Oppo MariSilicon X: image sensor with 20bit RAW for smartphones shown
15/12/2021
Translation: machine translated
Oppo presents its first self-developed image sensor. And confirms the Oppo Find X4 Pro at the same time.
Oppo introduced the MariSilicon X at its Inno Day. The image sensor does not stand on its own legs like an SoC, but complements it.
The MariSilicon X will be installed in the upcoming Oppo Find X4 for the first time in the spring.
20bit RAW: images that are supposed to be even better
The MariSilicon X boasts of unprecedented performance on paper. It consists of a neural processing unit (NPU) and an image sensor (ISP). The MariSilicon X can perform up to 18 trillion operations per second. This is said to be more than enough power to run the camera's artificial intelligence (AI). This is said to be done without putting much load on the battery, as Oppo knows that even the best camera is of no use if the battery is dead.
The image sensor of the MariSilicon X is an RGGB sensor and takes out raw footage with up to 20bit color depth. For comparison, the Oppo Find X3 Pro brings 10bit, putting it at the top of the image world. We don't have 20bit in the consumer market yet.
In addition, the sensor can map a contrast of 1 000 000:1, which promises even richer black levels. Since MariSilicon X works exclusively with RAW data, even if a JPG or HEIC file is saved afterwards, the chip should manage better lines, richer colours and nicer contrast values. RAW passes much more data to the AI to achieve even better final results.
The algorithm thing
MariSilicon X brings amplified processing power and is essentially a chip that does nothing but "make pictures beautiful". It doesn't take on any other functions; those stay with the SoC. This frees up power, not only for image calculation but also for the rest of the system.
The MariSilicon X gets 40 frames per second done. Night video at 4K/60fps will have to wait, according to early indications. The resolution of 4K, that is 3840x2160 pixels goes, because the tests were made with this resolution, but the framerate has not quite arrived at 60. Therefore, the Find X4 will only be able to do videos at 4K/30fps at night with the improved night mode.
During the day and without the night mode, it should easily be able to do 4K/60fps or even above. If not more. But Oppo has not commented on this.
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