Xiaomi doesn't seem to want to leave any surprises for launch day and has revealed a lot about what to expect from the forthcoming Mi 9 smartphone camera.

It has been known for a while that the Mi 9 would have a triple camera, but Xiaomi hasn't just confirmed this, it has shared the core specs for the camera too.

So here' the rundown of the three cameras on rear the Mi 9:

  • 48MP main camera, Sony IMX586 sensor, 0.8µm pixels, 1/2in sensor, f/1.75
  • 12MP telephoto camera, 2x zoom, 1.0µm pixels, f/2.2
  • 16MP wide-angle camera, 1.0µm, f/2.2

The main camera is a high resolution so uses a pixel combining method to give you the equivalent of 1.6µm pixels at 12MP. This is a technique that's been used on a number of high resolution smartphones and will need close attention to see how it copes with maintaining detail and quality - and how it performs in low light, which is becoming the new battleground for phone cameras.

The second camera is the zoom and this will work with the first to gather data information to create those portrait bokeh effects. The optical zoom means you should get better quality close-ups - although like many zooms the aperture is smaller, so is going to need good light for the best results.

The third camera is very welcomed. Adding wide-angle opens up a range of options that you can't create digitally, letting you get more in the pictures you take. Xiaomi is also saying that this camera is going to be great for macro photos too, down to 4cm.

Xiaomi has also confirmed that it's using a sapphire glass cover for the cameras, so that should be resistant to scratches and keep those lenses free from damage through the life of the phone.

When it comes to focusing, there is going to be a laser autofocusing system in addition to PDAF (phase detection autofocus) and CDAF (contrast detection autofocus), so should be nice and fast.

There's also a 20-megapixel selfie camera on the front, so Xiaomi is going all out on cameras on the Mi 9!

The full details of the Xiaomi Mi 9 will be revealed on 20 February in China and 24 February in Barcelona at Mobile World Congress. We will be there to bring you all the details - in the meantime you can catch up with everything that's been revealed about the Mi 9 in our round-up feature.