Omnivision launches smart phone sensor that takes ‘movie-grade’ video

15 Apr 2025

High dynamic range of 110 dB is said by developer to be “best in the industry”.

Omnivision, a developer of semiconductor technology, including advanced digital imaging, analog and display solutions, has announced the launch of its new OV50X CMOS image sensor. This offers what the company describes as “the mobile phone industry’s highest dynamic range, for movie-grade video capture.”

Omnivision is a fabless semiconductor organization that develops advanced digital imaging, analog and display solutions for multiple applications, including mobile phones, security and surveillance, automotive, computing, medical, machine vision and emerging applications.

The OV50X is a 50-megapixel sensor with a 1.6 µm pixel in a 1-in optical format designed for flagship smart phones that require high dynamic range video and preview with single exposure, excellent low-light performance, fast autofocus and high frame rates.

‘Cinematic quality’

“Smart phones are used in the majority of video and photo capture today, and cinematic-quality video recording has become a highly demanded feature among consumers for flagship mobile phones,” said Takuritsu Li, marketing manager, Omnivision.

“Our OV50X image sensor was designed with the professional videographer and photographer in mind, featuring a large 1-inch optical format image sensor that provides close to 110 dB single-exposure HDR; consumers can now own a smart phone capable of superior video and photo capture around the clock, even in challenging capture conditions such as sunrise, sunset, nighttime with bright lights, or overcast days.”

The OV50X supports 4-cell binning for 12.5 MP at 180 fps and 60 fps with three-channel HDR. It offers premium-quality 8K video with dual analog gain HDR and on-sensor crop zoom. Omnivision’s TheiaCel technology further expands single exposure HDR close to 110 dB — the highest range possible in smart phones.

The sensor also supports 100% coverage quad phase detection for best-in-class autofocus performance. The OV50X is built on Omnivision’s PureCel Plus-S stacked-die technology, enabling excellent low light performance. The OV50X is sampling now and will be in mass production in Q3 2025.