No camera upgrades is my biggest disapointment with the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus

The brand new Samsung Galaxy S24 sequence is a little bit of an odd duck; a showcase for each Samsung’s revolutionary aspect and up to date complacency. On the one hand, Galaxy AI and 7 years of updates are altering the way in which we take into consideration smartphone software program. Conversely, the Galaxy S24’s design and inner {hardware} are just about unchanged from the Galaxy S23 and even the S22 sequence.

Nowhere is that this extra obvious than within the digicam division. The Samsung Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus sport precisely the identical digicam {hardware} as not simply the non-Extremely Galaxy S23 sequence, however the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus (bar a minor selfie improve). Three generations, no significant adjustments to what’s purported to be a best-in-class flagship sequence and pin-up for Android smartphones.

This isn’t to broadly bemoan the picture high quality you’ll obtain on the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus. A superb digicam doesn’t all of the sudden turn into unhealthy simply because one thing newer comes alongside and Samsung’s newest software program has nudged the needle a tad. Nonetheless, once you evaluate the telephones to the competitors and weigh up what to purchase, Samsung’s stagnant cameras wrestle to chop by way of. Pictures is a large a part of a contemporary smartphone’s attraction, in spite of everything, and it’s a selected sore spot for me that the newest Galaxy sequence doesn’t do extra to face out.

The shortage of adjustments is maybe extra excusable within the $800 Galaxy S24, which nonetheless boasts a 3x telephoto digicam that you simply received’t discover on equally priced rivals just like the Apple iPhone 15 and Google Pixel 8. Though it wouldn’t harm to increase this lead. Nonetheless, the $1,000 Galaxy S24 Plus has to deal with the mighty Pixel 8 Professional, Xiaomi 14 Professional, iPhone 15 Professional, and some others which were arduous at work innovating within the digicam division. With larger sensors, cutting-edge AI touch-ups, and highly effective zoom applied sciences, these rivals are, for essentially the most half, extra aggressive with Samsung’s Extremely than the Plus, but value much less. Whereas having the premium S24 Extremely push boundaries is nice, the extra reasonably priced fashions deserve their very own improvements and upgrades, too — particularly with the Extremely line receiving a worth hike.

My actual downside with the S24 and S24 Plus is that they’re very competent however removed from excellent. It wouldn’t take a lot to iron out the inconsistencies and make these cameras so a lot better. Generally, it nearly looks like sheer laziness that’s stopping the sequence from reaching the next degree.

Take the movement points we’ve highlighted in each our Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely assessment and S24 Plus assessment, ensuing from an excessively lengthy shutter velocity to assemble extra mild. Mild is necessary, however not on the expense of sharpness, particularly when few different telephones wrestle to the identical diploma. Rivals just like the iPhone 15 Professional and Pixel 8 Professional proceed to make use of bigger major sensors, which maybe holds the important thing. Nonetheless, the problem with the S24 Extremely suggests that is equally a software program downside.

Equally, the telephone’s Night time Mode is absolutely highly effective, however strive taking a low-light snap in a rush, and the outcomes are much more combined. Particularly with shifting topics. The noise versus blur trade-off nonetheless feels very actual, and the frankly tiny 1/3.94-inch 3x telephoto actually doesn’t maintain up significantly properly in low mild, both. Even a modest improve to the identical 1/3.52-inch telephoto because the Extremely can be one thing.

Talking of zoom cameras, the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus provide restricted zoom capabilities. In comparison with the Pixel 8 Professional’s 5x digicam, there’s no query that Google’s telephone takes higher footage at lengthy vary. Lots of my Samsung samples got here out a swampy mess. However even at 3x, the place we’d anticipate the S24’s optical zoom to win out, the distinction isn’t night time and day between the 2. The Pixel’s revolutionary picture fusion know-how makes the distinction, giving the telephone larger flexibility total.

However it’s not simply the shortage of long-range upgrades that holds the sequence again. Selfies, for example, look nice loads of the time, and the Galaxy S24 is definitely one of many higher flagships by way of publicity and HDR management. Nonetheless, too most of the portraits I took skewed pores and skin tones into purple hues that spotlight blemishes you merely don’t see on different telephones.

I nonetheless can’t get on board with Samsung’s overreliance on heavy shade and sharpness processing that lends some pictures, significantly portraits, a cartoonish pop. In comparison with the extra hanging profiles you’ll see from manufacturers like OPPO and Sony, Samsung’s shade science appears caught within the final decade.

Likewise, portrait footage and hit-and-miss. Samsung depends on the 3x telephoto sensor for default portraits to benefit from the flattering 70mm focal size, however the tiny sensor once more struggles to extract a excessive degree of element in something however excellent lighting. You may fall again to 1x or 2x for barely higher noise ranges, however you then’re capturing with a much less flattering 24mm lens. Consistency is once more the Galaxy S24’s Achilles’ heel and makes the telephone look miles off the tempo in comparison with the market innovators.

I don’t anticipate an absolute bleeding edge digicam setup in Samsung’s extra reasonably priced fashions, so I’m not holding out on a revolution in digicam tech with subsequent 12 months’s Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus. Nonetheless, closing the hole on the Extremely is a should if the broader Galaxy S sequence is to retain a repute as a images powerhouse.

If I had been Samsung, I’d overhaul the ultrawide and zoom cameras. Bigger sensors can be one of the best place to begin, even when it means marginally bigger digicam bumps on these telephones. OPPO’s Discover X6 Professional and Discover X7 Extremely provide a blueprint for fulfillment, utilizing equally giant sensors and specs throughout the digicam array, guaranteeing a lot larger consistency in picture high quality throughout the lenses.

The Galaxy S24 doesn’t want three or 4 gargantuan sensors such as you see in these super-expensive telephones. Simply three sensors bigger than 1/2 inches can be a stable begin for a greater steadiness of element, low-light, and shade seize capabilities throughout its triple digicam array.

Tremendous long-distance capturing nonetheless isn’t vital right here; medium-range zoom and a concentrate on portrait focal lengths are simply nice at this worth level. Nonetheless, Samsung could possibly be extra adventurous in its {hardware} and software program to attain higher outcomes. Excessive-resolution sensor crops (akin to Google’s Tremendous Res Zoom) present decent-looking lossless zoom from optical zoom components. Samsung might use comparable strategies for lossless 2x, 3x, and 6x zoom just by upgrading its 3x telephoto digicam to the next decision sensor.

Sadly, early rumors recommend the Galaxy S25 digicam array would possibly stay the identical because it’s been because the S22 sequence. I can solely hope they’re flawed.