OnePlus products are renowned for their speed, slick software, and rapid wired charging. In fact, when it comes to the Android world, Express.co.uk is of the firm belief the newest OnePlus handsets, like the OnePlus 7T Pro, would be top of the podium …if only they had a better camera.
The cameras on OnePlus devices aren’t bad by any means, and the Shenzhen tech giant has worked diligently to improve its photography hardware and software – last year’s OnePlus 7 Pro was the first device from the company to come with a triple camera system featuring standard, ultra wide-angle and telephoto perspectives, for instance.
But OnePlus still trails its closest rivals when it comes to photographic quality. Nowhere is this more evident than the reviews from DxOMark – a French publication renowned for meticulously testing smartphone cameras and awarding them a numbered score based on performance.
The outlet handed the OnePlus 7 Pro and 7T Pro figures of 114 each. While that’s respectable, both devices sit behind the likes of the Galaxy S10 5G, Oppo Reno 10x Zoom, Huawei Mate 30 Pro and Apple’s iPhone 11 Pro Max in the overall rankings.
But that could all be about to change.
It seems OnePlus is readying a souped-up camera system for its newest smartphone, dubbed OnePlus 8. Alleged cases for the forthcoming OnePlus 8 Pro recently surfaced on Chinese social network Weibo and suggest the new flagship could be in line for an additional camera.
READ MORE: OnePlus 7T with triple-camera, 90Hz screen, and faster fast-charging is astonishingly good
As you’d expect, the case features a central cutout in the middle of the rear panel which will presumably house the OnePlus 8 Pro’s primary, telephoto and ultra wide-angle lenses. However, there’s also a secondary hole positioned slightly to the left that could be for an additional time-of-flight (ToF) sensor.
This certainly isn’t the first time we’ve heard murmurings of the OnePlus 8 Pro being treated to a ToF camera. Renders of the device that surfaced last year from OnLeaks and 91Mobiles also showed the new device with the additional lens.
What’s so great about ToF sensors? They give a smartphone a much greater awareness of its surroundings and the ability to map out depth. The end result is when you’re taking a crisp portrait mode photo, background blur should be more accurately applied around your subject.
In addition to a new ToF camera, it’s also expected OnePlus will improve the three primary lenses on the device in addition to its software.
Of course, we won’t know the exact specs of the OnePlus 8 series until the firm officially unveils it.
According to teenage tipster Ishan Agarwal – who has an excellent track record with smartphone leaks, especially those about OnePlus devices – the OnePlus 8 could be revealed as early as “late March or April”.
Express.co.uk will let you know the moment OnePlus announces an event for its next batch of smartphones.