OnePlus is already fixing the 5T's weak cameras with a software update

The OnePlus 5T is easily the best value Android phone money can buy. Virtually everything about the phone is on point: beautiful premium design, big edge-to-edge screen, long battery life, headphone jack, and great price. But the cameras leave something to be desired.

I found the cameras to be average at best, and that's just not acceptable. Fortunately, OnePlus has heard the complaints of its users and is working quickly to release a software update that'll hopefully improve image quality.

OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei announced the software update on the company's forums on Thanksgiving. It's scheduled to roll out to a private group of testers this week and to all 5T users in early December and will address three areas of the camera:

1. Improved low light photography, especially when it comes to detail

2. Improved selfies to have a more natural exposure

3. Beautification mode only on by default in certain markets in Asia going forward

These improvements will all be welcome upgrades, especially dialing back the "beauty" mode that goes a little overboard with airbrushing your skin so that it looks soft and glowy.

I'm aware that in certain regions, people actually prefer the beauty mode, but it shouldn't be turned on by default. Natural beauty is the best kind of beauty IMHO. Love yourself and all your imperfections! So this new change is great to see.

In his forum post, Pei doesn't mention anything about tweaking image processing -- the camera tends to over-process images a bit too harshly to the point where details are lost -- but I'm hopeful things get better on that front too.

The fact that OnePlus is already working on an update is actually pretty impressive. This is what happens when you're still a relatively small phone maker and can move really fast. Honestly, if OnePlus can pull off this software update, it could resolve the only thing that's a deal-breaker on the 5T.