‘Reimaging the future’ with OPPO’s MariSilicon X

Smartphone imaging technology has now developed to a point in which lightweight and thin form-factor becomes a major challenge. There has been a significant increase in customer demand for more compact devices causing restrictions on components such as sensors and lenses, which generally deliver better performance. Therefore, to introduce another leap in smartphone imaging technology, a new approach is needed.

“To make a real leap in smartphone imaging, we must start by optimising the entire imaging processing pipeline,” states OPPO, a global technology company that believes that imaging technology performance is not solely tied to any particular component or innovation.

Revolutionising this arena and based on the users’ needs, OPPO has designed its first-ever dedicated imaging neural processing unit (NPU) – the MariSilicon X, which takes its inspiration from the world’s deepest trench, Mariana. “We wanted to keep reminding ourselves that there’s never an end in designing the best products for users,” explained a company spokesperson.

“The arrival of MariSilicon X supplements our previous lack of controllable image processor, and we are now able to achieve vertical integration of the entire image processing pipeline, bringing users a revolutionary imaging experience,” added the company’s spokesperson.

MariSilicon X’s technical advantages
MariSilicon X is an imaging NPU that is built on a 6nm process technology. It is the most advanced imaging engine in the market, supporting up to 4K resolution video with HDR AI night video, live previews, RAW domain processing and enhanced RGBW Pro Mode. Furthermore, it delivers artificial intelligence (AI) video processing speeds 20 times faster than its counterparts, at four times the resolution, and all in lossless RAW (uncompressed and unprocessed image data) format.

It also delivers 18 trillion operations per second of processing speed while consuming just 11.6 trillion operations per second per watt. When running the same AI noise reduction algorithm for videos, the Reno8 Pro 5G with MariSilicon X can achieve the same results, but with its power efficiency increased 11.16 times compared with the Reno7 Pro 5G. MariSilicon X’s powerful ISP enables 4K ultra HDR video to be captured with a 20bit, 120db dynamic range, delivering images with and a contrast level of one million to one between the image’s brightest and darkest parts.

With its multi-tier memory architecture, it ensures a consistent flow of data between the NPU and ISP. This helps to minimise delay and reduce power consumption from repeated read-write cycles for faster and more efficient processing. Thanks to its large computing power and high data throughput, MariSilicon X revolutionises the image processing pipeline to achieve real-time processing in the RAW domain at the pixel level. This real-time lossless RAW processing brings a higher quality image with an 8dB signal-to-noise ratio improvement.

Offering premium user experiences
OPPO has consistently upped its game and stayed a step ahead in implementing merging technologies to cater to the ever-evolving requirements of the users. The brand recently launched the all-new Reno8 Pro 5G, which features the brand’s self-designed NPU – MariSilicon X. Its powerful image processing capabilities showcase great camera features to help users shoot ultra-clear, stunning visual content both during the day and at night.

“We added the self-developed MariSilicon X imaging NPU to the Reno8 Pro 5G aiming to bring the camera performance to a new level. Users can now take better portraits with rich details even in dark environments. Looking into the future, OPPO will continue to focus on exploring new possibilities in imaging through both hardware and software advancements. The Reno series will further explore the possibilities of portrait imaging and image quality to bring more professional portraits to users around the world,” said OPPO.

Going above and beyond, the Reno8 Pro 5G aims to deliver perfection across every aspect allowing users to create countless unforgettable moments in portrait. With the support of MariSilicon X, OPPO’s Reno 8 Pro 5G aims to capture brighter photos and videos with rich details even in dark environments. At OPPO, the customer always comes first, and their requirements remain a core priority. OPPO aims to transform the ordinary into extraordinary by providing customers with path-breaking technological innovations.