The company hoped that the new sensor would improve the efficiency of the smartphone camera, but it did not live up to expectations.
According to Korea IT News, Samsung has no plans to equip the upcoming Galaxy S22 series of flagship smartphones with a ToF (or LiDAR) sensor, which is used to accurately determine the distance to objects. The South Korean manufacturer believes the technology has no clear benefit to users.
ToF measures the time it takes light to get to and from its destination. Using this data, devices can more accurately represent three-dimensional spaces and objects. Samsung has added a ToF sensor to the Galaxy S10 5G for the first time. It was also featured on the Galaxy Note10+, Galaxy S20 and was supposed to appear on the Galaxy Note20 launched last year. The company believed that the new sensor and the data obtained from it should improve the smartphone’s camera, but it did not live up to expectations. Ultimately Samsung decided that the technology lacked applications that could induce users to use it, and abandoned it.
While Samsung decides to remove the 3D camera from its future flagships include Galaxy S22, Apple continues to expand its adoption of the technology. Analysts believe Apple will add LiDAR to all iPhone 13-series smartphones, not just the Pro model. In addition to being available on more devices, the sensor will also receive improvements in object recognition and detection as part of a new and improved camera system.
However, this does not mean that Samsung will finally say goodbye to the 3D camera. The ToF sensor may return in the future with more VR and AR applications. Moreover, last year the South Korean manufacturer introduced its own sensor for the ToF camera called ISOCELL Vizion 33D. The company intends to supply it to other smartphone manufacturers.