No, older smart phone cameras lacked IR filters because the IR filter didn't only block IR light, but also a distribution of wavelengths around IR. Filtering out IR means many of the visible light wavelengths are attenuated as well, decreasing the amount of light arriving at the sensor.
With better noise reduction algorithms, more sensitive sensors and lower noise sensors, IR filters are now almost always used in smart phone cameras.
Also, without an IR filter those cameras could partially see through light clothing in bright conditions. This of course formed a creepy online community and enough backlash that the manufacturers decided to include IR filters for all future products.
I work with IR sensors at work and modern smartphones pick up NIR frequencies as well. It's picked up by the red channel so combining that with the blue is probably what's making the purple color.
My guess would be that something bright enough to wash out the red channel would still leave the blue and green intact. So there should be enough information that the image is degraded but not necessarily blinded.
But I could be wrong, depending on how independently the color sensors and processing work.
tjkrusinski|3 years ago
With better noise reduction algorithms, more sensitive sensors and lower noise sensors, IR filters are now almost always used in smart phone cameras.
jandrese|3 years ago
SnooSux|3 years ago
My guess would be that something bright enough to wash out the red channel would still leave the blue and green intact. So there should be enough information that the image is degraded but not necessarily blinded.
But I could be wrong, depending on how independently the color sensors and processing work.