Samsung unveils groundbreaking 108-megapixel mobile image sensor

Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX is expected to be in mass production later this month, the release said.

Last week, Chinese smartphone maker Realme revealed its plan to introduce world's first smartphone with 64MP quad-camera innovation using Samsung ISOCELL Bright GW1 sensor, a 64-megapixel sensor with a 0.8μm pixel size and 1/1.7" Optical Format and Tetracell technology. Following the announcement, Xiaomi Global VP and India head Manu Kumar Jain tweeted that Xiaomi will soon disrupt the market with 100-megapixel ultra-clear camera with 108,000,000 pixels and 12032 x 9024 resolution.

Interestingly, after the 64-megapixel and 100-megapixel sensors, Samsung Electronics, in close collaboration with Xiaomi, launched Monday a groundbreaking 108-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX, industry's first smartphone image sensor to pack over 100 million pixels, to capture exceptional shots in extreme lighting conditions.

WHOA! #100MP camera 😮Yes, we've been working on 100MP camera flagship phone!Beginning of 2019, we launched #48MP, & today all flagships use it. We'll soon disrupt the market again with #64MP camera.And then #100MP 📸RT if you think this is absolutely crazy! 🤩 #Xiaomi ❤️ pic.twitter.com/0trjCGiyWF

— #MiFan Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) August 7, 2019

Expanding the offering from ultra-high 64Mp to 108Mp, a resolution equivalent to that of a high-end DSLR camera, the South Korean tech giant said that the ISOCELL Bright HMX is the first mobile image sensor to adopt a large 1/1.33-inch size.

Commenting on the innovation and collaboration with Samsung, Lin Bin, co-founder and president of Xiaomi sais: "For ISOCELL Bright HMX, Xiaomi and Samsung have worked closely together from the early conceptual stage to production that has resulted in a groundbreaking 108Mp image sensor. We are very pleased that picture resolutions previously available only in a few top-tier DSLR cameras can now be designed into smartphones."

In low-light environments, the HMX can absorb more light and its pixel-merging Tetracell technology allows the sensor to imitate big-pixel sensors, producing brighter 27Mp images. While, in bright environments, the Smart-ISO switches to a low ISO to improve pixel saturation and produce natural and vivid photographs. The HMX also supports video recording without losses in field-of-view at resolutions up to 6K (6016 x 3384) 30-frames-per-second (fps), Samsung said in a press release.

Representative image

"Samsung is continuously pushing for innovations in pixel and logic technologies to engineer our ISOCELL image sensors to capture the world as close to how our eyes perceive them," said Yongin Park, executive vice president of sensor business at Samsung Electronics.

With more pixels and advanced Tetracell and ISOCELL Plus technologies, Samsung has taken mobile photography to a record new level. Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX is expected to be in mass production later this month, the release said.