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‌Ingenic T33: Making AI and H.265 Accessible, Refreshing the Low-Power Visual Experience
2025.12.12


"The ability to operate at low power levels has been essential for the proliferation of portable electronics and the Internet of Things."——Riordan, M., & Hoddeson, L. (1997). Crystal Fire: The Birth of the Information Age. W. W. Norton & Company.


From the transistor revolution at Shockley Laboratory to the precise layout of integrated circuits, low power consumption has always been the "meta-problem" of electronic engineering—it defines the direction for breaking the physical limits of devices and shapes the underlying logic of technological inclusivity. Today, the AIoT wave is pushing this proposition to new heights: battery-powered cameras are redefining perception boundaries through milliwatt-level power optimization, using leaps in "energy efficiency density" to continue the unspoken underlying rule of Moore's Law—true innovation begins with reverence for every joule of energy.


Low-power operation capability remains the cornerstone for the proliferation of portable electronic devices and the Internet of Things. Amid the ongoing explosion of the AIoT visual market and the transition of battery-powered cameras from niche categories to mainstream segments, the industry faces a triple challenge: increasing functional complexity, difficulty balancing power consumption and performance, and rising R&D management costs. There is also an urgent need for an upgrade product that combines accessibility with high performance. Based on its mature AOV low-power technology and iterative upgrades, Ingenic launches the T33 professional accessible video processor. Positioned around "Accessible AI H.265," it injects new momentum into the intelligent visual industry.


‌Positioning: Accessible AI H.265, Unlocking Intelligent Visual Experiences for All‌


The T33 precisely targets the "entry-level H.265 + AI SOC" segment, with core characteristics of "accessibility, stability, balance, and versatility," breaking down the barriers to applying high-end AI visual technology. As an important member of the Ingenic T-series ecosystem, it inherits the core advantages of AOV technology, integrating AI computing power and efficient encoding capabilities into entry-level products, enabling more scenarios to benefit from the conveniences of intelligent vision at low cost. Whether for home security cameras, smart lock front-ends, solar-powered outdoor cameras, battery-powered IPCs, or similar products, the T33 can meet demands with a high-cost-performance solution, promoting the widespread adoption of AI visual technology across consumer-grade, industrial-grade, and various other fields.


‌Core Specifications: Three Major Advantages Define a New Benchmark for Low-Power Intelligence‌

 

‌5MP High-Definition Real-Time Frame Rate, Imaging and Encoding Dual Upgrade‌
The T33 achieves a key breakthrough in image quality performance, supporting 5MP real-time frame rate output, and can be flexibly scaled up to 6MP resolution to meet high-definition shooting requirements. It features an upgraded Tiziano-v4.1 ISP, which inherits and optimizes the imaging advantages of the T32. It includes built-in 3A functions and third-party 3A interfaces, and possesses multiple image quality optimization capabilities such as defective pixel correction, black level correction, purple fringe correction, and defogging, delivering outstanding performance in color reproduction and detail retention. In low-light conditions, through multi-stage noise reduction (spatial and temporal noise reduction) technology, the image becomes clearer, and noise becomes finer, effectively addressing weak light shooting pain points.

In terms of encoding, the upgraded Hera-v1.6 video encoder fully supports H.264/H.265/JPEG formats, achieving stable encoding at 6MP@25fps, with a maximum supported resolution of 3200x2048. For bitrate control, it offers multiple modes including CBR/VBR/CVBR/AVBR, optimizing bitrate usage to the extreme. It also supports ROI functionality and multiple reference frame encoding, significantly reducing motion blur in dynamic scenes and providing clearer backgrounds in moving areas, achieving a perfect balance between image quality and bandwidth cost.


‌Ultra-Low Power Consumption Breakthrough, Adapting to Full-Scenario Battery Life Needs‌

Leveraging Ingenic's years of low-power technology accumulation and Atlas solution experience, the T33 achieves a qualitative leap in power consumption control: under the same conditions (4MP + D1 15FPS H.265 encoding), power consumption is reduced by 25% compared to the T32, reaching only 285mW. For battery-powered products, the T33 supports AOV-AT mode. In a single-camera 2M 1FPS scenario, power consumption can be as low as 26mW, and in a dual-camera 2M 1FPS scenario, power consumption is only 44mW. This enables full-time recording without frequent charging, perfectly adapting to low-power scenarios such as pure battery IPCs and solar outdoor cameras.

Simultaneously, the T33 further optimizes temperature rise and heat dissipation control. Lower power consumption results in superior temperature performance, ensuring stable operation even during prolonged use or in harsh environments, greatly expanding the product's application boundaries. Coupled with fast startup technology, its TTFF (Time To First Frame) is less than 130ms, unaffected by file system and application size. The startup video stream is continuous without frame loss, ensuring the completeness of captured information.

 

 

‌Accessible AOV Technology, Balancing Performance and Cost‌

As a significant achievement of AOV technology iteration, the T33 deeply integrates accessibility with low power consumption. Its Atlas hardware architecture has no special requirements for sensors and peripheral devices, resulting in lower comprehensive costs while providing complete hardware reference design. In AOV mode, the T33 supports full-size output with smooth transitions and clear details, maintaining ultra-low power consumption advantages while achieving monitoring effects over longer distances. It builds upon the technical foundation laid by the T41 and T32 in the low-power vision field.

Furthermore, the T33 is equipped with an NPU delivering 0.5 Tops@int8 computing power, supporting int4/int8/int12/int16 low-bit and mixed quantization. Under the same conditions, it can achieve over 80% of the performance of the T32's 1 Tops@int8 NPU. It comes standard with common algorithms like person/vehicle/pet detection and Mert, while also supporting the Magik algorithm development platform for quick integration of proprietary algorithms. This covers diverse needs such as flame detection, license plate capture, and baby cry detection, enabling even entry-level products to possess powerful AI intelligence capabilities.

 

‌Full-Dimensional Compatibility, Accelerating Product Launch and Iteration‌

The T33 achieves a comprehensive layout of "forward compatibility and backward connectivity" in compatibility, significantly reducing R&D costs and shortening product cycles for customers.

Looking forward, the T33 achieves full software and hardware compatibility with the T32. It is not only Pin-to-Pin compatible but also shares SDK development resources. Customers can reuse 90% of the core modules, realizing "develop once, deploy across multiple product categories," greatly shortening product development and iteration cycles. The T32 focuses on 4K full-scenario solutions, while the T33, with its 5MP resolution and lower power consumption, concentrates on entry-level demands. Together, they complement each other, jointly perfecting the Ingenic T3 series product matrix.

Looking backward, the T33 collaborates with the T32P to provide enhanced solutions. The T32P supports 4K@30FPS, dual 5MP@20fps, and 1T@int8 NPU computing power, achieving advanced performance improvements. The T33, as the entry-level benchmark, forms a low-to-mid-to-high range lineup with the T32P, covering demands from basic to high-end across all scenarios. Simultaneously, the T33 supports multi-camera expansion (achieving 3/4 cameras) and is compatible with various boot methods like SPI/MSC/USB/network boot. Its rich peripheral interfaces (USB2.0, Ethernet MAC RMII, I2C, UART, etc.) enable quick adaptation to the existing device ecosystem. Whether for smart locks, home security, outdoor cameras, or multi-function lock front-ends, rapid market deployment can be achieved.


From the Zeratul platform driving the leap from 0 to 1 for battery-powered cameras, to the Tassadar platform redefining the balance between performance and power consumption, Ingenic has always been market demand-oriented and rooted in independent core technology. The launch of the T33 is not only another upgrade of AOV low-power technology but also a practice of Ingenic's "Technology Inclusivity" philosophy—enabling every intelligent visual product to combine low power consumption, high performance, and high cost-effectiveness. Currently, the T33 is in full mass production and is accelerating market adoption in collaboration with partners such as Joaan, VPai, Quingshi, and Meari. In the future, Ingenic will continue to deeply cultivate the low-power intelligent visual track, working with partners to unlock limitless possibilities for the industry through more complete technology and a richer product portfolio.