Sony has upped the ante in the megapixel race again with the announcement of the world’s first 16.41-megapixel CMOS sensor for mobile phones, one-upping today’s 12-megapixel sensors. The new 1/2.8-inch back-illuminated Exmor R model IMX081PQ sensor sports an industry smallest 1.12µm unit cell size that is capable of shooting 1080p at 30FPS or 720p at 60FPS. Sony also believes that it has a solution for the issues related to small pixel sizes by using a unique formation of photo diodes to achieve a sensor with high resolution, high sensitivity, and low noise. Sampling for this sensor is expected to begin in January 2011 at about 2,500 Yen ($30) per unit, or 12,000 Yen ($145) when packaged with an autofocus lens module that ships in March. Prices should be more attractive when purchased in bulk. Aside from this, a 1/3.2-inch 8.3-megapixel IMX105PQ sensor with a lens module will also be released in April for a lot less.
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