Huawei P70 coming with massive Sony sensor

Huawei's new flagship, the P70, is set to make waves in the market with the 1-inch Sony IMX989 image sensor.

Recent information from the tech industry reveals that Huawei is actively testing two advanced image sensors for potential use in their upcoming flagship models. These are the Sony IMX989 and the OmniVision OV50H sensors, which promise to enhance the camera capabilities of Huawei's future smartphones significantly.

The Sony IMX989 sensor is particularly noteworthy as it marks the first time Huawei will incorporate a 1-inch image sensor in its devices. This sensor, known for being the largest currently used in smartphones, has already made an appearance in models such as the Oppo Find X6 Pro. Its large size not only contributes to an increase in the camera module's protrusion but also significantly improves photo and video quality.

Huawei's P70 series, comprising the Huawei P70, Huawei P70 Pro, and Huawei P70 Art, is expected to feature this 1-inch IMX989 sensor in at least one of the models. Analyst Ming-Chi-Kuo previously informed that the top-end model, the Huawei P70 Art, is likely to utilize the 1-inch IMX989 sensor along with a 1G6P glass-plastic hybrid lens. This combination could represent a substantial advancement in Huawei's imaging technology, considering the improvements seen in recent flagship smartphones.

Huawei P70 coming with massive Sony sensor

The second sensor Huawei is testing, the OmniVision OV50H, offers a 50-megapixel resolution and has an optical format size of 1/1.3 inches. Despite being smaller than the Sony sensor, it features a pixel size of 1.2μm, compared to the 1.6μm of the 1-inch Sony IMX989. The OV50H supports full-resolution readout at 30fps, a 12.5MP mode at 120fps, and HDR at 60fps. It boasts both DCG HDR and staggered HDR capabilities, allowing for over 100dB of dynamic range when both HDR modes are enabled. This makes the OV50H a strong contender in the market, even if it lacks the largest surface area.

The Huawei P70 series, which will likely include these advanced imaging sensors, is expected to be released in the first half of 2024. These developments indicate Huawei's continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of smartphone photography, aiming to provide consumers with ever more powerful and versatile camera systems.