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Phones with 500 MP camera: Samsung reportedly developing new sensors for iPhones and Galaxy S

Samsung said to be working on a 500 MP sensor for smartphone cameras. (Image source: Samsung)
Samsung said to be working on a 500 MP sensor for smartphone cameras. (Image source: Samsung)
Samsung Semiconductor is reportedly developing a 500 MP camera for a successor to the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Additionally, the company is said to be working on a sensor that surpasses the Sony Exmor RS for a future Apple iPhone.

Featuring a 200 MP main shooter, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (around $915 on Amazon) boasts one of the highest-resolution cameras amongst smartphones. In fact, the main sensor on the Galaxy S24 Ultra has a higher resolution than full-frame or even medium-format cameras. For instance, the Hasselblad X2D-100C has a resolution of “only” 100 MP.

However, due to the 1/1.3” sensor size, the pixels on the S24 Ultra’s main camera measure just 0.6 µm – significantly smaller than the 3.76 µm pixels on the Hasselblad X2D-100C. According to information provided by leaker @Jukanlosreve, Samsung is planning to go one step further by developing a 500 MP sensor for future Galaxy S smartphones. The massive pixel count would allow Samsung to implement digital zoom more effectively. That said, dynamic range and lens speed generally don’t benefit from a higher resolution.

Samsung Semiconductor is reportedly also working on a sensor tailored to the Apple iPhone series. This would mark a significant step for Samsung, considering the iPhone 16 Pro exclusively uses Sony camera sensors. Owing to an advanced packaging technology, this new chip is said to feature a three-layer design that places electronics behind light-sensitive components, thus boosting light sensitivity. No further details have been revealed regarding this sensor, but earlier rumours suggest that the iPhone 17 Pro Max might be equipped with as many as three 48 MP cameras.

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2025 01 > Phones with 500 MP camera: Samsung reportedly developing new sensors for iPhones and Galaxy S
Hannes Brecher, 2025-01- 2 (Update: 2025-01- 2)