It looks like OnePlus is pulling out all the stops for their next big release, the OnePlus 15. I mean, they've already spilled the beans on the phone's name, flaunted the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, and even given us a sneak peek at the design. Now, they're hyping up a global launch with a "Sand Storm" design that sounds pretty wild.

Apparently, this "Sand Storm" edition is going to be the first smartphone rocking what they call "aerospace-grade" Micro-Arc Oxidation (MAO) on the mid-frame and camera area. I had to look that up! Basically, it's a fancy surface treatment, kind of like anodizing, but supposedly it makes the oxide layer tougher.

OnePlus is boasting that this process uses high-voltage plasma to slap a "ceramic" coating right onto the metal frame. They're claiming it makes the frame 3.4 times harder than aluminum and 1.3 times harder than titanium. While they haven't specified the base metal, my guess is it's still aluminum. Plus, the Sand Storm edition will have a fiberglass back with a silky feel. I'm curious to see how that feels in hand.

It's possible the Sand Storm edition is a special variant, which means other OnePlus 15 colors might have different finishes. However, the overall design is locked in, and honestly, it reminds me a lot of the OnePlus 13s, which is great because I liked that phone.

While we're waiting for the full reveal closer to the expected October 27, 2025, launch in China, I can't help but wonder what other surprises OnePlus has in store.