Samsung is reportedly developing an advanced image sensor for its upcoming flagship Galaxy smartphones that could offer global shutter-level performance. While the sensor is based on rolling-shutter hardware, it incorporates a new pixel design and optical flow algorithms to reduce motion distortion and capture fast-moving subjects with greater clarity. The technology promises high-resolution imaging while minimizing the common warping effects seen in conventional rolling shutter sensors.
The sensor features 1.5-micrometre pixels arranged in a 2×2 configuration, effectively functioning as 3-micrometre pixel units. It uses a 12-megapixel class lens and integrates Analogue-to-Digital Conversion at the pixel level for faster, more precise data processing. These innovations allow the sensor to deliver sharp images of moving objects while maintaining a compact pixel pitch.
Samsung may reveal further details about this technology at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) 2026, scheduled from February 15 to 19, 2026. The sensor is expected to debut in the next-generation Galaxy flagship smartphones, setting a new benchmark for mobile photography with enhanced speed, clarity, and motion handling.