5 Things You Should Know About Xiaomi Mi Mix 5G’s 108MP Camera Sensor

Xiaomi’s most important flagship in the second half of the year, the Mi Mix 5G will debut tomorrow. Unlike the past couple of iterations, this new Mix model takes inspiration from its original sibling, as it will launch as a concept smartphone. This simply means that you can expect some next-generation technology inside this new device, that’s probably not easy to mass-produce.

We have been hearing some great things about the Mi Mix 5G’s curved wraparound display but since Xiaomi has confirmed that the new model will feature the new 108MP Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX sensor, let’s take a look at some of its key features.

So here are the 5 things you should know about the Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX 108MP camera that’s inside the Xiaomi Mi Mix 5G.

1World’s First Smartphone Camera Sensor To Exceed 100MP

Just when we thought that the race for the largest megapixel camera was finally coming to an end, smartphone sensor makers like Sony and Samsung shook the market with their super high-resolution 48MP cameras. Then Samsung decided to take things up a notch with its new Samsung GW1 64MP sensor, the same one that’s inside the Vivo NEX 3.

But Samsung wasn’t happy with 64 megapixels. Hence, it decided to collaborate with Xiaomi to release a whopping 108MP camera sensor, the Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX. And the Xiaomi Mi Mix 5G is the world’s first smartphone to feature a camera sensor that exceeds 100MP!

2The Sensor Was Developed In Close Collaboration With Xiaomi

It’s not uncommon for smartphone makers to work with companies like Sony and Samsung for their camera sensors. But this time around, Xiaomi seems to have invested heavily in the development of this 108MP camera sensor with Samsung.

Samsung’s official press release clearly states that this sensor is the fruit of a close collaboration with Xiaomi. So it’s no surprise that Xiaomi is the first company to use this sensor. Given its collaboration with Xiaomi, it remains to be seen whether other smartphone makers get to use this sensor anytime soon.

Xiaomi seems to have called dibs on this sensor for some time as it’s developing up to 4 smartphones with a 108MP rear camera.

3World’s Largest Smartphone Camera Sensor

Smartphone sensors are increasing in size, but this 108MP sensor takes things to a new level. It features an extremely large 1/1.33″ image sensor which makes it the largest one in the smartphone market. To give you some perspective, it’s three-quarters of the size of a typical 1″ sensor found on some point and shoot cameras. Another way to look at it is that the 64MP Samsung GW1 sensor, which is already considered pretty large, features a size of 1/1.7″ and the 48MP GM2 is even smaller at 1/2″.

The Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX sensor can capture true 6K resolution videos at 30 fps. Wait, why this is a big deal? I mean, you must have already read that phones like the Red Magic 3S and the Nubia Z20 can do 8K.

Note that these two Nubia models can do 8K only at 15 fps. On the other hand, a flagship smartphone with this HMX sensor is technically capable of churning out 6K (6016 x 3384) at 30 fps!

527MP Super Bright Photos & Smart ISO

The 108MP Samsung HMX sensor utilizes its Tetracell technology to combine four pixels into one, churning out brighter big pixels. This means the sensor can out 27MP resolution images which are brighter and much clearer in low light. When the lighting conditions are good, the sensor can output large 108MP images with richer details.

Samsung’s Smart-ISO will also work with the sensor to automatically adjust its ISO levels depending on the lighting conditions. This smart tech basically toggles between a high ISO when the lighting is dark and a low ISO when the lighting is pretty good.

Overall, the Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX 108MP sensor takes smartphone imaging to new heights. Combined with the right processor, this camera sensor has the potential to do wonders in the hands of a smartphone user.