OnePlus 15 vs OnePlus 13: Camera Sample Comparison

The OnePlus 15 marks a clear break from the company’s recent camera approach: the Hasselblad branding is absent, the processing pipeline now uses OnePlus’s new DetailMax engine, and the phone arrives with revised optics and sensor choices compared with the OnePlus 13. Early sample photos and spec sheets show the OnePlus 15 switching to a slightly smaller main sensor, narrowing its ultra-wide field slightly (16mm vs 15mm), and tightening the telephoto from a 3.0x to a 3.5x periscope. OnePlus is also launching the 15 with a promotional price—$100 off with any trade-in (bringing a $999.99 list price to about $849.99 in some offers), additional trade-in credits up to $899 and a free-gift promotion. This piece compares images, hardware specs and practical implications for everyday photographers.

Key Takeaways

• The OnePlus 15 uses a new main sensor that is listed as 50 MP with a 1/1.56″ size and 1.0 μm pixels, versus the OnePlus 13’s 50 MP, 1/1.43″ sensor with 1.12 μm pixels.
• Ultra-wide lenses changed from 15 mm on the 13 to 16 mm on the 15; both are 50 MP but the 15’s sensor per-pixel size is smaller (0.61 μm listed).
• Telephoto moved from a 3.0x, 50 MP periscope on the 13 to a tighter 3.5x, 50 MP periscope on the 15; optical zoom increased while focal length rose from ~73 mm to ~80 mm.
• Front-facing cameras remain 32 MP on both models; many shooting modes were retained but XPan mode appears absent on the 15.
• OnePlus replaced its Hasselblad collaboration badge with an in‑house DetailMax processing engine; this is a software and tuning shift rather than a change to raw sensor counts.
• Price/promotions: OnePlus 15 promotional messaging lists $100 off with any trade-in (device listed at $999.99, promotion to $849.99), plus trade-in bonuses up to $899 and a free gift up to $299 for early buyers.
• Image samples indicate differences in framing, edge detail and color tuning driven by both optical changes and the new image engine; neither phone is a wholesale downgrade, but each favors different trade-offs in reach vs. sensor surface area.

Background

OnePlus and Hasselblad worked together on camera tuning for several generations, with the branding and color tuning forming part of the product narrative. Recent flagships from OnePlus paired large 50 MP sensors with multi-camera arrays and offered features aimed at enthusiast photographers, including periscope telephotos and specialty modes such as XPan. The OnePlus 13 followed that path with a relatively large 1/1.43″ main sensor and a 3.0x periscope telephoto.

Smartphone designers juggle sensor size, optics, pixel binning strategies, and image pipelines. A smaller sensor surface can mean less light per pixel even when nominal megapixel counts match; manufacturers offset that with computational processing and changes in focal length to alter usable zoom and framing. OnePlus’s stated move to a proprietary DetailMax engine reflects a broader industry trend of manufacturers internalizing image processing to own more of the photography stack.

Main Event

Hardware: The OnePlus 15’s spec sheet lists a 50 MP main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and PDAF, aperture f/1.8, 24 mm equivalent focal length and a 1/1.56″ sensor with 1.0 μm pixel size. The OnePlus 13 used a 50 MP main sensor with f/1.6, 23 mm equivalent focal length and a 1/1.43″ sensor with 1.12 μm pixels. Those differences mean the 13 retains a modestly larger sensor area for the main camera despite similar megapixel counts.

Ultra-wide and telephoto: Both phones list 50 MP ultra-wide modules, but the OnePlus 15 lists a 16 mm field while the 13 lists 15 mm. That shift is small in practice but affects how wide scenes are rendered. The periscope telephoto changes from 3.0x (OnePlus 13) to 3.5x (OnePlus 15), with the 15’s telephoto listed at 80 mm equivalent and an aperture around f/2.8 versus the 13’s ~73 mm at f/2.6; users gain tighter reach at the cost of a narrower framing and slightly different light-gathering characteristics.

Software and modes: OnePlus removed the Hasselblad logo and replaced the branded tuning with DetailMax. Some modes, including XPan-style shooting, appear missing from the 15’s public feature list. Early sample images show changes in color rendering, sharpening and noise reduction that stem from both the revised optics and the new image engine rather than from sensor megapixel counts alone.

Analysis & Implications

For most users the headline is practical: the OnePlus 15 trades some main-sensor surface area for a telephoto with more optical reach. That will benefit users who prioritize mid-range zoom shots (portrait distance and tighter crops) but may slightly reduce low-light headroom for the main camera compared with the 13, assuming all other factors equal. The actual impact depends heavily on software processing—where the DetailMax engine can compensate through denoising, multi-frame stacking and tone mapping.

Color and detail: Sample photos reveal the 15 favors a particular tuning profile that often yields punchy contrast and sharpened edges; whether that is preferable depends on taste. The change away from Hasselblad tuning removes a known color signature, which can be a plus for users who want different color science or a downside for those who preferred the previous palette.

Competitive positioning: By increasing telephoto reach to 3.5x, OnePlus narrows the gap to other manufacturers offering longer-range periscopes, while keeping all main camera counts at 50 MP maintains marketing parity. The net effect is a rebalanced camera stack—less emphasis on raw main-sensor area, more on flexible framing and software differentiation.

Comparison & Data

The table highlights that while nominal megapixel counts remain the same across camera modules, sensor sizes and focal lengths differ. Those physical differences often drive the most meaningful changes in real-world image quality; computational processing then shapes final color, dynamic range and noise. Reviewers and photographers should weigh telephoto reach against reduced sensor area on the main module when deciding which model better fits their shooting priorities.

Reactions & Quotes

OnePlus framed the shift as a technical evolution toward an in‑house imaging pipeline and expanded optical flexibility. Below are representative statements and expert reactions surrounding the launch and early sample analysis.

OnePlus described the camera updates as a move to its own DetailMax processing and a redesigned lens array rather than a simple rebrand of prior Hasselblad tuning.

OnePlus (press materials)

Our early sample review notes that the OnePlus 15 delivers different color rendering and edge detail compared with the 13, driven by both optics and the new processing engine.

PhoneArena reviewer (analysis)

Photographers who rely on mid-telephoto reach should welcome the 3.5x periscope, but low-light enthusiasts may need side-by-side testing to judge trade-offs in main-camera performance.

Imaging expert commentary (industry analyst)

Unconfirmed

• Whether DetailMax consistently outperforms previous Hasselblad-tuned processing across all scenes remains to be confirmed in rigorous, controlled tests.
• Reports of missing modes such as XPan are reflected in early feature lists; OnePlus could add or reintroduce modes via software updates.

Bottom Line

The OnePlus 15 is neither a straightforward upgrade nor a clear downgrade relative to the OnePlus 13; it represents a strategic recalibration. OnePlus prioritized slightly more telephoto reach and internalized image processing over preserving the larger main-sensor footprint of the 13. For buyers who value mid-range zoom and a refreshed processing profile, the 15 will likely feel like an improvement; for those who prioritize maximum main-sensor light capture, the 13 may retain an edge in some low-light scenarios.

Practical advice: test samples in the real-world shooting situations you care about—portrait framing at 3.5x, low-light interiors, and wide landscapes—before deciding. Pricing promotions (OnePlus’s $100 off with any trade-in, trade-in credits up to $899 and free-gift incentives) can meaningfully change the value proposition and are worth factoring into a purchase decision.

Sources

• PhoneArena — sample photos and specs comparison (news analysis)
• OnePlus — official product and promotional information (official)