Samsung doesn’t plan to utilize its 1-inch camera in Galaxy phones

Samsung is reportedly working on a 1-inch camera sensor for smartphones. However, it doesn’t plan to use that sensor in its Galaxy phones. The company will supply the gigantic camera to other vendors.

Sony launched the world’s first 1-inch smartphone camera last year. The Sony IMX989 debuted inside the Xiaomi 12S Ultra in July. This camera has made it into several other devices since then, including the Vivo X90 Pro+ and the OPPO Find X6 Pro. Samsung has been rumored to be readying a competing solution for some time now but it hasn’t introduced a 1-inch camera sensor yet. The latest word is that the company is still working on the new camera. Noted Twitter tipster @Tech_Reve recently confirmed that.

While the tipster didn’t reveal a launch date or even a tentative timeframe, they shared some interesting bits of information. According to them, Samsung “has no intention” of using the big camera in Galaxy devices. Instead, it will sell the sensor to rival firms. The Korean behemoth is probably looking to capitalize on the demand for a new 1-inch smartphone camera from Chinese firms such as Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo. They currently don’t have a second choice over the Sony IMX989.

Samsung will focus on improving its 200MP camera for Galaxy devices

Samsung will not use a 1-inch camera in its upcoming smartphones because it plans to improve its 200MP sensor featured in the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Next year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra may get an improved version of it. The company will reportedly introduce a new 200MP camera with the Galaxy S25 series in 2025. Rumors have it that it will include technologies like nanophotonics and arrive as the world’s first image sensor built on a 17nm process node.

Moreover, Samsung also plans to introduce a new 50MP flagship camera in 2025. The ISOCELL GN3 sensor found in the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy 23+ will make it to the Galaxy S24 series as well. However, with the Galaxy S25 series, the company is expected to equip the smaller two models with a new sensor.

It remains to be seen if Samsung’s decision not to launch a Galaxy phone with a 1-inch camera sensor backfires amid competition from Chinese vendors. Bigger sensors mean bigger pixels, effectively allowing more light to go through. Theoretically, this should enable brighter and sharper pictures in low-light conditions. Time will tell what Samsung has in store for its flagship smartphone camera for the next few years.