With the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked in early February, it is possible that further announcements pertaining to the HP2 may be on the way. — Samsung Malaysia
Samsung Electronics has unveiled the ISOCELL HP2, the company's new 200-megapixel image sensor boasting enhanced low-light performance and improved HDR (high dynamic range).
The 200-megapixel sensor uses the 1/1.3 format, a common size for 108-megapixel sensors in flagship smartphones.
This allows a smartphone to feature a higher resolution sensor without increasing the size of the "camera bump".
The HP2 uses Samsung's Tetrapixel binning technology, which allows it to adapt to differing lighting conditions and produce sharper 8K video by combining data from neighbouring pixels.
For instance, the sensor can "transform" into either a 1.2μm 50-megapixel or 2.4μm 12.5-megapixel image sensor.
"The Samsung HP2 harnesses Samsung’s high-resolution image sensor technologies and know-how at the cutting edge for epic details.
"Our leadership comes from innovative pixel technologies that allow our sensors to go beyond the number and size of pixels.
"We will continue to open new horizons and solidify our presence in the expanding ultra-high-resolution sensor market," said JoonSeo Yim, executive vice president of the sensor business team at Samsung Electronics, in a statement.
The HP2 also features Dual Vertical Transfer Gate (D-VTG) technology, which combats overexposure and enhances colour reproduction in bright conditions.
While in low-light conditions, the Super QPD feature ensures that autofocus continues to work despite poor lighting.
The sensor also includes Dual Slope Gain (DSG), which Samsung claims improves HDR by applying two distinct conversion values to the analogue signal received at the pixel level.
This works in conjunction with its existing Smart-ISO Pro HDR solution, which merges differing ISO readouts from a single exposure.
As the sensor has entered mass production, it’s likely that the company will have more to say about it at its Galaxy Unpacked event in early February.
It is worth noting that while Samsung has other 200-megapixel sensors in its lineup – the HP1 and HP3, for example – it has yet to include one in its flagship smartphones.
The Unpacked event will be held at 2am on Feb 2 and can be viewed live on the company's YouTube channel, official website, Facebook page, and newsroom.
Those who register for updates on the its website will also be eligible for an RM200 voucher.
