Can Samsung’s Galaxy S26 even compete with the OnePlus 15T?
Compact smartphones often involve significant compromises in image quality because their camera sensors are relatively small compared with flagship phones, and they also usually omit a telephoto or ultra-wide lens.
Unfortunately, the smaller sibling of the OnePlus 15 is no exception. Due to its compact design, compromises have to be made with the OnePlus 15T's camera system. To better assess the quality of the OnePlus phone, we are using a Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus for a camera comparison. The latter has the same technical basis as its smaller sibling, making it very well suited for a comparison with the OnePlus 15T.
Compact Android phone with OIS but fairly small camera sensors
At the heart of the OnePlus 15T is a 50 MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and a two-axis OIS system. The Hasselblad partnership is now exclusive to Oppo, and the image sensors used in the OnePlus phone are fairly small and therefore not particularly strong in low light. The Sony LYT-700C, which is also used in the Nord 5, is made in a 1/1.56-inch format and was specifically optimized for thin camera modules.
In daylight, the OnePlus 15T can take very good photos, but this is not top-tier quality. The compact Android phone lacks the sharpness and dynamic range for that. However, the OnePlus phone still holds up well against the 50 MP main camera of the Galaxy S26 Plus. The ColorOS camera algorithms bring out details much better, especially in the flower shot. The comparison photos with the OnePlus 15T show that Samsung's "proven" high-end camera system needs a comprehensive update in the next generation to be competitive at the top level again.
In less than ideal lighting conditions, such as in the house shot, the OnePlus 15T is not entirely convincing either. The OnePlus phone shows slightly less noise, but its sharpness and level of detail are no better than Samsung's. The OnePlus 15T does not have an ultra-wide camera, but its 50 MP telephoto lens allows for 3.5x optical zoom. All test photos can be found here.
Anyone interested in the compact Android smartphone and who values long battery life should take a closer look at our OnePlus 15T review. The OnePlus phone starts at $662 at TradingShenzhen.
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