A brand new patent utility suggests Samsung is working to maneuver its stabilization from the lens of its cameras to the sensor. Switching from the present optical picture stabilization to sensor stabilization may enhance picture high quality and scale back blur. Each the Samsung Galaxy S22 Extremely and Apple iPhone 14 Professional use picture stabilization on the cameras, however the iPhone stabilizes the sensor whereas the Galaxy cellphone stabilizes the lens.  

We initially noticed this as a rumor approach again in 2021, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S22 was getting its first hints and leaks. Again then we reported that Samsung was testing this characteristic, and it is also a part of a partnership with camera-maker Olympus. That partnership by no means materialized, however now we’re seeing doable fruits of the labor. 

A stabilizer on the sensor means a bigger bump

Apple was the primary smartphone maker to make use of sensor stabilization, a way that’s nearer to the best way some skilled very high-end DSLR cameras, just like the Canon EOS R6, stabilize a picture within the physique of the digital camera, and never simply within the lens. In fact, on a smartphone the space between the sensor and the lens is far shorter, however Apple believes that stabilizing the sensor produces a greater shot. 

This additionally means a bigger digital camera bump. Picture stabilization depends on tiny motors that truly transfer the lens or the sensor in response to an accelerometer – aka a gyroscope. It may be extremely responsive, nevertheless it additionally takes up more room. 

Including the {hardware} nearer to the sensor provides much more thickness, and you may see the dramatic digital camera bump distinction between the iPhone 11 Professional, which didn’t use sensor stabilization, and the iPhone 12 Professional, on which Apple debuted the characteristic. 

Rumors recommend this patent may apply particularly to the telephoto lens, however the precise patent makes no point out of this. Samsung already juices its telephoto lens with digital methods that produce wonderful outcomes even as much as a jaw-dropping 100x zoom. Higher stabilization would definitely equal even larger enhancements right here. 

Evaluation: In all probability not the for the Galaxy S23 Extremely

As we mentioned, this form of stabilization leads to a bigger digital camera bump. We’ve seen leaked pictures of the rumored Galaxy S23 Extremely cellphone, and it appears to have the identical digital camera array design because the Galaxy S22 Extremely. That cellphone has 5 lenses poking by the again, however no bump. 

It’s completely doable that Samsung is hiding the entire stabilization contained in the cellphone. Samsung already hides a whole stylus contained in the Galaxy S22 Extremely, and the cellphone remains to be sealed up water-tight. With its Galaxy Z Flip four and folding household, it has already proved contortionist capabilities in the case of arranging cellphone guts. 

Patents are a great way to test the route of the trade, however a foul option to predict a selected product characteristic. We hope to see the subsequent Samsung Galaxy S cellphone always enhance on the pictures its predecessor took, if that’s even doable. Ultimately, a stabilized picture sensor could possibly be a technique Samsung makes that occur.