The IMX828 is described as the industry’s first CMOS image sensor for automotive applications to integrate a MIPI A-PHY interface, combining high dynamic range performance, low power consumption and system-level efficiency benefits for next-generation vehicle cameras.
Atsugi, Japan, October 28, 2025.
Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (“Sony”) announced the upcoming release of the IMX828, a CMOS image sensor for automotive applications that it describes as the industry’s first to feature a built-in MIPI A-PHY high-speed transmission interface. According to Sony, this product integrates the interface directly into the image sensor, eliminating the need for an externally mounted serializer that was required in previous models. Sony stated that this approach enables a more compact automotive camera module, supports a streamlined thermal design and reduces overall power consumption.
The IMX828 is specified as an approximately 8.34-effective-megapixel sensor (3848 × 2168), in a 1/1.7-type (9.28 mm diagonal) format with 2.1 μm unit cell size. Sony stated that the sensor delivers what it calls the industry’s highest level of high dynamic range (HDR) performance for automotive CMOS image sensors, supporting up to 150 dB maximum HDR while maintaining stable noise characteristics even in high-temperature environments up to a 125°C junction temperature. The device supports up to 45 frames per second at full resolution.
Sony said the IMX828 is designed to address high-bandwidth, low-latency and reliability requirements between in-vehicle cameras and electronic control units (ECUs). The company said its proprietary error handling circuit makes the sensor highly resistant to transmission errors caused by external noise. Sony also highlighted enhanced recognition of high-luminance objects such as red LEDs and traffic signals, noting that improved HDR performance delivers “exponential improvements” in recognizing bright, high-luminance subjects.
The sensor includes a low-power parking surveillance function that can monitor a parked vehicle by detecting moving subjects at very low power draw. In this surveillance mode, the sensor captures images in low resolution and at a low frame rate to keep consumption under 100 mW; when motion is detected, it can notify the ECU and shift to normal imaging mode. Sony stated that this is intended to help reduce the risk of theft and vandalism.
Sony also emphasized automotive safety, reliability and security compliance. The company said it plans to obtain AEC-Q100 Grade 2 automotive reliability testing standard certification before mass production. Sony stated that the IMX828 is designed to comply with ISO 26262 functional safety requirements, with hardware metrics aligned to ASIL-B and the development process aligned to ASIL-D. The sensor also supports security functions such as camera verification using a public key algorithm, image tamper detection and authenticated communication, and was developed in accordance with the ISO/SAE 21434 road vehicle cybersecurity engineering standard.
According to Sony, the IMX828 will begin sample shipments in November 2025. Sony further stated that it is considering additional products with other built-in high-speed transmission standards beyond MIPI A-PHY, describing its approach as a flexible, open-standard interface strategy intended to support future generations of vehicle-mounted cameras. The company said this press release is based on results from a project under the Green Innovation Fund, subsidized by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), focused on in-vehicle computing and sensor systems for energy savings in electric vehicles.
Analyst Note: Sony is positioning the IMX828 not only as a high-dynamic-range, low-power automotive image sensor but also as a way to simplify in-vehicle camera system design by integrating the MIPI A-PHY interface directly into the sensor and targeting recognized automotive safety, reliability and cybersecurity standards.