Back in July 2022, we reported that Samsung had filed a trademark for “Hexa²Pixel,” indicating the potential use of a camera sensor with Hexa²Pixel technology. This technology utilizes pixel binning, where data from adjacent pixels is combined into one, resulting in improved image quality with reduced noise.
At the time of the trademark filing, it was observed that Samsung’s post-binning images ranged from 12MP to 12.5MP using the 108MP sensor on the Galaxy S22 Ultra as an example. Applying the 36:1 pixel binning ratio, we speculated that Samsung was working on a camera sensor capable of supporting a range of 432MP to 450MP.
According to a reliable tipster named Revegnus, Samsung is currently developing a new series of ISOCELL HW camera sensors. The first two sensors in this series are expected to be nearly 1-inch sensors. The HW1 sensor will offer a resolution of 432MP, with a sensor size of 1/1.05″ and a pixel size of 0.56 micrometers. Similarly, the HW2 sensor will also feature a resolution of 432MP, with a sensor size close to 1-inch at 1/1.07″ and a pixel size of 0.5 micrometers.
Additionally, the tipster mentioned that the upcoming Galaxy Fold 6 will continue using the 50MP GN3 image sensor found on the Galaxy Z Fold 5. As for the Galaxy Fold 7, it is expected to sport a 200MP ISOCELL HP5 sensor with a sensor size of 1/1.3-inch and a pixel size of 0.5 micrometers. In a previous report by the same tipster, it was revealed that Samsung is planning to mass-produce new ISOCELL image sensors in the second half of 2024, including the 200MP HP7 with 0.6μm pixels, a 50MP GN6, and a 440MP HU1.
It is intriguing to see how a simple calculation based on the trademark filing accurately predicted a 432MP camera sensor. However, the exact timeline for when Samsung will introduce a 432MP camera on its smartphones remains unknown. The Galaxy S24 Ultra seems unlikely to feature it, so the earliest possibility could be the Galaxy S25 Ultra in 2025. Alternatively, we may have to wait for the Galaxy S26 Ultra or the Galaxy S27 Ultra to witness the introduction of a 432MP camera sensor on a Samsung Galaxy device.
Source: Twitter
