KUALA LUMPUR: IF you're looking for phone with a very high megapixel camera, HONOR has the answer. The company has previewed the HONOR View20, one of the world's first smartphones that boasts a rear 48MP camera, ahead of its global launch Paris on January 22, 2019.
The phone aslo features a 3D camera system and a front-facing 25MP camera integrated into the display.
According to HONOR, this innovative all-view display design doesn't impact the display function, instead, it allows a notch-less viewing experience, with a whopping 91.8 percent body-to-screen ratio, and enables users to take the best photos possible, all at the same time.
From a design perspective, HONOR View20 breaks the mold of traditional flagship smartphones in both dimension and style. It is the first smartphone to use advanced nanolithography technology to develop an invisible nano texture on the body.
The fourth generation of nano-vacuum coating and invisible aurora texture process create a vivid and dynamic V-shape color gradient with gleaming effect.
Besides the high tech features the phone has, HONOR has also unveiled a crossover collaboration with Italian fashion brand MOSCHINO to offer the HONOR View20 MOSCHINO joint design edition.
High definition AI camera and TOF 3D camera
For smartphone photography, nothing is more important than photo quality and clarity, and HONOR View20 is bringing these measures to new highs.
The rear camera of the HONOR View20 is the first ever to be powered by the Sony IMX586 stacked CMOS image sensor, which features 48 effective megapixels on a 1/2-inch sensor unit to deliver high-resolution image quality.
This will result in richer details and more vibrant colours in the AI-optimised shots. In addition, the dual-NPU and dual-ISP Kirin 980 chipset are also said to improve the image and camera processing capabilities of the phone by 134 percent and 46 percent respectively. Combined with the power of the camera's 48MP sensor, the result is unprecedented mobile photography potential.
Another rear camera is a Time of Flight (TOF) 3D camera, which makes the phone capable of creating a new dimension in photography and videography that brings greater usability and fun to users.
HONOR says this feature can calculate distance based upon the time-of-flight of a light signal, and has functions including depth sensing, skeletal tracking and real-time motion capture.
The TOF 3D camera also enables the HONOR View20 to be a motion-controlled gaming console, and allow users to play 3D motion games. In addition, it can also let 3D characters dance following users' gestures on the phone, and they can share these funny dancing videos with their friends.
All-view display with in-screen camera
The HONOR View 20 has ditched the notched display style in favour of an all-view display with in-screen camera, heralding a new era of display design.
A super small hole with a diameter of only 4.5mm instead of 6.0mm is created at the top left corner to house the front-facing camera and making for a considerable increase in display area. Instead of drilling a hole that penetrates through all layers of the screen with only a glass panel covers the camera, HONOR retains a few layers by adopting an extremely complex 18-layer technology stack.
This technique effectively reduces the impact on the display structure to improve durability and cuts down the interference of the light from the display to improve overall photo quality. The 18 layers of complex processes are refined, so that the display area of a new screen camera is significantly reduced, bringing users a near 100 percent full screen experience.
Promising outlook
According to IDC, HONOR shipments increased by 27.1 percent in the first three quarters of 2018, compared against a 3.1 percent year-over-year decline in the global smartphone market.
With the good business growth, HONOR is moving forward with a new brand image and story. The company will also adopt a new visual identity and a new logo with moving colours to showcase the brand's diversity and inclusiveness. In line with the new slogan "HONOR MY WORLD", HONOR is bringing a new mission of creating an intelligent new world that belongs to the young.
The local availability and pricing of the HONOR View20 will be known after the Global launch event in Paris.