Samsung has released a new 200-megapixel camera sensor, called the 200MP ISOCELL HPX, bringing their total of 200 MP camera sensors in the smartphone market to three following the release of the ISOCELL HP1 in 2021 and the ISOCELL HP3 early this year.
While the two previous 200 MP camera sensors have not yet been used in Samsung smartphones, although the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra and the Xiaomi 12T Pro have already made use of the ISOCELL HP1, rumours indicate that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will likely rock the new 200 MP ISOCELL HPX.
The rumour source is renowned tipster IceUniverse, who says that the 200 MP sensor on the Galaxy S23 will have 0.6 µm pixels on a 1/1.3″ sensor with an f/1.7 aperture in front. These specifications do not match the earlier 200 MP camera sensors from the South Korean company, leaving the new ISOCELL HPX as the likely candidate.
The new ISOCELL HPX promises some exciting features, including the ability to isolate each pixel individually and boost sensitivity to capture more vivid and clearer photographs, which is made possible through Samsung’s Advanced Deep Trench Isolation (DTI) technology.
Interestingly, in bright sunlight, the camera sensor will keep the .56-micron pixel size allowing for 200 MP images to be captured, while in low light environments, the pixel size goes to 1.12 microns to allow for 50 MP photos to be taken. Furthermore, at the very extreme of a very low-light environment, 16 pixels combine to create one pixel so that a picture can be taken at 12.5 MP. Samsung says this behaviour makes it possible for users to take sharp photos regardless of how much light is available.
Other features supported by the ISOCELL HPX include the ability to take videos at 8K quality at 30 frames per second, 4K and FHD recording, dual HDR, Smart ISO, and Super QPD autofocus.
Sammobile believes the ISOCELL HPX is destined for Samsung’s camera customers in China and might not see the light of day in the Galaxy S23 Ultra. It will definitely be interesting to see in the coming few months who had it right between the publication and IceUniverse. At the end of the day, Samsung has achieved an impressive feat, beating its main rival OmniVision in delivering a 200 MP camera sensor to the smartphone market, and by a factor of three to boot.
