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If Oppo presents the new Find X5 Pro at MWC 2022, the manufacturer also reveals its developments in the world of smartphones. Two are for mobile photography and promise a lot.
On the occasion of Mobile World Congress 2022, Oppo is presenting at its booth various concepts dedicated to the future of smartphone photography. A rather large playground for the company, which relies heavily on taking pictures with its flagships, such as Find X3 Pro, equipped with a microscope function for example, or Find X5 Pro and its MariSilicon X chip.
Truly invisible unit under the screen
The first of these concepts impressed us the most. If the front cameras placed under the display weren’t new, the various attempts we’ve seen on smartphones released to the general public have left us somewhat wary. The quality of the shots is often disappointing, or the unit fails to become invisible. The difficulty is due to the difference between the pixel density of the screen above the module and the density of the rest of the panel, which is higher. This results in a visible area that more or less disappears when the smartphone is turned on, but is still very present. Thus, the front 4-megapixel sensor of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, in addition to offering a rather low image quality, fails to fully integrate into the display.
The sensor at the bottom of the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s screen remains visible. © The Digital
To avoid this problem, Oppo’s solution is as follows: the company offers the same pixel density on all sides of its screen, making the front unit completely invisible once the screen is turned on. Even more powerful, when it’s turned off, the hole is very discreet, and you have to present the plate to a direct light source in hopes of discerning it with the naked eye. As far as image quality is concerned, the concept of a smartphone should not be outdone. The quality is good, maybe not at the level of the ZTE 30 5G, according to our tests, but the selfies remain perfectly usable. However, we did notice a fairly long processing time between the start of the shot and its appearance in the gallery. So it is necessary to be careful to stay still so that you do not suffer from camera shake in the photo. Everything is not perfect, but it leaves you wondering what Oppo can offer in the future.
Oppo’s solution knows how to be very conservative. © The Digital
Telephoto lens retracts
The Chinese brand’s retractable camera technology, which was presented during Oppo’s Inno Day at the end of 2021, was first introduced thanks to a prototype presented at MWC. It is based on Sony IMX 766 sensor of 1 / 1.56 inch and 50MP definition. Once deployed, the smartphone and its new type of telephoto lens allow x2, x4 and x10 magnifications. At 2× magnification, the full-format equivalent is 50mm.
The telephoto lens, which has been launched, adds considerable thickness to the smartphone. © The Digital
To activate it, simply click on the logo labeled “R-Cam”. The unit extends and a noise is heard once it is fully extended. Everything is done very quickly, and the promise of activation in 0.6 seconds seems to be preserved. On x2 and x4, device stability does its job well. On the x10, it’s a bit more complicated, and you’ll have to put the phone aside in hopes of taking a picture that doesn’t suffer from jerks. The quality is present at three types of focal lengths, even if, of course, the result x10 liquefies a little.
The concept allows for 10x magnification. © The Digital
All this, of course, remains in the case of the prototype. Oppo does not dare to mention any integration date with the first smartphones that were sold to the general public.
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