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Nexus 5 won't have MEMS camera, first batch order for the modules goes to Oppo

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By Daniel Petrov

Updated: Oct 09, 2013, 2:24 AM

Nexus 5 won't have MEMS camera, first batch order for the modules goes to Oppo

Last week's wild speculation that the Nexus 5 might sport a MEMS camera module was debunked by DigitalOptics themselves. The company sent us an official confirmation that they have nothing to do with the camera module in the Nexus 5, but it's rather just going to sport a Sony IMX179 sensor, like we thought after some additional digging. You can find the full press debunk below, but the gist of it is that:

There has been speculation on who would be the first to bring the significant benefits of mems|cam to the mobile imaging market. Last week, several technology news blogs reported that mems|cam was first being brought to market in another smartphone platform. Those reports were inaccurate.

DigitalOptics, however, is ready for mass production, and has their first client for a batch order of smartphone mems|cam camera modules, and you can never guess who that is. Why, Oppo, of course! The second most profitable phone maker in China has been churning our remarkable handsets lately, like the camera-centric Oppo N1 you see above, and we can't wait to see what it will do with the MEMS modules this time.

DigitalOptics Announces First mems|cam Purchase Order by OPPO, a Leading China Smartphone Maker

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Oct. 8, 2013 – DigitalOptics Corporation (DOC™), a wholly owned subsidiary of Tessera Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSRA) announced today that Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd (OPPO), a leading Chinese smartphone OEM, has placed the first mems|camTM volume production purchase order.

The mems|cam module provides speed, power, and precision advantages compared to VCM (voice coil motor) camera modules and enables highly differentiated features when coupled with DOC’s world-class software.

“We are proud to announce that OPPO and DOC are exclusive launch partners. OPPO will be the first smartphone OEM to incorporate mems|cam products in volume,” stated John Thode, president of DigitalOptics Corporation. “OPPO has an excellent premium brand in China as demonstrated by the September 23 launch of the innovative N1 Smartphone platform. Integrating mems|cam modules into OPPO’s best-in-class smartphones will bring an exciting computational imaging user experience that further delivers on OPPO’s brand promise.”

There has been speculation on who would be the first to bring the significant benefits of mems|cam to the mobile imaging market. Last week, several technology news blogs reported that mems|cam was first being brought to market in another smartphone platform. Those reports were inaccurate.

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena from 2010 to 2025, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.