As excitement builds for the May 14 release of the OnePlus 7 Pro, new camera samples show a significant improvement over previous models but has the Chinese company done enough to compete with top-tier handsets such as the Pixel 3 and Huawei’s P30 Pro?
An exclusive hands-on report in Wired UK, based on a “near final” pre-production model, reveals far superior quality to previous OnePlus models, but nothing likely to trouble the behemoths at the very top of the DxOMark charts.
Camera Specs
The report, featuring several quotes from OnePlus imaging director Simon Liu, is careful not to reveal any more information than OnePlus would have us know ahead of launch. Full camera specs are not provided and technical information has been stripped from sample images.
However, OnePlus has already revealed in its own launch invitation that the new flagship will come with a triple rear-camera configuration and current rumors expect an optically stabilized 48-megapixel main camera with an f/1.6 lens alongside an 8-megapixel 3x Zoom component with an f/2.4 lens and a 16-megapixel wide-angle offering with an f/2.0 lens. A pop-up selfie camera is also predicted.
Wired’s report confirms only that a 3x zoom module is present and that the main sensor will downsample images to 12 megapixels without mentioning the true sensor resolution. All other specs remain a matter of speculation other than that no time of flight camera is present on the OnePlus 7 Pro.
Camera Quality
According to Wired the OnePlus 7 Pro camera represents a significant improvement over the OnePlus 6T in several areas, not just because of the addition of the 3x zoom lens, but thanks to increased detail and more natural-looking HDR and bokeh effects.
Also significant is that the camera is designed to keep photography simple rather than signaling AI features at every opportunity like competitors such as Huawei’s P30 Pro.
An improved Night Mode takes over from the 6T’s ‘Nightscape’ mode, which Wired found ‘refreshingly quick’ to use, although not up to the standard of the P30 Pro.
The report, apparently under strict supervision from OnePlus, can’t be expected to reveal too much but should be enough to whet the appetites of loyal fans eager to upgrade from the OnePlus 6T.
Can The OnePlus 7 Pro Camera Compete With The Best?
Historically OnePlus handsets have been designed to offer flagship performance at more affordable prices, but with the OnePlus 7 Pro expected to cost significantly more than previous models, it remains to be seen whether these camera improvements will be enough.
As quoted in the report, Simon Liu doesn’t seem certain:
“I think we have a shot at competing with the first tier phones," he says. "I don’t think we can beat them, but the imaging world is always subjective." - Simon Liu
We’ll have to wait until the launch to find out full details, but for now, you can head over to Wired UK to check out the (downsized) samples for yourself.
