A new race is forming around the front camera, and Honor appears ready to push it into flagship territory. The company is reportedly testing a 100MP selfie sensor in a square 1:1 format, a rare move that could make the next wave of premium phones more serious about front-facing photography.
The leak first came from Digital Chat Station, who said Honor and Oppo are both exploring high-resolution front cameras for upcoming flagship lines. That shift matters because the premium smartphone market has long revolved around rear camera upgrades, while selfie cameras were often treated as a secondary feature.
Honor’s most aggressive experiment
Honor is said to be the most ambitious in this push. The company is reportedly preparing the OVA0B 100MP sensor for the Honor Magic 9, and the sensor itself measures 1/1.8 inches.
What makes it unusual is the shape. Instead of the typical rectangular layout used by most front cameras, Honor is reportedly trimming the sensor into a square 1:1 format, a design that remains uncommon in smartphones today.
That format could offer more flexibility for users. It should make it easier to switch between vertical and horizontal framing without losing as much of the captured scene.
Why a square selfie sensor matters
A 1:1 sensor fits better with how people share content now. Vertical formats dominate short-form platforms, but horizontal shots are still useful for everyday photos and wider scenes.
A square sensor also gives more room in the frame. That can help with group selfies or portraits that need more background space, while the larger sensor size may support better image processing in low light.
With a 100MP resolution and modern processing, the goal is clear: to make the front camera sharp enough to stand alongside the main camera system as a major selling point.
Magic 9 may not stop at the front camera
Honor’s camera plans appear broader than just a selfie upgrade. The Honor Magic 9 is also rumored to bring a 200MP main camera paired with a 64MP periscope telephoto lens.
For the rear camera setup, Honor is reportedly testing several 200MP main sensor options. Those include the OV52A and OV52B, both said to use a 1/1.28-inch size, as well as the larger OVB0D at 1/1.12 inches.
That combination suggests Honor is pushing hard on both sides of the camera system, not only on the front-facing lens that usually gets less attention.
Oppo is testing a similar direction
Honor is not alone in this approach. Oppo is also said to be developing a comparable strategy for its next flagship line through the Find X10 series.
According to Digital Chat Station, the Oppo Find X10 may use a Samsung-made 100MP selfie sensor with a size of around 1/2.5 inches. It also reportedly adopts the same 1:1 square aspect ratio.
The fact that two major Chinese brands are testing 100MP selfie cameras signals a possible shift in flagship priorities. Front cameras are moving closer to the center of product differentiation.
For users, that matters because selfie quality now affects more than casual snapshots. Video calls, social media content, and front-camera portraits have become everyday use cases that shape buying decisions.
If these tests lead to commercial products, the next flagship race may not be defined only by the main camera and telephoto lens. The front camera could become one of the most closely watched features in premium smartphones.
Source: www.gadgetdiva.id
