Upcoming flagship smartphones could soon get a major camera upgrade. Samsung has announced the ISOCELL HP5 sensor, which promises improvements over the ISOCELL HP3 launched in 2022. The ISOCELL HP5 will also be accompanied by other new technologies to enhance image quality.

Even smaller pixel size

According to Samsung, the ISOCELL HP5 is the world's first image sensor to have 0.5µm-sized pixels. Although the use of smaller pixels tends to result in lower image quality, the ISOCELL HP5 will feature advanced tech to overcome this limitation. Among them is DTI Centre Cut (DCC), which uses Front Deep Trench Isolation (FDTI). These combine to improve conversion gain by 150% and random noise by 3-40%, thereby enhancing image quality in low-light conditions.

The ISOCELL HP5 also uses High Precision Microlens (High-P) to improve light absorption efficiency and minimise light reflection, High Sensitivity DTI (High-S) to reduce interference, and more. In other words, the new sensor combines various technologies to deliver what Samsung claims is "stunningly clear, true-to-life images in both bright and low-light environments".

Expected debut soon

The new camera sensor's performance is something to look forward to, but we won't know till it launches with a new phone. Currently, one of the debut candidates is the upcoming realme GT8 Pro. According to realme's Vice President, the phone will feature a 200MP telephoto camera with a 1/1.56-inch sensor size, which matches the ISOCELL HP5's sensor size.

For your info, the realme GT7 Pro launched in Malaysia on 18 November 2024. As such, we could tentatively anticipate a November 2025 launch for the realme GT8 Pro and the debut of the Samsung ISOCELL HP5. Until then, stay tuned to TechNave for other news on the latest mobile tech.