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Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra With 200MP Camera Rumored to Launch Months After iPhone 14 Pro With 48MP Camera

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Samsung is in the final stage of developing a 200-megapixel camera for use on its next-generation Galaxy S23 Ultra smartphone, which is expected to be announced in early 2023, according to South Korea's ETNews.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
By comparison, the iPhone 13 Pro has a 12-megapixel main camera, but the iPhone 14 Pro is widely rumored to feature an upgraded 48-megapixel camera.

Like the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which has a 108-megapixel main camera, the S23 Ultra would likely use pixel binning, which merges data from multiple smaller pixels on the camera's image sensor into one "super pixel." Pixel binning is beneficial because simply increasing a smartphone camera's megapixels while maintaining the same image sensor size results in smaller pixels, which generally capture less light.

On the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the main camera shoots 12-megapixel photos by default, with a toggle available in the camera app for shooting 108-megapixel photos. The default setting is ideal for most users, as high-resolution photos can have very large file sizes.

iPhone 14 Pro models would likely utilize pixel binning as well. In a research note last year, tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said iPhone 14 Pro models may support both 48-megapixel and 12-megapixel output as a result. Kuo also said the 48-megapixel camera would enable iPhone 14 Pro models to support 8K video recording, up from 4K currently.

Tag: Samsung

Top Rated Comments

Macintosh TV Avatar
Macintosh TV
51 months ago
Not that impressive. Without expanding the size of the CCD it more MP really doesn't provide a huge advantage. But bigger numbers do sell people on marketing.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
J
Jimmy_Banks
51 months ago
More megapixels in such a tiny sensor means a crazy amount of noise in anything other than super bright settings. Yes, their software will apply noise reduction, but the likely result is a lacking exposure.

There's a reason that professional full frame sensors generally range from 20-60 megapixels.

For example, these are the megapixels in top-of-the-line professional mirrorless cameras:
Sony A1: 50 mp
Nikon Z9: 46 mp
Canon R3: 24 mp

Especially important to note that those are all full 35mm sensors (35mm x 24mm) versus a phone sensor (roughly 6.2mm x 4.5mm), which is roughly equivalent to 30x more sensor area to absorb light.

These three companies know a lot more about photography than Samsung, this 200 mp sensor is a gimmick.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Silencio Avatar
Silencio
51 months ago
Oooh, megapixel wars! Now there's a throwback nobody asked for.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cocky jeremy Avatar
cocky jeremy
51 months ago
PSA From a photographer: Megapixels mean next to nothing.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
EugW Avatar
EugW
51 months ago

Are cameras the biggest selling point for high end phones? I feel like its the majority of what’s talked about for these devices.
Yes, for me personally. It is the #1 feature I look for in new phones actually.

It's of course not really about pixel count though. It's about image quality and various other features. Absolute pixel count hasn't mattered that much for the main rear camera in quite some time. And even if there are more pixels, they would be used for pixel binning. It's not as if most people would want the full resolution. 48 MP for casual shots is ridiculously large already. Most people would be much happier with pixel-binned 12 MP or whatever.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wolf Puppy Avatar
Wolf Puppy
51 months ago
Are cameras the biggest selling point for high end phones? I feel like its the majority of what’s talked about for these devices.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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