OnePlus 9 series to get major camera update including a new Hasselblad XPan camera mode

There are numerous hook-ups between smartphone makers and camera specialists these days with some seemingly nothing more than marketing exercises. There were more than a few who cast a cynical eye when OnePlus announced one such partnership to co-brand its OnePlus 9 series smartphones with Swedish camera giant Hasselblad. When it launched, OnePlus 9 said that it was only at the beginning of its partnership with Hasselblad who helped it with its custom color tuning software.

While it seemed we might have to wait till the next-generation OnePlus smartphone to see a deeper collaboration, OnePlus has surprised with the announcement of a major update for its OnePlus 9 series camera app. The headlining feature is a new wide-format mode that emulates the capabilities of the famed Hasselblad XPan camera. The new XPan Mode takes shots in a dramatic 65:27 aspect ratio at two different focal lengths (30 mm and 40 mm), just like the original camera.

In addition to the new XPan Mode, the new camera update includes a number of fixes and improvements to the OnePlus 9 series cameras. These include over-sharpening issues in auto-mode, improvements to the stability of auto white balance including when shifting between the main and ultra-wide cameras, and improved dynamic range in low-light shots. The camera app now also launches 50 percent faster than before. The update is coming soon OTA to all OnePlus 9 series users.

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