Mobile Phone
Image Quality

Since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007, the number of smartphone users has grown exponentially. Today, roughly six billion people own smartphones, taking around 1.81 trillion photos per year (54,000 per second). With so many consumers relying on smartphone cameras in their everyday lives (whether for work or pleasure), the mobile phone camera system has become a primary area of focus for smartphone companies.

Mobile phones are unique in the world of cameras. They use specialized sensors to compensate for special aspects of cell phone cameras, such as longer exposure times and human hand shaking. So, while technologically speaking, these camera systems have gradually plateaued, each new iteration attempts to improve image quality, particularly in low-light, bright-light, zoom, and selfie-facing settings. Testing the image quality of these cameras is crucial. We started testing mobile phone cameras as soon as they came to the mass market in Europe. Back then, image quality wasn't as good as it is now, but it still allowed us to grow our testing solutions as the industry expanded.  

We offer a wide range of test solutions to test for these image quality metrics. We also closely follow international standards (e.g., VCX, ISO) when designing our equipment. Solutions include everything you need to build a mobile phone camera test lab, including test targets, uniform illumination, camera mounting and control, and image evaluation software.

The VCX organization aims to provide objective image quality testing for mobile phone cameras and webcam systems, so consumers can make a more informed decision when purchasing a smartphone or webcam based on a final score.

The VCX PhoneCam standard is focused on evaluating mobile phone camera systems. It establishes a set of performance metrics and lighting conditions for testing these systems in accordance with the standard.

We house one of the world's largest independent and objective camera test labs. For over twenty years, we have provided objective camera tests to companies looking to improve the image quality performance of their digital cameras.

Our test lab always adheres to the testing methods established by international standards (e.g., ISO, IEEE), including the VCX standard when applicable. Our lab is one of the few "trusted" (independent and fully certified by the VCX-Forum) VCX test labs for the PhoneCam standard. Using our test equipment, we have set up our lab in accordance with the specifications outlined in the VCX white paper.

The goal of this test solution is to evaluate the image quality metrics described in the VCX-PhoneCam international standard for mobile phone applications. Metrics include resolution, texture loss, sharpness, color accuracy, visual noise, dynamic range, shading, distortion, and timing.

Ideal equipment:

• TE42-LL – Multipurpose test chart

• TE269 – OECF test chart

• iQ-Flatlights – Reflective chart illumination

• LE7 lightbox – Transparent chart illumination

• LED-Panel – Timing measurements

• iQ-Analyzer-X – Analysis software

This setup is built around the TE42-LL multipurpose test chart, optimized for low-light testing scenarios (but also ideal for other light conditions). We illuminate this chart with the spectrally tunable iQ-Flatlights. For dynamic range measurements, we suggest the TE269 grayscale test chart and the LE7 lightbox, a spectrally tunable light source. Finally, we offer the LED-Panel for measuring important timing parameters and the iQ-Analyzer-X for evaluating test results.

The goal of this test solution is to evaluate the effects of human hand tremors on the image stabilization performance of a mobile phone camera system.

Ideal equipment:

• STEVE 6D – An image stabilizer

• TE261 – Slanted edge test chart

• iQ-Trigger-T – Mechanical finger

• iQ-Mobilemount – Camera mounting

This setup is built around the STEVE image stabilization device to analyze the optical image stabilizers (OIS) of a camera system and analyze the effects of human hand shaking in mobile phone applications. The TE261 is a slanted-edge test chart optimized to work with STEVE. The iQ-Trigger automatically presses the shutter release button on a mobile phone camera, and the iQ-Mobilemount is ideal for mounting a mobile phone to STEVE.