Samsung has announced the ISOCELL HP5, its latest 200MP camera sensor for smartphones. Despite its smaller size compared to the company’s previous 200MP sensors, it promises significant improvements in both photo and video quality thanks to a host of new technologies. Here are the details.

ISOCELL HP5: Big Performance in a Small Size

Featuring a 1/1.56-inch optical format and a resolution of 200MP (16,384 x 12,288 pixels), the ISOCELL HP5 reduces the size of each pixel to just 0.5µm, making it Samsung’s smallest 200MP sensor yet.

Samsung claims that despite this reduction, it hasn’t compromised on quality, and has even delivered improvements. The key technologies behind this development are:

• Improved Low-Light Quality: New technologies like Dual Vertical Transfer Gate (D-VTG) and Front Deep Trench Isolation (FDTI) increase each pixel’s Full Well Capacity (light-capturing ability). Furthermore, DTI Center Cut (DCC), an improved DTI technology, improves autofocus and Random Noise (RN) reduction, resulting in clearer images in low-light conditions. Samsung claims this results in a 150% increase in conversion gain and a 3% to 40% improvement in noise reduction.
• Maximum Light Utilization: Using a high-sensitivity microlens and a High Transmittance Anti-refractive Layer, the sensor maximizes the light entering the sensor.

The ISOCELL HP5 is equipped with advanced features for both photography and videography:

• High Dynamic Range (HDR): The sensor’s Smart ISO Pro and Staggered HDR technologies deliver high-quality HDR images and videos. Smart ISO Pro captures 13-bit images with up to 550 billion colors by capturing two frames simultaneously (High/Mid ISO and Low ISO). Staggered HDR captures long, medium, and short exposure images and combines them into a single frame.
• Fast Processing and Resolution: Thanks to a remosaic algorithm, the sensor can create 200MP images in less than two seconds.
• Zoom Performance: Like other 200MP sensors, the HP5 offers 2x optical zoom with in-sensor zoom. When paired with a 3x optical zoom lens, it provides an impressive 6x lossless zoom.
• Video Recording: It can record 8K video at 30fps, 4K at 120fps, and Full HD video at 240fps.

The Samsung ISOCELL HP5 sensor is expected to be used in flagship models from other brands in the mobile camera market. Current reports and leaks suggest the sensor will first appear on the OPPO Find X9 Pro as a periscope telephoto camera. The official announcement of the Oppo Find X9 Pro is expected on October 16.