48MP Camera Claims: Separate Visible and Thermal Pixels

A 48MP visible-camera claim does not specify a thermal detector's resolution. Ask which camera the number describes and how the thermal image is captured. This article does not verify a Phonemax thermal detector with 48 million pixels.

Label each imaging channel

For a phone with multiple cameras, request separate specifications for the visible camera, thermal detector and any infrared night-vision camera. Do not combine their pixel counts into a new thermal-resolution claim.

Use a current thermal reference

The current P20 Pro thermal specification graphic lists 256 × 192 resolution. That is 49,152 pixels, approximately 0.049 megapixels. It should not be presented as 48MP thermal resolution, and a visible-camera advertisement should not replace this thermal entry.

Check how the delivered files are produced

• Identify whether the file is a thermal image, visible photograph or a combined presentation.
• Ask for the native thermal detector dimensions separately from saved-image dimensions.
• Confirm which file retains the information required for the inspection report.
• Review original output from the offered model rather than an illustrative comparison picture.

Keep the purchasing decision tied to the task

If the job requires ordinary high-resolution photographs as well as thermal information, assess both channels. More pixels in one camera do not document the other's performance. No original image-quality or measurement test is presented here.

Sources

P20 Pro product specifications; FLIR: choosing a thermal imager for detector-array terminology, not a Phonemax specification.