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Sony IMX386 vs IMX378 Sensor Specifications Comparison & Phone List

Sony IMX386 vs IMX378

Do you use your smartphone camera as your primary imaging device? If yes, then check out our comparison of the Sony IMX386 vs IMX378 sensors designed for smartphones. Why? it is because a lot of phones use them and have excellent imaging capabilities.

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In today’s discussion, we will be talking about two of the well known Exmor series camera sensors. As most of you might already know, Exmor CMOS sensors are produced by Sony since 2008. Since then, Sony introduced many different families with different specification, specialty, and purpose. The list includes Exmor family, Exmor R sensor family, Exmor RS sensor family and Exmor imaging modules.

Related Reading: Budget Phones With Dual Rear Camera and Dual Lens in India

Sony IMX386 vs IMX378

In this post, we will be comparing Exmor RS IMX 378 and Exmor RS IMX 386. Moreover, we will also quick-review some smartphones in which these camera sensors are used so our readers can get a better idea. Both IMX 378 and IMX 386 come from Exmor RS sensor family. Exmor RS was announced by Sony back in 2012, which uses a stacked CMOS sensor. However, the pair we are talking about was released last year, IMX386 in July and IMX378 in September of 2016.

Since the release date is close, many people believe that there is not much difference in their performance, which is the half-truth. Following table represents a quick comparison of these two camera sensors in various terms. Have a look:

SpecificationExmor RS IMX 378 Exmor RS IMX 386
Effective Resolution 4056 x 30403968 x 2976
Effective Pixels 12.2 MP12 MP
Diagonal Sensor Size 7.81 mm

(1/2.3”)

6.2 mm

(1/2.9”)

Unit Cell Size 1.55 μm1.25 μm
Output MIPD D-PHY

(4 Lane)

Not Specified
Sub-pixel Layout RGBRGB
Phase Detection Autofocus YESYES
Gyro Image Stabilization YESNone
Release Date September 2016July 2016

As the table clarifies, the IMX 386 and IMX 378 differ a lot in various aspects. There are the noticeable differences in resolution, effective pixels, sensor and cell size, output, etc. However, there are also some similarities. For example, both of them possess subpixel layout and phase detection auto-focusing technology. Considering that you are concerned about these sensors as smartphone buyers, this much information is quite enough. They both have their qualities and flaws. Moreover, they don’t affect the price of the smartphone on a large scale so that you can go with either one. Moreover, it also depends on the device manufacturer how they implemented it on their phones.

To make the task simple, we have compiled the list below that contains devices using IMX 386 and IMX 378 camera sensors. Hope this list will assist you to pick the right device that matches your requirements. Here we begin:

Smartphones with Exmor RS IMX386:

First, we are going to check out the phones with a Sony IMX386 imaging sensor. It is commonly found on a lot of mid to top range phones, especially from the house of Xiaomi and Huawei. Let’s check them out!

1. Xiaomi Mi Mix 2:

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NetworkGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
Platform Android 7.1 Nougat OS

Qualcomm MSM 8998 Snapdragon 835 chipset

Octa Core CPU [4 @ 2.45 GHz, 4 @ 1.9 GHz]

Adreno 540 GPU

Memory 64 GB / 128 GB / 256 GB internal storage

No memory card slot

6 GB / 8 GB RAM

Camera 12 MP Primary, f/2.0, ½.9” sensor, 1.25 um pixel

5 MP secondary, f/2.0, 1080p

Camera Features Phase detection autofocus, 4-axis OIS, Dual tone LED flash, Geo-tagging, touch focus, Face detection, HDR, Panorama
Video Resolution2160p @ 30 fps

1080p @ 30 fps

720p @ 120 fps

Display IPS LCD Capacitive Touchscreen with 16M colors

5.99 inches / 92.6 cm2

1080 x 2160 resolution with 18:9 aspect ratio

403ppi pixel density, Multitouch support

Corning gorilla glass 4 Protection

Battery  3400 mAh battery capacity

Non-removable lithium – ion battery

ConnectivityDual-Band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot

Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE

GPS with GLONASS, BDS, A-GPS

NFC connectivity

Type C USB reversible connector

Sensors Fingerprint sensor on rear, accelerometer, gyroscope sensor, proximity sensor, compass, barometer
Body  151.8 x 75.5 x 7.7 mm

185 g / 6.53 Oz

2. Motorola Moto Z2 Force:

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NetworkGSM / HSPA / LTE
Platform Android 7.1.1 Nougat OS

Update for Android 8.0 Oreo is about to release

Qualcomm MSM 8998 Snapdragon 835 Chipset

Octa Core CPU [4 @ 2.35 GHz, 4 @ 1.9 GHz]

Adreno 540 GPU

Memory 64 GB / 128 GB internal storage

Expandable up to 256 GB with dedicated card slot

4 GB / 6 GB RAM

Camera Dual 12 MP primary, f/2.0, ½.9” sensor size, 1.25 um pixel size

5 MP secondary, f/2.2, dual tone LED flash

Camera Features Laser + Phase detection autofocus, Dual tone LED flash, Geo-tagging, Touch focus, Face detection, HDR, Panorama
Video Resolution2160p @ 30 fps

1080p @ 30 / 60 / 120 fps

720p @ 240 fps

Display P-OLED Capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors

5.5 inches / 83.4 cm2

1440 x 2560 resolution with 16:9 aspect ratio

534ppi pixel density

Multitouch support, shatterproof protection

Battery  2730 mAh battery capacity

Non-removable Lithium-ion battery

ConnectivityDual-band Wi-Fi  802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot

Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE, AptX

[Bluetooth 5.0 upgradable]

GPS with A-GPS technology

NFC connectivity

Type C 1.0 USB reversible Connector

USB on the go with magnetic connector

Sensors Fingerprint on the rear, Accelerometer, Gyroscope sensor, Proximity Sensor, Compass Barometer
Body  155.8 x 76 x 6.1 mm

143 g / 5.04 Oz

3. Xiaomi Mi Max 2:

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NetworkGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
Platform Android 7.1.1 Nougat OS

Qualcomm MSM 8953 Snapdragon 625 Chipset

Octa Core CPU [2.0 GHz Cortex A53]

Adreno 506 GPU

Memory 32 GB / 64 GB / 128 GB internal storage

Expandable up to 256 GB with dedicated card slot

4 GB RAM

Camera 12 MP primary, f/2.2, ½.9” sensor, 1.25 um pixel

5 MP secondary with f/2.0 aperture

Camera Features Phase detection autofocus, Dual tone LED flash, Geo-tagging, Touch focus, Face detection, HDR, Panorama
Video Resolution2160p @ 30 fps

720p @ 120 fps

Display IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors

6.44 inches / 114.3 cm2

1080 x 1920 resolution with 16:9 aspect ratio

342ppi pixel density

Multitouch support

Corning gorilla glass 3 protection

Battery  5300 mAh battery capacity

Non-removable lithium – ion battery

ConnectivityDual-Band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Hotspot

Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP, LE

GPS with GLONASS, BDS, A-GPS

Infrared port, FM radio

Type C 1.0 USB reversible connector

Sensors Fingerprint on rear, accelerometer, gyroscope sensor, proximity sensor, compass
Body  174.1 x 88.7 x 7.6 mm

211 g / 7.44 Oz

4. Huawei Honor 6X:

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NetworkGSM / HSPA / LTE
Platform Android OS 6.0 Marshmallow, upgradable to Android 7.0 Nougat

Hi-Silicon Kirin 655 Chipset

Octa Core CPU [4 @ 2.1 GHz Cortex A53, 4 @ 1.7 GHz Cortex A53]

Mali T830MP2 GPU

Memory 32 GB / 64 GB internal storage

Expandable up to 256 GB with dedicated card slot

3 GB / 4 GB RAM

Camera 12MP + 2MP primary, ½.9” sensor, 1.25 um pixel

8 MP secondary with 1080p max resolution

Camera Features Phase detection autofocus, LED Flash, Geo Tagging, Touch focus, Face detection, HDR, Panorama
Video Resolution1080p @ 30 fps
Display LTPS IPS LCD Capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors, Multitouch support

5.5 inches / 82.6  cm2

1080 x 1920 resolution with 16:9 aspect ratio

403ppi pixel density

Battery  3340 mAh battery capacity

Nonremovable Lithium-ion battery

ConnectivityWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot

Bluetooth 4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE

GPS with GLONASS, BDS, A-GPS

FM radio, Micro USB 2.0

Sensors Fingerprint sensor on rear, accelerometer, proximity sensor, compass
Body  150.9 x 76.2 x 8.2 mm

1662 g / 5.71 Oz

5. Huawei Nova:

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NetworkGSM / HSPA / LTE
Platform Android OS 6.0.1 Marshmallow

Upgradable to Android 7.0 Nougat

Qualcomm MSM 8953 Snapdragon 625 Chipset

Octa Core CPU [2.0 GHz Cortex A53]

Adreno 506 GPU

Memory 32 GB internal storage

Expandable up to 256 GB, uses sim 2 slot

3 GB RAM

Camera 12 MP primary, 1/2.9” sensor size, 1.25 um pixel

8 MP secondary camera

Camera Features Phase detection autofocus, LED Flash, Geo-tagging, Touch focus, Face detection, HDR, Panorama
Video Resolution2160p @ 30 fps
Display IPS LCD Capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors

5.0 inches / 68.9 cm2

1080 x 1920 resolution with 16:9 aspect ratio

441ppi pixel density

Multitouch support

Battery  3020 mAh battery capacity

Nonremovable Lithium Polymer Battery

ConnectivityWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot

Bluetooth 4.1, A2DP, LE

GPS with GLONASS, A-GPS

NFC connectivity, FM Radio

Type C 1.0 reversible USB connector

Sensors Fingerprint sensor on rear, accelerometer, Gyroscope sensor, Proximity sensor, compass
Body  141.2 x 69.1 x 7.1 mm

146 g / 5.15 oz

Smartphones with Exmor RS IMX378:

The Google Pixel is said to have one of the best smartphone cameras of 2016 flagships. Google choose the IMX378 on these devices and the results are outstanding for a phone camera. Let’s check out the phones which uses this sensor.

1. Google Pixel:

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NetworkGSM / HSPA / LTE
Platform Android OS 7.1 Nougat

Upgradable to Android 8.0 Oreo

Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 821

Quad Quad-Core 2.15 GHz, 2 @ 1.6 GHz) CPU

Adreno 530 GPU

Memory 32/128 GB Internal Storage

4 GB RAM

Camera 12.3 MP primary, 1.55 um pixel, f/2.0, ½.3” sensor

8 MP secondary, f/2.4, 1/3.2” sensor, 1.4 um pixel

Camera Features Phase detection, Laser autofocus, Dual LED flash, Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR, Panorama
Video Resolution2160p at 30 fps

1080p at 30/60/120 fps

720pgeo-tagging

Display AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with 16 M colors

5.0 inches / 68.9 CM2

1080 x 1920 resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio

441ppi density

Corning gorilla glass 4 protection

Multitouch support

Battery  Non removable 2770 mAh battery

456 Hours standby

26 hours talk time

110 hours music play

ConnectivityDual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Hotspot

Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX

GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS

NFC

USB 3.0 Type C 1.0 reversible connector

Sensors Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Compass, Barometer
Body  143.8 x 69.5 x 8.5mm

143 g / 5.04 Oz

2. Google Pixel XL:

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NetworkGSM / HSPA / LTE
Platform Android OS 7.1 Nougat

Upgradable to Android OS 8.0 Oreo

Qualcomm SM8996 Snapdragon 821 Chipset

Quad-Core CPU [2 @ 2.15 GHz, 2 @ 1.6 GHz]

Adreno 530 GPU

Memory 32 / 128 GB internal storage

4 GB RAM

Camera 12.3 MP primary, f/2.0, 1/2.3” sensor, 1.55 um pixel

8 MP secondary, f/2.4, 1/3.2” sensor, 1.4 um pixel

Camera Features Phase detection, laser autofocus, dual LED flash, Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR, Panorama
Video Resolution2160p at 30 fps

1080p at 30/60/120 fps

720p at 240 fps

Display AMOLED capacitive screen with 16M colors

5.5 inches / 83.4 cm2

1440 x 2560 resolution with 16:9 aspect ratio

534ppi pixel density, Multitouch support

Corning gorilla glass 4

Battery  3450 mAh non-removable Li-ion battery

552 hours standby

32 hours talk time

130 hours music play

ConnectivityDual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Hotspot

Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP, LE, AptX

GPS with GLONASS, A-GPS

NFC function

USB 3.0, type C reversible connector

Sensors Fingerprint, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass, barometer
Body  154.7 x 75.7 x 8.5 mm

168 g / 5.93 oz

3. Xiaomi Mi 5s:

Buy From Amazon Buy From Newegg

NetworkGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
Platform Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS

Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 821 chipset

Quad-Core CPU [2 @ 2.15 GHz, 2 @ 1.6 GHz]

Adreno 530 GPU

Memory 64 GB / 128 GB internal storage

3 GB / 4 GB RAM

No memory card slot

Camera 12 MP primary, f/2.0, ½.3” sensor, 1.55um pixel

4 MP secondary, f/2.0, 1/3” sensor, 2 um pixel

Camera Features Phase detection-tagging, Dual tone LED flash, geo-tagging, touch focus, face-smile detection, panorama, auto HDR
Video Resolution2160p @ 30fps

1080p @ 120fps

Display IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors

5.15 inches / 73.1 cm2

1080 x 1920 resolution with 16:9 aspect ratio

428ppi pixel density

Multitouch support

Battery  3200 mAh Li-ion battery

Non removable

ConnectivityDual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Hotspot

Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP, LE, AptX

GPS with GLONASS, A-GPS

NFC function

USB 3.0, type C reversible connector

Sensors Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Compass, Barometer
Body  145.6 x 70.3 x 8.3 mm

145 g / 5.11 Oz

4. Blackberry KeyOne:

Buy From Amazon Buy From Newegg

NetworkGSM / HSPA / LTE
Platform Android OS 7.1 Nougat

Qualcomm MSM8953 Snapdragon 625 chipset

Octa Core 2.0 GHz Cortex A53 CPU

Adreno 506 GPU

Memory 32 GB / 64 GB internal storage

3 GB / 4 GB of RAM

Camera 12 MP primary, f/2.0, ½.3” sensor, 1.55 um pixel

8 MP secondary, f/2.2, 1.12 um pixel

Camera Features Phase detection autofocus, Dual tone LED flash, Geo-tagging, Touch focus, Face detection, HDR, Panorama
Video Resolution2160p @ 30 fps
Display IPS LCD Capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors

4.5 inches / 60.3 cm2

1080 x 1620 resolution with 3:2 aspect ratio

433ppi pixel density

Multitouch support

Corning gorilla glass 3 protection

Battery  3505 mAh Battery capacity

Lithium-ion non-removable battery

ConnectivityDual-Band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot

Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP, LE, EDR

GPS with GLONASS, BDS2, A-GPS

NFC connectivity, FM Radio

USB 3.1 Type C reversible connector

USB on-the-go

Sensors Fingerprint Sensor, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Proximity sensor, Compass
Body  149.1 x 72.4 x 9.4 mm

180 g / 6.35 Oz

Conclusion:

We hope you like our article on Sony IMX386 vs IMX378 imaging sensors comparison. For feedback and suggestions, please use the comment section down below.

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4 Comments

  1. Hi,

    Thank you for the nice article.
    Is there any source of information about IMX386 and IMX378 sensors? maybe a Sony news article or specification file?

    Thanks.

    1. You can check it out from their official site here:
      http://www.sony-semicon.co.jp/products_en/IS/sensor1/

    2. You can check it out from their official website : http://www.sony-semicon.co.jp/products_en/IS/sensor1/

      1. Thanks Indrajit for the link. However, I already checked their website for IMX386 and IMX378 specifically, I couldn’t find any info. I think I will try to contact them.

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