vivo reveals 6nm V3 chip in China

The 2023 vivo Imaging Conference’s Special Event was held by vivo today in Xining, China, where a variety of advancements in imaging technology were on display. The company revealed the V3 chip, a cutting-edge 6nm customized V3 chip, as well as the most recent algorithmic technology. Furthermore, vivo unveiled a periscope lens that was created in collaboration with ZEISS to meet the new “Vario-Apo-Sonnar” criteria. The 2023 VISION+ Mobile PhotoAwards winners were also revealed by vivo at the ceremony, with Jiehan Herry Saputro’s “Let Me Fly” from Indonesia winning Best Photograph of the Year.

The event brought together Yu Meng, Vice President of vivo Imaging, Li Zhuo, Senior Director of vivo Imaging Products, Sebastian Döntgen, Head of Category Management, Marketing and Sales, ZEISS Consumer Products, Zhang Yan, Product Manager of vivo Imaging Performance, visual artists Gao Yuan and Duan Yueheng, Song Wen, Founder of FIRST International Film Festival, and Bertram Hönlinger, ZEISS Expert of Photography, to discuss the state of technological advancement.

“At vivo, we are committed to advancing ‘human-centric professional imaging’. To this end, we continuously enhance our expertise across optics, computing, and algorithm foundations to build imaging capabilities comparable to professional photography equipment. We aim to deliver the user experience of recreating what the human eye can see and make professional-grade imaging capabilities more accessible for everyone. In the future, vivo will stay committed to creating the best imaging technology and help users record life’s most precious moments,” said Mr. Yu Meng.

In an era when everyone is capable of creating content, vivo has made a commitment to providing excellent user experiences with cutting-edge mobile imaging technologies. Vivo continues to make efforts to further develop its image technology strengths while improving the experience of users in any situation, from utilizing industry-leading imaging chips and algorithms to pushing technological limits in collaboration with other industry leaders.

Unveiling the latest V3 chip and algorithm technology

The company’s most recent V3 chip uses a 6nm manufacturing process and features second-generation Frame Info Tunneling (FIT) technology and a newly created multi-concurrent AI-ISP architecture. By enabling 4K cinema-like bokeh, automatic subject focus recognition and switching, cinema-like skin optimization, and cinematic color processing, the technology improvement provides a better user experience. As a result, vivo is the first manufacturer of Android phones to offer 4K cinema-quality portrait video with post-processing capabilities.

vivo has announced a composite algorithm matrix solution in addition to the release of the new V3 processor. With the help of three sub-modules—the Color Restoration Engine, Ultra HD Engine, and Accelerated Computing Engine—the company’s new vivo Origin Imaging Engine (VOIE) improves image quality, color, tone, and computing functionality. Based on typical portrait and night scene user scenarios, vivo also created the Hyper-Sense Portrait System and Vast-Sky Night System. In order to guarantee the finest shooting experience under different circumstances, vivo has also been consistently improving its algorithmic matrix and technological capabilities.

Building a prosperous image ecosystem with joint innovation

The long-standing collaboration between vivo and optical pioneer ZEISS has produced innovative developments for the X series, showing from generation to generation how ZEISS technology and trademark optical designs were adapted for vivo’s flagships. Just two examples include the recognizable ZEISS Style Portrait and the ZEISS T* coating for more accurate optical quality.

In conjunction with ZEISS, vivo revealed a periscope lens design that adheres to the new “Vario-Apo-Sonnar” specifications at the event. In terms of chromatic aberration control, APO design is regarded as having the highest level in the industry. For the first time ever, the APO design will be transferred to a mobile imaging system, improving a high performance zoom quality.

Using the periscope lens’s floating lens group technology to its fullest potential, the company hopes to deliver ultra-high resolution and improved focusing capabilities so that customers can successfully complete their macro photography projects. It also features a creamy bokeh effect, which allows the subject to be highlighted more.

The T* Coating is ZEISS’s own anti-reflective coating technique for optical surfaces. The co-engineered rear camera system in the vivo X series has met ZEISS T* Coating compliance and greatly reduced undesirable lens flares in photos in difficult lighting conditions like at night, with strong backlighting, and with complicated light sources.

To further improve image quality and lower center reflectivity from 0.2% to 0.1% on the visible light spectrum, ZEISS T* Coating for vivo’s future X series flagship model will be fitted with Multi-ALD technology. The reflectivity will be lowered by 50% in comparison to the previous generation of ALC coating.

Being user-oriented is a shared belief between vivo and ZEISS, along with new product development and joint research. The 2023 VISION+ Mobile PhotoAwards will be co-hosted by ZEISS and vivo as part of their commitment to expanding their partnership.

“At ZEISS, we have photography in our DNA. To invite and enable even more users worldwide to enjoy creativity through cutting-edge smartphone image technology, it was a logical step for us to co-organize the 2023 VISION+ Mobile PhotoAwards with vivo. The impressive results that we were able to experience again this year are a great acknowledgment of our partnership on imaging aspects,” said by Sebastian Döntgen, Head of Category Management, Marketing and Sales in ZEISS Consumer Products.

For its X80 series, vivo has revealed a close partnership with MediaTek. In the future, vivo intends to collaborate with Sony on technologies like 2-layer pixels (stack pixels) and HDR. In order to achieve technological advancements and a more varied and open mobile imaging ecosystem, vivo will actively extend collaborative innovation research by working with more industrial partners, educational institutions like ETH Zurich, and other universities.

Creating professional portraits and the ultimate night scene experiences

vivo has developed a distinctive portrait style that combines natural skin tones, clear texture, and a harmony of genuine and artificial elements across device iterations. Additionally, the company is still researching and developing 3D portrait technologies, including virtual content and 3D facial restoration.

To do this, vivo has resorted to its imaging laboratory platform to set up a 3D image laboratory with an original cinema-like optical field technology, capable of reconstructing complex 3D models of human faces and delivering incredibly lifelike visual effects in virtual surroundings. The company’s 3D models accomplish precise face expressions, body postures, and gestures based on knowledge learned from previous products and real-world business situations.

Various portrait special effects, generative portrait editing, and generative portrait style are the three user scenarios for which these technologies have been designed. Users will be able to snap images that blend real and virtual effects, edit photos using texture reconstruction and lighting estimation techniques, and freely alter lighting, hair, and face expressions.

For shooting landscapes, vivo has improved its technical skills in terms of image quality, tone, and color. The updated Vast-Sky Night System was created to provide the most efficient solution for night scenes at all focal lengths while also enhancing image quality. All professional imaging needs for all focal lengths are addressed by the improved SuperRAW technology’s exclusive parameter modification capabilities.

In addition to adding a True Color Night model powered by AI learning to the Night Sky Imaging System, vivo has also launched VOIE as a foundation. A full night HDR solution has been implemented to address viewing concerns in preview, shooting, and display modes. This improvement enables adaptive tone and color modifications for night images, as well as for night situations with strong contrast. The updated XDR Photo 2.0 also includes a technique for maintaining the color of highlights in low-light conditions from sources with high dynamic range and saturation. As a result, the night scene stays intact and the overexposure for highlights is improved without affecting the light source’s color performance.

vivo will collaborate with Adobe, Apple, and Google in the future to improve HDR picture standardization and address the inconsistent HDR photo display on various devices, making it the only Chinese firm involved in the creation of the IOS standards for HDR images.

The vivo team has introduced a variety of vibrant and customized colors in addition to the company’s original, characteristic colors and ZEISS Natural Color, drawing influence from vintage photographic methods, vintage movies, and classic artwork.

2023 vivo VISION+ Mobile PhotoAwards Winners

The winners of this year’s VISION+ Mobile PhotoAwards were also revealed by vivo at this year’s Imaging Conference Special Event. The Best Photograph of the Year title was given to Jiehan Herry Saputro’s “Let Me Fly” photograph. A total of six award categories were also featured in the competition: news, photo series, motion, night, portrait, and landscape. Additionally, the X90 Series Best Photograph Award and the ZEISS Professional Imaging Award were announced.

Nearly one million entries from more than 40 nations and regions have been submitted to the VISION+ Mobile PhotoAwards program since its first introduction in 2020. Among the many nations and territories that submitted this year were India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and many others.

Note: Please be aware that some of the features and technologies mentioned in this press release may currently only be available in the Chinese Mainland market. The availability of certain capabilities and functions may vary depending on your location.