OnePlus and Hasselblad collaboration over; OnePlus 15 first with DetailMax Engine
According to OnePlus CEO Pete Lau, the love affair between OnePlus and Hasselblad is over. The collaboration began with the OnePlus 9 and appears to have concluded with the OnePlus 13. From the OnePlus 15 onwards, the company will use its own system: the OnePlus DetailMax Engine.
Things never really took off between OnePlus and Hasselblad. The iconic name usually created high expectations that were never quite met. It's not that the cameras on OnePlus phones are bad, but they aren't much better than the competition. So it became more of a disadvantage than an advantage.
And so, after five years, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau announces the end of the partnership and the beginning of its own Image Engine called DetailMax. Interestingly, parent company Oppo recently just renewed its partnership with Hasselblad. Perhaps it wants to spread the odds or there are other interests playing in the background.
New era of computational imaging
The right settings at the right time are provided by an Image Engine. In fact, achieving the perfect shot involves much more than just a good sensor and a sharp lens. For instance, Samsung tends to opt for brighter colours, whereas a Pixel phone chooses more natural colours.
OnePlus wants to bet on "clarity and authenticity" with the DetailMax Engine, according to a press release. The OnePlus 15 will be the first smartphone with this new engine, and according to OnePlus, we don't have to expect a "fake AI moon" there when you point your phone at the moon at night. That's a direct attack on Samsung's Space Zoom feature. This feature, thanks to AI, makes up detail that wasn't originally there.
Our first look at the OnePlus 15 is expected soon in China, but won't come out here until 2026. The device is expected to come in at least three colors including Moonrock Black. So OnePlus has a thing for our moon which is apparently becoming a recurring theme.
