CMOS Image Sensor Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

CMOS Image Sensor Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The Global CMOS Image Sensors Market size is expected to grow from USD 21.33 billion in 2023 to USD 30.08 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 7.12% during the forecast period (2023-2028).

With the rising demand for high-definition image-capturing devices in various industries, CMOS technology has witnessed a high adoption rate, providing a faster shutter speed while delivering high-quality images.

Key Highlights

• Early CMOS sensor chips produced worse images with more noise because they lacked optimized components, and each individual pixel had to do its own complex conversion from light to image. In the decades following its invention, Japanese companies found that CMOS technology was mainly useful for the small integrated chips needed in gadgets like handheld calculators and wristwatches rather than cameras.
• The major factor driving the growth of the global CMOS image sensors market is the increasing demand for smartphones. The expanded utilization of smartphone cameras with image sensors has helped the consumer electronics industry. For smartphone producers, the expanding popularity of cell phone photography has become a significant consideration in utilizing natural image sensors. These organizations produce smartphones with up to five cameras in a solitary gadget. CMOS image sensors can be found in various devices, including laptops, smartphones, and digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras.
• Furthermore, with the integration of cameras into smartphones, image capturing has increased significantly, along with the growing smartphone penetration rate. These factors are set to drive the market for image sensors. With the rising demand for high-definition image-capturing devices in industries, CMOS technology has witnessed a high adoption rate.
• The image sensor's dimensions also drive the demand for security cameras because the dimensions impact the security camera's field of view for a given lens and light sensitivity. As the CMOS image sensors basics offer faster speed with lower power consumption, most security camera systems use this image sensor, thus driving the demand.
• The electronics and semiconductor industries suffered significantly due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Due to the increase in COVID-19 cases, businesses and manufacturing facilities across many countries closed down. This trend was predicted to continue in 2021. Additionally, a partial or total lockdown disrupted the world's supply chain, making it harder for manufacturers to reach customers. The entire production process suffered a setback. However, the global CMOS image sensors market was anticipated to advance with the growth of the medical and life sciences sector.
• Moreover, image sensors are also significantly used in a large number of imaging devices used in industrial, media, medical, and consumer applications. Initially, Japanese companies found that CMOS technology to be mainly useful for the small integrated chips needed in gadgets such as handheld calculators and wrist watches rather than cameras. Recognizing that potential, Fossum founded the Photobit Corporation in 1995 to commercialize the product, which received huge market validation when American chip giant Micron Technology acquired his company in late 2001. Because the mass adoption of CMOS came in the late 2000s, Chinese players have been able to leapfrog into a more mature technology to catch up.

CMOS Image Sensor Market Trends

Growing Implementation of CMOS Image Sensors in the Consumer Electronics Segment Occupies the Largest Market Share

• The consumer electronics industry is constantly evolving and proliferating. The sector has witnessed several new products and developments, which have led to huge investments and innovation. CMOS image sensors are primarily used in digital cameras, and many imaging devices include consumer and industrial applications and security and surveillance. Due to the rapid growth in cameras, camcorders, mobile phones, and security cameras, the CMOS image sensors market is witnessing significant growth in consumer electronics.
• The CMOS image sensors are improving gradually and moving toward higher-level performance with better integration capabilities and cost advantages. For instance, smartphones have a camera, music playback facilities, and wireless connectivity. All these features in all-in-one devices are becoming popular, increasing the production volume of CMOS image sensors.
• According to GSMA's report on "The Mobile Economy 2022", the unique mobile subscribers were reported to be 5.3 billion by the end of 2021 and are expected to reach 5.7 billion by 2025. The insatiable demand for high-resolution smartphone cameras bolsters the market studied.
• The growing popularity of sharing pictures through social media through smartphones instead of carrying digital cameras is not indicating the increase in demand for CMOS image sensors. However, it is also supporting the manufacturers to launch imaging products of better quality.

Americas to Witness Significant Rate of Shipment Volume of CMOS Image Sensors during the Forecast Period

• CMOS image sensors have many applications, including automobiles, consumer electronics, aerospace, medical devices, military equipment, and aerospace. With the growth in advanced technologies in the Americas, demand for CMOS image sensors is estimated to increase during the forecast period.
• The increasing need for high-quality images and the availability of different types of sensors used in tablets, handsets, and motion-based image sensor applications is increasing as sensors become more elegant and sophisticated. Handheld devices with these facilities have accuracy well matched for novel applications, including augmented reality, gaming, and motion-based web browsing. These are the key drivers making the US image sensor market grow lucratively.
• The growing adoption of CMOS image sensors across the United States is due to the strong presence of the consumer electronics market, fueling the usage of mobile camera modules and other portable devices at a high rate. For instance, in January 2022, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) predicted U.S. consumer technology retail revenue to reach a record USD 505 billion, a 2.8% year-over-year (YOY) growth. This included sales from standard consumer electronics revenue powerhouses, including smartphones, wearable tech, and smart homes, and revenue from emerging technologies, such as connected fitness equipment and streaming services, particularly gaming.
• The smartphone has become the primary camera device in consumer electronics, dominating cameras and DSLRs. Heavy competition in the smartphone segment has driven manufacturers to provide better cameras to have an edge, resulting in high investments in technology innovations in this field. With the increase in image sensor devices in biometrics, medical, and film cameras by vehicle driver assistance systems, security and surveillance devices are expected to have a substantial market in the future. Moreover, drones are widely used in countries such as the United States to conduct surveys, and manufacturers are constantly looking for cameras that can capture images from altitude. Cameras with high megapixel resolution and small sensor sizes can be subject to image diffraction effects.
• Latin America has witnessed significant economic progress in recent years due to the growth of manufacturing, automotive, consumer electronics, etc. This has had a notable impact on the spending capability and lifestyle of the population. According to the United Nations Regional Commission estimates, South America is expected to grow by 0.6% in 2023, and the group made up of Central America, and Mexico is expected to expand by 2.0%, and the Caribbean (without including Guyana) will be growing by 3.5% compared to 5.8% in 2022. The overall growth has significantly driven the demand for various products wherein CMOS sensors are used, including smartphones, cameras, automobiles, etc.
• The automotive industry of the Latin American region has grown significantly, with several global players setting up their manufacturing bases in the area. Thus, there has been a growing demand for CMOS image sensors owing to the rising deployment of ADAS in the automotive sector.

CMOS Image Sensor Industry Overview

The global CMOS image sensors market is highly competitive because most leading brands are developing new technologies and engaging in fierce competition. Brand identity plays a huge role in the market studied. The established players have an edge over the competition due to huge brand equity. Significant players include STMicroelectronics NV, Sony Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, and ON Semiconductor Corporation. Some of the recent developments in the market are:

In April 2023, Lucid Vision Labs announced the launch of a new Atlas10 camera with a 65MP Gpixel GMAX3265 image sensor. The Gpixel GMAX3265 CMOS image sensor provides 9,344 (H) x 7,000 (V) charge global shutter pixels along with ultra-low read noise of <2e, >70dB dynamic range, and 1e-/p/s dark current at room temperature.

In January 2023, ams OSRAM announced the extension of its Mira family of pipelined, high-sensitivity, global shutter CMOS image sensors with the launch of the 2.3mm x 2.8mm, 0.5Mpixel Mira050. Highly sensitive to visible and near-infrared (NIR) light, the Mira050 enables engineering designers to save space and power in wearable and mobile devices. The Mira050 is suitable for applications such as eye tracking, gesture tracking, and contextual awareness in AR/VR/MR headsets, object detection in robots, and 3D depth sensing for face recognition in smart door locks.

In June 2022, Samsung Electronics introduced the 200MP ISOCELL HP3, the image sensor with the industry's smallest 0.56-micrometer-pixels. With a 12% smaller pixel size than the predecessor's 0.64μm, this sensor packed 200 million pixels in a 1/1.4' optical format, the diameter of the area captured through the camera lens. Additionally, the sensor came with a Super QPD auto-focusing solution, which equips all the sensor's pixels with auto-focusing capabilities.

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