First 1-inch and 200 MP Samsung ISOCELL camera sensor sparks rumours of Galaxy S25 Ultra camera upgrade

Reportedly, Samsung plans to look towards Sony's imaging division for the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus. In summary, Samsung is rumoured to be considering a customised Sony IMX890, a popular 50 MP sensor found in the OnePlus 11 and other recent BBK Electronics smartphones. Like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 before it, the customised IMX890 will gain 'for Galaxy' branding to distinguish it from the regular sensor.

Nonetheless, various details about a Samsung-developed 1-inch format sensor have surfaced online. Circulated by the likes of @Tech_Reve on Twitter, the report claims that the unnamed ISOCELL sensor will combine a 1/0.98-inch optical format with 0.8 μm wide pixels and dual-pixel autofocus. Moreover, the sensor is alleged to support 4x in-sensor zoom, which is beyond the capabilities of current ISOCELL sensors.

Furthermore, the same Weibo leaker states the sensor will provide a 25 mm equivalent focal length, 1 mm narrower than the ISOCELL HP2 in the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Also, this sensor is said to have a 200 MP output resolution, which has led to speculation that it will debut in the Galaxy S25 Ultra. While a release date for this unnamed sensor remains unknown, Samsung tends to introduce new ISOCELL camera sensors before devices release, as was the case this year with the ISOCELL HP2 and the Galaxy S23 Ultra (curr. US$1,350 on Amazon).