OnePlus 15R has been a hot topic among tech groups for its amazing value for money aspect. However, it’s also been criticized for the camera lens downgrade. Unlike the predecessor, this one doesn’t have an optical zoom telephoto lens. All you get is a 50MP primary wide lens paired with an 8MP ultrawide lens. Yes, there’s not even a high-resolution ultrawide. The selfie shooter is thankfully upgraded with the new 32MP auto-focus supported lens.
Further, the OnePlus 15R brings the all-new DetailMax engine. This is a new software processing algorithm, and the company claims that it is better than Hasselblad. Well, we will see its actual performance in a full camera review. But before that, let’s put the stock camera processing on comparison against the widely popular Gcam module.
Since OnePlus devices are usually GCam-friendly, I decided to test the best available GCam build on the 15R to see if it genuinely improves the output, or if the stock camera is still the better choice.
How to Install GCam on OnePlus 15R
As mentioned earlier, OnePlus devices are very GCam-friendly. You can basically install any compatible version, and it would work fine. However, after testing two to three different modules, I suggest installing the GCam module mentioned below for the best output.
Step 1: Head over to the following link and download the APK file. (Gcam download link)
Step 2: Install the APK file and give all the necessary permissions.
Step 3: That’s it. Open the app and enjoy. It works out of the box without any additional config files.
GCam vs Stock Camera on OnePlus 15R: Which One Performs Better?
Coming to the actual comparison, the main camera is where the difference between stock and GCam is most evident.
GCam produces more natural-looking photos with flatter colors. This color preference can be good for those who prefer editing their images later. However, this comes with major drawbacks. GCam tends to crush shadows aggressively. It also loses detail in darker areas. HDR performance is inconsistent, especially in harsh sunlight or bright backlit situations. Moreover, the color balance often goes off.
Meanwhile, the stock camera delivers a more polished image with stronger HDR, punchier colors, and a finished look. Images from the stock camera look social-media-ready and mass-appealing.
Both the GCam and stock camera have issues with the ultrawide lens, but they do so in different ways. The OnePlus 15R’s ultrawide hardware is weak, which limits details and dynamic range. Although the ultrawide lens is supported by GCam, the output is even less powerful than the stock one. HDR balance is very inconsistent, and the colors appear washed out. Despite the visual drawback, the stock camera is a safer option for ultrawide photos because it produces somewhat better colors and a more useful dynamic range.
Zoom performance follows the same pattern. Since GCam does not apply the same level of computational enhancements as the stock camera, zoom shots taken through GCam look softer and flatter. The stock camera maintains better clarity, contrast, and color consistency even at higher zoom levels. However, images beyond 5X are not very useful, and they start appearing like an oil painting.
Selfies are a clear win for the stock camera. GCam selfies almost always appear dull, soft, and poorly exposed. The skin tones look very pale. The stock selfie camera, on the other hand, produces brighter, sharper, and more color-accurate photos that most people will find far more appealing.
Video recording is again a clear win for the stock camera. Over the year, OnePlus has really improved the videography aspect for its smartphones. The stock camera produces much better videos. The zoom transition is smooth, and the overall video looks very polished.
Final Verdict
You must have already got an idea of the conclusion. We are in the era when GCam doesn’t make a lot of sense in most devices. The stock processing has evolved significantly over time. Yes, the GCam does give the OnePlus 15R a more natural color profile on the main camera, but it introduces too many problems.
The list includes shadow crush, HDR instability, uneven color balance, poor selfies, and weak video performance. The ultrawide lens is already below average, and GCam only makes it worse. For most users, the stock camera is clearly the better option.
The OnePlus 15R performs best with its default camera experience.
Read more:
- I Tested GCam on iQOO 15 and Compared It With Stock Camera
- GCam on the OnePlus 13s: We Tested It – See Results!
- I Tested GCam on OnePlus Nord 5 and Compared with the Stock Camera
- We Tested GCam on the CMF Phone 2 Pro – Here’s How It Performed
- GCam on the Honor 200 Pro: We Tested It – See the Results!
- The Only GCam Mod You Need for Your Galaxy S25 Ultra [Download]
- We tested GCam on the Nothing Phone (3a) and the results were surprising
