14 DAY TRIAL // Samsung brought many improvements in the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, compared to its predecessors, but the rear camera on both editions seems to be strikingly similar. The megapixel count on the Galaxy S8 and S7 is the same, while both smartphones have dual pixel phase-detection autofocus, OIS and f/1.7 aperture.
There was talk of a brand new Sony IMX333 sensor on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, a rear camera sensor that Sony hasn’t officially introduced yet. Now it seems that Samsung has indeed sourced two different vendors for the rear camera, just like it did on the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge.
Some Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ units appear to use the S5K2L1 Isocell sensor from System LSI, a Samsung division. Other units use the Sony IMX333 model, but both have the same 12.2MP resolution and capability to record 4K videos. Therefore, the final image and video quality should be quite similar from both sensors.
The front sensor on the Galaxy S8 is in short supply
Aside from upgrading the camera model, the rear camera on the Galaxy S8 seems to be quite similar to the one on its predecessor. But when it comes to the front sensor, Samsung did make a significant improvement, as it upped the 5MP capacity to 8MP and incorporated a Sony IMX320 sensor or S5K3H1 from System LSI.
Both sensors have autofocus features and QHD video recording. The front module is much more complex than on last year’s Galaxy S7, considering that it features a camera sensor and an iris scanner.
Samsung is facing some manufacturing issues, according to a new report. Apparently, the Galaxy S8’s front camera module supplier, Patron, is unable to increase the yield rate, while the current production yield is below 70%. The same issue doesn’t affect the Galaxy S8+, which has a different front camera supplier and doesn’t use a unified camera module.
