OnePlus to drop Hasselblad, adopt in-house Image Engine on OnePlus 15

OnePlus is reportedly preparing to replace its Hasselblad-tuned camera pipeline with a self-developed imaging platform that could debut on its next flagship, the OnePlus 15, late in 2025 or early 2026, according to recent reports and online leaks. The move would shift core photo and video processing from third-party tuning to a proprietary system, a step that could reshape the company’s approach to smartphone photography.

According to leaks and a noted tipster on X, the new system, described as an "Image Engine," is intended as a full platform for photo and video processing rather than a set of incremental software tweaks. The engine is said to incorporate advanced algorithms to improve low-light detail, more accurate rendering of a wider range of skin tones, and expanded dynamic range, and it may also bolster video processing capabilities. Reports say the effort has been underway for years and represents a strategic push toward greater control over OnePlus’s imaging pipeline.

The shift would mark a substantive change from the company’s recent strategy. OnePlus has collaborated with Hasselblad on color tuning and imaging profiles since the OnePlus 9 series, a partnership that...