Chinese technology firm Xiaomi has launched the world's first mainstream smartphone that features a 108 megapixel camera.
Xiaomi announced its Mi CC9 Pro Premium smartphone with 108 megapixel camera only for the Chinese market for now, selling the base model at 2,799 yuan or $400. It features an extra high-resolution sensor developed by Samsung, which has not yet used the technology in its own products.
Xiaomi promises that the camera produces "extremely sharp photographs that are rich in detail". The technology firm also said that the same component will be found in the Mi Note 10, which will be more widely available.
Research firm Canalys reports that Xiaomi is currently the world's fourth-bestselling smartphone vendor with a market share of 9.1%. The company's sales in Europe has been drastically increasing and it recently announced its plan to expand into Japan in 2020.
Technology behind the 108 megapixel camera
Previously, 100MP+ sensors can only be found in medium-format digital cameras, which can cost tens of thousands. Trying to integrate very high resolutions into a smaller smartphone component risks increasing cross-talk, a phenomenon that results in digital noise in the final image. The smaller size can also lead to further problems in low-light conditions.
Samsung tries to partly address these issues in its Isocell Plus sensor by making it larger in size than most smartphone sensors.
Review site DXOMark stated: "Images from the Mi CC9 Pro Premium Edition showed more artifacts than our other top-scoring phones." It added that the phone produced "limited dynamic range compared to other top performers," causing it to capture less detail in the highlights and shadows.
However, DXOMark gave the smartphone a high score because it includes other lower-resolution sensors on its rear for telephoto portrait, wide-angle landscape, and macro close-up shots.
Ben Wood from the CCS Insight consultancy said: "Mobile phone manufacturers will go to almost any length to turn people's heads, and this enormous megapixel camera is one way of grabbing attention."
