OnePlus is supposedly doubling down on the drama of its upcoming OnePlus 15, and we’re not just talking about specs. The latest leak suggests that Android Authority claims that the device will arrive with a ‘SuperBlack’ color option that could make it look like a ‘black hole’. That’s a bold claim in an era where everyone from Apple to Samsung is racing to perfect the ultimate black finish, but OnePlus could be onto something revolutionary.
Here’s what’s particularly interesting: As Samsung prepares to launch its Galaxy S25 Ultra with another coating that will inevitably get scratched, OnePlus appears to be taking a completely different approach to achieving true black depth.
Why today’s “black” phones aren’t really black
Sound familiar? You buy a gorgeous black phone, use it for a few months, and suddenly those deep black surfaces look more like dark gray. There is a reason for this frustration and it all comes down to basic materials science.
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra will reportedly feature a Jet Black color option, but here’s the catch: “black titanium” doesn’t exist, so a black coating needs to be applied to the titanium to create that finish. When scratches inevitably appear, the natural silver color of the titanium material will shine.
I have tested all the major “black” flagships of the last three years and the pattern is always the same. After six months of pocket carry, that deep black finish begins to reveal the underlying material wherever there is wear. It’s like putting black nail polish on a silver coin: awesome until life happens.
Apple’s Space Black MacBook Pro features an “innovative chemistry” finish with fingerprint resistance, but you’ll pay at least $1,999 for that privilege. Even then, the iPhone 15 Pro models come in “Titanium Black,” but it’s not the same ultra-deep finish that tech enthusiasts are excited about.
The challenge is to achieve what researchers call “deep black” properties: a dull black that retains the impenetrable depth of pure black, where some black colors appear washed out, washed out, or grayish, but deep blacks are still dark enough to convey a sense of unknowable depths.
The science behind SuperBlack technology
Let’s look at what makes a truly “super black” surface possible. The key is light absorption rather than just dark pigmentation.
Think of it like this: regular black paint works like a dark t-shirt: it absorbs most of the light but still reflects enough for your eyes to see the surface texture. Superblack materials work more like a microscopic forest of light traps, where photons enter but never find their way out.
Recent research shows that super black surfaces can achieve light absorption of up to 99.8% with an average value of 99.5% at UV-visible-NIR wavelengths. These aren’t just dark coatings: they are engineered light traps that use micro- and nanocavities to capture and absorb incoming light instead of reflecting it back into your eyes.
The most impressive advance comes from carbon nanotube technology. Carbon nanotube coatings demonstrate an absorptivity of 0.9997 over a wide range of wavelengths, establishing “the world’s darkest material” with a reflectance as low as 200 parts per million.
What makes this particularly interesting for phones is the durability. Black 4.0 paint absorbs 99.95% of visible light, surpassing Vantablack’s spray product, which only achieves 99.8%, but the real breakthrough is in creating stable formulations that do not separate or degrade under normal use conditions.
This microscopic approach is important for phones because it potentially solves the fundamental durability problem that plagues surface coatings. Instead of applying black material on metal, the structure itself becomes a light trap.
What this means for the design of the OnePlus 15
This is where OnePlus could be getting smart. The company has a history of materials innovation: just look at the OnePlus 13’s material options: microfiber vegan leather for Midnight Ocean and an industry-first surface glass coating for Arctic Dawn that creates a fingerprint-resistant finish.
If OnePlus 15’s SuperBlack really delivers on the “black hole” promise, they would have to solve several engineering challenges simultaneously. The coating must maintain its light-absorbing properties while also being durable enough for daily phone use, resistant to fingerprints, and compatible with wireless charging and antenna performance.
The Digital Chat Station leak suggests this isn’t just marketing talk: the OnePlus 15 will apparently have a 7,000mAh battery, making it almost twice as big as the Galaxy S25 Edge. That extra thickness could work in your favor for the SuperBlack implementation. Thicker devices provide more surface area for advanced microcavity structures and better heat dissipation to protect delicate nanostructures from thermal damage during charging cycles.
The timing is perfect. OnePlus has been gaining cred on premium materials, with OnePlus previously teasing unprecedented materials and craftsmanship where “each phone can look unique,” suggesting they’ve been experimenting with advanced surface treatments that could scale to SuperBlack production.
Building on current carbon nanofiber integration techniques, OnePlus could directly develop light-absorbing structures into its aluminum frame, creating durability that goes beyond surface-level coatings.
Big picture: Why SuperBlack matters beyond aesthetics
Think of it as more than just a pretty color option. True “super black” technology has practical applications that go far beyond just looking good.
Research applications show that ultrablack films maintain 99.1% and 99.0% absorption after moist heat and thermal cycling tests, respectively. In terms of space missions, these materials survive temperature ranges from -35°C to 70°C without degrading; That’s much more extreme than anything your phone encounters, even during fast charges or gaming sessions.
Camera performance directly benefits from this technology. Internal light reflections are the enemy of sharp photographs, especially in difficult lighting conditions. The body of a SuperBlack phone could act as a professional camera rig’s internal light deflectors, reducing lens flare and improving overall image clarity in ways that typical black coatings simply can’t match.
There is also heat management to consider. Surfaces that absorb light rather than reflect it can help with thermal regulation during intensive tasks, potentially supporting that massive 7,000 mAh battery without the overheating issues that plague today’s high-capacity devices.
PRO TIP: If OnePlus pulls off this implementation of SuperBlack, expect all major manufacturers to scramble for their own version in the next product cycle.
The question isn’t whether OnePlus can create darker black than current phones – the science already exists. It’s about whether they can make it practical, durable, and manufacturing at scale, while maintaining all the other features modern flagship users expect.
Where the phone’s super black finishes go from here
Samsung’s approach to applying coatings to titanium may seem premium initially, but scratch resistance remains a fundamental issue where a single drop could remove some of the Jet Black finish. OnePlus appears to be following a structural approach: incorporating the properties of black into the surface architecture rather than relying on vulnerable surface treatments.
The implications for manufacturing are significant. The current success of the OnePlus 13 with innovative materials, from vegan leather to specialized glass treatments, demonstrates that the company has developed the supplier relationships and quality control processes necessary for advanced materials science at consumer scale.
Cost considerations also matter. While research-grade materials that achieve 99.8% light absorption are expensive in laboratory environments, OnePlus has a history of making premium technologies accessible. Their approach with the OnePlus 13’s industry-first surface-based glass coating suggests they’re not just copying materials research, but finding practical ways to implement it at flagship prices rather than ultra-premium territory.
If the leak turns out to be accurate, the OnePlus 15 won’t be just another black phone option. It could be the first mainstream device to bring laboratory-grade light absorption technology to consumer electronics, setting a new standard for what “black” really means in smartphone design.
The real test will be whether that “black hole” look survives six months in your pocket without becoming another disappointing dark gray compromise. Based on OnePlus’ recent track record with durable premium materials and its willingness to address engineering challenges that other manufacturers shy away from, they could finally deliver the black phone finish we’ve all been waiting for.