One of the highest resolution mobile image sensors in the world — the 200MP — is embedded inside Samsung’s newest flagship device, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. To prove the true power and detail of its ISOCELL image sensor, Samsung took to the streets of London to showcase photos captured with the 200MP technology in brilliant resolution on one of Europe’s biggest billboards. Check out the video below for behind-the-scenes film from the event.

“There aren’t many locations in the world more iconic and exciting than the bright lights of London’s Piccadilly”, said Annika Bizon of Marketing and Omnichannel at Samsung Electronics U.K. “So where better to demonstrate the power of our Samsung technology while empowering consumers to have fun at the same time? It’s so important to demonstrate in an accessible and imaginative way like this, what innovations can help people really achieve.”

To bring this to life, Samsung placed an old photobooth with the Galaxy S23 Ultra device to capture epic moments using the ISOCELL HP2 image sensor with the 200MP inside the camera — and then shared these on the big screen, showcasing how more pixels can truly mean epic details. Ran Chae of Global Marcom team at Samsung Electronics’ Device Solutions Division explained: “We took the 200MP photos captured in the booth and posted them up on London’s enormous Piccadilly Circus billboard that reaches nearly 700 inches in height, and then zoomed in about 8.5x to show that the photo quality in every pixel remains true to life even when dramatically zoomed in.”

Over 100 content creators that represented diverse communities across the U.K. took part in the event, along with members of the public and competition winners. Each had their photo taken inside the booth, where the advanced 200MP ISOCELL HP2 image sensor captured their epic moment in ultra-high resolution to be shared on the iconic Piccadilly billboard. The photobooth was well attended over the weekend with more than 200 visitors and over 800 photos captured from inside the photobooth across the two days.

Prominent photography creators particularly enjoyed the opportunity to be the subject for once as they tested out the ISOCELL technology. Photographer Chris Priestley — who shared content throughout the event with his 1.3M social followers — explained: “As a photographer, I’m usually behind the camera, so it’s been amazing to be on the other side and to see the sheer quality of the technology on myself.”

People all around the world were eager to take part as their submitted photos displayed in ultra-high resolution on the big screen. Content creators in the U.S., India, China and Germany captured beautiful self-portraits or landscape scenery, which were brought to life on the billboard with 200MP technology. Valentina Pahde, who attended from Germany and shared content with her 844K followers, gushed: “To be photographed in a photobooth and to see my picture in XXL size on the billboard at Piccadilly Circus … I still can’t believe it!”

Alongside the photobooth event, Samsung also ran a photo competition for Galaxy S23 Ultra users in the U.S. and U.K. to drive further buzz on social media. Entrants took to Instagram to #SharetheEpic by capturing a 200MP photo using their Galaxy S23 Ultra device for a chance to see it live on the world-famous billboard. Entrants submitted a variety of images — from landscapes to family and friends, beloved pets and even selfies. Overall, 14 users’ photos were selected from the pre-event competition. Several winners attended in-person to experience the epic details of their 200MP photo live on the big screen, as one shared: “I’m really excited to see what 200MP looks like on the big screen … Wow, that’s my photo — it’s so clear!”

Members of the public were also excited to join Samsung in the photobooth for the chance to see their image shown in magnificent detail on the billboard, with many in awe of the image clarity: “200MP, wow — the quality of the new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra camera is incredible — can you send me that?”

Crowds cheered as the ISOCELL-captured images went live in epic details — focusing in on lifelike details in exceptional definition, from hair to freckles. A crowd favorite was when content creator Josh Ryan, who shares lifestyle content on his modelling career, took to the screen: “It was so exciting seeing Josh Ryan in person that I actually stayed around to see him on the big screen. He was so zoomed in — the detail was incredible!” Josh also shared his experience with his 3.6M social followers after the event.

Visitors were thrilled to capture every moment of the event. Technology creator Cadea, who shared an Instagram grid post of the event with her 25K followers, praised the product and experience: “It was incredible to be a part of such an innovative, once in a lifetime experience and to get hands-on with the products — very humbling to see the insane level of detail their cameras can capture on the big screen!”

Consumers on Instagram and TikTok were equally astonished to see the epic details illustrated on the huge billboard, resulting in strong engagement online. Lifestyle creator Fats Timbs, who shared her experience of the event through an Instagram reel, received hundreds of positive comments, including one on the zoomed-in detail of her “lashes” and other close-up details shown on the big screen.

You can check out the images and videos from the event on Instagram and TikTok — or even better, if you are a Galaxy S23 Ultra user, get involved by sharing your own 200MP images with the hashtags #SharetheEpic and #MorePixelsEpicDetails.

The image sensor is a smartphone’s key component that determines the quality of photos and videos. Have you ever wondered the use of 200MP image sensors in cutting-edge smartphones like the Galaxy S23 Ultra? The reason for this is that the ultra-high resolution image sensors allow you to capture your epic moment with the epic details. To prove it, Samsung decided to hack the least advanced photobooth in town with a 200MP image sensor and take over one of the world’s most iconic billboards.

Samsung created a specially designed photobooth at a landmark location and installed a 200MP mobile image sensor in the camera so people could see for themselves how powerful ISOCELL sensors can be and how detailed photos taken with these sensors can be. At Piccadilly Circus in London, the photobooth gave those who took pictures a printout that said, “Look up”. When they were leaving the photobooth, they saw the ultra-high resolution photo of themselves displayed on a 45 by 18 meter epic billboard at the Piccadilly Circus. Remarkably, when the photos were zoomed in on the billboard, they showed the quality of 200MP photos — all the lifelike details of their eyes, hair and skin.

Watch the video to see how this was achieved.

“This is my face captured by the 200MP Samsung ISOCELL mobile image sensor and sent straight to the big screens at London’s Piccadilly Circus. This is what smartphones will be capable of,” said GadgetsBoy as attendees discovered the true power of ultra-high resolution cameras and saw for themselves how more pixels in an image sensor means more highly-detailed photos. What’s more, because the experience took place on one of the world’s most iconic billboards, attendees also stated that it was the once-in-a-lifetime moment they had dreamed of and their content went viral on social media.

And now Samsung is bringing the Piccadilly experience back to the huge screen this year with the Galaxy S23 Ultra with ISOCELL HP2. Creators will attend the experiential event and have their photos taken in the photobooth at Piccadilly Circus on April 15 and 16 (GMT). Samsung will also be running a 200MP photo competition in U.S. and U.K., where winners will have their winning ultra-high resolution 200MP photo displayed live on the big screen and a copy of the footage will also be shared with the winners who are unable to attend.

Anyone who owns a Galaxy S23 Ultra and currently lives in the U.S. or U.K. can enter for a chance to be featured on the Piccadilly Circus billboards by simply posting a portrait using Galaxy S23 Ultra on Instagram. Visit the competition website for more information on how to join the competition.

* All images shown may not be an exact representation of the images captured with the product. Some images are digitally enhanced.

The ISOCELL HP2 image sensor helps users capture epic detail for stunning photos, even in challenging conditions. It’s the biggest sensor ever on a Galaxy device and its 200 million pixels improve image clarity while enhancing the appearance of colors in every pixel. In addition to more megapixels, the enhanced pixel structure, pixel binning technology, fast autofocus and HDR capabilities enable any user to capture phenomenal content and granular detail in a variety of situations to deliver a remarkable photography experience.

▲ ISOCELL HP2 image sensor

Epic Tales in Epic Details

The pixel count in a sensor determines how the detail within an image. As digital photos grow, more information makes more details possible.

▲ Photo size comparison by resolution

A 200MP image is 16 times bigger with 16 times more information than the 12.5MP image. This means that the image maintains its level of detail even after cropping. When zooming in on a photo for cropping, a photo typically appears blurry due to few image pixels. But this is not an issue with the Galaxy S23 Ultra. For example, even if a 200MP image is cropped in half, both vertically and horizontally, the resulting 50MP image maintains incredibly rich details. Furthermore, the ISOCELL HP2 utilizes an advanced deep learning algorithm to produce 200MP images with more accurate colors and details, made possible by the ISOCELL HP2. Whether you are zooming in on an image or cropping photos, experience clear and crisp details with the Galaxy S23 Ultra with ISOCELL HP2.

Every Pixel Tells a Story

To enhance the performance of each individual pixel of the ISOCELL HP2, Samsung enhanced the pixel structure to absorb more light than ever. The ISOCELL HP2 features a re-designed pixel structure, Dual Vertical Transfer Gate(D-VTG), which enhances the appearance of colors and details in every pixel, even in some of the brightest conditions.

Shoot at the Resolution You Need

Do you think that all pictures need to be 200 million pixels? With the versatile ISOCELL, you don’t need to worry. Specially designed with the Tetra²pixel technology, the ISOCELL HP2 within the Galaxy S23 Ultra ensures optimal quality by giving users resolutions from which to choose. It combines up to 16 individual pixels together into one, which then operates as one big pixel.

Thus, the ISOCELL HP2 sensor provides 200MP, 50MP and 12MP output options that allow the user to change resolution depending on their needs. In its default mode, the ISOCELL HP2 produces a 12MP image by merging 16 pixels into one big pixel. When you need a photo that has ultra-high quality, you can choose 200MP mode and the ISOCELL HP2 produces the image with rich details.

Nightography: Light up the Night

▲ Photo taken of the Palace of Fine Arts using Galaxy S23 Ultra’s Nightography feature

The Galaxy S23 Ultra’s Nightography capabilities have improved the photography experience for users in darker environments. The Galaxy S23 Ultra features AI-enabled image signal processing technology that adjusts the saved data on the image sensor to improve the color tone and picture quality. Additionally, the ISOCELL HP2’s Tetra²pixel technology is an important enabler of the improved Nightography capability. In lower-light conditions, the ISOCELL HP2 merges neighboring pixels into one, allowing it to operate as a single 2.4um-sized pixel with 12MP for absorbing more light in a single pixel. This technology increases the light sensitivity of pixels to equip the Galaxy S23 Ultra to deliver clearer low-light photos with less noise.

Sharper Shots With Improved Autofocus

To clearly capture high-movement scenes with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the ISOCELL HP2 features Super QPD technology for faster autofocus. With Super QPD, every pixel is utilized for phase detection, compared to only 3% of pixels in its 108MP predecessor. As a result, 200 million pixels are used for focusing agents — taking auto-focusing to the next level. Each micro-lens covers four adjacent autofocus pixels, which allows the sensor to detect movement both in horizontal and vertical direction.

Capture Smooth and Vibrant Videos 

The ISOCELL HP2 helps the Galaxy S23 Ultra shoot detailed 4K and 8K videos that produce a cinematic experience. By using the ISOCELL HP2 in its 50MP mode, which combines four pixels into one big pixel with Tetra²pixel technology, the Galaxy S23 Ultra can capture 8K video with bright, clear colors and a wider angle than its predecessor.

ISOCELL HP2: Epically Equipped 

The ISOCELL HP2 image sensor equips the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s pro-grade camera with advanced technology that enables even more detail, no matter your environment. You can record every moment in high resolution — fast autofocus allows you to effortlessly capture movement in a photo, while the Tetra²pixel technology enables 8K videos with wide angle. Whether in motion or under low light or bright sun, the new image sensor delivers unrivaled photos. Experience vibrant color, clear resolution and professional photo quality in every situation.

Please visit the website for more information about the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the ISOCELL HP2.

* Samsung first announced its ISOCELL technology in 2013, which reduces color crosstalk between pixels by placing a physical barrier, allowing small-sized pixels to achieve higher color fidelity. Based on this technology, Samsung introduced the industry’s first 1.0μm-pixel image sensor in 2015 and a 0.9-pixel sensor in 2017. In June 2018, Samsung introduced an upgraded pixel isolation technology, the ISOCELL Plus. In 2020, Samsung introduced a 1.2μm-pixel image sensor, the first to offer both Dual Pixel and Tetrapixel technologies. In 2021, Samsung introduced the industry’s first 0.64-μm-pixel image sensor and continued to innovate with diverse technologies.
** All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, components, performance, availability and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.
*** All images shown are provided for illustrative purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the product or images captured with the product. All images are digitally edited, modified or enhanced.
**** Samsung reserves the right to change images and specifications at any time without notice. Nonmetric weights and measurements are approximate. All data were deemed correct at time of creation. Samsung is not liable for errors or omissions.

¹ 0.6-micrometer (μm) pixels in a 1/1.3” optical format

Samsung Electronics today introduced its latest 200-megapixel (MP) image sensor, the ISOCELL HP2, with improved pixel technology and full-well capacity for stunning mobile images in tomorrow’s premium smartphones.

“The Samsung ISOCELL HP2 harnesses Samsung’s high-resolution image sensor technologies and know-how at the cutting edge for epic details,” said JoonSeo Yim, Executive Vice President of Sensor Business Team at Samsung Electronics. “Our leadership comes from innovative pixel technologies that allow our sensors to go beyond the number and size of pixels. We will continue to open new horizons and solidify our presence in the expanding ultra-high-resolution sensor market.”

The ISOCELL HP2 packs 200-million 0.6-micrometer (μm) pixels in a 1/1.3” optical format, a sensor size that is widely used in 108MP main smartphone cameras. This enables consumers to enjoy even higher resolutions in the latest high-end smartphones without larger camera bumps in their devices.

With Samsung’s advanced pixel-binning technology, Tetra²pixel, the HP2 adds more versatility to the camera as it simulates different pixel sizes to accommodate varying lighting levels. When in low-lit environments, the sensor transforms either into a 1.2μm 50MP or 2.4μm 12.5MP image sensor by binding four to 16 neighboring pixels. For fuller 8K video, approximately at 33MP, the HP2 switches to 1.2μm 50MP mode to minimize cropping and capture more of the scene. Filming 8K at 30 frames-per-second (fps), a wide field of view along with bigger pixel size can produce sharp cinematic videos.

Washed out pictures from brightly lit environments can be significantly reduced with the HP2, thanks to Samsung’s new Dual Vertical Transfer Gate (D-VTG) technology. In a photo diode within each pixel, a voltage transfer gate is placed on the bottom to transport electrons from the pixels to the logic layer. With high precision, D-VTG adds a second transfer gate in the pixel, boosting the pixel’s full-well capacity by more than 33 percent. With more electrons stored and efficient signal transfers, this method can reduce overexposure and enhance color reproduction, especially in bright light conditions.

In low-lit settings, the HP2’s auto-focusing is taken to the next level with Super QPD, which allows the sensor to use all its 200-million pixels for focusing agents. The ample amount of focusing agents are grouped by four adjacent pixels to recognize both horizontal and vertical pattern changes that delivers faster and more accurate auto-focusing. Utilizing the rich pattern data along with the sheer number of reference points, the new sensor is capable of fast auto-focusing, even in a dimly lit environment.

For superb HDR performance, Samsung is introducing the DSG feature for the first time in 50MP mode which applies two separate conversion values to the analog signal received at the pixel level. In addition, the Smart-ISO Pro, an HDR solution that merges different levels of ISO readouts from a single exposure, allows the camera to take 12.5MP images and 4K at 60fps video in HDR.

The Samsung ISOCELL HP2 has entered mass production.