What is a Megapixel (MP)?

A megapixel (typically abbreviated as MP) is a unit equal to roughly one million pixels, used to measure to the resolution of an image, video or camera sensor. For example, a 12-megapixel camera produces images with roughly 12 million total pixels.

Higher megapixel images or videos can contain more potential detail but are also larger file sizes and more work for imaging chips to process and transmit.