Vivo has Zeiss, Xiaomi has Leica, Oppo and OnePlus had Hasselblad – recently, it became known that OnePlus has effectively ended its camera partnership with Hasselblad (while Oppo has already extended it).
But is that really so, people wonder. Recently, an interesting discussion popped up at the OnePlus Community, where the DetailMax Engine, an in-house imaging system, was introduced.
The five-year history is now history
Image by OnePlus Community
The thread discusses how OnePlus has officially announced the end of its five-year collaboration with Hasselblad, closing a chapter that began with the OnePlus 9 and continued through the OnePlus 13 series.
The partnership was a major step for OnePlus, bringing Hasselblad's expertise in color science and image tuning to its smartphones.
Looking ahead, OnePlus is shifting focus to its own in-house system called the DetailMax Engine. This new platform is designed to prioritize realism, with an emphasis on sharp details, natural colors, and minimal "beautification" filters. According to the company, DetailMax represents years of development and is meant to give OnePlus greater control over the camera experience.
The upcoming OnePlus 15 will be the first device to debut this new imaging engine. While the Hasselblad name will no longer appear, OnePlus has said the collaboration leaves a lasting legacy in its approach to color accuracy and photographic style.
The big question now is whether DetailMax can not only match but also surpass the Hasselblad-era cameras, delivering the kind of results that will keep long-time fans and mobile photography enthusiasts impressed.
The OnePlus members' doubts
Will the OnePlus 13 be the last OnePlus phone with a Hasselblad-inspired camera? | Image by PhoneAren
OnePlus community members have been weighing in on the changes with a mix of curiosity and cautious optimism. Some suggest that the new DetailMax Engine may be more about branding than a complete technological overhaul, noting that Oppo is keeping its own Hasselblad partnership and speculating that OnePlus could still be using licensed Hasselblad tech behind the scenes.
Seeing as Oppo is keeping the partnership, I suspect DetailMax is more a shift in branding than it is in technology. Would not be surprised if it's still Hasselblad technology white labeled under licencing to OnePlus. Hasselblad still get paid.
– OnePlus Community member Andy UK, September 2025
Recommended Stories
Questions also arose about whether DetailMax might share elements with Oppo's new Lumo Engine, highlighting the potential overlap between the two companies' imaging developments.
Others expressed confidence that the new engine could perform as well – or even better – than the Hasselblad collaboration. Users pointed to impressive results from midrange OnePlus phones, like the Nord 5, and speculated that a flagship device with DetailMax could produce exceptional image quality.
Some feel that OnePlus has likely absorbed all the key lessons from Hasselblad and no longer needs the partnership to deliver professional-level photos. The only noticeable differences could be the absence of specific Hasselblad filters and features like X Pan mode.
Would you miss the Hasselblad partnership?
Yes, it was great.
25%
Maybe, but it's time to move on.
25%
Not really.
50%
"Iconic Phones" is coming this Fall!
Rediscover some of the most unique and memorable phones of the last two decades! "Iconic Phones" is a beautifully illustrated book that we've been working on for over a year - and it's coming out in just a couple short month!
"Iconic Phones: Revolution at Your Fingertips" is a must-have coffee table book for every phone lover out there. Covering the stories of more than 20 fan-favorite phones, it takes you on a memorable journey through the technological revolution that shaped our lives. Sign up now to secure an early discount price!
Sebastian, a veteran of a tech writer with over 15 years of experience in media and marketing, blends his lifelong fascination with writing and technology to provide valuable insights into the realm of mobile devices. Embracing the evolution from PCs to smartphones, he harbors a special appreciation for the Google Pixel line due to their superior camera capabilities. Known for his engaging storytelling style, sprinkled with rich literary and film references, Sebastian critically explores the impact of technology on society, while also perpetually seeking out the next great tech deal, making him a distinct and relatable voice in the tech world.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: