The next wave of spec-monster phones could get a 100-megapixel selfie camera
Summary
Android phone manufacturers are poised for a camera revolution, potentially replacing single 200MP sensors with multiple 100MP cameras, including a groundbreaking 100MP selfie lens. This shift promises to elevate smartphone photography to new heights.
Key Insights
Why might a 100-megapixel selfie camera not deliver better photo quality than current lower-megapixel front cameras?
Front-facing cameras have very small sensors with tiny pixels, often around 0.6-0.8 micrometers, which limits light capture and leads to issues like noise in low light, even at 100MP; manufacturers use pixel binning to combine pixels for improved clarity and color in everyday shots.[2][3][4]
What is pixel binning and how does it relate to high-megapixel phone cameras?
Pixel binning combines data from multiple adjacent pixels (e.g., 4 or 16) into one larger effective pixel, improving low-light performance, color accuracy, and detail; high-MP sensors like 100MP or 200MP often default to binned modes (e.g., 12MP output) for better everyday photos rather than full resolution.[1][3]