Smartphone cameras have undergone significant evolution, introducing high-resolution sensors like 200 MP cameras, advanced lenses, and sophisticated computational photography algorithms. Yet, with so many specifications thrown around, it’s easy to get caught up in the megapixel race and forget what really makes a camera great. Let’s break down why more megapixels don’t always mean better pictures and what else actually plays a role in smartphone photography.
What are megapixels, really?
The term “megapixel” simply means one million pixels. So, a 12 MP camera would capture an image with 12 million pixels, and a 200 MP camera captures 200 million. Higher megapixel counts theoretically mean more detail.
However, there’s a catch: the sensor’s ability to handle that detail. Pixels on the sensor gather light, and their size and arrangement can dramatically affect image quality, especially in challenging lighting.
The role of the sensor size
A larger sensor captures more light, and in photography, light is everything. Suppose you have a 12 MP camera and a 48 MP camera with the same sensor size (1/2-inch). The pixels in the 48 MP camera will be smaller, thus capturing less light per pixel.
In contrast, the 12 MP camera’s larger pixels can capture more light, leading to better low-light performance and less grain. It’s a balancing act: more pixels can mean more detail, but without enough light, that detail can become irrelevant.
This is where pixel binning comes in
Modern smartphone cameras, especially those touting 50 MP, 108 MP, or even 200 MP sensors, something called “pixel binning” is typically used to combine multiple smaller pixels into one larger pixel. This process improves the light-capturing ability and reduces noise, resulting in a clearer image.
For example, a 200 MP sensor might bin pixels to output a 12.5 MP photo, making it more manageable for smartphone processors to handle the post-processing. However, this is still not as good as having larger pixels (less megapixels on the same sensor) since that would benefit more in low-light and also video capture.
This also explains why some 16 MP or 20 MP selfie cameras are unable to shoot 4K video. 4K video capture requires 8.3 MP per frame. However, since these cameras bin the images to either 4 MP or 5 MP, they simply cannot shoot videos in 4K, just 1080p. Not all smartphones or smartphone cameras use pixel binning, though.
What about the 200 MP cameras?
Let’s talk about the big guns like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the other phones with 200 MP cameras. While impressive on paper, in most cases, the phone will downsample the image to 12 MP or 24 MP using pixel binning.
Why? Because capturing a full 200 MP image creates a massive file that’s hard for the smartphone to process. Even the latest chipsets can struggle to manage such high-resolution data along with HDR processing.
This makes taking each photo longer than anyone would like. It’s not like you cannot capture 200 MP photos; just that it would take longer than just taking a regular photo. Even so, you’ll be compromising on HDR and some post-processing that makes your regular images great.
So, more megapixels mean worse images?
Not necessarily, but it’s not as simple as just adding more megapixels to get better photos. If a 48 MP camera and a 12 MP camera share the same sensor size (let’s say 1/2-inch), the individual pixels in the 48 MP camera will be much smaller. Smaller pixels gather less light, which can result in poorer performance in low-light conditions, more noise, and potentially less dynamic range.
Sensor size matters more than megapixels alone
If you increase the megapixel count without upgrading the sensor size, you’re essentially cramming more pixels onto the same surface. And like I mentioned earlier, this results in smaller pixels that can struggle in challenging lighting.
For a true upgrade in image quality, increasing the sensor size is more important, alongside a few other parameters. A larger sensor can house bigger pixels or more pixels of the same size, which improves light-capturing ability and, as a result, the overall image quality.
If not megapixels, then what makes a smartphone camera good?
Here are some of the most important things that make a smartphone camera good.
1. Image Sensor Size
Larger sensors mean larger pixels, allowing more light in for clearer, low-noise images. Most smartphones have main camera sensors ranging between 1/2.76-inch, 1/2-inch, 1/.7-inch, 1/1.6-inch, 1/1.56-inch, 1/1.4-inch, 1/1.3-inch, 1/1.2-inch, and 1/0.98-inch sensors.
The largest sensor on a smartphone till date are two—the Sony IMX 989 and the Sony LYT900, both at 1-inch (1/0.98-inch). This is seen on smartphones like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, vivo X100 Pro, and the vivo X100 Ultra. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a sensor size of 1/1.3-inch for the wide camera while the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has a 1/1.33-inch type.
Ultra-wide and telephoto/periscope cameras on smartphones are usually smaller than the main cameras. The largest periscope camera, at the time of writing, is the Samsung ISOCELL HP9 at 1/1.4-inch, slightly smaller than the main sensor on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
However, very few smartphones actually use this periscope, perhaps due to its sheer size and cost. At the time of writing, the smartphones using the 200 MP ISOCELL HP9 sensor includes the vivo X200 Pro and the vivo X100 Ultra. We’re expecting the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, the OPPO Find X8 Ultra, and the vivo X200 Ultra to also use this sensor.
2. Aperture
The size of the camera’s opening (f/number) determines how much light hits the sensor. A wider aperture (lower f/number) lets in more light onto your image sensor. This, paired with a large sensor size, also has an impact on the depth of field of your image.
A wider aperture will create a shallow depth of field, blurring the background while keeping the subject in sharp focus. This makes for a more professional-looking photo with a distinct separation between the subject and the background.
Since smartphone apertures are tiny in comparison to a DSLR or a mirrorless camera, many achieve this effect artificially. This is how the portrait mode on your smartphone works.
Additionally, a wider aperture (such as f/1.8 or f/1.4) allows more light to reach the sensor, which improves performance in low-light conditions and helps capture brighter images with less noise. On a smartphone, you want to have the aperture as high as f/1.6 or even f/1.4.
3. Optical Image Stabilization
OIS reduces blur from shaky hands, which is very important for smartphones as most of the photos and videos taken are hand-held. This becomes even more important as the focal length compresses (on a zoom lens).
Most smartphones these days come with OIS but there are different types of OIS—some have more space to move while others have less. Mid-range smartphones usually have a smaller area to move when compared to more expensive smartphones. And by now, you would have understood that a more space to move translates to better image stabilization.
Also something that matters is the number of axes that the OIS can stabilize. The more axes, the better. This means that it won’t whether you move your smartphone up, down, right, or left, or tilt, or shake, the image would be stable.
4. Lens Quality (Lens Flare, Distortion, Ghosting, Chromatic Abberation)
The quality of the lens is also really important if you want l sharp and clear images. Higher-quality lenses reduce distortion, minimize chromatic aberration, and maintain image sharpness across the frame. They also have better control over flares and less ghosting issues.
Flagship smartphones often use advanced lenses with multiple coatings to improve light transmission and reduce reflections. However, this is often limited to just the main (wide) camera and not the other cameras, like the ultra-wide or the telephoto. Some brands like vivo have partnered with ZEISS to improve their lenses with the T* coating. Apple also introduced some kind of coating with the iPhone 16 Pro, but that doesn’t seem to be doing much.
Budget and mid-range devices usually have less complex lenses with some or no coating at all, which, you guessed it right, can affect overall image quality. A good lens can help maximize the potential of your camera and sometimes that’s all you need to make a mediocre camera great.
5. Image Processing
Image processing matters a lot when it comes to smartphone cameras. You can have the best hardware out there and still get subpar images due to poor image processing. At the same time, you can have some decent hardware and still get some really good images. Great hardware coupled with great image processing can do wonders.
OK, but what is lens flare, distortion, ghosting, and chromatic abberation?
Lens flare, distortion, ghosting, and chromatic abberation are issues faced by most smartphone cameras but can be minimized (or fixed?) using advanced lens designs, coatings, and software correction.
1. Lens Flare
Lens flare occurs when bright light (like the sun, street light, or any bright light source) enters the camera lens and creates streaks, rings, or spots of light in the image. This can often reduce the contrast and make photos look hazy or washed out. It can be used creatively also but is generally considered an unwanted effect.
2. Distortion
Distortion happens when the lens bends light in a way that alters the shape of objects, especially near the edges of the frame. This usually happens with wide and ultra-wide lenses. There are two main types:
- Barrel distortion, which causes images to appear bulged out (like a barrel).
- Pincushion distortion, which makes images look pinched inwards.
3. Ghosting
Ghosting is the appearance of unwanted artifacts or “ghost” images in the photo due to internal reflections within the lens. This often happens when shooting toward a bright light source. It is also referred to as halo effect.
4. Chromatic Aberration
It’s also known as color fringing. This occurs when the lens fails to focus all colors to the same point, causing colored edges (often red, blue, or green) around objects, especially in high-contrast areas.
You’ll never think of megapixels the same way again
So, more megapixels don’t guarantee better photos—what truly counts is a mix of factors like sensor size, lens quality, and image processing. While high MP counts can capture more detail, without a bigger sensor, they struggle in low light.
The quality of lenses also plays a vital role in avoiding issues like flare, distortion, or chromatic aberration. Hopefully, this helps you appreciate what really matters in smartphone cameras, beyond just megapixel numbers.
You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.
