Samsung's new 43 MP ISOCELL Slim GH1 sensor could change the selfie game

Yesterday, Samsung launched a new smartphone camera sensor. The ISOCELL Slim GH1 is a 43 MP sensor that's designed with the aim of having a smaller physical footprint.

“We are pleased to deliver yet another breakthrough with the industry’s first 0.7μm pixel image sensor..." the company's official press release reads. "...the ISOCELL Slim GH1 that will enable sleeker and more streamlined designs as well as excellent imaging experiences in tomorrow’s smartphones.”

While nothing confirms our theory that this sensor is designed for selfie cameras, it definitely looks that way. Samsung's GM1 and GW1 are already 0.8μm sensors that have seen use on multiple devices over the past year. It makes no sense for the company to release an even smaller, less powerful sensor. Unless, of course, if it's designed to go on the front of the devices.

While smartphone main cameras are held back by the lack of physical space, selfie cameras have it even worse, especially in a world where bezels are starting to be looked upon as taboos. A sensor like the Slim GH1 could offer just what the industry has lacked: a powerful, petite selfie sensor. 

There's a reason why the Asus Zenfone 6 is hailed for its selfie performance: its 48 MP main sensor doubles up as the selfie camera, giving it a huge advantage over devices using much smaller sensors on the selfie end. The Slim GH1 could reduce that advantage by quite a bit.

The Slim GH1 uses pixel-merging Tetracell technology to output 10.9 MP images. It supports 4K video recording at 60 FPS, PDAF, EIS, and HDR.