Galaxy S7 and S7 edge feature Sony IMX260 sensor, not Samsung BRITECELL

Samsung filed a patent for BRITECELL camera technology some weeks ago, and we’ve assumed, as is the case among many tech enthusiasts, that Samsung would utilize its own camera technology in the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. What we’re now discovering is that Samsung didn’t utilize BRITECELL in its new Galaxy S7 and S7 edge back cameras, but instead chose to use Sony’s new IMX260 sensor. The evidence, as always, can be found in the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge smartphones themselves, as you can see in the photo below.

The new IMX260 sensor is a new camera sensor, seeing that the IMX240 camera sensor was used in the Galaxy S6/S6 edge/S6 edge Plus and Galaxy Note 5. The IMX260 would be a step up in camera tech, a new camera in the Galaxy S7, S7 edge, and the upcoming Galaxy Note 6.

While we’re somewhat disappointed Samsung didn’t go with BRITECELL in the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, it’s not uncommon for the Korean giant to use Sony camera tech in its smartphones. Even with the Galaxy Note 4, for example, Samsung used its own ISOCELL camera tech in some models while implementing Sony’s camera chip in other models. Samsung went with its own ISOCELL, 16MP camera in the Galaxy S5, but some evidence of camera flaws may have led Samsung to test its camera tech alongside of Sony’s own camera chips. It appears as though Samsung has taken a step back this time and completely gone with Sony’s new IMX260 chip in the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. If there’s evidence of a Samsung camera chip, we’ll bring this to your attention.

There could be a number of reasons as to why Samsung used Sony’s camera sensor chip, one having been to perhaps save money and mass-produce the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge on a massive scale. Crafting those dual-curved-edge designs requires some serious investment (before consumers even buy into what you’ve made), so Samsung may have gone with the Sony sensor to save on its overall expenditures and cost.

The Galaxy S7 and S7 edge utilize a 5MP front camera and 12MP back camera, both with an f/1.7 camera aperture, which should let in lowlight and produce some of the best photos in the mobile tech field as of this time. Samsung has already shown that its Galaxy S7 and S7 edge take better photos than Apple’s iPhone 6s Plus (the only smartphone camera from the fruit company to feature optical image stabilization, or OIS).

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