Megapixel (Definition)

In this article, we will discuss Megapixel (Definition). So, let’s get started.

Definition

Pixels are small squares that are put together to create a digital canvas. Image resolution is usually determined by the amount of pixels it packs together in a space. Higher pixel count results in better resolution. Megapixel basically means one million pixels.

Counted per inch, pixels and megapixels determine the digital image resolution. For example, a 8-megapixel camera sensor can produce images with 8 million pixels per inch (PPI). The 8MP sensor squeeze in more megapixels per inch, therefore, produces sharper images compared to a 5MP sensor. Image quality, however, is not determined only by the megapixel count. Colour array, light sensitivity and detail optimisations are some other parameters that determines image quality.


The megapixels, however, matters most when zooming in or cropping a photo. For example, the 64MP smartphone camera sensor from Samsung can capture more details compared to its 16MP camera sensor. These details are noticeable when zooming in on any visible element on the image. Higher the megapixel count, larger is the file size. Instead of using image compression to reduce image size, smartphone companies now use pixel binning technology. In this technology, pixels are combined to form a bigger pixel size, which brings down the effective megapixel number and reduces the size of an image without any visible quality loss. Usually, a 4-in-1 pixel binning technology is used in smartphones that put together four pixels to form one pixel.