Amidst all the current challenges, the year is shaping up to be a big year for the image sensor vendors as they continue to drive new product announcements and engage in partnerships with smartphone vendors to create breakthrough imaging capabilities. The ongoing megapixel race has seen strong progress as High-pixel sensors are starting to dominate the market for smartphone image sensors.

Today Samsung announced its latest addition of image sensors to its ISOCELL portfolio, the Samsung ISOCELL GN1 50MP sensor for providing superior autofocus and image clarity. The image sensor promises to deliver optimized experiences for dynamic environment scenarios. More details on the sensor can be explained.

Source: Samsung

Key Features

• The ISOCELL GN1 is a 50MP sensor with an optical format of 1/1.3” and features a significantly large pixel size of 1.2μm. The large pixel size combined with the massive sensor size increases the light sensitivity in order to produce superior low light photos.
• The sensor uses Samsung’s proprietary Tetracell Technology which merges 4 pixels into one and amplifies the 1.2μm pixels into a one large 2.4μm pixel, effectively boosting the light absorption capabilities of each pixel in low-lit conditions. The sensor produces a resulting output of 12.5MP resolution when binned. Samsung’s software-based algorithm ensures sufficient light information is received to produce images closer to a 100MP resolution.
• The sensor adopts the Dual Pixel autofocus technology to enhance phase-detection autofocus capabilities of the sensor, such a mechanism improves phase detection and enables faster and higher accuracy for still and moving objects. This is expected to boost the focus performance of the sensor in low-light conditions. This is also a first high-pixel sensor to feature Dual PD and is expected to fix autofocus issues in the high-resolution sensors.
• The sensor continues to support Electronic Image Stabilization, Smart-ISO for multiple exposure variations. The sensor also supports video recording at 8K resolution at 30fps.

Outlook

Samsung’s ISOCELL GN1 is expected to feature as the rear image sensor for smartphones launching in H2 2020. This includes a host of Samsung Mobile’s Galaxy devices and new launches from Xiaomi, Realme, Oppo and Vivo. There is also a probability that the sensor could feature as the secondary sensor in the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series.

The ISOCELL GN1 is a new portfolio for Samsung’s 50MP based image sensors. The existing portfolio of Samsung’s High-Pixel sensors includes ISOCELL GM1 and GM2 48MP sensors, ISOCELL GD1 32MP sensor, ISOCELL GH1 44MP sensor, ISOCELL GW1 and GW2 64MP sensors and the ISOCELL HMX and HM1 108MP sensors.

The 50MP ISOCELL GN1 image sensor is expected to rival Sony’s flagship 48MP sensors which include the IMX586 and IMX689, and even the custom IMX700 50MP sensor featured in the Huawei P40 series.

The changing trends in mobile photography have been crucial to the growth of the smartphone image sensor market. Samsung has been aggressive in capturing the demand for High Pixel sensors by introducing new and updating its existing image sensor product line.

Key Questions

• The sensor is currently in mass production and would be available to customers for H2 2020. What are the prospects of the ISOCELL GN1 image sensor? Which smartphones would be the first to apply this sensor within its camera configuration?
• Samsung is continuously investing in its ISOCELL image sensor branding and marketing efforts to gain strong market perception from OEMs as well as consumers. Given Samsung’s efforts, what is the perception of its image sensors among users of smartphones? Is it positive or negative?