Sony: Smartphone image quality will exceed mirrorless cameras in 2024

According to a report from Nikkei Japan, Sony expects that the image quality of smartphones will exceed mirrorless cameras in 2024.

President and CEO of Sony Semiconduction Solutions (SSS) Terushi Shimizu

Smartphones over mirrorless cameras in the future?

President and CEO of Sony Semiconduction Solutions (SSS) Terushi Shimizu notes that,

We expect that still images will exceed the image quality of single-lens reflex cameras within the next few years.

The company didn't mention how they will do it yet though. But, over the past few years, we've seen smartphone camera systems keeps on getting better at a much faster rate.

Mobile camera sensors from major players like Sony, Samsung, and OmniVision keeps on getting bigger, the megapixel sizes are now larger than ever, and they have improved the autofocus tech.

In 2022, there are now phone cameras with 1-inch sensor size that could rival some digital cameras in picture quality.

On the other hand, smartphone makers have been improving their AI-assisted computational photography as well.

However, we still think that the statement could be exaggerated as physics is hard to beat. A mirrorless camera with at least an APS-C sensor is still way bigger than 1-inch types and it might be hard to fit a slim smartphone body.

Also, by 2024, the general mirrorless camera tech will likely improve too.

But, only time will tell if this statement is correct. Maybe Sony is cooking some game-changing mobile camera innovations.

What do you guys think?

Source: Nikkei