Metalenz and STMicroelectronics (STM) have signed an expanded licensing agreement allowing STM to continue manufacturing metasurface optics based on Metalenz intellectual property in its 300 mm semiconductor fabrication facilities. Both companies believe the broader partnership will accelerate adoption of wafer-level flat optics in consumer, industrial, and automotive markets.
The Emerging Metasurface Market
Since introducing the technology commercially in 2022, Metalenz and STM have shipped well over 140 million metasurface optics integrated into STM’s FlightSense VL53 series direct Time-of-Flight (dToF) modules. These components power functions such as laser autofocus and presence detection in leading smartphones, tablets, and wearables.
According to teardowns conducted by Yole Group, the VL53L8 module built with Metalenz metasurfaces has been found in devices including the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Google Pixel 8 Pro, and more recently, Apple’s iPad Pro M4. While Metalenz does not confirm individual design wins, the company licenses its metasurface technology exclusively to STM for production.
Industry analysts at Yole Group project the global market for metasurface optics will reach $2 billion by 2029. Growth drivers include the demand for slimmer camera modules, advanced depth-sensing capabilities, and emerging use cases in near-eye displays.
Progress and Outlook for Metalenz
Alexandre Balmefrezol, Executive Vice President and General Manager of STM’s Imaging Sub-Group, said the expanded deal strengthens STM’s position in the market and opens new opportunities in applications ranging from smartphone biometrics and LiDAR to robotics and gesture recognition. Rob Devlin, Metalenz co-founder and CEO, emphasized that shifting optics production into semiconductor fabs has the potential to transform the sensing ecosystem, particularly as 3D sensing applications become more widespread.
In May 2025, Metalenz announced that its Polar ID full-polarization face-authentication system had entered integration trials with unnamed smartphone manufacturers, aiming for commercial deployment in 2026. Earlier, in February of last year, reports emerged that Samsung’s ISOCELL Vizion 931 sensor underpins the Polar ID system design. In March 2024, Metalenz appointed semiconductor industry veteran Mari-Anne Gagliardi as Vice President of Operations to scale manufacturing capabilities, signaling the company’s readiness to increase production and meet anticipated demand.
The renewed partnership between STM and Metalenz is expected to expand metasurface optics beyond current ranging sensor applications and into areas such as in-display facial recognition, driver monitoring systems, and compact solid-state LiDAR. On the ID Talk podcast, Devlin told ID Tech that multiple new design wins are anticipated over the next 12 to 18 months as device manufacturers seek thinner components and improved power efficiency.
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By Cass Kenned and Alex Perala
