OmniVison has become a popular brand name when it comes to sensors and you might using a device equipped with one of its sensors. The new Motorola Moto G4 Plus, for instance, which utilizes the company’s 1/2.4-inch OV16860 16MP sensor with some impressive pics, but it shouldn’t do best in comparison with the new OV12890 sensor.
It is a 1/2.4-inch type 12MP sensor,(compare to sony mobile sensor it uses1/2.3-inch) which fits into a 10 x 10 x 6 mm camera module, making it ideal for use in new high-end smartphone offers. The sensor is capable of capturing 12MP stills at a rate of 45 fps, as well as 1080p video up to 240 fps and 4K video at 60 fps. It also comes with on-sensor phase detection and built-in HDR capabilities.
In the announcement, James Liu, senior technical marketing manager at OmniVision also stated some of the thinking and market observation that went into creating this sensor OV12890:
As cameras for premium smartphones continue to improve, we see the resolution race slowing down and increasing emphasis placed on pixel performance and image sensor size as key to ever-higher quality mobile images and video,
This is truly a valid point to make and it is a fact that with its improved sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio compared to previous generations, it has 12-bit architecture for faster readout speeds, the OV12890, like many other popular mobile sensors today, prove that quality is more than just resolution. OmniVison is going to face the Sony mobile sensor which is going to face a tough fight for them.
