Samsung introduces a 200-megapixel image sensor for flagship smartphones

Samsung Electronics has unveiled its latest image sensor, the ISOCELL HP2, featuring 200 megapixels and improved pixel technology for stunning mobile images on future premium smartphones. The ISOCELL HP2 packs 200 million 0.6-micrometer pixels into a 1/1.3” optical format, a sensor size commonly used in 108MP main smartphone cameras. This enables even higher resolutions on high-end smartphones without the need for larger camera bumps.

JoonSeo Yim, Executive Vice President of the Sensor Business Team at Samsung Electronics, said, “Our leadership comes from innovative pixel technologies that allow our sensors to go beyond the number and size of pixels. We will continue to open new horizons and solidify our presence in the expanding ultra-high-resolution sensor market.”

The ISOCELL HP2 also includes Samsung’s advanced pixel-binning technology, Tetra2pixel, which simulates different pixel sizes to accommodate varying lighting conditions. In low-light environments, the sensor can transform into a 1.2μm 50MP or 2.4μm 12.5MP image sensor by combining four or 16 neighboring pixels. The HP2 can also capture 8K video, at approximately 33MP, with a wider field of view by switching to 1.2μm 50MP mode and minimizing cropping.

The HP2’s new Dual Vertical Transfer Gate (D-VTG) technology also helps reduce washed-out images in brightly lit environments. D-VTG adds a second transfer gate to each pixel, boosting the pixel’s full-well capacity by more than 33 percent and improving color reproduction, especially in bright lighting conditions.

In low-light settings, the HP2’s autofocus gets a boost from Super QPD, which allows the sensor to use all 200 million pixels for focusing. This delivers faster and more accurate autofocus.

For enhanced HDR performance, Samsung is introducing the DSG feature in 50MP mode for the first time. It applies two separate conversion values to the analog signal received at the pixel level. Additionally, Smart-ISO Pro, an HDR solution that merges different ISO readouts from a single exposure, allows the camera to capture 12.5MP images and 4K video at 60fps in HDR.

The ISOCELL HP2 has entered mass production.