Samsung unveils a new 8MP ISOCELL image sensor for front-facing cameras

Samsung has just taken the wraps off of its new 8MP image sensor made specifically for front-facing cameras. Dubbed the S5K4H5YB, the new sensor is made using the company’s in-house built ISOCELL technology, along with its newly-developed RWB (red-white-blue) color pattern filter. Samsung hopes that the combination of ISOCELL’s advanced light sensitivity tech and RWB’s color fidelity enhancements will produce a much clearer low light shot.

The company is planning to mass-produce the S5K4H5YB sensor beginning in Q2 of 2015, so we will likely see the new sensor on smartphones released in the later half of the year.

The last time we saw Samsung’s ISOCELL tech in a flagship smartphone was in the Galaxy S5, but the company seemingly went back to the drawing board after that. The Galaxy Note 4, which was released over five months after the S5, carried Sony’s IMX240 camera sensor instead of an ISOCELL sensor. Additionally, Sony’s sensors also come in the recently-announced Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge handsets.

Last year, the company talked a lot about ISOCELL, so it was clear that they wouldn’t just ditch the technology after putting it in only one smartphone. Now it’s apparent that Samsung was bettering their camera tech before releasing it to another flagship. And who knows, maybe they’ll release an improved rear-facing ISOCELL sensor in time for the Galaxy Note 5 launch.