Metalenz Acquires Israeli Startup PxE Imaging to Revolutionize Smartphone Cameras
American optics firm Metalenz has acquired Israeli startup PxE Imaging, developer of HoloCoder. The optical technology promises to transmit up to 2.5 times more light to smartphone camera sensors, revolutionizing low-light photography and depth sensing.
A small startup based in Rehovot, Israel, is poised to reshape mobile photography by addressing a fundamental limitation in digital cameras that dates back more than 50 years. American optics firm Metalenz announced the acquisition of Israeli imaging startup PxE Imaging, developer of the innovative HoloCoder technology.
Founded in 2018 by Yoav Berletsy and Yanir Hainik, PxE Imaging raised approximately $6.5 million in funding from investors including the venture arm of German pharmaceutical giant Merck and Koch Disruptive Technologies. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Traditional digital cameras rely on the Bayer color filter, a technology developed in 1974 that separates light into red, green, and blue components while blocking up to 60% of incoming light in the process. The Israeli innovation replaces this traditional filter with an ultra-thin optical layer that routes light waves directly to the camera sensor instead of absorbing them.
According to Metalenz, this method transmits up to 2.5 times more light to the sensor. The technological advancement promises sharper low-light photography, reduced digital noise, and superior night shots without relying exclusively on software-based image processing.
Beyond low-light performance, the technology simultaneously captures depth information alongside color data. This capability enhances accuracy in portrait modes by creating more natural background blur and potentially eliminating the need for dedicated depth sensors in future devices.
Metalenz already collaborates with chip giant Qualcomm to develop Polar ID, a facial recognition system designed to compete with Apple Face ID. The American company reports having shipped over 300 million optical components for consumer electronics to date, though these shipments do not yet incorporate the newly acquired Israeli technology.
Speaking to industry publication Wired, Metalenz CEO Rob Devlin estimated that the technology could reach consumer products by late 2027 or early 2028. No specific smartphone manufacturer has yet announced commercial integration, and independent benchmark results on a commercial device remain pending.
While industry competitors such as Samsung are actively researching alternative methods to improve light capture in mobile sensors, the acquisition of the Rehovot-based startup highlights the growing influence of Israeli optical engineering in the next generation of consumer electronics.
