Adam Doud/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. The OnePlus 15 has now officially entered the market, arriving just under a year after the release of its predecessor, signifying OnePlus’s rapid product iteration cycle and ambitious development agenda. I have spent several weeks rigorously testing the device to assess its capabilities and to evaluate how it stands among the current generation of Android flagships that dominate the U.S. market. Naturally, such a device invites direct comparisons with similarly positioned premium smartphones. Over the past few years, OnePlus has placed significant emphasis on the photographic prowess of its phones, often showcasing notable partnerships and technological advancements. The OnePlus 13, in particular, was celebrated for producing images of exceptional clarity and color accuracy, establishing a strong foundation of consumer expectations for its successors. Many enthusiasts, including myself, hoped that the OnePlus 15 would inherit that same photographic DNA, albeit refined through improved hardware and processing algorithms. However, a number of intriguing differences and evolutions have emerged since that earlier model’s debut nearly ten months ago. One major change that immediately stands out is the dissolution of OnePlus’s longstanding collaboration with Hasselblad, the acclaimed Swedish camera manufacturer. The OnePlus 15 no longer carries the Hasselblad emblem nor promotes the co-engineering branding that adorned previous flagships. Still, the phone continues to offer XPAN mode, a photographic feature reminiscent of Hasselblad’s heritage and one that many feared would disappear with the dissolution of the partnership. Personally, I found this continuity encouraging, suggesting a transition that respects legacy while moving toward more technical independence. During my field evaluation, I tested the OnePlus 15 extensively across diverse environments, including an international photography session throughout South Korea. Interestingly, the camera managed to outperform my Samsung handset in specific conditions, reinforcing the notion that innovation can emerge from unexpected quarters. To understand where the OnePlus 15 stands in the hierarchy of high-end photography tools, it was essential to pit it directly against the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra—arguably the benchmark for Android camera excellence so far in 2025. Examining the raw hardware immediately reveals the design philosophy behind each contender. The OnePlus 15 features an elegant triple 50‑megapixel camera array on its rear panel. The primary sensor uses an f/1.8 aperture coupled with a 1/1.56‑inch sensor, optimized for balanced light diffusion; the ultrawide offers a sweeping 116‑degree field of view; and the telephoto camera integrates a 3.5× optical zoom periscope lens designed for clarity at distance. In comparison, Samsung has configured the Galaxy S25 Ultra to emphasize versatility and ultra‑high resolution. It boasts a remarkable 200‑megapixel main camera with a wide f/1.7 aperture and a 1/1.3‑inch sensor, accompanied by a 50‑megapixel ultrawide lens providing an expansive 120‑degree field of view. Moreover, Samsung’s decision to include two telephoto lenses—one 10‑megapixel sensor offering 3× optical zoom and another 50‑megapixel unit delivering a 5× zoom—underscores its commitment to optical precision across multiple focal lengths. For selfies, the OnePlus employs a 32‑megapixel front-facing camera, while the Samsung uses a 12‑megapixel sensor. Immediately, the contrast in approach becomes clear: Samsung provides greater optionality and an ultra‑high‑resolution primary sensor, while OnePlus aims for consistency and balance across every lens in its arsenal. To empirically measure performance, I conducted a detailed comparison at a local amusement park—Six Flags—shooting throughout day and night to test each lens scenario. 1. Main camera (daytime): On paper, Samsung’s 200‑megapixel sensor should easily overshadow the OnePlus’s 50‑megapixel counterpart, and indeed, the difference manifests in the final images. Samsung’s shots reveal finer texture and more authentic representation of surfaces; subtle stains and grains of dirt on a wall appear with greater fidelity. Conversely, the OnePlus 15 renders a smoother, more polished photograph—pleasing to the eye, but arguably a step away from full realism. 2. Main camera (night): Capturing scenes under the dim lighting of a Halloween‑themed park introduces different challenges, including thick smoke that varies from frame to frame. Despite that, the OnePlus 15 takes the lead here. Its photo displays enhanced sharpness—perhaps overly processed but visually striking—while Samsung’s image shows mild blurriness likely caused by atmospheric interference. Importantly, legibility of details such as the ‘Warning: Keep Out’ sign proves better on the OnePlus, enhancing perceived clarity when viewed on a smartphone screen. 3. Ultrawide (daytime): This round yields a surprising result. The OnePlus 15 distinguishes itself with superior sharpness and intricate detail in foliage, particularly in the corn stalks and trees bordering the carousel. By contrast, Samsung’s image softens those fine elements, which only becomes noticeable on larger displays. Though the Samsung lens covers a wider scene, OnePlus delivers truer clarity overall. 4. Ultrawide (night): At night, ultrawide lenses tend to struggle due to lower light intake. Both phones produce commendable shots; however, Samsung reclaims its dominance here by offering better definition in architectural details such as railings and steps. OnePlus, while softer, provides smoother gradient transitions in shadows, giving the image a slightly more cinematic appearance suited for smaller screens. 5. Telephoto (10×): Revisiting the carousel to test mid‑range zoom reveals yet another twist. Despite the OnePlus 15 not having a native 10× optic, its resultant image feels more balanced and vibrant, with stronger definition in both contrast and depth. Samsung’s photo, surprisingly, appears somewhat flat and over‑processed. In this instance, OnePlus manages a narrow but meaningful victory. 6. Telephoto (100× and higher): Entering the extreme zoom territory—where computational photography meets artificial intelligence—both devices demonstrate their technological prowess. Samsung caps at 100×, while OnePlus reaches an impressive 120× magnification. From a distance exceeding 500 feet, the OnePlus 15 astonishingly preserves text clarity and structural integrity when capturing a Six Flags banner fluttering atop a 330‑foot tower. Subtle typographic features, like the curl of the ‘g’ or the edge of the ‘R,’ remain crisply defined. Similarly, a distant statue of Foghorn Leghorn, roughly 250 feet away, maintains discernible contours and layered depth in the OnePlus shot, while Samsung’s version exhibits irregular color patches and diminished sharpness. It’s a decisive demonstration of OnePlus’s refinements at extreme zoom ranges. In conclusion, both smartphones undeniably occupy the forefront of mobile photography. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra stands as an all‑rounder with extraordinary sensor versatility and raw pixel density that often translates into unparalleled detail capture, especially in primary lens scenarios. The OnePlus 15, on the other hand, delivers remarkable stability between its triple cameras and consistently outperforms expectations in specialized use cases, particularly telephoto zoom. Though Samsung holds a minor technical edge in most general lighting conditions, OnePlus convincingly asserts itself in long‑distance and computationally complex photography, proving that a balanced system can rival, and at times surpass, brute sensor power.
Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-compared-the-cameras-of-samsung-and-oneplus-flagship-phones-and-it-went-down-to-the-wire/
