Samsung Galaxy S11 could feature a 108MP camera

With the Galaxy S10, Note 10, and Galaxy Fold launch behind it, Samsung is now focusing on its 2020 flagship -- the Galaxy S11. The first set of rumors surrounding the device point to it coming with a 108MP camera sensor.

So far we have seen the likes of the Realme XT and Redmi Note 8 Pro launch with a 64MP camera sensor; and Xiaomi is scheduled to launch a smartphone with a 108MP camera later this week. The sensor is a result of a collaboration between Samsung and Xiaomi. For comparison, most flagship Android smartphones and even the iPhone 11 series features a primary 12MP camera. So far, we have only seen mid-range and budget Android smartphones adopt camera sensors with a resolution higher than 12MP.

The source of the leak is a reliable Samsung tipster, however, as per his tweet itself, its clear that things are yet to be finalized by Samsung and they could still change. If Samsung does end up going with a 108MP sensor on the Galaxy S11, it would be a newer model than the one it announced earlier this year in partnership with Xiaomi.

A higher resolution camera does not equate to better image quality. The 108MP camera sensor that Samsung has developed in collaboration with Xiaomi is bigger (1/1.33-inch) than a traditional smartphone camera sensor. This gives it an edge in terms of dynamic range as it can absorb more light. However, it also has smaller 0.8um individual pixels meaning it will struggle in low-light scenarios. To bypass this limitation, Samsung is using its Tetracell technology to produce 27MP images using pixel binning.

Samsung flagships have been lagging in the camera department compared to other Android flagships and even the iPhone. The company is expected to focus on the camera performance of the Galaxy S11 series and we could see it come up with a radically different camera setup to surpass the competition.

Source: Ice Universe