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My favorite Galaxy feature was gone and I could not understand why.
Squeezing 10x optical zoom inside a 7.6mm thick smartphone is not easy.
Samsung Galaxy S24 10x zoom view(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
That takes experience, innovation, and space.
In a direct comparison,Appleoutdid Samsung on the zoom megapixel front.
TheSamsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s top zoom camera was backed by a 10MP sensor.
Samsung Galaxy S24 10x zoom view(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The iPhone 15 Pro Max 5x zoom has a 12MP camera.
Now, the iPhone 15 Pro Max andSamsung Galaxy S24 Ultrawill have parity on the telephoto zoom front.
Two 5x zoom cameras, no periscope necessary.
Samsung Galaxy S24 5x zoom view(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Backing the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 5x zoom camera is a giant 50MP sensor.
That’s a whole lot of pixels and far more than you’ll get with Apple’s best zoom.
More interestingly, Samsung is still claiming its S24 Ultra has 10x zoom.
Samsung Galaxy S24 3x zoom view(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
It’s right there in the camera app after 5x (see the gallery above).
Can’t say I’m thrilled that Samsung makes no distinction between optical and digitally-assisted zoom in the app.
Well, Samsung is using a fairly common trick.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Main camera view(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
In a regular camera, the only way to achieve zoom is ever larger and longer lenses.
Our flat slab phones are not designed to support that.
For Samsung and Apple, it will always be a tradeoff.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra wltra-wide camera view(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
It’s early days with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
They might be better.
They might also be a little worse.
I’ll reserve final judgment but I think Samsung may have a point here.
