A Smartphone Prototype With a 100MP Selfie Camera Is Being Tested, Says New Leak

-Kabir Jain

Updated: Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 11:03 [IST]

A fresh leak suggests some smartphone brands are experimenting with camera hardware that goes well beyond what we see on today’s flagships. According to information shared by Digital Chat Station, an upcoming ultra-flagship phone in testing carries an unusually aggressive camera setup, including a 100MP front-facing camera.

If that sounds excessive, that’s because it is, at least by current standards.

What’s being tested right now

The prototype mentioned in the leak reportedly uses a 200MP main rear camera, a 200MP telephoto camera, and a 100MP selfie camera. The front camera is the real outlier here. While rear cameras have steadily climbed in resolution over the years, front cameras have largely stayed conservative.

The tipster notes that this hardware is still in early testing and relies on a custom small-pixel sensor solution. That’s an important caveat. Early prototypes often exist to explore what’s technically possible, not what’s guaranteed to ship.

The brand behind the device wasn’t named. Some online speculation points toward OPPO or vivo, mainly because both companies have a history of experimenting with camera-first flagships. That said, there’s no confirmation, and the leak itself doesn’t assign a name.

Why front cameras haven’t gone this far before

Smartphone makers have poured most of their camera R&D into rear sensors for a reason. They’re used more often, have more space to work with, and face fewer compromises around heat and power.

A 100MP selfie camera could, in theory, improve things like video calls, livestreams, vlogging, and social content. As phones replace dedicated cameras for more people, the front camera has become more important than it used to be.

But megapixels alone don’t solve everything.

The real-world trade-offs

Pushing a front camera to 100MP would come with serious challenges. Processing such large images would increase strain on the chipset, add heat, and consume more storage. There’s also the question of whether users would see a meaningful improvement in everyday use, especially for video, where resolution isn’t the only factor that matters.

These constraints likely explain why front cameras have evolved slowly compared to rear setups.

Part of a bigger camera trend

This leak doesn’t exist in isolation. The industry is already moving toward more advanced rear camera systems, with dual 200MP setups increasingly discussed for future flagships. At the same time, brands like Huawei, OPPO, and vivo are reportedly exploring new front-camera sensor designs.

For now, this remains an experiment rather than a confirmed product. Still, it offers a glimpse into how far smartphone camera development could go, even if not every idea makes it to store shelves.

Via