OnePlus announces a three-year partnership with camera manufacturer Hasselblad to co-develop the next generation of smartphone camera systems for future OnePlus flagship devices. Along with the partnership, OnePlus has also confirmed that the two companies have already started working on the revamped camera system – Hasselblad Camera for Mobile – for the new OnePlus 9 Series which is set to launch globally on 23rd March 2021.
In addition, OnePlus also announced its plans to invest more than USD 150 million over the next three years in improving the mobile imaging capabilities to provide the best smartphone camera experience for its users. The OnePlus 9 Series will use a custom Sony IMX789 sensor for the largest and most advanced main camera sensor ever on an OnePlus device. The Hasselblad Camera for Mobile will also offer improved HDR video recording, as well as support for capturing 4K 120FPS and 8K 30FPS video.
Over the next three years, OnePlus and Hasselblad will continuously work on various camera improvement techniques starting with software improvements including color tuning and sensor calibration. OnePlus has also jointly developed a new color solution called Natural Color Calibration with Hasselblad to achieve more accurate and natural-looking colors to photos taken with OnePlus flagship cameras. It also will serve as OnePlus’ new standard for color calibration for its future smartphone cameras.
The new Hasselblad Pro Mode brings Hasselblad’s sensor calibration to a smartphone for the first time, resulting in accurate and natural color for a solid foundation for post-editing. Hasselblad Pro Mode has been revamped with a new user interface based on Hasselblad’s image processing software to give users an authentic Hasselblad look and feel. This mode will also allow professional photographers to fine-tune their photos, with the ability to adjust ISO, focus, exposure times, white balance, and more. Users can also use a 12-bit RAW format to achieve a richer color and higher dynamic range.
Furthermore, OnePlus also said that it will setup four major research & development labs around the world, including two innovative imaging labs based in the United States and Japan. All these labs will work on new areas of smartphone imaging technology for future OnePlus camera systems, such as a panoramic camera with a 140-degree field of view, T-lens technology for lightning-fast focus in the front-facing camera, and a freeform lens that practically eliminates edge distortion in ultra-wide photos. The freeform lens will be introduced with the OnePlus 9 Series.
The OnePlus 9 Series global launch event will be streamed online on March 23 at 10:00 AM ET at OnePlus’s official website.
“Beginning in 2021, we are making a concerted effort to significantly improve the smartphone camera experience for our users, with the expertise of a truly legendary partner in Hasselblad. With OnePlus’ top-of-the-line hardware and computational photography and Hasselblad’s rich aesthetic knowledge in traditional photography, I am confident that the OnePlus 9 Series will be a major leap forward in our ability to deliver a premium, flagship camera,” said Pete Lau, Founder & CEO of OnePlus.