American optics company Metalenz has acquired Israeli startup PxE Holographic Imaging to commercialize an alternative to the traditional Bayer color filter. The new HoloCoder technology redirects light waves directly onto image sensor pixels instead of absorbing them, boosting incoming light by up to 2.5 times. Metalenz projects the first consumer devices featuring the optical hardware will arrive by late 2027 or early 2028.
Traditional Bayer color filters have controlled digital camera sensors since the 1970s. These filters separate red, green, and blue light components, but they absorb roughly 60% of all incoming light before it reaches the sensor. HoloCoder replaces this absorption layer with a microscopic optical structure placed directly above the silicon. Rather than blocking unwanted wavelengths, this optical layer bends and redirects incoming light waves toward their intended pixels. Capturing up to 2.5 times more light expands the exposure range for nighttime photography and sharpens low light video capture.
HoloCoder also calculates spatial depth directly from incoming light data. This eliminates the need for standalone depth sensors or laser autofocus modules, shrinking the physical footprint of smartphone camera setups. Metalenz chief executive Rob Devlin confirmed the company is targeting consumer hardware integration between late 2027 and early 2028. The design cuts component counts while improving low light picture clarity across future mobile hardware.
Source: wired
