Yes, and the evidence is reasonable
Smartphone apps have been validated against tape measures. Reported root-mean-square errors are 2.5 cm at the arm, 4.6 cm at the hip, 5.1 cm at the thigh and 6.1 cm at the waist.
In the same study a professional 20-camera scanner produced 2.9 cm at the arm and 9.2 cm at the waist. Your phone is competitive.
On megapixels
Average primary camera resolution rose from 27 MP in Q2 2020 to 54 MP in Q2 2024, per Counterpoint. That sounds like progress, but it is not what determines accuracy here.
Megapixel count stopped correlating with image quality around 2015 to 2016, and class-leading results are achieved at around 12 MP. Sensor sizes have shrunk, meaning each pixel collects less light.
A 200 MP camera does not produce better measurements. Software quality, lighting and pose matter far more than resolution.
What actually determines accuracy
- Lighting. Even and diffuse, no hard shadows.
- Clothing. Close-fitting, nothing baggy at the waist.
- Pose. Weight even, limbs separated from the torso.
- Distance. Far enough that your full body fits with margin.
- Coverage. Front, both sides and back.
When a phone is not enough
- Made-to-measure or tailoring, where centimetres matter.
- Form-fitting garments with no give.
- Anything where a 6 cm waist error would decide it.
What to do about that
Verify the two or three measurements that matter for your purchase by hand. Waist is the one worth checking, and it takes thirty seconds with a tape.
Combining a scan for completeness with a manual waist check covers essentially every shopping scenario.
The practical verdict
Your phone is sufficient for ordinary shopping and most tailoring communication. It is not a substitute for professional measurement in made-to-measure work, and no phone will be until the model error falls substantially.
More in how many shots to take and the accuracy data.