Short-wavelength infrared photodetectors based on metamorphic InGaAs grown on GaSb substrates and InP substrates are demonstrated. The devices have a pBn structure that employs an AlGaAsSb thin layer as the electron barrier to suppress dark current density. The strain effect on the electrical performance of the devices was specifically studied through the growth of the pBn structure on different substrates, e.g., InP and GaSb, via a specific buffering technique to optimize material properties and minimize dark current. A lower device dark current density, down to 1 × 10−2A/cm2at room temperature (295 K), was achieved for the devices grown on the GaSb substrate compared to that of the devices on the InP substrate (8.6 × 10−2A/cm2). The improved properties of the high-In component InGaAs layer and the AlGaAsSb electron barrier give rise to the low dark current of the photodetector device.