Samsung Semiconductor opened CES 2026 with a major imaging milestone, unveiling the ISOCELL HP5, the smallest 200-megapixel image sensor ever built for mobile devices.
The launch highlights how sensor miniaturization continues to reshape smartphone camera capabilities without forcing larger camera modules.
Roughly half the size of a penny, the ISOCELL HP5 packs 200 million pixels into an extremely compact footprint.
Each pixel measures just 0.5 micrometers, making it about one-hundredth the width of a human hair. Samsung designed the sensor to push physical limits while maintaining strong light absorption and signal accuracy.
The 0.5-micrometer pixel size allows the ISOCELL HP5 to fit into a 1/1.56-inch optical format. Smartphone makers typically reserve this format for 50-megapixel sensors.
By keeping the same optical size, manufacturers can upgrade to 200 megapixels without redesigning camera modules.
This approach simplifies adoption for premium smartphone brands. It also enables slimmer camera bumps while still delivering higher resolution.
Samsung positions the HP5 as a drop-in upgrade rather than a disruptive hardware change.
Beyond still photography, the sensor supports 8K video recording at 30 frames per second.
This capability allows users to capture ultra-high-resolution video while preserving fine detail. Samsung says the sensor targets users who want professional-grade imaging from mobile devices.
Advanced pixel engineering
Shrinking pixels creates major sensitivity challenges. Samsung addressed these issues early in development by redesigning the sensor structure.
Engineers used a Deep Trench Isolation Center Cut design to improve pixel separation and reduce signal interference.
The company also introduced High Sensitivity DTI, or High-S, to improve light reflection inside each pixel.
Titanium dioxide materials and high-refractive-index lenses further enhance light absorption.
Together, these changes help maintain Full Well Capacity despite the tiny pixel size.
Samsung says these structural improvements allow the HP5 to overcome traditional low-light limitations.
The goal was to deliver consistent image quality rather than trade resolution for brightness.
High dynamic range remains a core focus of the ISOCELL HP5. The sensor supports 13-bit output, allowing richer color representation and smoother tonal transitions.
This depth enables more accurate color reproduction across complex scenes.
The HP5 also uses a 1:8 conversion gain structure to widen dynamic range. This design helps the sensor capture bright highlights and deep shadows in the same frame.
The sensor can record long and short exposures simultaneously, improving sharpness when subjects move.
Samsung highlighted the HP5’s industry recognition at CES. The company earned seven CES Innovation Awards this year, with the ISOCELL HP5 recognized in the Imaging category.
Samsung positions the sensor as a key step toward next-generation mobile photography.
With the ISOCELL HP5, Samsung reinforces its strategy of advancing camera performance through semiconductor innovation rather than larger hardware alone.