This year's Android flagship mobile phone has launched a lot, basically the Snapdragon 8 Gen1 chip is the base, but in addition to the chip upgrade, what disappoints us is that in the imaging hardware, no brand can bring us a satisfactory answer. Or to put it another way, all manufacturers are downgrading their imaging systems, compared to the previous generation of flagship products, no progress is already a euphemistic wording, in fact, most products in the hardware part not only no progress or even regression.
As for why this situation occurs, the cost is naturally a factor, after all, better hardware needs more money to pile up, want to maintain a relatively stable price of products, in the current chip shortage of raw materials price increase, some part of the hardware downgrade is a good way; and certainly also related to the so-called computational photography trend, after the manufacturers have strengthened the algorithm, better imaging hardware does not seem to be so urgent, and everyone is not willing to make their design difficult for better images.
Of course, we have always stressed that the mobile phone itself is limited in size, and it is an inevitable measure to use more software calculation solutions and optimizations. However, this does not mean that we think that the manufacturer is the right way to reverse the camera upgrade, even if we think that the current level of photography on most mobile phones is enough... Because this largely makes our interest in the latest mobile phone sharply reduced, after all, chip performance is most of the time excessive, if the camera is only supported by algorithms, some users' willingness to buy a machine seems inevitable.
Xiaomi Mi 12 Pro: The main camera is downgraded, and the ultra-wide angle has improved
Previously, we said that compared with the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, the image system of the Xiaomi Mi 12 Pro was downgraded across the board, but considering that the previous generation of the Xiaomi Mi 12 Pro should be Xiaomi 11 Pro, the comparison with the Xiaomi 11 Ultra is indeed unfair. But even so, compared with the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro, the Mi 12 Pro still has deficiencies in hardware, especially the main camera part that is used the most in the scene, the Mi 11 Pro is indeed much more powerful than the Mi 12 Pro.
The main camera of Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is Samsung GN2, the outsole size reaches 1/1.2 inch, which is the largest mobile sensor in the current size, and it is also recognized that the current mobile phone can achieve the best photo quality sensor, which is not comparable to the Xiaomi Mi 12 Pro. Xiaomi Mi 12 Pro uses Sony IMX 707 sensor, the outsole size is 1/1.28 inch, although the same is 50 million pixels, but the gap in hardware, or let the main camera gap is more obvious, although we think Xiaomi does have a lot of improvements in the algorithm.
In the ultra-wide-angle part, Xiaomi Mi 12 Pro used Samsung JN1, 50 million pixels and 1/2.76 inch outsole size, although Samsung JN1 only belongs to the low-end sensor, but the good villain is stronger than the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro with 13 million pixels OV13B10, not only higher pixels, but also better than the 1/3-inch Howey sensor or hardware advantages. Although the real shooting quality is indeed not as good as the IMX 586 used by the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, it is only qualified as an ultra-wide angle.
In another camera part, the Xiaomi Mi 12 Pro is a 50-megapixel portrait lens, which is still the sensor of the Samsung JN1, which can be regarded as a luxury charging lens... And Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is with Howey's OV08A10, periscope telephoto, support 5× zoom and 50 × digital zoom, it is clear that people with brains know how to choose on a charged portrait lens and periscope telephoto lens, no telephoto does make us disappointed in xiaomi 12 pro.
In general, compared with the previous generation, the overall image performance of the Xiaomi Mi 12 Pro has dropped significantly, in addition to the improvement of ultra-wide angle, the main camera sensor grade has declined, and the periscope telephoto is missing. However, relying on the progress of the algorithm, the overall picture quality of the Xiaomi Mi 12 Pro in the night scene part has been improved, and the daily main camera quality is not as good as that of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro, and the portrait lens is not much meaningful.
OnePlus 10 Pro: Ultra-wide angle quality declines, ancestral IMX766 is not used
Originally, we had high expectations for the OnePlus 10 Pro, after all, the previous generation of one plus 9 Pro debuted Hasselblad overturned, but then several firmwares were saved... So we actually hope that the OnePlus 10 Pro can maintain a high image hardware, or at least do not regress, so that under the blessing of the new generation of Hasselblad systems and algorithms, it should be able to get better camera results than the previous generation of one plus 9 Pro, of course, if there is an excellent telephoto, it is naturally better, but it is obvious that we think more.
The main camera of the OnePlus 9 Pro is the IMX 789 sensor, the ultra-wide angle is the IMX 766 sensor, although there is no periscope telephoto lens, but the 8-megapixel 3.3× is also enough. However, it is very strange that the OnePlus 10 Pro has been downgraded in the very critical ultra-wide-angle part, and the main camera continues to use the IMX 789 sensor, which is normal, but the ultra-wide angle does not use the IMX 766, and the use of Samsung JN1 is indeed surprising.
To say that the IMX 766 inventory is not enough, look at the Realme and OPPO flagship mobile phone desperately pile this sensor, Find X5 series directly and the previous generation Find X3 with the same use of two, you can be sure oppo's IMX 766 sensor inventory is a lot, then it can only be explained as cost demand. The ultra-wide-angle photo quality of the previous OnePlus 9 Pro was hailed by us and some other media as the best ultra-wide-angle photo quality of last year's mobile phone, but the current ultra-wide-angle of the OnePlus 10 Pro is relatively mediocre.
In addition, in the telephoto part, the OnePlus 10 Pro and the OnePlus 9 Pro are exactly the same... So from the hardware point of view, the image system of one plus 10 Pro is not as good as one plus 9 Pro, of course, the photo performance of one plus 10 Pro in the early stage of the market is at least much stronger than that of one plus 9 Pro at the beginning, and this aspect of one plus 9 Pro is indispensable, after all, it has been optimized for so long. As for the advantages of hasselblad 2.0 system can bring to the OnePlus 10 Pro in terms of photo quality, at least it has not yet been seen.
OPPO Find X5: More self-developed NPU, no microscope lens
The Design of the Find X5 and the Find X3 Series have many similarities, and the two are almost identical in the hardware of the imaging system. The same is the main camera, ultra-wide angle and telephoto using the exact same sensor, but there are some differences in specifications, and the difference is that the Find X5 series than the Find X3 series also has one less camera that can be used as a microscope, of course, this camera has a specific use of us here, regardless of, in general, Find X5 is the main imaging hardware is relatively unstricted products.
In the main camera and ultra-wide-angle part, Find X5 and Find X3 both use Sony IMX 766 sensors, this sensor OPPO has been used for nearly two years, used on a variety of mobile phones, and even one plus and Realme two pro-sons have used a lot, so we joked that when OPPO and Sony customized this sensor, OPPO must have bought too much! Of course, now Xiaomi and Huawei are also using IMX 766, and the exclusivity period has obviously passed the time limit.
However, OPPO is not without changes, find X5 main camera sensor although unchanged, but the aperture has become larger, from the previous generation of F/1.8 slightly improved, now it is F/1.7, in addition to the addition of dual OIS five-axis image stabilization and glass plastic material, but also let the camera experience has improved, at least glare and ghost shadows compared to the past a lot less. Although the sensor and aperture have not changed, the wide-angle angle has increased by 2° and macro shooting is supported. As for the 13-megapixel telephoto, there is no change, and the 5× hybrid zoom and 20× digital zoom are consistent with the previous generation.
In general, in addition to the 3 million pixel microscope lens that is a bit of a play head, the Find X5 as a whole has not changed much, but there is no regression even if it is an improvement, the improvement of the algorithm plus The cooperation of Hasselblad, while the stabilization technology and the upgrade of the lens material are real changes that can really improve the camera experience. So it can be said that the Find X5 series is the only product that we think that the imaging system has not been significantly reverse upgraded, as for OPPO's self-developed NPU, it has not yet had an obvious advantage in comparison with other products, but compared with Find X3, low-light video shooting is indeed improved.
Realme GT2 Pro: Compared with the previous generation, it is a big upgrade
To say that in this year's flagship mobile phone, it can really be said that it is an upgrade rather than a downgrade, I am afraid that only Realme is really me... Of course, the real me brand has not been focused on taking pictures, are in a hurry and Red Rice inner volume bargaining, take pictures of what the circle of friends do not flip the car on the line, how good is impossible. Therefore, the previous generation of Realme GT is simply outdated in the image part, and it can only be said that this generation of Realme GT2 Pro is back to a normal, of course, this also depends on the support of OPPO.
Realme GT2 Pro's main camera uses the IMX 766, which is a very natural thing, like we said, anyway, OPPO inventory seems to be too much, no need to use it for free... This is still much stronger than the previous generation of Realme GT, although the previous generation of camera pixels reached 64 million, stronger than the current 50 million, but the IMX 682 is still not as strong as the IMX 766, so in theory the main camera effect GT2 Pro is stronger than the previous generation is certain.
Ultra-wide-angle part, Realme uses Samsung JN1, although this goods are indeed bad street, but just like we said that the image system of the previous generation of Realme GT is really very general, using 8 million ultra-wide-angle lenses, so JN1 sensor with 50 million cameras, enough to kill the ultra-wide-angle image quality of the previous generation of flagship products. Just looking at the main camera and ultra-wide angle, the Realme GT2 Pro has indeed reached the level of the current flagship phone, or because of the image degradation of other mobile phones, the imaging hardware of this product looks good.
Of course, the charge lens is still crotch, the previous generation of Realme GT used 2 million macro lens, with a tragic word to describe no problem, this generation of Realme GT2 Pro switched to a 40 times microscope lens ... OPPO felt bored, so he threw it to Realme, which is also considered internal digestion... In general, the realme GT2 Pro in the image hardware upgrade is relatively large, thanks to the peers of the foil, although from the actual effect of the photo, it and some other products still have a certain gap, but for most people are enough. Another special point: Realme's camera algorithm is really hard to say.
iQOO 9 Pro: The main camera super light is completely changed, and cheap is the last word
iQOO 9 series this year's popularity is good, compared to vivo every time feel dead flagship mobile phone, iQOO is obviously more in line with the needs of some users, and this year's iQOO 9 Pro in the overall configuration, but gave us an illusion: in the image part, this seems to become a small vivo X series. Remembering the dismal photo effect when I first came into contact with iQOO, it seems that iQOO will also change from a game-oriented to a comprehensive development.
iQOO 9 Pro is the flagship of this series, but compared with the imaging hardware of iQOO 8 Pro, we can certainly not say that it is an improvement, but only that the makeover is too thorough. The previous generation of iQOO 8 Pro is actually a good main camera sensor, using IMX 766, and to iQOO 9 Pro, the main camera was changed to GN5, the same as 50 million pixels, the outsole size is similar. But don't think how powerful GN5 is, compared to GN2 and GN1, GN5 is Samsung's mid-range sensor, and in terms of optimization, the relatively more mature IMX 766, at least for now it is in the ascendant.
The ultra-wide-angle part actually has some heads, the current iQOO 9 Pro with ultra-wide angle is JN1, this sensor we have not wanted to say anymore; and the previous generation is used IMX 586, looks less pixels 2 million, the function is also less than JN1, such as fisheye ultra-wide angle, but IMX586 as an ultra-wide-angle sensor, the picture quality is superior to JN1. The full set of sensors was changed from Sony to Samsung, and it is estimated that the cost of these two sensors in Samsung is really not high.
Another 16-megapixel portrait camera, the same as the previous generation, there is nothing to introduce. Overall, the imaging system of iQOO 9 Pro is not a big step backwards, but at least the paper specifications are a bit lacking compared to the previous generation, but this difference is not so obvious in the photo part, on the one hand, vivo's focus on iQOO is not exactly photography, after all, it is not the X70 series, on the other hand, it is also because although the difference between the two generations of hardware is very large, but the performance part is not much, basically the photo is still a grade, or ... Can't get too high-grade.
Write at the end
Some people say that this year's mobile phone manufacturers' image part is in the inner volume, and everyone is lower than whose configuration, and from our point of view, this is more like the result of cost considerations. Of course, as we said, the manufacturers themselves are also considering, in the end, what is the significance of continuous stacking on the imaging system of the mobile phone? Since the picture quality of the SLR micro-single is not comparable, computational photography can solve many problems, it seems that the role of reinforcing the image hardware is not so great.
In fact, including Huawei, which has always advocated its sharpness in photography, the P50 series is significantly lower than the P40 series in both the main camera and telephoto. As for relying on the algorithm, whether it can always steadily improve the quality of the photo, we do not feel that this is the only solution, the algorithm can not replace the hardware, it should be an assistance program. It's just that the development of mobile phones until now, if you want to break through the 1-inch bottom, you really have to make a major compromise in design, perhaps this is also in addition to the cost, every mobile phone manufacturer has concerns. The last thing to say is that if you pay more attention to mobile phone photos, keeping some of last year's flagship products, it may be a better choice, such as Xiaomi 11 Ultra... What is really worth looking forward to, may be to see Apple!