New Metalenz technology could improve smartphone cameras and replace color filters

The American company Metalenz has acquired the Israeli startup PxE Holographic Imaging, which developed the HoloCoder technology. The new optical system could become an alternative to traditional Bayer color filters, which have been used in smartphone cameras since 1974.

A conventional filter allows only light of a specific color to reach the sensor, absorbing the remaining wavelengths. As a result, about 60% of incoming light is lost. HoloCoder operates differently: its microscopic structure refracts light and directs it straight onto the sensor's pixels. According to the developers, this enables the camera to capture up to 2.5 times more light.

The technology is also capable of simultaneously collecting depth information from a scene. Currently, smartphones use additional cameras, depth sensors, or artificial intelligence algorithms to determine the distance to objects. Combining these functions into a single layer could simplify device design and reduce computational load.

Metalenz specializes in nanostructured optics that control light without traditional multi-layered lenses. The company has already supplied over 300 million such optical components for consumer electronics.

The commercial debut of HoloCoder in devices is expected in late 2027 or early 2028. In the future, Metalenz is also considering integrating this development with its own technologies to capture color information, depth data, and light polarization using a single sensor.