Product: Casio A5406CA Price: Not yet announced Pros: Remarkable resolution, potentially great stereo sound Cons: Available only in Japan
Just when the GSM world is taking delivery of its first megapixel camera phones, the Japanese have gone one gigantic step further. Casio has just announced what promises to be the world's first 3.2-megapixel handset.
The 3G device, which will be launched in Japan next month, will initially be available only on KDDI's Au network, but this is clearly a shape of things to come.
The camera comes with a built-in autofocus plus nine manual settings and a 12.8x digital zoom. Pictures can be captured in a choice of seven sizes, ranging from QXGA (2,048x1,536 pixels) down to just 120x160 pixels.
The photo software includes a photostitch function for panoramas, and a range of photo templates and special effects. There is also a self-timer and a built-in light for night shots.
According to Casio, the camera can record movies of up to an hour, although this feature is likely to be restricted by available memory. The phone comes with 12.8 megabytes of usable memory, and a slot for miniSD memory cards - a format that is almost as rare as Buddha's bones.