Samsung has announced yet another mobile camera sensor with 64 million pixels, currently the highest resolution image sensor for mobile devices. Along with the company also has announced the newer 48MP image sensor.
We have seen Huawei P20 Pro, Huawei Mate 20 Pro, and then Huawei P30, and the Huawei P30 Pro with 40MP image sensors. Even mid-range smartphones from Vivo, OPPO and Xiaomi featured 48MP image sensors, either Sony’s IMX586 sensor and Samsung’s ISOCELL Bright GM1. Namely Honor View20, OPPO F11 Pro, Vivo V15 Pro, and Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro are a few of those with 48MP cameras.
With all those higher resolution cameras, Samsung has gone one step ahead with the introducing the industry’s first 64MP ISOCELL Bright GW1 image sensor. The company has also announced the 48MP ISOCELL Bright GM2 image sensor – a successor to the ISOCELL Bright GM1 sensor, currently in use by many smartphones as listed above.
Both the sensors equip with 0.8µm pixels which according to the company is the smallest pixel size currently available. It’s been used in existing 20MP, 38MP and 48MP image sensors.
64MP ISOCELL Bright GW1 image sensor features the highest resolution in mobile camera sensors. It uses the pixel-merging Tetracell technology and re-mosaic algorithm. This sensor is claimed to produce bright images in low-light environments. The new GW1 sensor supports real-time HDR of up to 100-decibels (dB) approximately closer to 120dB what’s considered for a human eye to perceive. It’s worth noting here that he dynamic range of most image sensor is at around 60dB.
48MP ISOCELL Bright GM2 image sensor uses “Tetracell technology in low-light environments and a re-mosaic algorithm in well-lit settings.” That helps bringing highly-detailed pictures with natural and vivid colors.
Both the new 64MP GW1 and 48MP GM2 use Dual Conversion Gain (DCG) for added performance and Super PD for fast autofocus. DCG converts the incoming light into an electric signal with respect to available environmental illumination. With that, the sensors optimize their full well capacity to utilize the collected light efficiently.
DCG also sharpers the results which are delivered through the high-performance phase detection auto-focus technology (Super PDAF). It also increases efficiency in “full HD recording at 480 frames-per-second (fps) is supported for smooth cinematic slow motion videos.”
Samsung ISOCELL Bright GW1 and GM2 are currently sampling and are expected to be in mass production in the second half of this year.
