Samsung’s long term goal is to deliver a 600MP image sensor to rival the human eye, but in the shorter term it’s focusing on a 250MP imager. The 250MP sensor will likely be the first that will made. Chinese sources report that Samsung has finished development for the 150MP sensors and started work on the 250MP ones. The first 150MP sensors are expected to launch with Xiaomi’s flagship handhelds later this year, while the 250 MP sensor could arrive in late 2021.
According to the most recent report from sources familiar with the matter, the company is working on a 250MP sensor that could be up to an inch in diagonal. For reference the Galaxy S20 Ultra’s 108MP sensor is 1/1.33″, which is still considerably smaller than the rumored 1″ unit. And this 250MP sensor will be a massive improvements from the 108MP sensor even the yet to be launched 150MP sensor.
The same report also says that Samsung is done with the research and development of its 150MP sensor. We will see it appear in devices launched in the second half of this year. So I guess we should just keep our hands crossed and wait for the 250MP sensor to launch in a smartphone. Expect to see the 150 MP sensor in Xiaomi’s or flagships later this year, while the first Samsung devices to integrate it may arrive in early 2021 with the Galaxy S21 models. As for the 250 MP sensor, the earliest we could see it integrated in a smartphone might be the second half of 2021 with the launch of the Note 21.
