Four new 0.7μm mobile image sensors unveiled
15% size reduction and 10% height reduction compared to 0.8μm
Isocell 2.0 to be applied to the GM5, which will enter mass production in the fourth quarter.


High-resolution cameras require image sensors with ultra-small pixels. This is because they allow for more pixels to be packed into a limited space while simultaneously achieving a slim design. Accordingly, on the 15th, Samsung Electronics unveiled four new mobile image sensors utilizing 0.7μm (micrometer) pixels.

Samsung Electronics unveiled the industry's first 0.7μm pixel product in 2019. This year, it has expanded its product lineup with four new products based on 0.7μm pixels. The new products are ▲ the first 108-megapixel 'ISOCELL HM2' with 0.7μm pixels, ▲ the 64-megapixel 'GW3' capable of 4K 60fps shooting, ▲ the 48-megapixel 'GM5' that supports ultra-wide angle and folded zoom, and ▲ the ultra-small 32-megapixel 'JD1' optimized for bezel-less design.

In general, as the size of the image sensor pixels decreases, the area that receives light decreases, resulting in lower quality of the captured image. Samsung Electronics has also applied its proprietary "ISOCELL PLUS" technology, which minimizes light loss and inter-pixel interference, to its 0.7μm image sensor. It also features "Smart-ISO" technology, which automatically adjusts the ISO value based on the amount of light to enhance color reproducibility and minimize noise.

In addition, cutting-edge sensor technologies such as 'ISOCELL 2.0' and 'Staggered HDR' are also applied. ISOCELL 2.0 (applied to GM5 to be released in the fourth quarter) is a technology that minimizes light loss and inter-pixel interference by streamlining the partition structure between color filters, which can increase sensitivity by up to 12%, allowing for improved image quality even with smaller pixels. Staggered HDR (Staggered High Dynamic Range) is a technology that improves the way pixels are exposed to light, which has the advantage of obtaining high-quality images while improving image processing speed.

Implementing a 108-megapixel product with 0.7μm pixels allows for up to a 15% reduction in image sensor size compared to using 0.8μm pixels. The smaller image sensor also reduces the height of the camera module by up to 10%, allowing for smaller cameras in smartphones. Samsung Electronics is currently mass-producing the ISOCELL HM2, GW3, and JD1, and is supplying samples of the GM5.