The smartphone market is awash with advances in technology, each manufacturer pushing to be at the top of their game. One area where smartphones are currently stepping forward is in the image-taking department. As we have mentioned before, the current run of handsets can claim camera specs to make some digital compacts blush.

HTC are one such manufacturer that has pushed forward its idea of optimum camera capabilities, and the HTC One X and S phones shown off at MWC this week, got other makers thinking. As Android and Me confirmed, we all like to see large power processors and HD displays, but the HTC crew have used the One range to show off ImageSense.

As a challenge to PureView seen on Nokia’s 808, ImageSense offers Superfast Capture, reducing picture taking time to 0.7 seconds along with a superfast autofocus of 0.2 seconds. Holding the shutter button performs continuous shots, and a new f/2.0 lens includes HDR and improves image quality when in direct sunlight. HTC add that a big advantage that their system is that their technology will fit within a regular-sized handset.

PureView retaliates with a mixture of impressive 41 megapixels high-res sensor and high-quality lens optics. This enables pixel oversampling and is said to provide superior still quality due to the increase in pixels. The quality that PureView provides to the Nokia 808 is obvious, but equipped with ImageSense the HTC One handsets are sure to offer up a challenge.

Which one would get your vote, are you willing to increase your phone size to compensate for greater image taking, or does the hop-up in camera quality in a standard size casing appeal to you?