OnePlus could offer 8K/960fps recording, but here's why you should be skeptical

OnePlus could be working on an 8K/960fps super slow-motion mode.
It’s highly likely that this will be accomplished via software rather than being at native quality.

In addition to 5G and high refresh rates, 8K video recording is another major feature found on flagships in 2020. Between Samsung, Xiaomi, and LG, we’ve seen several major players adopting this quality option.

OnePlus hasn’t offered a phone with this video quality yet, but XDA-Developers has dug into the Oxygen OS 11 beta and uncovered references to an 8K mode. This isn’t just any old 8K video mode from OnePlus though, but 8K/960fps super slow-motion recording. Furthermore, the software code points to 8K at 480fps, 240fps, 120fps, and 60fps as well.

There’s just one problem though, and it’s that the Snapdragon 865 processor powering 2020’s flagships don’t appear to offer 8K recording at more than 30fps. The Qualcomm chipset does offer support for “unlimited” native 960fps super slow-mo recording though, but this is limited to 720p resolution rather than anything higher. Some camera sensors come equipped with super-fast DRAM to enable 960fps too, but this feature has been lacking on today’s ultra high-resolution smartphone sensors.

What to expect then?

We’re guessing that OnePlus is either working on this for a next-generation phone with drastically improved silicon, or it will offer 8K/960fps recording (all the way down to 8K/60fps) via software interpolation. That is, by duplicating frames to reach the desired frame-rate. This could result in a final clip that has ghosting and other artifacts compared to a native 960fps video.

This wouldn’t be the first time that OnePlus turns to interpolation for 960fps video recording either, as the mode was accomplished via software on its older phones too. We’re nevertheless hoping the brand is able to take advantage of the Snapdragon 865’s camera processing capabilities to deliver native 960fps in some capacity, or to interpolate from a higher frame-rate.

In any event, an XDA member also uncovered a reference to OnePlus Buds Z. The firm previously launched the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z alongside the OnePlus 8 series and the OnePlus Buds alongside the OnePlus Nord. So we’re guessing that if the OnePlus Buds Z is the real deal, it’s launching alongside the OnePlus 8T.

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