How YouTuber was able to access 'secret X-ray camera' that can see through objects on new Android smartphone
Someone found a new smartphone capability after he was able to access a “secret X-ray camera” that can see through objects.
The feature was accessed on an Android phone after a YouTuber was able to turn the camera into an “X-ray device”.
Maxwell Lu, known on YouTube as @purely_maxwell, revealed a shocking ability that his phone has after digging deeper into what the second lens is used for.
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Speaking to the camera, Lu started off his video with a warning, saying: “We have a problem.”
The tech expert went on to explain how he hadn’t been able to find information online about the use of his new phone’s second lens.
The smartphone is the CMF Phone 1 released by Nothing, a company dedicated to blending accessibility with leading user experience while “injecting fun into a boring industry”.
However, the YouTuber went on to reveal how further investigation into accessing this camera lens led to him discovering that it can see through objects.
Pointing his phone at a TV remote he shows that the camera can see the batteries inside.
Following the now-viral video, Nothing co-founder Akis Evangelidis shared exactly how the tech enthusiast was able to do it.
Taking to X just one day after the user posted his video, the businessman wrote: “At Nothing, we have some of the most knowledgeable and crafty users in the world.
“It's also fair to say that our popularity attracts a lot of scrutiny. Ultimately, this drives continuous improvement, benefiting users - so we see it as a good thing.”
He said there are “hundreds of millions of these camera depth sensors” on the market, the CMF Phone 1 user went the “extra mile and accessed the output of the depth sensor via a third-party app in developer mode, achieving a see-through effect”.
Explaining how it works, he added: “We use triangulation to generate depth-of-field data by collecting images from the depth sensor and main camera to create cut-outs and apply blur effects using specific algorithms for the portrait mode.
“Unlike typical cameras, our depth sensor doesn't have an infrared light filter, enhancing its light-capturing ability.
“By definition, this includes infrared light, which can sometimes reveal the internal structure of thin or semi-transparent objects, especially when it's black acrylic material.”
But he went on to note that while users can’t access this “depth sensor output via the Nothing camera app”, he knows the viral clip could “raise some concerns” about its abilities.
He went on to say: “As a result, we will restrict third-party apps from accessing the depth sensor output through a software update expected within a week.”
The video Lu posted gained immense traction online, with fans flocking to X to express their surprise.
One user typed: “Camera evolution is going at good speed. Next target for camera to zoom to other planet species and find aliens.”
A second joked: “Now I can find out the amount of Lays in a packet.”