It was originally reported that the new Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge came equipped with a 16MP Sony IMX240 sensor on the rear-facing or main camera. The cameras on these new flagships were quickly crowned as the best smartphone camera by DxO lens-testing facility. As early as May, there were reports that Samsung used both the Sony IMX240 sensor in many devices, but they also used their own ISOCELL sensor as well – not an unusual practice in the industry as a means to insure there is no shortage of parts. Both sensors seem to be providing consistent quality, but some users want to know for sure which component they are receiving in their new Samsung device.
This controversy seemed to have dissipated with the passage of time, but now has been resurrected once again with the new Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ and the Galaxy Note 5. Many potential and current owners would like to know which camera sensor, the Sony or Samsung is in their new smartphone, as Samsung is still using both sources. It does not seem to matter which device – S6 Edge+ or Note 5 – they are both subject to use either sensor. And while it is true that both sensors have very similar specifications, there is a slight difference in each sensor’s performance as evidenced in the main photo from SamMobile – Samsung on the left and Sony on the right. The Sony IMX240 sensor delivered “more tempting, saturated colors within images, so some preferred it over the less-extreme ISOCELL sensor.” Strange that the Samsung sensor delivered less saturated colors…which is generally their hallmark.
It is very easy to determine which sensor is in your new Galaxy S6 Edge+ or Galaxy Note 5, or most other devices for that matter, as I used an App called AIDA64 from the Google Play Store and tested it on my own Galaxy Note 3. You can see the results in the gallery below. Simply download the app, open it up and at the main screen, select, ‘Devices’ and right at the top it will show you the ‘Camera ID.’ SLSI indicates Samsung’s own ISOCELL sensor, otherwise, your will get a SONY_IMX240_FIMC_IS, or in my case I have a Sony IMX135. It is quite an interesting app to check out many areas of your device, including which camera sensor your new Galaxy S6 Edge+ or Galaxy Note 5 is packing.
