Concerns have been raised about the camera quality of the OnePlus 15.

The OnePlus 15's camera system is receiving mostly unfavorable attention. A comparison of photo samples between the latest model and the OnePlus 13 prompted many commenters to say that OnePlus had problems with the OnePlus 15's cameras.

A primary concern was that the OnePlus 15's pictures appeared less crisp than the 13's, noticeably so. Therefore, I decided to reexamine these samples myself.

The OnePlus 13 undeniably produced a sharper, more detailed image in both instances. However, it seems much of this enhanced detail arises from artificial sharpening during post-processing. This isn't necessarily negative, as most phones apply some level of sharpening.

With the indoor 3D cartoon, under ambient lighting, the result is more appealing. However, the artificial sharpening doesn't improve the building example. The OnePlus 13's image looks strange; lines and edges seem pixelated, giving it an artificial appearance.

The handling of dynamic range worsens the second example. Despite the scene's moderate contrast, the OnePlus 13 created excessively dark shadows and a greenish tint that distorts the white balance.

Conversely, the OnePlus 15 captured a more natural image. While softer, it appears more realistic and aesthetically pleasing.

Selfie Camera

Despite the appealing look of the OnePlus 15's selfie, the 13's is technically superior due to a shallower depth of field, which creates a blurrier background. This is unexpected, given that neither the image sensor nor the aperture has changed.

The OnePlus 15 camera also consistently leans towards warmer tones. This likely intentional choice results in less accurate colors, as the OnePlus 13 provides better white balance.

Like the telephoto samples, the OnePlus 13 photo contains greater detail but also exhibits an amateurish "digital sharpness."

The new DetailMax engine clearly differs from its predecessor, yet it still shows some flaws.

The new engine delivers better dynamic range when functioning optimally. However, some detail is lost in the shadows, such as in the greenery sample pair. Oddly, brown leaves with the sky behind them are better exposed, revealing their color, which is less noticeable in the OnePlus 13's picture.

However, in both sample pairs, the 15 exposed the sky to prevent it from appearing as a bright spot, leading to a more balanced image.

Again, the 15's image looks warmer and perhaps more saturated. While pleasing in these instances, I prefer more realistic color representation.

In this scenario, with a light source directly above a subject, the 15 lifted shadows to preserve detail and avoid an unsettling look. The 13's image is almost unusable unless it's Halloween.

Main Camera (Night photos)

The OnePlus 15 adds sharpening and reduces haze, most noticeably on small light sources, like streetlamps or glowing letters.

This editing works well, given the building and trees benefit from added detail.

Although softer, the 15's photo captured more detail in the darker areas. I prefer a better-lit scene over extreme sharpness.

This is an instance where the DetailMax engine underperformed, with the OnePlus 13 better exposing the scene.

Ultra-wide Camera (Night photos)

The OnePlus 15 shows less haze, with dark areas appearing blacker, while the 13 reveals more detail. The 15 also displays less haze around lights, indicating a longer exposure or higher ISO for the OnePlus 13.

Like the telephoto night samples, the OnePlus 15's warmer, more "yellow" tones intensify with the secondary cameras at night, becoming excessive. Fortunately, this can be fixed via software or editing.

The 15's yellow hues persist with the telephoto camera at night. However, the 15 shows more detail from the room, through a curtain, indicating better HDR performance. Still, I'd prefer the more realistic colors.

The 13's higher detail is visible, aided by post-processing. Therefore, OnePlus could potentially enhance the OnePlus 15 to achieve similar or superior results.

Having used professional cameras, I understand the distinction between true sharpness and artificial sharpness. Sometimes added sharpness is acceptable, but other times I prefer a slightly softer image.

We often overemphasize camera sharpness. I have other concerns with the OnePlus 15 camera.

The inconsistency is my first concern. In some instances, the new DetailMax engine showcases its abilities with impressive dynamic range, but in others, it fails.

My second concern is the decision to use a warm white balance so heavily. This compounds the inconsistency issue, as it can enhance certain situations but ruin others.

However, OnePlus deserves some understanding. The company is testing a new engine for its cameras, and while testing was likely thorough, public feedback is invaluable. Given the company's reputation for listening to its users, improvements are likely in the coming months. This is likely the beginning of a smart decision by the company.

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