Galaxy S23 series could be the first to feature Samsung 200MP camera 2022

We've heard a lot of leaks and rumors about the Samsung Galaxy S22 in recent months, but for now, we'll briefly turn our attention to the flagship phone series from 2023 - the Galaxy S23.

According to the well-known leak source @UniverseIce, which generally provides accurate information, the Galaxy S23 Ultra model will have a 200MP main sensor in its camera, which will be "optimized for several years".

We expect the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra to come with a quad-lens rear camera, led by a 108 MP main sensor paired with two 12 MP telephoto lenses and a 12 MP ultra-wide camera for one set.

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The Samsung Galaxy S21 series. (Image credit: Samsung)

Megapixel counts

The 200MP camera sensor in question has already been unveiled by Samsung: the ISOCELL HP1 is actually the first sensor in the industry to hit the 200 megapixel mark, apparently capable of top-tier low light shots and 8K, 30fps video recording.

What's not clear is when we might see this sensor in a smartphone. The Xiaomi 12 is getting its grand unveiling tomorrow, and there has been talk that it will be the handset to debut this 200MP camera capability ahead of Samsung itself.

If we don't see the sensor in the Xiaomi 12 then it could be a long wait to see the sensor in the Galaxy S23 at the start of 2023. The Galaxy S22 is expected to be unveiled in February 2022, with the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE showing up next month.

Image: Twitter

Analysis: phone cameras keep improving

Image credit: Samsung

This rumor about Samsung's 200MP 1/1.22-inch ISOCELL HP1 camera sensor being fitted inside the Galaxy S23 Ultra model hasn't come out of nowhere – people have been speculating about it for at least a month at this point.

With the sensor itself now official, it's natural that there are going to be predictions about which phone it's fitted inside. The sensor has relatively small 0.64 µm pixels, as well as new pixel-binning technology that Samsung is calling ChameleonCell.

That essentially means that certain pixels can be cleverly combined together, leading to a larger 2.56μm pixel size, and an effective image resolution of 12.5 megapixels. Those larger pixels should be able to catch a lot of incoming light, which Samsung says will lead to brighter and clearer photos indoors or in the evening.

So why the long wait until 2023? Getting a camera sensor created is just the start: Samsung needs to gear up its production lines to make a lot of these little components, and then work out the engineering required to incorporate the sensor into an actual smartphone.