Sony has introduced a new camera technology today. Looking at the Sony IMX586 spec sheet, the new chip could help boost smartphone camera performance in the next generation of premium flagships. Keep reading for more details!

Sony IMX586 camera tech

Today, Sony introduced its latest CMOS image sensor for smartphones. It is called IMX586 and has 48MP, each of them only 0.8 μm in size, stacked onto a 1/2-type unit. It will begin arriving at smartphones as early as September 2018. In details, the sensor combines two key technologies: very high resolution and a ‘Quad Bayer’ colour filter pattern. When the two collide, they offer a series of clever processing modes.

Besides, Sony said in a press release the increased pixel count will enable high-quality photos even when devices are using digital zoom. The IMX586 implements the Quad Bayer 2×2 pixel array. This means on most occasions it will combine four pixels together outputting the equivalent of a 12MP sensor with large 1.6 μm pixels. Furthermore, during the day or in a well-lit environment, the grid will return to its usual signal processing, reaching 48MP photos in real time.

However, the IMX586 is not just about pixel count. It comes with a Quad Bayer colour filter array in which every 2×2 pixel array has the same colour filter. This allows it to offer several ways to process its data, depending on the conditions.

Sony IMX586 availability

As usual, we don’t know when the new sensor will see the light of day in a production smartphone. But the upcoming Sony Xperia XZ3 which is expected to be launched at IFA in September looks like a good candidate. Given Sony is the biggest sensor provider to the smartphone industry we should sooner or later see the IMX586 in non-Sony smartphones as well. So stay tuned with us for further updates!