Smartphones are one of the most dominant tools of photography today. There was a point when digital cameras would do the job, but with the advent of smartphones, many have pivoted to a compact device that can do it all. It is easy to carry around, allows you to multitask, and you can make pictures in the most discreet manner. However, there is also a caveat, while they can capture great images with a wide-angle lens, the quality suffers when you try to zoom in. And now, it seems Samsung is trying to find a way around it with a new high-resolution sensor. However, will it surpass Sony in any way?
Samsung Sensor Designed to Push Boundaries
In 2018, Sony launched a 48MP sensor for smartphones, which they believe has the same pixel count as seen on SLR cameras. But as we all know, in addition to pixel count, the size of the sensor will play a pivotal role in reducing noise and affecting the dynamic range. Despite the 48MP available, the images will be blurry and grainy if you push the camera’s zoom to more than 5x.
Now, to help those who want more reach in their phones, rather than buying a camera, Samsung has unveiled a 200MP telephoto sensor, which is a mere 1/1.4-inch in size. Samsung’s main camera sensor is the HP3, while the 200MP is called ISOCELL HP9. With the new sensor, one could, per the company’s press release, capture images of similar quality in their telephoto as their main camera. Furthermore, with the Tetrapixel technology, the telephoto camera will bind the pixel for better light sensitivity and capture 12MP. There is also the option of 2x or 4x zoom within the sensor, which will offer a 12x lossless zoom when used with optical zoom. All of this can be done with better color and lower noise.
In addition, they announced two more sensors, ISOCELL GNJ, and ISOCELL JN5, which will improve the autofocus, 4K video quality, and wide-angle or ultra-wide lens features.
One could say that Sony smartphone sensors need to pull up their socks. If Samsung’s next set of Galaxy phones genuinely achieves far cleaner telephoto camera results, they may become favorites of many other smartphone brands. So far, Apple, OnePlus, Oppo, Redmi, Vivo, Xiaomi, and many brands continue to rely on it for their mid-budget and higher-end phones. However, recently, The Verge revealed that Apple may switch to Samsung for the sensor. So, it appears that Samsung still has an edge over Sony.
Would The Sensor Really Make a Difference?
I doubt it would result in a massive change, the way we see when we bump up from an APS-C to a full frame. Sony sensors are good, and I have used them for several years in my Xiaomi and CMF phones. However, one does tend to see grains in low light. This isn’t a problem for me, as I can utilize it for its aesthetic value. A layperson may not be entirely happy.
Similarly, a telephoto lens does not make a massive difference to my shoot, and with a new sensor, I doubt I would ever use it. However, content creators or the general public, such as your parents, boomers, and many more, will absolutely be thrilled. On the technical side, I am unsure whether 12x zoom would actually result in sharp images. However, the current flagships, such as S24 Ultra, allow 10x optically and 100x digitally. Plus, DXOMark has given it a 145/165 rating for its telephoto range.
It’s too early to pass a verdict, but this time, the odds are in Samsung’s favor. While Sony dominates the mirrorless camera segment, they make a great share from investing in smartphone camera sensors. However, Samsung single-handedly has been dominating the smartphone business this year, followed by Apple. If Apple switches to Samsung sensors, Sony will see a slight dent in its profits. But we have to wait and watch how it all unfolds.