OnePlus 15 vs OnePlus 13: Camera Showdown

When comparing the OnePlus 15 and OnePlus 13, the camera system stands out as a major point of differentiation, with both models offering distinct hardware choices that influence image quality and shooting versatility. Potential buyers can currently take advantage of a $100 discount on the OnePlus 15 with any phone trade-in, regardless of its condition, bringing the price down to $849.99 from the original $999.99. Additional savings of up to $899 are possible with eligible device trade-ins, and a free gift valued at up to $299 is included. Those who reserved the device will receive an extra $50 off. Although pre-orders are not yet open, subscribing will ensure you receive a notification as soon as they begin.

A detailed camera comparison reveals several key differences. The main camera on the OnePlus 15 features a 50 MP sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) and phase detection autofocus (PDAF), an f/1.8 aperture, a 24 mm focal length, a 1/1.56-inch sensor size, and 1.0 µm pixels. In contrast, the OnePlus 13 uses a 50 MP main sensor with OIS and PDAF, but with a wider f/1.6 aperture, a 23 mm focal length, a larger 1/1.43-inch sensor, and bigger 1.12 µm pixels.

For the secondary ultra-wide camera, the OnePlus 15 offers a 50 MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, a 16 mm focal length, a 1/2.88-inch sensor, and 0.61 µm pixels. The OnePlus 13 also has a 50 MP ultra-wide camera with an f/2.0 aperture, but a slightly wider 15 mm focal length.

The telephoto camera on the OnePlus 15 is a 50 MP periscope lens with OIS and PDAF, providing 3.5x optical zoom, an f/2.8 aperture, an 80 mm focal length, a 1/2.76-inch sensor, and 0.64 µm pixels. The OnePlus 13 includes a 50 MP periscope telephoto with OIS and PDAF as well, but offers 3.0x optical zoom, an f/2.6 aperture, and a 73 mm focal length. Both phones share a 32 MP front-facing camera for selfies.

The most significant change involves the main camera sensor, which is actually slightly smaller on the OnePlus 15 compared to its predecessor. The ultra-wide camera has also been adjusted, now offering a 16 mm field of view instead of the previous 15 mm, making it marginally less wide. Furthermore, the telephoto lens has been upgraded from 3x optical zoom on the OnePlus 13 to a tighter 3.5x zoom on the new model.

This raises an important question: does the OnePlus 15 represent a genuine upgrade, a step down, or something in between? Let’s examine the image quality across various scenarios.

In terms of zoom performance, sample images allow for a direct comparison between the two models. The same applies to selfie photos taken with the front cameras. For daytime photography with the main camera, multiple sample shots highlight the differences in color reproduction, dynamic range, and detail. Nighttime photos from the main camera reveal how each phone handles low-light conditions, noise reduction, and highlight retention.

When using the ultra-wide camera at night, the performance in challenging lighting can be compared directly. Similarly, zoom quality in night conditions demonstrates the capabilities of the telephoto lenses when light is scarce.

So, which phone produces images you prefer? The OnePlus 15 utilizes the proprietary DetailMax image engine for processing, which results in a particular look and feel. It also omits some camera modes available on the OnePlus 13, such as XPan, while introducing these hardware modifications.

(Source: Phone Arena)