Sony is working on a 1-inch camera sensor specifically for smartphones. It is to be used in the Xiaomi 12S Ultra.
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Sony’s 1-inch sensor size comparison.
© Xiaomi / Weibo
Sony will be the first company to launch a 1-inch camera sensor for smartphones. According to the online magazine Sammobile, the sensor is called IMX989. It has a resolution of 50 megapixels and offers a native pixel size of 1.5 µm. With these specifications, the sensor should still deliver detailed images even in low light. However, this also depends on the image processing algorithm. A first promotional image of the sensor was published this week by smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi on the Chinese social network Weibo.
1 inch sensor specially designed for smartphones
Unlike the 1-inch sensors already found in a Sony smartphone, the IMX989 is not a cropped version of the sensors found in Sony digital cameras. The IMX989 was specially developed for use in smartphones. In addition to a model with a 50-megapixel resolution, Sony is also rumored to be working on a 100-megapixel variant.
Debut in the Xiaomi 12S Ultra
The IMX989 is to be used for the first time in the Xiaomi 12S Ultra. The smartphone is scheduled to be launched alongside the Xiaomi 12S on July 4, 2022.
