Korean media outlet Elec is developing a new ultra-thin lens technology that LG says could also be applied to phone cameras. Called Metalense, these cameras avoid the bulky glass or plastic frames that in modern phones represent the bulk of the camera sticking out of the phones.

Metalens is basically an ultra-thin flat structure with nanoparticles dispersed within it, capable of changing shape and focusing light like regular lenses, but with the important caveat that the entire set can be made down to a micron thick. together with academic research institutions, it is developing a micro lens that is 1/10,000th the thickness of a conventional lens that can be used wherever micro cameras are needed. LG Innotek CEO, the company’s “applying an ultra-thin lens by replacing the refractive lens with a flat metasurface. For this purpose, the development of the preformed structure of the metasurface and the optimal design of the arrangement of the unit structure should be made.“.

Modern phone camera lenses, especially those with large sensors on the bottom like the one on the new Xiaomi 12s Ultra, tend to stick out. Even varifocal liquid lenses are just a bag of liquid inside, but still huge compared to Metalens’ promises.

If LG manages to commercialize its metalens research, we’ll likely get much thinner phone cameras that are flush with the back surface to reduce the ever-increasing weight of our giant phones.

Samsung has also confirmed that it is working on metalense, so there may soon be real competition in this space that will only benefit mortal users. Source