Last updated: August 2026

The A73 5G was sold on a 108-megapixel camera — and it does not produce 108-megapixel photographs. Understanding why explains a lot about modern phone cameras.

What pixel binning does

A 108MP sensor has an enormous number of very small pixels. Small pixels gather little light individually, which is bad for image quality.

So the phone combines groups of neighbouring pixels into one larger effective pixel — binning. The result is a photo of far lower resolution, perhaps 12MP, but with much better light gathering than those tiny pixels could manage alone.

The high megapixel count exists to be thrown away. That is the design, not a shortcoming.

What this means when comparing phones

Judge by sample images, not by the number. See why megapixels mislead and optical vs digital zoom.

What else the A73 offered

Feature Value
120Hz AMOLED The tier’s real advantage
Optical image stabilisation Better low-light results
Rated water resistance Insurance against spills
Large battery Comfortable all-day use

Where it stands now

The A7x tier has since been discontinued and folded into the A5x range. Confirm the A73’s remaining update window before buying, and consider a current model instead.

See Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35.

See Galaxy A73, Galaxy A71, Samsung contract deals and 5G contract deals.

Frequently asked questions

Does a 108MP camera take 108MP photos?

Not normally. It combines pixels to improve light gathering.

Is 108MP better than 12MP?

Not inherently. Sensor size matters more than pixel count.

Should I shoot at full resolution?

Usually not — binned photos are generally better.

More comparisons

Specifications vary by variant. Confirm the exact model. This is general information, not financial advice.