If you use your smartphone to take a lot of pictures then you’re going to want to check this out… Samsung sent out a press release revealing two new smartphone camera sensors that have been developed for use in future devices. Immediately, you have to assume that one, or both, of these sensors will be used for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 cameras.
New camera sensors aren’t exactly the sexiest pieces of smartphone news to report on but they could make a huge difference in the design and performance of upcoming Samsung smartphones. The first camera sensor revealed is a 24MP ISOCELL Slim 2X7. That’s right, a whopping 24 mega-pixels in a smartphone from one sensor! The other sensor is a Dual Pixel ISOCELL 2L9. It’s 12-megapixels like many smartphone cameras on the market now but a smaller pixel size. The dual pixel feature, according to Samsung, also allows the sensor to focus more quickly and apply depth of field effects without the need for a second sensor. Think Portrait Mode in the iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 Plus without the second camera sensor.
So, what does this mean for smartphone design? These new, slim sensors will allow Samsung to potentiall remove that camera bump we have become accustom to in new, thinner smartphones. It could also allow Samsung to free up space within the shell of the smartphone for additional sensors, a larger battery, or any number of other improvements. The possibilities are vast with slimmer smartphone camera sensors. Mostly though, I’m just excited to see devices without that camera hump.
This press release from Samsung did not touch on the rumored 1000fps video shooting capability that was leaked in a rumor recently. It was suggested that the Galaxy S9 and/or the Galaxy Note 9 camera would be able to shoot video at a whopping 1000 frames per second. This would be an incredible feat for Samsung and set the new standard for video shooting capability in the smartphone market. Basically… Slow motion smartphone videos are about to get really, really amazing.
Of course, any Samsung rumor these days is not complete without a mention of their rumored foldable smartphone, the Galaxy X. Obviously a slimmer camera sensor would be perfect for a foldable, bezel-less smartphone. I have a strong feeling that beastly 24-megapixel sensor will first be launched as a Galaxy X exclusive to help build some hype. Think about it… The world’s first mass marketed foldable smartphone with the world’s most impressive smartphone camera. Tim Cook would have to do backflips and juggle knives at the next iPhone launch just to keep up.
What do you think about these new camera sensors from Samsung? Does the quality of a smartphone camera play a big role in your buying decisions or do you consider other features to be more important? I want to hear your thoughts about how Samsung is doing and if this will make you consider a Samsung device when you make your next upgrade. Comment below!
