Smartphone image quality will surpass that of DSLR cameras, Sony says

Sony is certain, it’s only a matter of time before smartphones take better pictures than professional cameras. According to the manufacturer, this milestone will be reached no later than 2024.

Smartphones have been catching up with cameras for several years. If we can not yet say that a phone is enough to completely do without a reflex, this point of no return is fast approaching according to industry leaders. Sony, which represents 42% of photo sensors on smartphones, is particularly optimistic on the subject.

“We anticipate that still images [des smartphones] will surpass the image quality of single-lens reflex cameras in the next few years”, said Terushi Shimizu, CEO of the firm. For devices using ILC (interchangeable lens) technology, this milestone would even be reached as early as 2024. For a large number of users, this will then mean the end of cameras as we know them.

Related: Samsung Introduces the ISOCELL GN1, a 50MP Camera that Rivals the Huawei P40 Pro’s Sony IMX700

Cameras have trouble

Sony continues by specifying which technologies will allow the smartphone to achieve this feat. According to the manufacturer, quantum saturation will play a big role in this process, alongside artificial intelligence. These two factors will lead to the exponential development of photo sensors for high-end smartphones by 2024.

Still according to Sony, these sensors will allow manufacturers to apply multi-image processing that “will create a new imaging experience”, notably by improving HDR processing and zoom quality. Finally, the firm stresses the importance of taking the technology of two-layer transistor pixels which will reduce the noise of the photos while increasing the contrasts.

To conclude, Sony also dwelt on video, recalling the upcoming democratization of 8K, HDR and, again, artificial intelligence processing. Innovations that we have been able to observe in particular with the Cinematic mode of the iPhone 13. iPhone which is also equipped with the Sony IMX 7.

Source : Nikkei Japan