The Samsung Galaxy S4 is now several months old (having gone on sale on April 26th). While Samsung’s marketing machine is still hyping its current flagship to customers, the R&D teams have already turned their attention to the next model. Details are now starting to emerge about the device that could end up launching as the Galaxy S5. A report by South Korea’s ETNews that a new “state-of-the-art” 16MP camera module is currently being developed for it.
Samsung expects that 16MP camera sensors will become the bare minimum for the flagship smartphones we can expect to see in 2014.
While a 16MP camera module can already be found on the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, this new module will likely come with OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). In fact, Samsung wanted to include OIS on the upcoming Galaxy Note III but decided against it because of supply chain challenges. In particular, the OIS AF actuator is only available in limited supply, something that is expected to change by early next year as prodution ramps up.
“Samsung Electronics, which must procure the tens of millions parts, cannot but be uneasy about its supply chain,” said a Samsung Electronics official. “This is why the OIS function was installed on G2 of LG Electronics, but cannot be found on Galaxy Note 3.”
Development of the new camera module is expected to finish by the end of the year. Testing it on devices should then start early next year. Mass production is expected to be managed by Samsung Electro-Mechanics.
Even with the new 16MP camera sensor, Samsung could still be playing catch up with its competitors in this area. For example, the Sony Xperia Z1 is expected to come with a 20.7MP rear camera with a 1 2/3-inch Exmor RS sensor and Sony G lens.
Source : ETNews