Top 5 Most Anticipated Smartphone Cameras for Early 2019

The first half of the year will see Huawei launching upgraded versions of its flagship P series, with the P30 and P30 Pro taking center stage. Although the official release is not yet here, accessory maker Spigen has already listed images of the P30 and P30 Pro alongside transparent cases on their website. These two models are expected to differ in screen size and rear camera setup, while both will feature a front-facing single camera with a waterdrop notch. Compared to last year's P20, the P30 series will have a much thinner bottom bezel, as the home button is no longer present.

The P30 will feature a triple-camera system arranged vertically, while the P30 Pro will sport a quad-camera setup with the same alignment. This design is reminiscent of some of Samsung's devices, as opposed to the square camera arrangement of the Mate series. Notably, above the LED flash on the P30 Pro, there appears to be an empty space, possibly for another sensor related to the camera system. According to leaked renders, the Huawei P30 is expected to have a 40MP + 20MP + 13MP triple-camera setup, with one of the cameras offering 5x optical zoom. Additionally, the front camera could offer a 24MP resolution. Huawei has gained significant recognition in the smartphone camera arena, thanks to its collaboration with Leica and its use of advanced technologies. The MWC19 may be the stage where Huawei showcases the camera prowess of the P30.

The rear of the Huawei P30 is made of glass and will feature a white-to-blue gradient color. On the right side, you will find the three rear cameras: 40MP (main camera) + 20MP + 5MP. The Huawei P20 Pro recently won the 'Best Smartphone Camera' award from DxOMark, so the P30’s camera quality is likely to be formidable. The rear panel does not have a fingerprint sensor, suggesting that Huawei may have integrated an under-display fingerprint scanner for a sleeker design.

Some specs that have leaked include the Kirin 980 processor, 6GB of RAM, a 4000mAh battery, and Android 9 Pie with EMUI 9. While the official price for the P30 is still unclear, for comparison, the P20 currently sells for around £600, while the P20 Pro is priced at £800. The P30 and P30 Pro may retain a similar price range, with only a small difference of approximately £50.

Last month, leaked images of the OPPO F11 Pro surfaced on Weibo. And not long after, OPPO officially confirmed the launch of the F11 Pro through a teaser posted on Twitter, also revealing that the smartphone will feature a 48MP primary camera. Many speculate that the device could be released as soon as March.

Today, we have more details, including a photo of the device's rear. The image shows that the OPPO F11 Pro will come in two stunning gradient color options: one in blue and another in a deep purple-blue shade. A unique vertical camera strip runs all the way to the edge of the rear panel. Below the camera array, there is a fingerprint sensor and the OPPO logo. The F11 Pro continues Oppo's tradition of offering a 32MP front camera, which is well-known for its impressive selfie capabilities and over-the-top beautification features. Additionally, Oppo seems to be enhancing its rear camera capabilities, with rumors suggesting that the F11 Pro will have a triple-camera setup, including 48MP + 8MP + 5MP sensors.

As previously mentioned, OPPO has confirmed the device will feature a 48MP dual-camera setup, enhanced by the AI Ultra-Clear Engine, promising excellent low-light photography. The AI tools will also provide image stabilization and skin brightening. Leaked details further indicate the OPPO F11 Pro will have an edge-to-edge display, a 32MP selfie camera, and may include a MediaTek chipset, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. It is also likely to support VOOC fast charging, similar to the OPPO F9 released earlier.

According to previous reports, LG is set to officially unveil its next flagship, the G8 ThinQ, at the MWC 2019 event later this month. Recently, LG revealed one of the key features of the G8 ThinQ on their official website. The company has partnered with Infineon Technologies to incorporate a 3D ToF (Time of Flight) sensor into the front camera of the G8 ThinQ. While ToF technology is not entirely new, LG claims that their ToF system will offer better depth simulation, positioning them at the forefront of VR and AR technology.

The post further explained that Infineon’s 3D sensor uses infrared light for more precise measurements, significantly improving accuracy compared to other 3D technologies. This new face recognition system on the G8 ThinQ is expected to be as secure as Apple’s Face ID. Additionally, the ToF sensor is expected to enhance the AR gaming experience for users.

In terms of other specifications, reports suggest that the G8 ThinQ will feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 chipset paired with 6GB of RAM. The device will have a 6.1-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1,440 x 3,120 pixels and 128GB of internal storage with expandable memory. The upcoming flagship is also expected to have a triple-camera setup on the rear, a 3,500mAh battery, and will officially launch at MWC 2019, with a rumored price of around $900 USD.

The Sony Xperia XZ4 is garnering attention with its impressive features. The device will come with a 6-inch OLED display offering a Quad-HD+ resolution and a 21:9 aspect ratio. It will feature a triple-camera setup on the rear with 52MP, 16MP, and 8MP sensors, powered by the Snapdragon 855 chipset, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of internal storage, and a 3,680mAh battery. These specifications were recently leaked via China’s TENAA certification website.

According to the leaks, the Xperia XZ4 will have an elongated design with dimensions of 166.9 x 72.4 x 8.3mm. The 6.4-inch screen will have a resolution of 3360 x 1440 pixels, almost stretching edge-to-edge, leaving only a slightly thicker top bezel, similar to the design of the Bphone 3. The phone will weigh 188g and will be available in colors like Spring Snow White, Meteorite Black, and Purple. In terms of performance, the device will run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855, an octa-core CPU clocked at 2.84GHz, paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which is expandable via microSD. A 3,680mAh battery is expected, though there are rumors that it could be upgraded to 3,900 or 4,100mAh.

The most notable feature of the Xperia XZ4 is its rear triple-camera system: a 52MP main sensor with an f/1.6 aperture that supports pixel binning for improved low-light performance, a 16MP telephoto lens with an f/2.6 aperture, and an 8MP camera. Previous leaks suggest that the third camera may have a 0.3MP depth sensor with an f/1.4 aperture, aimed at 3D depth measurement for AR applications. Sony's cameras are known for their high quality, but the company’s marketing efforts are often seen as lacking.

In 2019, HMD Global promised to bring exciting new devices to the market, with the Nokia 9 being one of the most anticipated flagship smartphones. Recent leaks indicate that the launch of the Nokia 9 is fast approaching. HMD has been very active in revitalizing the Nokia brand, introducing a range of smartphones across all price segments that embody the brand’s ethos of providing high quality at affordable prices. The latest details surrounding the Nokia 9 suggest that this will be a remarkable phone packed with unique features.

According to reports, the Nokia 9 will feature a 6.0-inch display, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. It will run on the latest Android 9 operating system. Information from sources like Google and the FCC has revealed sketches of the Nokia 9, highlighting the device’s rear camera setup, which will feature five lenses. Additionally, there will be no visible fingerprint scanner on the back, implying that the device might come with an in-display fingerprint sensor.

The standout feature of the Nokia 9 PureView will undoubtedly be its camera. Rather than the typical dual or triple-camera setup, it will boast a unique five-camera configuration. There will be a total of seven holes on the back of the phone, arranged in a circular pattern, with one serving as the center. Of these, five will be camera lenses, while the other two will house an LED flash and a laser autofocus module. Also featured will be the Zeiss logo and the iconic Nokia branding. Under the hood, the Nokia 9 PureView is expected to run on a Snapdragon 845 chipset, with 8GB of RAM and a 4,150mAh battery, launching in February 2019. This device is expected to be HMD Global’s flagship offering for 2019.

Regarding the display, the Nokia 9 PureView will feature an 18:9 aspect ratio and a Quad HD+ resolution. It might be the first device from HMD Global to integrate an in-display fingerprint sensor. Additionally, the device is expected to support wireless charging, water and dust resistance (IP68 rating), and come with a 4,150mAh battery. There are also rumors of an upgraded version being released in August 2019 with the Snapdragon 855 chip and 5G support. While Nokia may not be as dominant as it once was, its PureView technology and the unique camera system, in collaboration with Zeiss, are certainly things to look forward to at MWC 2019.