The upcoming OnePlus 15 flagship phone is expected to feature an enhanced periscope telephoto camera alongside some cost-cutting measures, according to recent leaks, as it aims to balance performance with affordability.
One key change is the camera system. Leaker Digital Chat Station suggests the OnePlus 15 will incorporate a 50MP periscope telephoto camera with an 85mm equivalent focal length and an f/2.8 aperture. This configuration would provide approximately 3.5x to 3.7x optical zoom, a step up from the OnePlus 13’s 3x optical zoom achieved through its 23mm primary and 73mm periscope lenses. The increased zoom capability would allow for better framing at a distance, assuming image quality is maintained or improved.
However, the narrower f/2.8 aperture on the OnePlus 15 represents a potential drawback compared to the OnePlus 13’s wider f/2.6 aperture. A wider aperture generally allows more light to enter the sensor, resulting in less noise, reduced motion blur, and a shallower depth of field – particularly beneficial in low-light conditions. Therefore, the OnePlus 15’s camera could underperform in low light compared to its predecessor, depending on other optimizations.
Further cost-saving measures could lead to a lower price point for the OnePlus 15. A post from OnePlus Club (unrelated to OnePlus) claims the device will be priced “significantly lower” due to the use of less expensive components. This aligns with the phone being positioned as an “ultra-performance” device, potentially in response to the iQOO 13’s strong sales performance in China, which reportedly exceeded the combined sales of the realme GT 7 Pro and OnePlus 13.
In line with these cost-saving efforts, a previous leak from Digital Chat Station indicates that the OnePlus 15 might feature a 6.78-inch 1.5K resolution flat LIPO display. This contrasts with the OnePlus 13’s larger 6.82-inch QHD+/2K curved display. The OnePlus 13R, for example, already uses a flat 6.78-inch 1.5K display. If this leak proves accurate, the OnePlus 15’s display could resemble that of the OnePlus 13R.
The end of OnePlus’ partnership with Hasselblad is also anticipated to reduce costs. Without the Hasselblad partnership, OnePlus will no longer need to pay licensing fees for using the brand’s logo on the phone. The company has confirmed its Hasselblad partnership has ended and that it is developing its own DetailMax Engine for photography.
