As we all know, "video" and "game" have been the most prominent selling points of smartphone products in recent years. Whether it is for the top flagship products or the mainstream mid-to-high-end models, they are rapidly iterating on new CMOS solutions, using new lens designs, and constantly ushering in new high-end SoCs and software optimization systems. But for those thousand-yuan models, which are essentially "entry" positioning, the mobile phone market for a long time was actually not very friendly.
On the one hand, for a long time in the past, the true "entry-level SoC" was actually a bit of a standstill in terms of architecture and performance. For example, some of their models are still using the old ARM v8 architecture to this day, or the "2 in 6 small" no-core solution, and even the models themselves are overclocking + renaming for "suit vests". Compared with the mid-to-high-end platforms that have tens of percent performance improvement with each generation, this actually means that the relative performance of entry-level SoCs is becoming more and more backward and insufficient.
On the other hand, as the top imaging flagships generally enter the "1-inch" era, or use some new sensor architectures (such as Sony's double-layer transistors, Samsung's vertical double conversion, and OmniVision's lateral overflow capacitors), this also makes many mid-to-high-end models "profit" from it, and get the CMOS and image design decentralization that were previously exclusive to flagships.
Image performance on early entry-level models: colors can be pale or exaggerated, algorithms are stiff, and macros are almost unavailable
However, it is clear that due to cost and positioning constraints, the "decentralization" of these old flagship imaging solutions usually has little to do with entry-level products, and now the latter is unlikely to get the CMOS of a 1/1.56-inch main camera (although it is actually an old product from 2020), let alone a periscope telephoto secondary camera. Even the small-bottomed JN1 ultra-wide-angle solution, which has been regarded as "insincere and just to save money" on flagship phones, is not available for these entry-level models.
That doesn't mean, though, that entry-level models will have to use old, early small-form, high-resolution CMOS like the IMX582 or GW3 forever to take photos that are full of noise and have no macro capabilities at all. Because in the last year or so, even the most entry-level models have begun to usher in some tangible advances in imaging technology.
The JN1 isn't strong for a flagship, but it does save the entry-level model's focus and night performance
For example, more than a year ago, some entry-level models began to use the JN1-based rear main camera solution. Although many friends will say that JN1 is a CMOS that is too "small bottom (1/2.76 inch)", even as a secondary camera of the flagship machine, it seems that it is not sincere enough. But in terms of technology generation, it is still much more advanced than the first generation of high-pixel sensors used in previous entry-level products. As a result, the JN1-based entry-level main camera is significantly better in terms of anti-overexposure performance in high-contrast scenes and focus performance when shooting at closer range.
In addition, with the advancement of SoCs, entry-level models are now starting to receive significantly enhanced performance. Although the performance of these mobile platforms represented by the Dimensity 7200 and Snapdragon 7 Gen3 is still far from that of flagship SoCs, they at least have a new computing architecture, which can be compatible with the latest on-device AI applications, and at the same time, they have also made great progress in ISP computing power.
With the support of the new platform and the new CMOS, the imaging capabilities of the new entry-level models have been significantly improved
In conclusion, entry-level models from this period generally showed significant improvements in night imaging and "algorithmic zoom". Their night scenes are starting to focus on high contrast, low noise, and the presence of prominent light sources like flagships, and the magnification algorithm that can support the needs of 3x or even 5x zoom with a small main camera has greatly improved their image usability.
And that's not all, when the time comes to the middle of 2024, with the latest batch of CMOS on the market, the entry-level model ushered in another round of imaging capabilities.
Judging from some of the new machines recently tested by our Sanyi Life, Sony LYT-600 has obviously become the entry-level model, and the current rear main camera is the "king bomb" scheme. Compared with the previous Samsung JN1, the LYT-600 not only has a larger sensor area (1/2 inch) and stronger light sensitivity, but also has become one of the few CMOS that has achieved all-pixel focus design in this size and positioning, bringing a new and eye-catching experience to entry-level models in terms of macro focusing, motion focusing, and portrait bokeh accuracy.
Of course, from another point of view, when the latest batch of entry-level models are "retrofitted" with the LYT-600, this naturally means that they will lose the possibility of further using the old flagship decentralized CMOS solutions (such as the old IMX689 and IMX787). Therefore, although the image performance of entry-level mobile phones is much better than in the past, it is clear that mobile phone manufacturers are still deliberately widening the technology and experience gap between products in different price segments.