Xiaomi has announced that the Xiaomi 17 Ultra will be launched next week, featuring a new Leica-certified APO telephoto lens and a next-generation one-inch main camera sensor, marking the start of an expanded strategic partnership with Leica aimed at enhancing camera capabilities. The launch is expected to be China-only initially, with a global release possibly at MWC.
DJI has announced the Mini 5 Pro, a compact drone featuring a 1-inch sensor for improved video quality, longer battery life (up to 52 minutes with extended battery), and upgraded features like obstacle avoidance, faster speeds, and enhanced shooting capabilities, although availability is limited in the US.
Apple has developed a new LOFIC camera sensor with up to 20 stops of dynamic range, potentially rivaling high-end cinema cameras, and is testing prototypes that could reduce reliance on Sony and enhance iPhone photography and future devices.
Xiaomi has unveiled the Xiaomi 14 Ultra in China, showcasing its 1-inch camera sensor, 6.73-inch OLED LTPO display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and a 5,300 mAh battery with 90W wired charging and 80W wireless charging. The device also features a 50MP main camera with dual aperture, ultrawide and telephoto lenses, and a titanium special edition with two-way satellite communication. The starting price in China is CNY 6,499, with global pricing to be revealed soon.
Xiaomi unveils its latest flagship phone, the 14 Ultra, featuring a 1-inch camera sensor, faster aperture, and four AI imaging models. The phone also boasts a silicon carbon battery, improved durability, and fast charging capabilities. It runs on Xiaomi's HyperOS and is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. The device supports two-way satellite calling and texting, with enhanced satellite connectivity. The global launch is expected at MWC, with pre-order pricing starting at 6,499 yuan.
Samsung is rumored to be considering equipping the Galaxy Z Fold 6 with the same camera sensor as the Galaxy S24 Ultra, potentially replacing the 50MP primary camera with a 200MP main sensor. This move could address concerns about the camera quality in the current model and enhance the phone's competitiveness in the foldable phone market, despite potential space constraints and trade-offs with battery capacity.
A reliable tipster has claimed that the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature a larger 48 MP Sony IMX903 sensor with advanced features such as a 14-bit ADC and DCG, positioning the device as an "image flagship" with substantial advancements in its camera capabilities, promising improved low-light performance and enhanced image quality.
The upcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max is rumored to feature a larger, more advanced main camera sensor, potentially a customized 48-megapixel Sony IMX903 sensor with advanced features. This could significantly enhance photography and videography capabilities, with improved dynamic range, background blur, and low-light performance. The device may also have a slightly more curved screen design and maintain a similar thickness to its predecessors. The iPhone 16 lineup is expected to debut in the fall.
Leakers have hinted at a major upgrade for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S25, suggesting that it will feature a Sony camera sensor instead of Samsung's Isocell GN3. The rumored sensor, possibly a custom variant called IMX890, boasts a 1/1.5-inch size and 50-megapixel resolution. While the S25 Ultra may continue to use Samsung's in-house ISOCELL sensor range, there are concerns about the relatively minor hardware upgrades on the S24. However, the S24 is expected to introduce generative AI features, including language translation, document summarization, and image enhancement. It remains to be seen if these features will be cloud-based or on-device.
Samsung is rumored to be upgrading the camera sensors in its upcoming Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ smartphones, potentially switching to a new sensor from Sony. The exact details of the new sensor are unknown, but it is speculated to be larger than the current 50MP sensor used in the Galaxy S22 series. Additionally, there are rumors of Samsung working on a 1-inch ISOCELL camera sensor for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, although it is unlikely to be used in the near future. The Galaxy S25 series is also expected to feature a new in-house chipset and a powerful AMD RDNA3-based GPU.
OnePlus has revealed some camera specifications for the upcoming OnePlus 12, including the new Sony LYT-808 sensor, a 64MP periscope zoom camera, and OPPO image algorithms. The phone will also feature a 2K resolution "ProXDR" display. The OnePlus 12 is expected to be a flagship Android device with advanced camera capabilities.
The recently launched Google Pixel 8 Pro is reported to be using Samsung's new 50MP ISOCELL GNK camera sensor, which offers improved video recording, better HDR performance, and other advanced features. This camera sensor is expected to be used in more smartphones globally next year, as Samsung aims to compete with Sony in the camera sensor market and become the world's leading semiconductor chip firm by 2030.
The upcoming OnePlus 12 smartphone is expected to feature a better version of the camera sensor found in the OnePlus Open foldable device. The new Sony Lytia sensor, which improves light gathering with its stacked design, is set to debut in the OnePlus 12. Early camera samples shared by the president of OnePlus China showcase shots from the main sensor and telephoto lens, suggesting a 3x telephoto with a 6x crop similar to the OnePlus Open. The OnePlus 12 is slated for a December launch in China, followed by a global release.
Apple's iPhone 16 Pro models in 2024 are expected to adopt a stacked rear camera sensor design, following the adoption of this design in the standard iPhone 15 models this year. The lower-end iPhone 15 models will feature a 48-megapixel rear camera lens with a stacked CMOS image sensor (CIS) design. Production yield issues have limited the adoption of this design in all iPhone 15 models this year, but Apple has secured most of Sony's orders for the new sensor design. Sony's tight capacity is expected to benefit rival supplier Will Semi, which will obtain more orders for high-end CIS from Chinese smartphone brands.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is rumored to feature a super telephoto periscope camera, offering significantly increased optical zoom. This would be a major upgrade from the current telephoto camera on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro models. The change is expected to be facilitated by Apple's upgrade to a periscope telephoto camera system, starting with the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Additionally, the Weibo user claims that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will have a 12% larger camera sensor, potentially improving dynamic range and low-light photography capabilities.
