Samsung unveils 200MP ISOCELL HPC sensor with 16-bit RAW

Samsung has unveiled its latest flagship mobile camera sensor, the ISOCELL HPC, a 200-megapixel component that introduces several significant hardware advancements aimed at improving image quality. The sensor, announced on August 7, 2026, features a new pixel structure called DeepPix and is the first smartphone sensor capable of native 16-bit RAW image capture, marking a notable technical leap in mobile photography.

The ISOCELL HPC maintains a 1/1.3-inch optical format with 0.6-micron pixels, matching the physical size of the sensor used in the current Galaxy S26 Ultra. Its headline feature, DeepPix technology, is a redesigned pixel architecture that Samsung says increases Full Well Capacity by 60 percent over the previous generation. This enhancement allows each pixel to hold more light before saturating, which the company claims results in less blown-out highlights, cleaner shadows, and reduced image noise, particularly in low-light conditions, before any software processing is applied.

A major upgrade is the sensor's ability to capture native 16-bit RAW images, a step up from the 12-bit or 14-bit RAW pipelines common in current flagship sensors. This higher bit depth captures...