What should Pixel 6 use?

Samsung announced the 50 MP Isocell GN1 last year, moving away from its 108 MP sensors. The lower resolution of GN1 was compensated for by its much larger pixels, allowing for significant improvements for low light capture on paper.

Now, Samsung has announced a successor to the Isocell GN1, called Isocell GN2. This is a 50MP sensor as well, but it offers a larger size sensor (1 / 1.12 in.) And larger pixels (1.4 microns) than its predecessor. The pixel size in particular is remarkable, as it is the same size as the IMX363 sensor used on most Google Pixel phones.

A larger pixel size results in better image quality when the sun goes down, so we expect to see standard images from the new sensor. In any case, Isocell GN2 is also capable of using four in one pixel-binning to provide images roughly comparable to a 12.5 MP, 2.8 micron pixel camera.

The improvements don’t end here either, as Samsung claims that the Isocell GN2 is its first sensor to offer Dual Pixel Pro technology. This is an updated version of the phase detection autofocus, which sees two photodiodes within each pixel being used for faster autofocus. But the updated technology also allows “focus in all directions” due to the fact that pixels can be divided both vertically and diagonally. Samsung claims that the diagonal approach allows “focus agents” to better recognize the top and bottom of a frame.

Samsung’s latest 50 MP camera sensor also features scaled HDR functionality, which was missing from the Isocell GN1. This sounds similar to traditional HDR technology, as the sensor captures short, medium and long exposures. But it is said that this approach offers 24% less energy consumption compared to the real-time HDR seen on the previous sensor.

The previous sensor and the new sensor have Smart ISO technology, which intelligently chooses the best ISO for a scene. But the Samsung Isocell GN2 also features Smart ISO Pro functionality, so how does it differ?

“Unlike Smart ISO, which uses single ISO readings per image, Smart ISO Pro, which uses an intra-scene double conversion gain (iDCG) solution, takes high and low ISO readings to instantly create images of high dynamic range with less motion artifacts, ”explained Samsung in an e-mailed press release. He adds that Smart ISO Pro also allows the capture and processing of multiple frames at high ISO, reaching almost one million ISO for extremely dark scenes.

Much like the previous sensor, the Isocell GN2 is also capable of producing 100MP images through its 50MP sensor. This is done by creating “three individual layers of 50MP frames in green, red and blue” and then using a remosaic algorithm to produce a 100MP photo. We are assuming that a 108MP sensor can be better in real 100MP + images.

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Samsung’s new 50MP sensor also offers video, capturing 4K / 120fps or 480fps slow motion video in FHD. You are also getting 8K / 24fps recording, which looks like a slight downgrade on paper compared to GN1’s 8K / 30fps features.

Isocell GN2 is currently in mass production, which suggests that we will see it sooner or later. For what it’s worth, Vivo was the only brand to use Isocell GN1 on their phones. But informant Ice Universe recognizes that the new sensor will land on the Mi 11 Ultra. Xiaomi had previously used a 48 MP Omnivision sensor on the Mi 10 Ultra and Omnivision recently launched its own 50 MP sensor. So we need to wait and see if the new Xiaomi phone has a Samsung sensor.