Samsung Builds Thinner Image Sensors For Future Phone Cameras

Samsung is building ever-thinner sensors in order to cram higher-resolution cameras into their phones.

In the past, Sony led the pack in creating top-notch phone camera technology. In today’s mobile landscape, Samsung has defined itself as the alpha, from mobile devices to LED display technology, and now, even to mobile camera technology. Having sealed their line of smartphones into consumer consciousness as those with the best cameras around, Samsung is looking to improve their camera technology even further with the S5K3P3 image sensor.

This new model of camera sensors uses 1.0-micron pixels instead of 1.12-micron pixels on previous units’ sensors. This will enable the company to build 16MP cameras into their new phones 20% thinner. The future camera modules are projected to have a z-height less than 5mm, giving 16MP camera phones a thinner, sleeker build. Expect higher-resolution cameras that maintain a sleek profile in Samsung devices in the near future.

These sensors are still built upon Samsung’s ISOCELL technology. The company will not lock the technology into their own devices, however, so the new camera modules may also turn up in other companies’ product lineups. Imagine slim-profile devices from Motorola, Asus, Lenovo, Xiaomi, Oppo, LG, and the rest of the Android smartphone players using the S5K3P3 image sensor on some of their slim line phone models.

The only downside to the new line of sensors is that ISOCELL technology does not enhance image quality in dim lighting. According to Engadget, bigger sensors from Samsung still deliver better-quality images. But if a slim profile is important to the end-user, this technology may turn up on thinner product lines.

If the capacity to take high-resolution pictures is a non-negotiable for the end user, it would still make sense to make a decision based on camera quality over aesthetics.

Beauty over functionality can only go so far.