The ever-increasing pixel-count for smartphone cameras doesn’t seem to have an end in sight. 2019 saw the introduction of a 108MP camera with the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro, which was later customized and launched with the Samsung S20 Ultra this year. However, the next big smartphone camera is allegedly setting the bar even higher at 192 megapixels.
Digital Chat Station leaked the information on Weibo. And while the source didn’t specify a device or even a brand, it does hint that the phone in question might be announced in May.
The leak further details that the phone will be powered by a Snapdragon 765 platform (model name SM7250), which points to a camera-first build since the SD765 isn’t a flagship chip. Note that the chip can power a 192MP camera, but only for still photographs, and not HDR or videography. The sensor will use 9-in-1 pixel-binning to produce 21MP shots. The typical 12MP images can be generated if 16 pixels are binned into one.
Now to speculate which brand is working on this supposed next-gen camera. Xiaomi has been ahead of everyone else in the pixel race since it was the first OEM to introduce 64MP and the aforementioned 108MP smartphones. The next Mi Note may very well be the first 192MP-touting phone.
Samsung and Oppo both reportedly have big 150MP sensors in the works, so we won’t be surprised if the mystery phone is the upcoming Galaxy Note 20 or a new Reno model. LG is close to launching a 5G phone powered by a Snapdragon 7xx series chipset. Motorola is also making a comeback with an SD765G-driven Motorola Edge and Edge+. We’ll have to wait and see how things shake out over the next few weeks to get any sort of confirmation.