Samsung may have already revealed some key specifications for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S25, despite the device being many months away from its anticipated release. While the Galaxy S24 was only launched in January of this year, Samsung has announced three new camera sensors that strongly suggest their inclusion in the S25: the 200-megapixel ISOCELL HP9, the 50MP ISOCELL JN5, and 50MP ISOCELL GNJ.
The 50MP GNJ sensor is likely to be the Galaxy S25’s primary camera. It boasts a sensor size comparable to the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus, featuring 1-micron pixels. For context, 50MP is the approximate sensor and pixel size that has been prevalent in phones since the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus. If the GNJ sensor indeed serves as the primary camera for the S25, it signifies another year without a significant change to the primary sensor. However, Samsung emphasizes efficiency gains of 29% in preview mode and 34% with 4K video at 60 frames per second.
Samsung claims that the new camera sensor incorporates dual pixel technology and in-sensor zoom for enhanced video clarity and higher-resolution images. It also boasts an improved “anti-refractive layer” and superior pixel isolation material to optimize light capture, minimize reflections, enhance color reproduction, and deliver more accurate shadows and dark areas.
Regarding the other sensors, the 200MP HP9, already found in some phones like the Vivo X100 Ultra, might feature in the Galaxy S25 as the telephoto camera. This would align with the 200MP cell on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Despite the existing sensor, Samsung highlights improvements in low light performance through pixel binning, enhanced color capture, a 12% increase in light capture, and a 10% boost in autofocus contrast performance.
The 50MP JN5 is a versatile sensor that could potentially serve as the selfie camera, main camera, ultrawide camera, telephoto lens, or front-facing camera. It offers HDR and autofocus adjustments, dual slope gain, and Super Quad Phase Detection autofocus. This small sensor supports 2x in-sensor zoom as a main camera and 6x in-sensor zoom when utilized on a 3x telephoto camera. Additionally, it enables low-power, always-on mode with motion recognition.
While it’s still early in the development cycle, it’s premature to confirm the inclusion of these sensors in the S25. However, as the year progresses, we can expect more leaks and information to surface regarding the Galaxy S25 and its camera capabilities.
