The Galaxy S11’s camera may jump from 12 megapixels to 108

By Andy Boxall Published November 4, 2019

Get ready for the Samsung Galaxy S11 to really impress with its camera specification, as it’s being rumored the 2020 flagship smartphone will have a brand new 108-megapixel camera sensor. The main lens on the back of the Galaxy S10, available now, has 12 megapixels.

Keen Samsung and mobile fans will likely have already heard about a 108-megapixel camera sensor. In August, Samsung announced the Isocell Bright HMX sensor, which was the world’s first to go above 100 megapixels. It was built in conjunction with Xiaomi, and is expected to be used for the first time on Xiaomi’s CC9 Pro and Mi Note 10 smartphones, set to launch in the coming weeks.

Recommended Videos

However, Samsung may be working on a second-generation Isocell Bright HMX sensor, and it’s this that’s being rumored for inclusion on the Galaxy S11. This comes from the usually reliable Twitter phone leaker @IceUniverse, who tweeted, “The Galaxy S11 has a high probability of using a new 108-megapixel sensor.”

Why would you want a camera with such a high megapixel count? In fact, you probably won’t take many photos at 108 megapixels. Instead, the large sensor and some clever technology in the current Isocell Bright HMX sensor lets take bright and detailed low-light images at 27 megapixels, and then a high ISO enables low noise, richly detailed pictures in good light. Photos taken at 108 megapixels provide masses of opportunity to crop down without losing detail, and video can be shot at 6K resolution, or 6016 x 3384 pixels.

The Galaxy S11 is not official yet, but rumors have been spreading about its potential specification. It’s possible the phone will have a 20:9 aspect ratio screen, making it taller and slimmer than the Galaxy S10, and more like the Galaxy A80 or the OnePlus 7T. Rumors of an under-screen selfie camera have also spread, which would be the end of the hole-punch or notch in the screen, but it has also been rumored this may not arrive on the S11.

When do we expect to see the phone? Samsung traditionally releases its new S-series phone around February or March, so we should look out for the S11 around that time next year. Rumors spread now may not represent the final phone, but may give us a strong clue about what Samsung has in mind.

Former Senior Mobile Writer

Andy has written about mobile technology for almost a decade. From 2G to 5G and smartphone to smartwatch, Andy knows tech.

Topics

Phones

Apple’s new Upgrade program launches on Tuesday with major changes

Apple's new leasing program might drop AppleCare coverage from the bundle.

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Buying your next Apple device could soon look like leasing a car. Apple is launching its new Apple Upgrade program on Tuesday, July 28, replacing new enrollments in the long-running iPhone Upgrade Program with a lease-based option that covers iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches.

Backed by Klarna, the program is designed to lower the upfront cost of Apple's premium devices, but it is also raising questions about whether you'll actually own what you're paying for.

Phones

Setting up your dorm desk? These are the phone stands I’d actually spend my money on

From a $2 folding stand to a three-in-one Apple charging dock, these are the phone stands worth setting up this semester.

Analog Clock, Clock, Electronics

A phone stand is one of the smallest purchases on any back-to-school list, but it's also one of the easiest to get wrong, especially since there are dozens of options available on Amazon. A good phone stand is one that does its job well and, more importantly, doesn't put much of a dent in your budget.

This is one of those product categories where you don’t need to spend big, unless a MagSafe dock or a multi-device charging stand is genuinely useful for your desk or dorm setup. That is why this list begins with the most affordable options and works its way up to the more expensive ones. From a two-pack that costs about as much as a coffee to a three-in-one Apple charging station, I picked eight of Amazon's best-reviewed phone stands worth considering this back-to-school season.

Phones

I picked four wireless chargers so you can stop making your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch fight over one dorm outlet

The best back-to-school wireless chargers for dorm desks, study spaces, and travel

Computer, Electronics, Laptop

A dorm-room desk can disappear surprisingly quickly beneath a laptop charger, phone cable, Apple Watch puck, and the growing collection of adapters required to power them all. Add textbooks and other academic materials, and finding enough room to study becomes the first assignment of the semester.

A wireless charging stand can consolidate several of those cables into one station. It also gives your phone a dedicated place to sit, which helps when you are checking the time or watching a lecture. Every charger here still needs one connection to the wall. So finding a peripheral that works with all of your gadgets isn't just convenient, it's smart. I picked four models ranging from an inexpensive two-device stand to a fast 25W wireless charger capable of powering an entire Apple setup.