Leaked log files turned up over the weekend. These files brought talk of Android 4.4 Kit Kat and build KRS74H and after some digging, they appear to be turning up some details on the yet-to-be announced Nexus 5. Those files were initially revealed by Myce, however AndroidWorld.it seems to have done a solid job of tearing those files apart.
There had been some talk of the possibility of themes coming to Kit Kat and now we are getting some possible camera related features for the Nexus 5. Anyway, earlier rumors have suggested the Nexus 5 would arrive with an 8 megapixel camera on the back. While that may not be as high as some other handsets we are seeing announced these days, there may be a bit more to the Nexus camera.
Details coming from those logs show the camera as being an f/2.4 aperture and with a sensor size of 1/3.2″. In comparison, that is a bit smaller than some of the other current high-end devices. Another bit revealed that the 8 megapixel sensor is not backside illuminated (BSI). But the key here comes in with a reference to ‘imx179’ which may sound like a rather generic number at first glance.
A Google search of that term brings the better news — MEMS. It is looking like the Nexus 5 will have a MEMS camera. This stands for microelectromechanical technology and while it is not optical image stabilization, it does have some interesting abilities. This is not simple technology, but some of the features should really benefit users. For example, a MEMS camera is said to be able to focus up to 7 times faster as compared to current market models.
This also uses less power, produces less heat, takes up less space in the hardware and could bring Lytro-like focusing. For those not familiar with the Lytro, that basically means users would be able to capture an image and the refocus after the image has already been captured.
Otherwise, while we are still waiting to learn an announcement date from Google, we are expecting that to happen sometime later this month. And in the meantime, we have the above recently leaked image (which came courtesy of the MacRumors forums) to hold us over.
[Update] With a little further digging (and some awesome comments below), it seems there may be a bit more to the story here. The IMX179 number is for an 8 megapixel Sony sensor. This sensor just so happens to be used in the Meizu MX3 and well, that handset does not have the cool Lytro-like features.
On the flip side, a PDF file from Digital Optics does show a “MEMS autofocus camera module for smartphones” as using the IMX179 sensor. That all being said, while this could go either way for the Nexus 5, we are likely looking at a regular style 8 megapixel camera without the cool Lytro-like features.
VIA: phoneArena
IMX179 is an 8MP Sony CMOS currently used in the Meizu MX3. The guys behind the MEMS camera use this sensor but it doesn’t prove that the Nexus 5 will come with the MEMS camera. It’ll just be a standard camera.
My biggest issue is the 2,300 mAh battery that’s been rumored. I expect a minimum of 3,000 mAh.
But no OIS. So, it will not be as good as G2.
I’m calling BS on this for so many reasons. It would be nice, but I don’t think Nexus5 is getting Lytro sorry.
This better be super-thin, I mean come on look at the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, almost the same specs and very thin, and look at the iPhone 5S (I’m not saying I like Apple), very thin, that’s one area that Nexus devices need to get better at.