Emir BardakçıSmartphone cameras have become an integral part of the Xiaomi ecosystem, from Redmi smartphones in China to the Xiaomi T series worldwide. With the increasing use of long exposures, night photography, and 4K video, concerns have arisen regarding the age of image sensors, the number of shutters in Android smartphones, and their overall reliability. This article will provide a general overview of image sensors in terms of CMOS technology, Android camera systems, and the best image sensors currently available from Sony, Samsung, and OmniVision.
Do smartphone camera sensors physically degrade?
Smartphones with cameras use CMOS sensors, which are completely different from the mechanisms in conventional cameras. CMOS sensors don’t contain a moving shutter; consequently, there are no friction problems like those experienced in DSLR cameras.
For an extremely long time, the CMOS image sensor may exhibit a slight aging effect of the semiconductor material due to heat, stress, and use. This type of aging effect occurs over a much longer period than the average three-to-five-year lifespan of a smartphone. In fact, image quality degradation due to the aging effect of the image sensor has been considered highly unlikely.
What is generally considered «camera aging» may be caused by other issues, such as scratched lens glass, dust accumulation, and modifications achieved through software updates, rather than anything related to the camera’s sensors.
Does the Android phone have a shutter?
«Shutter count» is a term related to cameras with mechanical shutters. The shutter opens and closes each time a picture is taken, and this action activates a moving component. Android smartphones don’t have mechanical shutters. They have digital roll-up shutters. The sensor scans line by line.
Because of this design, the traditional shutter count is irrelevant for Android phones. While manufacturers may record camera usage statistics for testing and analysis, this number is not a good indicator of the camera sensor’s health. A short video recording can accumulate thousands of sensor readouts, making the number of photos meaningless.
In conclusion, the number of shots taken by smartphone cameras is not a good indicator of their longevity and reliability.
Do night and long exposure modes damage the sensor?
Long-exposure photography on Android smartphones doesn’t work like traditional single-shot long-exposure photography. It uses computational photography, and smartphones from brands like Xiaomi, Samsung, and Google are involved in the process.
Instead of leaving the sensor active for several minutes continuously, the device records numerous rapid exposures and then stacks the images in software. This not only prevents the sensor from overheating, but it also reduces the strain on the electronics.
In addition, Android has built-in overheating protection mechanisms. If temperatures reach levels that could damage the sensor and processor, the camera app itself will automatically shut down. Normal camera functionality allows for safe long-exposure photography and astrophotography.
However, light damage only comes from intense light sources, such as direct sunlight or a laser beam, which can damage a sensor’s pixels in a matter of seconds.
The real weak point: OIS and moving components
The disadvantage of camera module failures becomes apparent when the camera malfunctions, and this is usually related to Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) rather than the image sensors themselves. The OIS module drives tiny electromagnetic actuators that compensate for hand movement.
Over time, mechanical fatigue or the strong vibrations resulting from mounting the phone on a motorcycle handlebar can affect these components. Examples of malfunctioning components include those that emit «rattling noises» or «unstable video,» as well as those that cause «focusing problems.» All of these failures are mechanical, not semiconductor-related.
Final verdict
Smartphone camera sensors don’t «wear out.» There aren’t a significant number of shutters on an Android device either, and long exposures are safe thanks to advances in computational photography and heat management. The sensor selection does affect image quality and options, but not the sensor’s lifespan.
As a Xiaomi smartphone user, all that’s required for camera maintenance is to clean the lens periodically and avoid direct exposure to lasers and sunlight, as well as unnecessary vibrations. Under normal operating conditions, a smartphone camera will function properly throughout its lifespan.
