Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge use the Sony IMX240 camera sensor

posted by Nick T. / Mar 02, 2015, 7:34 AM

Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge use the Sony IMX240 camera sensor

So, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge have been announced, and Samsung was pretty proud and vocal about the new sensor the flagship handsets would sport. While the snapper is still a 16 MP one, its aperture is wider, measured at F1.9. Sammy talked a lot about how this would let a lot more light into a shot, allowing for better low-light picture taking with less grain and more detail. Additionally, the wide aperture provides a shallower depth-of-field, allowing for better focus accents within shots.

But what is this sensor? A mysterious Samsung homemade piece? Well, actually, running a little reveal code in one of the displayed Galaxy S6 units showed to us that it is in fact a Sony Exmor IMX240 sensor – word is, that's the same sensor that is packed in the Galaxy Note 4's exquisite camera. Well, looking at the few photos we had the chance to take while we had our hands on the Galaxy S6, we'd definitely say the snaps look similar, though, a bit sharper and with some color temperature differences. This could be achieved with different software processing for sure, but which camera performs better is still up in the air – the final verdict will have to wait for some extensive testing.

Camera comparison with Galaxy S6 edge

Apple iPhone 6

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Samsung Galaxy S5

View more + 16 images

Camera comparison with Galaxy S6 edge

Options

20 Comments

1. RajRicardo

Posts: 479; Member since: Feb 28, 2014

Sony Sensors FTW \,,/ Now please fix the Z3 software.

posted on Mar 02, 2015, 7:36 AM 9

3. spin9

Posts: 310; Member since: May 31, 2014

Valencia ORANGE

posted on Mar 02, 2015, 7:46 AM 4

5. Spedez

Posts: 542; Member since: Aug 29, 2014

Sony don't even know how to use their own sensors. How pathetic is that.

posted on Mar 02, 2015, 7:54 AM 7

11. Feanor

Posts: 1275; Member since: Jun 20, 2012

Totally!!! All leading cameras in smartphone business come from Sony!! Galaxy Note 4, iPhone and now S6 too! And Sony cannot deliver the same performance with their own smartphones. Is this problem of the 20.7MP sensor they use specifically for their models or software? I'm inclined to think the latter. This is really embarrassing considering that it sounds like an easy thing to fix. Please Sony fix it. It's the only thing that keeps my Z2 from perfection, even despite its age.

posted on Mar 02, 2015, 8:11 AM 5

12. Aploine

Posts: 444; Member since: Oct 24, 2013

Ther's no point antagonizing your customers companies that buy sensors for their products from you. Or they don't an make their own or go to Toshiba etc

posted on Mar 02, 2015, 8:21 AM 4

14. Aploine

* otherwise, they make their own or go to Toshiba etc. They surely have special agreement for not antagonizing each other

posted on Mar 02, 2015, 8:26 AM 3

2. nwright94

Posts: 211; Member since: Oct 14, 2014

Sony makes some amazing cameras. Won't be long until they're either up there with Nokia or surpass them. Samsung wouldn't have the great cameras they have if not for Sony. I thoroughly enjoyed the SONY camera on my Galaxy Note 4.

posted on Mar 02, 2015, 7:39 AM 4

16. PapaSmurf

Posts: 10457; Member since: May 14, 2012

S5 had ISOCELL and what happened there? Oh yeah they ranked #1 on the leaderboards.

posted on Mar 02, 2015, 8:47 AM 1

22. bur60

Posts: 981; Member since: Jul 07, 2014

Note 4 had a better camera fyi

posted on Mar 02, 2015, 1:37 PM 1

4. itsjustJOH

Posts: 232; Member since: Oct 18, 2012

Awww what happened to their ISOCELL?

posted on Mar 02, 2015, 7:47 AM 1

8. twens

Posts: 1154; Member since: Feb 25, 2012

One thing I can tell you, when samsung makes use of isocell again it will distroy everything on the market. How many times do you want samsung to prove to you their king in hardware department. They have the money to invest in RD. Just like how exynos is back in real force IOSOCELL will murder when it next launches. It's Sony I fear for.

posted on Mar 02, 2015, 7:56 AM 6

9. itsjustJOH

Didn't they invest so much in the first ISOCELL sensor? They were even so confident about it that they put it inside the S5. And no matter how much money they invest in their R&D, Sony's extensive experience in crafting imaging sensors cannot be matched. Probably after a few years, probably inch closer to Sony, but never will they "murder/destroy" them. As for their Exynos, Qualcomm ain't that bad but they f*cked up badly with the 810. They were so confident about their market share that they thought they can take it easy and slow down.

posted on Mar 02, 2015, 8:04 AM 5

6. pyradark

Posts: 895; Member since: Jun 10, 2012

Hahaha to ISOCELL, thanks samaung for helping sony gain more profit on imaging division

posted on Mar 02, 2015, 7:54 AM 2

7. kerginaldo17 unregistered

I saw much noise but some sharpness and details.But, in general, no so gooood camera.

posted on Mar 02, 2015, 7:55 AM 0

10. kerginaldo17 unregistered

Samsung could bet on their own lenses and sensors.It produces excellent lens.Ou, since it is a premium product, Carl Zeiss or Schneider Kreuznach lens

posted on Mar 02, 2015, 8:06 AM 1

13. itsdeepak4u2000

Posts: 3718; Member since: Nov 03, 2012

Sammy's camera software optimization is the best.

posted on Mar 02, 2015, 8:22 AM 2

15. numbertwo

Posts: 16; Member since: Mar 20, 2013

Also wider lens on s6 which I don't like :( 31mm equivalent on Note 4/s5 Vs 28mm equivalent on s6.

posted on Mar 02, 2015, 8:36 AM 0

17. Taters

Posts: 6474; Member since: Jan 28, 2013

Disappointing. They went all out on the metal, wireless charging, glass, CPU, and ram etc... They could have used something newer than the Note 4 sensor. Although I guess they might have have ordered too many from Sony in bulk and had no choice but to reuse it.