Samsung Launches 'ISOCELL HP2,' Ultra-High Resolution Sensor for Galaxy S23 Camera

5000MP HDR with Rich Color Expression
New Galaxy S23 Series Equipped
"Strengthening Leadership in Ultra-High Resolution Market" Announced

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Pyeonghwa] Samsung Electronics has released a new 200-megapixel image sensor to be equipped in the Galaxy S23 series. It supports rich color expression and is the industry's first product to implement HDR at 50 megapixels. Samsung Electronics plans to expand its influence by responding to the growing demand in the ultra-high megapixel image sensor market.

Samsung Electronics has launched the image sensor 'ISOCELL HP2' equipped with 200 million pixels of 0.6㎛ (micrometer) size. An image sensor is a system semiconductor that converts light entering the camera lens into digital signals. Samsung Electronics first introduced the ISOCELL HP1 supporting 200 megapixels in 2021, the industry's first, followed by the HP3 last year, and this year the HP2, showcasing an evolved ultra-high megapixel image sensor.

The ISOCELL HP2 is the industry's first to apply the 'Dual Vertical Transfer Gate' technology. The Dual Vertical Transfer Gate places two channels between the photodiode and the circuit, maximizing the efficiency of electronic signal transmission. Through this, the charge storage capacity was increased by up to 33% compared to the previous 200-megapixel product, improving image quality. With higher charge storage capacity, each pixel can utilize more light, enabling richer color expression than before.

ISOCELL HP2 /
[Image courtesy of Samsung Electronics]

To enhance HDR functionality, the existing 'Smart ISO Pro' technology was combined with a newly applied 'Dual Slope Gain' technology. This technology expands the range of colors the sensor can express, enabling 50-megapixel HDR shooting with the sensor alone, supporting fast image processing speeds. Additionally, the 'Super QPD' function, which performs autofocus using all 200 million pixels, was also equipped, allowing focus even under moonlight brightness about 100 times lower than living room brightness (approximately 100 lux). Furthermore, a deep learning-based 'Remosaic Algorithm' was applied to increase shooting speed.

Samsung Electronics will expand the market by supplying the ISOCELL HP2 to the Galaxy S23 series, a flagship smartphone launching next month. As the market for ultra-high megapixel image sensors over 100 megapixels is expanding, the company plans to continuously introduce products with enhanced technology. Im Jun-seo, Vice President and Head of the Sensor Business Team at Samsung Electronics' System LSI Division, said, "We will strengthen our leadership in the growing ultra-high megapixel image sensor market through continuous technological innovation based on customer demands and deep learning-based image quality optimization technology."

Market research firm TSR forecasts that the number of cameras equipped with image sensors over 100 megapixels will surge from 72 million units this year to 132 million units by 2026, with an average annual growth rate of about 22%. According to statistics released by market research firm Strategy Analytics (SA), Samsung Electronics recorded 26.9% of the smartphone image sensor market in the third quarter of last year, ranking second after Japan's Sony (52.8%).