Could Huawei’s smartphones be going to pull even further on Apple’s iPhone 12 range and Samsung’s Galaxy S21 series?
A major new smartphone camera sensor is expected from Sony
@ rodent950 (Twitter)
Sony’s next-generation smartphone image sensing seems to be moving the next wave of flagship handsets further into the realm of a particularly tight-fitting camera, but one major hurdle remains.
According to the pregnant distributor @ rodent950, the new one IMX800 a camera sensor is expected to launch this April. It is expected to arrive first in the P50 range of Huawei’s famous smartphones and is also high on the wish list for many who are waiting for the Google Pixel 6, with some profiteering the IMX800 may be the new sensor expected to appear in the next major Pixel flagship.
The IMX800 is reportedly a “1-inch” type sensor. Although physically much less than one inch in size, thanks to some ancient naming practices, this would make it the largest smartphone camera sensor ever made, making the case of Samsung ‘s recently announced Icocell GN2 and which is similar to the 2014 Panasonic Lumix DMC-CM1 hybrid camera.
This means that smartphones will feature image sensors that are similar in size to high-definition cameras, such as Sony’s popular RX100 range. More importantly, the larger sensors have the potential to significantly enhance camera quality.
Sensor size is one of the most important factors in determining image quality. A larger sensor captures more light at any given time, which is a great advantage, especially in low light situations or when taking pictures of fast-moving subjects. . Try both of these tasks at the same time and you will really understand what a larger sensor can do.
Smartphones compensate for their minimal sensors through software, repairing modern multi-image imaging methods with on-board processor power that is often far larger than a standard camera. Google mastered this with their early Pixel smartphones, though competitors like Apple have since caught on.
It remains to be seen how next-generation smartphone lenses will hold up when repaired with large sensors like the IMX800. Large sensors require large compatible lenses that are not at all suitable for slim smartphone design. However, if they succeed, they will definitely eat into the RX100 niche market and competition such as Canon ‘s PowerShot GX and Panasonic’ s Lumix ZS ranges have carved out for themselves.
For me, the best outcome is to see tight cameras incorporate more of the image processing capabilities of today’s smartphones. The combination of Google Pixel-like image processing with larger sensors and clear, sharp lenses is certainly an amazing combination. Of course, if this does not happen, an entire section of cameras may soon be at risk.
More importantly, it is also a threat to the likes of Samsung and Apple, who have to respond to Huawei’s ever-growing camera capabilities. Samsung has its own large, albeit slightly smaller, sensor in the form of Isocell GN2, if they choose to use it. I expect a slightly slower response from Apple, but it will definitely come eventually.
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