Last Updated on 11/18/2014 by Chris Gampat
It looks like phase detection autofocus will be the new hot trick of smartphone cameras. First the iPhone 6 included phase detect AF and now Sony has announced a new stacked Exmor RS IMX230 CMOS image sensor for smartphones with an onboard image plane phase detection AF signal processing function.
Sony claims the 21MP sensor could use up to 192 AF points to achieve excellent focus tracking of fast-moving subjects. The IMX230 sensor itself is a 1/2.4 stacked CMOS image sensor, which also utilizes back-illuminated pixels. On top of taking high-resolution pictures, the sensor records 4K video in high-dynamic range as well as some more pedestrian 1080p video at 60fps.
Sony has announced it will release the its stacked CMOS image sensor in April 2015. There’s no word as to what will be the first device to utilize this new sensor. However, we’ll hazard a guess that the sensor will be first implemented into a future Xperia Z4 or another Android smartphone. Check past the break to see a few results from Sony’s new Exmor RS IMX230 sensor.