From a product development lifecycle perspective, MIPI cameras often offer better value in both the "economic ledger" and "reliability ledger."
Hardware Cost Advantages: Although MIPI requires driver development, seemingly increasing software costs, from a BOM (Bill of Materials) perspective, MIPI modules of equivalent specifications are cheaper than USB modules. The reason is that MIPI eliminates the need for USB controller chips, has simpler circuit design, and benefits significantly from standardized mass production effects. At million-unit shipment volumes, a single MIPI module can save $1-2, creating a prominent overall cost advantage.
Reliability: Less is More: USB's complex features like hot-swapping and dynamic enumeration, while convenient, become sources of instability. Industrial testing shows USB cameras are prone to disconnections and recognition failures in vibration and extreme temperature environments. MIPI uses fixed point-to-point connections with no complex routing, fundamentally eliminating such issues, making it especially suitable for high-reliability scenarios like automotive, industrial vision, and medical devices.
Development Cost Division of Labor: Admittedly, MIPI requires sensor-specific driver development, but this is the responsibility of chip manufacturers and module vendors. Mainstream mobile processors (like Snapdragon, Kirin) already have built-in MIPI controllers and reference drivers; developers only need fine-tune parameters. While USB is driver-free, its "black box" nature limits deep optimization possibilities. For professional teams, a one-time driver development can be reused for years, with diminishing marginal costs.
Supply Chain Stability: MIPI interfaces are highly compatible with mainstream image sensors (Sony, Samsung, OV) and processors, with a mature ecosystem. USB cameras rely on third-party controller chips, posing higher supply chain risks.
Startup Speed: MIPI cameras can produce images within 50ms after system boot, meeting "instant-on" requirements. USB cameras typically require over 500ms due to enumeration processes.
Conclusion: For mass-produced smart hardware, MIPI's short-term development investment yields long-term cost savings and reliability improvements—clearly a better deal.
Key Takeaway: Neither solution is absolutely superior. USB is suitable for rapid prototyping and low-performance scenarios, while MIPI is the professional choice for performance-oriented, mass-production products.
