Computational photography uses software (multi-frame fusion, AI, depth estimation) to enhance image quality beyond what the lens and sensor alone can capture.
Common techniques: HDR fusion: combines multiple exposures for dynamic range. Night mode: stacks long-exposure frames to denoise. Portrait mode: uses depth sensor or AI to blur background. Super-resolution zoom: combines multiple frames + AI to upscale. Magic Eraser / Object Removal: AI inpaints unwanted subjects.
Apple, Google, and Samsung lead in computational photography. Pixel's "Real Tone" optimizes skin tones; Apple's "Deep Fusion" merges 9 exposures; Samsung's "Scene Optimizer" tunes per-subject.
This is why a 12 MP iPhone camera can outperform a 48 MP budget phone in real-world shots.