Casio's 8 megapixel Exilim W63CA cellphone gets FCC approved

First off, the chance of this Japanese super-phone coming to the US or anywhere else outside of Nippon is slim. FCC approval or not, it's likely only being tested for global roaming. However, as slim is its chances are, they've improved dramatically now that Japan's government is behind a push to promote its twisty, folding phones abroad. This Exilim-branded Casio / Hitachi mashup sports an 8 megapixel camera and with any luck, it's using that new Omnivision sensor meant to revolutionize cameraphones. As followup to the W53CA, this 3G W63CA flip will no doubt feature the same high-resolution, 800 x 480 pixel swiveling display of its cousin. With autumn nearing, we expect to see the W63A announced any day in a typical shotgun blast of seasonal phones from KDDI.

[bob sakamano @ Aug 26th 2008 8:18AM]

looks pretty sweet

[Living Brain Donor @ Aug 26th 2008 8:35AM]

The chances of one of these coming to a network near you has gone up more than you'd think. It seems that mobile phone sales in Japan are way down and none of the domestic makers are doing particularly well. The answer...export phones. Of course this one may have gone through the FCC so it can roam freely in the US, but one day, probably soon, all of that sweet Casio goodness may be yours too.

[Jamar @ Aug 26th 2008 12:35PM]

One thing to note here- KDDI has never had to put any of their CDMA roaming phones through FCC approval before.

[Evan @ Aug 26th 2008 8:44AM]

MEGAPIXELS =/= QUALITY

It's unbelievable that even Engadget has been suckered into Megapixel marketing! More "megapixels" usually means more of the surface area of the CMOS sensor is covered with transistors, and therefore the less sensitive the sensor is. The precision and f-number of the lens, and the type and physical size of the sensor are more important to image quality. I work with machine vision cameras, and I'll tell you that a 640x480 1/3" CCD with a basic CS lens produces superior color accuracy and less low-light noise than any of these miniature high-megapixel CMOS sensors.

[Thomas Ricker @ Aug 26th 2008 9:05AM]

Evan, Uh, perhaps you missed the Omnivision link and reference to display resolution?

Generally speaking, you are of course correct -- megapixels mean nothing in such a small sensor.

Thomas

[Varuna @ Aug 26th 2008 9:08AM]

More MegaPixels .. more area.. doesnt it also mean you get a bit more detail to your pics ?

and Can't you get a superb image quality even when the mega pixel is high ?..

[Jamar @ Aug 26th 2008 12:30PM]

Notice the Exilim branding? Highly unlikely that Casio will just toss any old CMOS sensor in there.

[Jamar @ Aug 26th 2008 12:32PM]

(doublepost prevention)

[linuxamp @ Aug 27th 2008 12:11AM]

You are right. More pixels on a larger sensor can produce better quality but more pixes squeezed onto small sensors like this one usually just results in more noise.

[nanobis @ Aug 26th 2008 8:47AM]

Hope is got a decent calculator on them. The nokia's are good but your missing the logs and other sicentific modes.

[Seb @ Aug 26th 2008 9:33AM]

You buy your phones according to how good their calculators are?

[Langdon Alger @ Aug 26th 2008 9:37AM]

Me fail English? That is unpossible!

Your lackadaisical use of the language notwithstanding, I have to object to your overgeneralized assertion that Nokia phones lack good calculators. In the case of Series 60 phones (which would be the only ones worth comparing to any self-proclaimed "super-phone"), you can always install whichever third-party calculator app you care for, free or otherwise. It is like saying "Windows doesn't have a good RDBMS that comes with it." Yes, but you can always install one if you really wanted to.

Please tell me you do not go around buying cars based on the windshield wipers that come pre-installed.

[Lazarpandar @ Aug 26th 2008 6:06PM]

I don't understand how this guy is low ranked. What if he needs a calculator for something he does often and wants to carry one less thing around all the time?

[Daza @ Aug 26th 2008 9:34AM]

Oh yeah, you would know with your fancy Canon 100D. Wait a minute, you don't have one, and you're pimping your site so people can give you money for... absolutely nothing. And lol, Geocities.

[Jesse @ Aug 26th 2008 9:54AM]

I love the AU Casio phones. I had the W51CA and then the next phone I got was the W53CA (which was when they officially branded it an Exilim phone). The camera is not the best, but it's better than most camera phones. Also, the screen res. is dazzling. Honestly, I just like the keypad layout and the menus. It's a good combination of features and design. I haven't been in the US recently, but it seems like Casio doesn't make any phones there, which is a shame.

[Jeff @ Aug 26th 2008 11:00AM]

Consumer sales in this country are down also (business sales are up), and some have said it's because people are waiting for better handsets. I know that's what I'm doing - I've been trying to upgrade from my Samsung SGH-A707 for months now, but every single phone available sucks in comparison. And this is a 2 year old phone!

If you don't want a "smartphone" these days, you're basically SOL.

I would go for this Casio phone in a heartbeat if it was available here.

[mykie @ Aug 27th 2008 7:02PM]

I'm still pimping a Sanyo M1 phone simply because the 2,0mp camera in it is superb, and has an actual optical zoom and autofocus.

No other phone has that! I'm actually hoping this phone comes to my carrier!