If you’re looking forward to buying a new phone for photography, you’re actually not wrong at all. It’s 2021 and yes you can buy a phone for smartphone photography. Unlike last few years when a smartphone’s camera setup was a bare minimum camera, now smartphone photography is actually a thing, and it’s growing way faster than you think.
What is a custom imaging chip?
I’m sure you’ve heard of custom imaging chips/processors in high-end devices, well, they are the ones responsible for bringing revolution in smartphone cameras and photo processing. These are basically small chip/processor that sit along-side of your primary processor, they only process photos, improve images and helps in AI functionality. So basically, your primary processor doesn’t process images anymore, which makes it more efficient for other tasks.
Also read: Samsung’s new PIM Smart RAM is the New Big Thing!
Did you know? Google is planning to implement its own custom Tensor chip in the upcoming Pixel 6. Chinese smartphone brands are also designing and testing custom imaging chips for their smartphones, such as VIVO, XIAOMI etc. The time is not far, when basic smartphones with no custom imaging chips will be considered obsolete.
The process is pretty simple, the camera sensor converts the light to electric form and then it is sent to ISP, which draws an image on the phone screen, based on the feed it receives. It is highly capable of improving image quality overall.
Features of a Custom Imaging Chip
A custom imaging chip offers more than any other traditional processor, it is faster, dedicated, consumes less power, reduces hardware load. Below are some features which makes custom imaging chips irresistible.
- Faster image processing and drawing.
- Better photos in low light.
- Better auto exposure and auto white balance.
- Better gamma correction, noise reduction.
- Improved HDR with machine learning.
- Minimal to no-pressure on primary phone processors.
Conclusion
An image processing chip does wonders where manual adjustments fail, let it be low-light, auto focus or any basic function. Nowadays every firm is developing their own custom chip for better image processing and to excel in smartphone photography. Very soon this could come to budget devices too, thanks to Chinese smartphone manufacturers such as VIVO, OPPO, Xiaomi etc.
And yes, you should definitely go for a smartphone with a custom imaging chip, if smartphone photography is one of your priorities. If you aren’t ready to buy a high-end device, then you can surely check out Chinese firms like XIAOMI, VIVO, which are constantly improving in terms of smartphone photography.
