Samsung's Galaxy S20 Ultra sequel may keep the 108MP camera

The 108MP camera in the Galaxy S20 Ultra and (to a lesser extent) Note 20 Ultra has drawn flak for slow focusing and sometimes-soft pictures, but Samsung might not be giving up on the concept quite so quickly.

Well-known leaker Ice Universe has claimed the S20 Ultra sequel will also include an 108MP rear sensor. It wouldn’t be the same ISOCELL Bright HM1 sensor found in the S20 Ultra or Note 20 Ultra, however — you’d instead find a “successor” to the HM1.

It’s not certain what that updated sensor would include, although it wouldn’t be surprising if Samsung addressed focusing speed and other gripes with the HM1.

The S20 Ultra successor is still months away, so we wouldn’t count on an upgraded sensor despite Ice Universe’s general reputation as a source (don’t expect an S21 naming scheme, either). Last-minute design changes and production problems could affect the release.

Still, it wouldn’t be surprising if Samsung continued using a 108MP sensor for its 2021 flagships. The massive number of megapixels serves as a selling point, of course, but it also offers high levels of detail and zoom (really, cropping) that don’t always require telephoto lenses. It’s a way for Samsung to stand out in a market where even budget phones like Google’s Pixel 4a can produce exceptional photos.

This would also represent a second chance for Samsung. The tech giant has rolled out multiple updates meant to improve the S20 Ultra’s camera without much success. If the new sensor solves key issues where software didn’t, it could make the case that Samsung had the right idea with its 108MP camera and just needed better execution.

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