Samsung announces its 64-megapixel phone camera sensor

The times are changing in the image sensor industry.

Mobile phone camera has improved over the years at a fast rate. Presently, 48-megapixel cameras are now a common sight on phones: Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, and others.

But now, Samsung has announced a new image sensor for mobile phones with "a higher resolution than anything comparable on the market". The ISOCELL Bright GW1 64-megapixel sensor uses the same 0.8μm-sized pixels as Samsung’s current 48-megapixel component, meaning it’ll be a physically larger sensor that can capture more light overall.

The Bright GW1 will produce 16-megapixel images by merging four pixels into one, like how existing 48-megapixel sensors turn out 12-megapixel photos by default.

Samsung’s new sensor will also be able to descramble the color filter for full-resolution 64-megapixel shots in good light; the Sony IMX586 48-megapixel sensor has a similar capability, but Samsung’s doesn’t, but they're also announcing an updated 48-megapixel part that offers the same feature.

Samsung expects its 64-megapixel part to go into mass production in the second half of this year. It's the first to actually announce a 64-megapixel sensor, which gives it leverage in the image sensor market.

It would be nice to see it in action on the late-2019 flagships — moreso if image sensor market leader Sony follows suit.