Samsung builds its own 12MP Image Sensor with Dual Pixel PDAF Technology

It’s similar to the Sony’s IMX260 Sensor in Galaxy S7

You might have already learnt about the 12 megapixel camera in Galaxy S7 which is quite lower in resolution than the ones found in competitors’ devices. In fact its own predecessor Galaxy S6 sported a 16 megapixel camera sensor. Samsung actually preferred to gain more light with larger pixel size to produce better images but not only this. The image sensor in Galaxy S7 brought another key factor to smartphone photography which is Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF) capability through all the active pixels on sensor via Dual Pixel technology. However the image sensor in Galaxy S7 is not Samsung made; It’s Sony IMX260 Image Sensor.

Well, it seems that Samsung had its own 12 megapixel image sensor with the same PDAF technology already built but not enough trialed to be sported into Samsung’s own Galaxy S7 launched at MWC. With the recent announcement, Samsung has stated that its newest image sensor is now in mass production.

The newly announced image sensor from Samsung matches the recent Sony IMX260 image sensor quite well in every aspect including the 12 megapixel resolution, 1.4μ pixel size, The dual pixel technology serves with two photodiodes in a pixel – one on the left half and the other one on the right half of the pixel. One photodiode of each, converts light particles into measurable photocurrent. 100% of active pixels are capable of detecting phase differences of perceived light which makes it able for faster autofocus.

In addition to the similarities with Sony’s IMX260, Samsung’s latest image sensor adopts proprietary ISOCELL technology which physically isolates the photodiodes in each pixel with a physical wall to further prevent light bleeding into adjoining pixels. So most importantly this feature is not present in Galaxy S7.

Considering the fact that the image sensor has gone into mass production stage, you may expect the next Samsung flagship which is Galaxy Note 6 to feature this image sensor instead of any third party’s one. Also we can expect a variant of Galaxy S7 to sport this image sensor in a small production size if not big.