smartphone than many of its competitors, especially in terms of accessibility and battery replacement.

You can check out the complete Teadown video below –

FAQs

Q1. What repairability score did the OnePlus 15R receive in the teardown?

Answer. The OnePlus 15R received a repairability score of 8.5 out of 10, which reflects its accessible and repair-friendly design.

Q2. Which design choices make the OnePlus 15R easier to repair?

Answer. The phone is easier to repair because it uses standard Philips screws, has modular camera modules that can be detached easily, and includes a battery pull pouch that allows safe removal without aggressive prying.

Q3. What are the main drawbacks of repairing the OnePlus 15R?

Answer. The main drawbacks are that the glass back panel is glued and requires heat to remove, the battery connectors are hidden under graphite film and copper tape, and replacing the display is complex and time-consuming.