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Share your Galaxy S4 photos and videos here - now with PocketNow Camera guide!
This thread is dedicated to user photos, videos and discussion, ImageBam and DropBox is recommended for full-size photo sharing. I also gathered a bunch of samples made by reviewers and divided those into two categories, Exynos 5 Octa (I9500, I9502, SHV-E300S) and Snapdragon 600 (I9505, SPH-L720 etc.) as there are minor differences such as a little more detail and less saturation on the Exnos 5 version.
- use Sport Mode or higher ISO to capture fast motion
- tap on focus and release upon the right moment for fast shutter response
- use Night Mode in dark for brighter results (needs steady hands)
- take multiple images or use burst mode and choose the best result later
- set volume keys for comfortable zooming
- hold the phone with two hands for steady shots, index fingers on top left and right, thumbs on bottom (left on volume keys), middle fingers parallel on the sides (landscape)
- hold the phone steady after shutter sound for a few seconds to make sure there is no shake upon capture
- use voice command function so there is no shake coming from tap
- use rich tone (HDR) mode when there's big brightness difference in the foreground and background or when the sky burns out
- do NOT use HDR when you want to capture high contrast images or when the sky is not burnt out, your result will be washed out
- use flash in daylight when there's strong light behind people
- geotag your photos to save location (drains battery)
- please, for the love of god, don't shoot videos in portrait mode
Samples taken with the Exynos Octa version (includng this post):
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=39803805&postcount=29 Daylight outside and in hotel
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=39809588&postcount=31 Night shots in various ISO modes
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=39853177&postcount=43 Daylight and some insides
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=39879818&postcount=44 Sunset and night
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=39915727&postcount=49 Daylight and macro
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=39988910&postcount=56 Panorama shots (Exynos, Snapdragon)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40001853&postcount=62 Various conditions
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40096363&postcount=69 Studio shots
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40140757&postcount=73 Food macros
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40200900&postcount=74 Various shots
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40250108&postcount=80 Photos and videos
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40359369&postcount=93 Thai indoors and low-lights
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40424324&postcount=101 Indoors and outdoors in good conditions
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40542257&postcount=113 Bad weather, night
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40701266&postcount=172 Hong Kong at night
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40725770&postcount=175 Panoramas
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40805475&postcount=197 Korean samples
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40956057&postcount=248 HDR, night shots, inside
Samples taken with the Snapdragon 600 version:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=39751521&postcount=9 Daylight, sunset and low-light shots
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=39887623&postcount=48 HDR vs. normal
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40310570&postcount=89 Drama shot mode
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40336531&postcount=92 Day and night
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40384077&postcount=98 Daytime
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40457560&postcount=103 Daytime, panorama on retail version
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40661953&postcount=152 US version samples, daytime. nighttime, indoors
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40688873&postcount=169 US samples, outdoors
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40725770&postcount=175 Panoramas
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40765409&postcount=184 More US samples
Nice samples.
S4 photo quality is more than enough for me.
Re: [PHOTOS] The Galaxy S4 user photos and camera discussion thread
Pictures look far superior than what the Sony Xperia Z can produce!
Sent from my C6603 using xda app-developers app
scott2121210 said:
Pictures look far superior than what the Sony Xperia Z can produce!
Sent from my C6603 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which is very strange as the Oppo Find 5 (also Sony Exmor RS, and like the S4, F2,2) also beats the Xperia Z in details, noise amount, post-processing (or lack of it)... I suspect most troubles are coming from the IP57 certified F2.4 lens, which is different to Sony's original IU135F3-Z (Exmore RS sensor + F2.2 lens).
BoneXDA said:
Which is very strange as the Oppo Find 5 (also Sony Exmor RS, and like the S4, F2,2) also beats the Xperia Z in details, noise amount, post-processing (or lack of it)... I suspect most troubles are coming from the IP57 certified F2.4 lens, which is different to Sony's original IU135F3-Z (Exmore RS sensor + F2.2 lens).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sony applies overcompression algorithms to its camera modules.
As a result the final picture has small size and low details.
Xperia Z is around 3 mb maximum.
very good
they look very good.....:good:
WOW they looks great! Very happy with suit. Can't wait to get my hands on this BIG.little beauty
i know someone already got S4 and send me a recorded video with it
here's the properties of the video if it could help
Snapdragon 600 samples:
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-S4-Review_id3280/page/3
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Samsung-Galaxy-S-4-camera-samples-vs-iPhone-5_id40873#7-Galaxy-S-4
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s4_vs_htc_one-review-913p8.php
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s4-review-910p6.php
Strong light, medium light, low light, flash, low light face shot, low light late afternoon:
I'll bite if Samsung gives me a Galaxy S4 - Aluminum Edition. Don't care about removable battery or storage. Why can't Samsung give options? The plastic build is probably the biggest complaint people have for all Samsung phones. They do make niche metal phones (e.g. Samsung Wave, Omnia) and plenty in the past, so its not a matter of lack of experience. They are luring me back in with Adobe RGB mode. Now how about a metal version? If its the problem of yields, you can make it a slight premium and sell it online only. Everyone else who doesn't care about the plastic build can be happy with their GS4, while those of us who want a premium metal phone can eat our cake too!
Re: [PHOTOS] The Galaxy S4 user photos and camera discussion thread
The reason for the lack of aluminum build is simple and Samsung has explained this is in the past. The HTC One takes 200 minutes to machine the aluminum for one device, now think about the amount of devices Samsung Ships, requiring 200 minutes for a device is simply not a viable option for Samsung. If they did produce an aluminum body device, expect there to be plenty of shortages.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Re: [PHOTOS] The Galaxy S4 user photos and camera discussion thread
Camera is one the biggest improvements for me to move from note 2 to s4.
sent from: The New S-Pen
Those photos look really good. My s3 had a horrible camera. noise Noise everywhere. The s4 seems to have gotten rid of that "feature"!
Very good photo's
katamari201 said:
I'll bite if Samsung gives me a Galaxy S4 - Aluminum Edition. Don't care about removable battery or storage. Why can't Samsung give options? The plastic build is probably the biggest complaint people have for all Samsung phones. They do make niche metal phones (e.g. Samsung Wave, Omnia) and plenty in the past, so its not a matter of lack of experience. They are luring me back in with Adobe RGB mode. Now how about a metal version? If its the problem of yields, you can make it a slight premium and sell it online only. Everyone else who doesn't care about the plastic build can be happy with their GS4, while those of us who want a premium metal phone can eat our cake too!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The "premium metal build" of the HTC One failed the AndroidAuthority drop test losing the top front part on the smallest drop which cannot be clicked just glued back, and was heavily dented with a broken screen on the highest drop. It also got the worst repairability score of all times by ifixit cause the glued body is impossible to open without effectively destroying the back panel, so if the smallest issue appears or your battery dies, it's weeks in repair and easily a $100 once warranty's over.
In comparison the latest Samsung flagship AA tested passed all 3 drops with small scratches and no broken parts, and the battery which sooner or later loses half the power or dies, is 5 seconds to replace. Mind too that the polycarbonate Lumia 920 is the toughest flagship out there, so while aluminum looks nice, it is ABSOLUTELY NOT an advantage in terms of build and far less practical cause you give things up you'll miss when trouble kicks in. Plus you'll put the metal beauty in an ugly case on day one. Slip metal body doesn't make premium requirements.
katamari201 said:
I'll bite if Samsung gives me a Galaxy S4 - Aluminum Edition. Don't care about removable battery or storage. Why can't Samsung give options? The plastic build is probably the biggest complaint people have for all Samsung phones. They do make niche metal phones (e.g. Samsung Wave, Omnia) and plenty in the past, so its not a matter of lack of experience. They are luring me back in with Adobe RGB mode. Now how about a metal version? If its the problem of yields, you can make it a slight premium and sell it online only. Everyone else who doesn't care about the plastic build can be happy with their GS4, while those of us who want a premium metal phone can eat our cake too!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why ranting all over the place, your post is way out of topic and just inappropriate for this thread. There are in fact other threads for such complaints. This is Android world of options bro, if Samsung device doesn't meet your needs, I think you will be better with other competing devices.
Thanks.
@OP, sorry for the off topic.
Re: [PHOTOS] The Galaxy S4 user photos and camera discussion thread
Could someone here advise re camera please.
I originally had a 3gs and now had a GS2 since release and prefer android but I have missed some things from apple.
1. When I make a video from video camera for what ever length and I want to email or mms it it would say video too long and then let you trim it to an acceptable size file to send. So far I cannot see any android phone that does this including SGS4 ? The htc one does have a clever trim option and was wondering what gs4 has as still on the fence
Forgot the other thing ?
Custom Stock Rom 4.1 Eternity
Brilliantly Stock
Re: [PHOTOS] The Galaxy S4 user photos and camera discussion thread
I found it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23nQyOpixiU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
but am hoping samsung can do this too ? Anyone know as my wife has s3 I have s2 and they don't have this feature
Custom Stock Rom 4.1 Eternity
Brilliantly Stock
the Vid rec On GS4 seems suck
lets hope the final version will be better
http://www.gsmarena.com/vidcmp.php3?idType=3&idPhone1=5125&idPhone2=3621&idPhone3=4238
http://www.gsmarena.com/vidcmp.php3?idType=3&idPhone1=5125&idPhone2=5204&idPhone3=4238
nice !!
Hey there,
I am looking for a new phone, kinda fed up with my previous Galaxy Wonder which was bought considering budget limits, but now I'm on to buying a new phone, for myself and for my mother.
For me, performance is the most important thing, a phone that I can keep for a couple of years without headaches, and for my mother Camera is the most important thing- she wants quality pictures with sharp images. I guess a phone which has both would be the better choice. I have come to the conclusion that just looking at MP doesn't tell you how good the camera really is (my 5 MP Carl Zeiss Nokia was way better than my friends 8 MP Sony Ericsson at the time, or it seems iPhones take very sharp pictures). So what phones do you recommend we buy (Do you guys consider iPhones and Microsoft phones like Nokia as well?)
Thankyou
Samsung Galaxy Note 4, has an incredible camera, crystal clear photo's
Note4fan said:
Samsung Galaxy Note 4, has an incredible camera, crystal clear photo's
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Galaxy S5 is great too. 16MP stills and 1080p/30fps video. GSM Arena ranked it second and first for stills and video respectively. Also a good all around phone, if you don't care about using the stock Android UI!
Have a look at the Galaxy K Zoom. It's designed as a camera that you can also use as a phone, not the 'phone with a camera'.
Alternatively, the Note 4 has a good sensor, too. And it is the most powerful phone available on the market. You can keep using that without any headaches for at least 3-4 years as high-end, and mid-end for another 2-4 after that.
The most important thing to look at for camera quality is the sensor size. The bigger the sensor, the better the photographs.
The best camera phone are the Nokia Lumia, if you want Microsoft OS, or the Xperia z3 if you want android; the latest has pretty performance and battery life, but I'm sorry I don't know nothing about Nokia because I don't like the OS let me know what will you buy :thumbup:
Inviato dal mio LG-D802
Note 4 is HUGE, i don't call those things phones tbh! and it is very expensive.
What about Xperia Z3 and Galaxy S5? Any opinions on those?
ShadowLea said:
Galaxy K Zoom. It's designed as a camera that you can also use as a phone, not the 'phone with a camera'.
The most important thing to look at for camera quality is the sensor size. The bigger the sensor, the better the photographs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great advise! How can I find the sensor size for a phone? Cuz I didn't see such a thing on GSM Arena Phone Specs.
K Zoom seems a fine phone, but low CPU and lots of complaints about dust getting into the phone and other issues by its users.
flywheels said:
Galaxy S5 is great too. 16MP stills and 1080p/30fps video. GSM Arena ranked it second and first for stills and video respectively. Also a good all around phone, if you don't care about using the stock Android UI!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well we don't mind the current UI we have now, is there anything that annoying about S5's UI that I should worry about?
goldendye said:
Great advise! How can I find the sensor size for a phone? Cuz I didn't see such a thing on GSM Arena Phone Specs.
K Zoom seems a fine phone, but low CPU and lots of complaints about dust getting into the phone and other issues by its users.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, I'd forgotten that the K Zoom only comes in the Exynos variant. Sorry about that.
Sometimes GSMArena does list the sensor size, It's under Camera > Features if they do. (For instance on the HTC M8 (1/3'' sensor size).) In some cases they list the sensor size in the review of the phone.
Sadly, it mostly comes down to Googling " [phone name] Sensor size".
The one in the Note 4 and S5 are 1/2.6”. The Note 4 also has Optical Image Stabilisation, which adds a clear advantage in terms of image quality.
HTC M8 and iPhone 5S are 1/3".
With sensors under 1", the lower the number behind the /, the better. (So 2.6 is better than 3). Admittedly sensor size isn't everything, but it's the deciding factor when it comes to sharpness, particularly in less than full-light conditions.
I have an explanation on sensor importance *somewhere*, let me dig around for it.. Edit: Ah, here it is: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=50953511&postcount=6
I remember one Lumia had a very good camera
honestly i always think iphone cam is not bad. but if if its android htc definitely have a decent cam
best detailing in note 4
best color reproduction and dynamic range in iphone 6
http://forum.xda-developers.com/general/general/best-camera-smartphone-comparisons-t2901826
ShadowLea said:
Sadly, it mostly comes down to Googling " [phone name] Sensor size".
The one in the Note 4 and S5 are 1/2.6”. The Note 4 also has Optical Image Stabilisation, which adds a clear advantage in terms of image quality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aha, so according to his:
Z3: 1/2.3 and , 5248 х 3936 pixels, 20.7 MP
s5: 1/2.6 and, 5312 x 2988 pixels, 16 MP
K Zoom (as the ideal camera): 1/2.3, 5248 х 3936 pixels, 20.7 MP
Clearly, Z3 is the best of three. Its camera is better than S5, and the same as K Zoom. it is smaller in size, less weight (16 grams), 0.7 inch smaller Screen (which is actually a positive feature for me), better Androind version, also will upgrade to 5.0, has radio, fast charging, none of the nonsense apps of Samsung which i really hate, better performance rate
But S5 has a one third better screen quality, Corning Gorilla Glass (I'm not sure if this is better than IPS), microUSB 3.0 (I don't think that's really important), dual video recording (maybe an app can compensate for this), better battery, and it seems it is much more efficient (21 hrs talk time compared to 12 on z3!!), better contrast ratio (i dont care)
Same chipset, same CPU, same GPU, but the endurance rate on z3 is 101h compared to 72h on S5, I don't know what that is.
I think I have chosen my phone , except the battery worries me.
goldendye said:
Aha, so according to his:
Z3: 1/2.3 and , 5248 х 3936 pixels, 20.7 MP
s5: 1/2.6 and, 5312 x 2988 pixels, 16 MP
K Zoom (as the ideal camera): 1/2.3, 5248 х 3936 pixels, 20.7 MP
Clearly, Z3 is the best of three. Its camera is better than S5, and the same as K Zoom. it is smaller in size, less weight (16 grams), 0.7 inch smaller Screen (which is actually a positive feature for me), better Androind version, also will upgrade to 5.0, has radio, fast charging, none of the nonsense apps of Samsung which i really hate, better performance rate
But S5 has a one third better screen quality, Corning Gorilla Glass (I'm not sure if this is better than IPS), microUSB 3.0 (I don't think that's really important), dual video recording (maybe an app can compensate for this), better battery, and it seems it is much more efficient (21 hrs talk time compared to 12 on z3!!), better contrast ratio (i dont care)
Same chipset, same CPU, same GPU, but the endurance rate on z3 is 101h compared to 72h on S5, I don't know what that is.
I think I have chosen my phone , except the battery worries me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you looking at the Z3 or the Z3 Compact? From the specs i'd say the Compact, correct?
The reason the S5 has a better batterylife is because of the AMOLED screen. AMOLED has the advantage that black pixels are off as opposed to dark grey, meaning they don't drain power. (AMOLED is also more colour intensive and crisper.)
Contrast ratio is simply because of the darkest grey vs turned off pixels. AMOLED is the only type of screen capable of true black. Oh and it has a higher readability in direct sunlight.
IPS is a type of display, not a type of glass. Corning Gorrila Glass (3) is very tough, but I don't know what's on the Z3 or how it holds out in tests. You can always look up droptests on Youtube.
MicroUSB3 isn't important, as the MTP protocol slows down transfer speed right down to the USB2 values anyway. Samsung dropped USB3 on newer devices.
The S5 doesn't have a radio, no. That bothers a great many of us, myself included.
The Snapdragon 801 is the part that has the fast charging. All S801 devices have it.
Touchwiz is a waste of time and space, on that I fully agree. (They laughed at me when I told them so, though.) Fortunately they've changed the principle a bit so that it doesn't come with 100 bloatware anymore, but there's still some of it installed. Mainly, Touchwiz. (ugh!)
The S5 has KNOX, which you can't not trip whilst flashing custom roms. It voids your warranty.
In terms of security the S5 has a fingerprint scanner.
There's one other thing to the S5 I should mention, and that's the disgustingly ugly UI colour scheme. Which you can't change.
the tl:dr version:
- The S5 screen is AMOLED, which turns black pixels off. That doubles the battery life.
- IPS is a type of LCD display, (The S5 has AMOLED) Gorrilla Glass is a type of treated scratch resistent glass.
- All Snapdragon 801 devices have Fast Charging.
- USB3 is a waste, MTP doesn't allow USB3 speed.
- The Z3 has a radio.
- S5 has KNOX.(negative thing.)
Simply put the S5 has a better, brighter and crisper screen with better battery life; the Z3 is more compact, has a better camera and an FM radio.
You can also read these two and compare the photo's for a decent camera comparison.
Z3 Compact: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z3_compact-review-1135p8.php
S5: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s5-review-1064p9.php
Is the fact that Z3 Compact has non-removable battery a fact to worry about?
Obviously, Lumia has better camera. But if you want it with better performance and battery life. Z3 would be a better choice.
.SnouXza. said:
Obviously, Lumia has better camera. But if you want it with better performance and battery life. Z3 would be a better choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think it does, because it's a 10 MP camera with 1/3.4" sensor size. Although yes, it is Carl Zeiss.
goldendye said:
Hey there,
I am looking for a new phone, kinda fed up with my previous Galaxy Wonder which was bought considering budget limits, but now I'm on to buying a new phone, for myself and for my mother.
For me, performance is the most important thing, a phone that I can keep for a couple of years without headaches, and for my mother Camera is the most important thing- she wants quality pictures with sharp images. I guess a phone which has both would be the better choice. I have come to the conclusion that just looking at MP doesn't tell you how good the camera really is (my 5 MP Carl Zeiss Nokia was way better than my friends 8 MP Sony Ericsson at the time, or it seems iPhones take very sharp pictures). So what phones do you recommend we buy (Do you guys consider iPhones and Microsoft phones like Nokia as well?)
Thankyou
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CAMERA
A $100-200 dedicated camera takes much better pictures than any smartphone ever could (especially with 10x+ optical zoom). Your mum would be better off with such a camera in addition to a smartphone. At any rate, all flagships have "good enough" cameras with not a lot to choose between them. Mid-range and budget models often sacrifice the camera to meet their price points (one reason buying used high-end flagships is an option to consider).
OS
For some people iPhones/WindowsPhones/Blackberry/etc are taken into consideration particularly for the convenience of having the manufacturer control everything so you don't have to. For others, the somewhat open [source] nature of Android is paramount - it permits options that the other platforms actively prevent e.g. custom roms, privacy controls, customizations.
PERFORMANCE
You say performance is the most important thing. What level of performance?. I'll bet that a Samsung Galaxy S2 (yes S2...not S3, S4 or S5) is plenty fast enough for most people today and the Moto G is faster than that. So, is a Moto G performant enough for you? Or is it more like Nexus 5? Perhaps you need Note 4's level of performance? What activities requires the most performance on your phone currently and for the next couple of years?
Personally, I rate water/dust resistance highly (Xperia Acro S, Xperia Z/Z1/Z2/Z3/M2 Aqua, Galaxy S5, HTC Butterfly2). A 720p screen should be minimum now that the 1st gen Moto G exists. I prefer both a microsd slot and a removable battery. I would certainly want both if paying for a high-end device.
The Xperia Z3/Z3C, HTC Butterfly2, Samsung S5, Nexus 5/6 are all contenders if flagship devices are what you want. If you want to pay less, the Moto G and used flagships (Galaxy S3/S3/Note3, Xperia Z1/Z2, Nexus 5) are good options.
Hi everyone,
So I've been looking at the mate 8 as my next purchase, and Some reviews state the camera quality isn't good due to software/firmware issues. Other reviews state the camera quality is really good. I was wondering what owners opinions are? If it does have exposure and focus issues, are they sorted if you use a different camera app? I don't know if different apps can alter issues that might be related to firmware?
Thanks
Ian
I wouldn't consider myself a power user but I'm very happy with the camera so far. I would mostly be taking pictures of friends and family etc and quality is just fine for me
I'm the same, mainly I'll be taking pictures of the family and scenery, that kinda thing. I'm not what you'd call a professional photographer by any means. But it is said the best camera you have is the one on you at the time, so I just want to make sure it's a relatively good one
Thanks
Ian
Camera was bad with the first update
But with latest update it became better
But if you are seeking for great camera go for lg or sam
If you wanna a power horse phablet go for mate 8
That's the thing, I've had both Samsung and LG phones before, and while the cameras were good I wasn't keen on the phones themselves. I've had a G3, a Note 4, an S6 and a Oneplus One. I was half considering a Oneplus 2, but only because of the price. £249 is cheap for a high spec phone. I'm not keen on the nexus line of phones either. I know they are popular, and you probably think I'm mad. But they are just a bog standard android phone. If I'm paying more than £400 for a phone I want it to do more than the straight forward stuff, straight out the box. Other wise id just get an iPhone. Half the stuff on the Mate 8 I'll probably never use I admit, but the fact its there is what I like. Does that make sense?
Has anybody tried a different camera app from the play store to see if that improves the pictures, or isn't it as simple as that? I'm not sure how apps, firmware, API's and hardware all tie in together, so I apologise in advance if that was a stupid question.
Thanks
Ian
The camera is a so and so in my eyes. It's ok, but very soft, in daytime but I wouldn't pick it to take pictures of kids indoor. Right now the best all around camera I have is the Nexus 6P, mostly because it will do really good indoors and most of my pics are indoors. I read that there will be a upgrade for the camera after 162 firmwarewize. Otherwise, it's a really good phone. Apps doesn't do better than stock camera.
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The camera is fine. It's not the best camera out there in terms of image quality when you zoom in on the pictures but it does the job. It has good colors and good exposure. It's fun to shoot with. I think quality should be able to be fixed with software update. I find that some indoor night shots almost have the same amount of detail as some of the ones shoot in daylight. The processing seems to heavy creating artefacts in images taken even in daylight.
The Mate 8 is pretty much the perfect phone in every way except the camera is not top notch. Excellent screen that is more clear and has better contrast than the screen on my iPhone 6S Plus. The battery life is the best you can get on any phone now. The build quality is fantastic. Audio quality in headphones is top notch, best I've every heard in any phone the dynamic range and clarity is amazing. Even better than my Meizu Pro 5 that has an internal DAC and amplifiers in it. It is super fast and has a very smooth and responsive UI.
Thank you for your input. You guys have confirmed the fact that the mate 8 will be my next phone just got to wait for it to come into stock again now!
Thanks
Ian
http://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-8/general/post-camera-picture-t3303629
next time just use ForumSearch
Hi guys. I bought an A52 4G for myself a few weeks ago and here is my brutally honest review. As you will see, there are some things I wasn't satisfied with but I needed a phone quickly and for my budget and availability, I thought I'd give Samsung a chance.
Pros
1. Lots of QoL services by Samsung like always on display and apps like Gallery by Samsung can be more useful than Photos by Google. I also mapped the double tap power button to start the flashlight.
2. The 720G chipset along with a 90hz display feels plenty powerful especially for those coming from an older midrange device. However, it's not as fast and instantaneous as stock Android or OxygenOS. Also, you will face lots of stutters and bugs if you enable animation to .5x. At default 1x, animations are too damn slow.
3. Stereo speakers. Sound quality is average though. I don't use it much so I don't care.
4. Water resistance. It's nice of Samsung to bring this feature to a midrange device.
5. The macro camera can be useful for taking pictures of very small items like coins. The selfie camera seems alright.
6. The display, despite having kind of inaccurate colors is actually a lot better looking than most Chinese brand (OnePlus, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, Realme, etc) phone displays. Most Chinese brand displays tend to have a washed out, pale look to them despite having high refresh rates.
7. Battery life is pretty decent. If you don't use it much, it'll last a couple days easily. Of course, battery will degrade over time so a few years later, you might need to change the battery or the phone itself.
Cons
1. Sound quality output through the 3.5mm jack is very bad. My previous phone (Moto G5s Plus) had a much better built-in DAC. But at least the jack is there so I guess it's better than nothing but I'd suggest you get a good type-c to 3.5mm converter and use that instead if you're looking for decent audio.
2. The display isn't bad (the 90hz is definitely an upgrade over 60hz) but the color calibration out of the box by Samsung is very inaccurate and kind of pale. You can switch to "vibrant" mode but it over saturates everything. The saturation is so off the charts that you have no choice but to go back to the pale "natural" mode. Also, the amoled screen can be fatiguing to your eyes. Not everyone faces this but personally I have this problem.
3. The charger provided is really weak. Sometimes I like to use my phone while it's charging. Sadly this charger is too weak to do that and can't keep up. I did have a faster charger from my previous budget moto phone and it does a much better job charging the A52. It would be better if Samsung didn't provide this crappy 15 watt charger and made the phone cheaper so I could buy a 25 watt charger myself. I don't see the logic in this. The phone supports 25 watt charging but Samsung includes a 15 watt charger in the box.
4. The lightly colored matte plastic back looks awesome in the beginning but with some mild use, the colors are already starting to fade and become yellowish. So put a case or skin on it if you wanna preserve that awesome color.
5. The colors and details of the main camera are not very good for an upper midrange device in 2021. I saw some reviews on YouTube with review units provided by Samsung that showed much better camera quality than what I'm getting with my retail unit. Especially after you take a picture, if you zoom in on a person's face for example, the details are just not there. Also, the colors are inaccurate and not life like. Hopefully, someone can make a good GCAM for this phone. Otherwise, expect to live with an average camera.
6. Random spammy apps like Dailyhunt get automatically installed every few days. I set all settings to not update anything automatically but it still does that. I even contacted customer care about this and they couldn't provide any solutions. EDIT: Luckily, it stopped doing this.
7. If the bezels were a bit narrower especially the sides and top, it would have quite a flagship killer look. Even the A51 has narrower bezels on the side. But I know Samsung did this on purpose so their more expensive S series phones would look more special than the A series.
8. It's a bit on the heavier side if you compare it to the A51. Putting a case and tempered glass on it will only increase the weight further. I find myself having to put the phone down on a table or bed to use it. I can't hold it in the air for long due to its weight.
Bugs1. "Force dark mode" option in developer settings automatically turns itself off whenever you restart your device.
2. If you set animation to .5x instead of the default 1x, and cycle through your recent apps, there's a weird stutter.
Conclusion
If you can live with Samsung's annoying OneUI stutters or slow animations, this isn't a bad phone especially if you can get it for around $300 USD. I'd call this a good phone for moms/dads and grandmas/grandpas. If you're a young millennial trying to live on the cutting edge, I'd pass on this one and get something that's a little faster, maybe the new Nord CE (it has a more washed out display than the A52 though).
Well! My phone have just arrived. I'm switching from an S7 edge that I've been using for the last 4 years. So far I find that the screen is pretty good! Better than the S7E. The speed is excellent and of course, the ONE UI 3.1 is superb. I've already uninstalled some unwanted apps. As regards the camera, haven't tested it yet. But obviously, the GCAM will make it better.
LanguageSoez said:
Well! My phone have just arrived. I'm switching from an S7 edge that I've been using for the last 4 years. So far I find that the screen is pretty good! Better than the S7E. The speed is excellent and of course, the ONE UI 3.1 is superb. I've already uninstalled some unwanted apps. As regards the camera, haven't tested it yet. But obviously, the GCAM will make it better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course it'll be better than a 4 year old phone lol. If you think one UI is superb, try using stock android or oxygenos, you will be blown away.
I got A72 and the picture quality coming out from the stabilized Sony IMX 686 sensor with pixel binned 16 MP pictures is superior to Samsung HM2 108 MP giving just 12MP images ... So is A52, I don't believe your "honest review" ....
neoxcool said:
I got A72 and the picture quality coming out from the stabilized Sony IMX 686 sensor with pixel binned 16 MP pictures is superior to Samsung HM2 108 MP giving just 12MP images ... So is A52, I don't believe your "honest review" ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A72 is not A52. Specs are one thing, software is another. You don't have to believe anything. As I said in my review, you should experience the phones in person preferably from friends who bought it and then make a decision.
The OP is obviously a satisfied customer
Griping about it being water resistant is really picking at nits. It adds little cost and help to seal out dust, extending the usable service life of the device.
Charging a phone while using isn't a good idea and it should charge slow whilst using regardless of the wattage capacity of the charger brick being used.
NiceGuyIncel said:
Hi guys. I bought an A52 4G for myself a few weeks ago and here is my brutally honest review. As you will see, there are a lot of things I wasn't satisfied with but for my budget and availability, this was one of the better ones.
Pros:
1. Lots of QoL services by Samsung like always on display and apps like Gallery by Samsung can be more useful than Photos by Google. I also mapped the double tap power button to start the flashlight.
2. The 720G chipset along with a 90hz display feels plenty smooth especially for those coming from an older midrange device. It's not as fast and instantaneous as stock android or oxygenos but this is probably the fastest that Samsung OneUI has ever been.
3. Stereo speakers. Quality is average though. I don't use it much so I don't care.
4. Water resistance. It can be useful if you like to take your phone to the bathroom or live in a rainy area but I feel this feature is more suitable for flagship phones. The 4G version of the A52 really don't need this feature and it would be better if the device was slightly cheaper instead.
Cons:
1. Sound quality output through the 3.5mm jack is very bland. My previous phone (Moto G5s Plus) had a much better built-in DAC. But at least the jack is there so I guess it's better than nothing but I'd suggest you get a good type-c to 3.5mm converter and use that instead if you're looking for quality audio.
2. The display isn't bad (the 90hz is definitely an upgrade over 60hz) but the color calibration out of the box by Samsung is very boring and washed out. You can switch to "vibrant" mode but it over saturates everything. The saturation is so off the charts that you have no choice but to go back to the pale "natural" mode. Hopefully, the xda community will do something about this, maybe a graphics engine or some app that can tinker with the display settings more finely.
3. The charger provided is really weak. Sometimes I like to use my phone while it's charging. Sadly this charger is too weak to do that and can't keep up. I did have a faster charger from my previous budget moto phone and it does a much better job charging the A52. So I really don't know why Samsung pulled an Apple with the charger.
4. The lightly colored matte plastic back looks awesome in the beginning but with some mild use, the colors are already starting to fade and become yellowish. So put a case or skin on it if you wanna preserve that awesome color.
5. The colors and details of the main camera really sucks for an upper midrange device in 2021. I saw some reviews on YouTube with review units provided by Samsung that showed much better camera quality than what I'm getting with my retail unit. Luckily, some people have already started working on gcam for this device and from what I've heard the results are much better than Samsung's default camera app.
6. Random spammy apps like Dailyhunt get automatically installed every few days. I set all settings to not update anything automatically but it still does that. I even contacted customer care about this and they couldn't provide any solutions.
7. If the bezels were a bit narrower especially the sides and top, it would have quite a flagship killer look. But I know Samsung did this on purpose so their more expensive S series phones would look more special than the A series.
8. It's a bit on the heavier side if you compare it to the A51. Putting a case and tempered glass on it will only increase the weight further.
9. The amoled screen can be fatiguing to your eyes. Not everyone faces this but personally I have this problem.
Conclusion: That wraps up my brutally honest review of the A52 4G. I hope you enjoyed the fact that I didn't jump up and down and say this is the best phone ever like most YouTube "reviewers". They say that whenever a new phone comes out. Of course the people who are gonna upgrade from a 5 year old phone will also say this is the best phone they ever used. From their perspective, it makes sense but I believe you should thoroughly research the market and only buy what YOU like the most. I was moving to another country where phones are quite expensive so I just grabbed this cause I was in a hurry. If you have the time, research other phones and try to use them in person. That way you will know for sure what you're getting because specs can be misleading. I'd suggest you look into Poco F3, OnePlus Nord, Moto G100, Moto G60 and other similarly priced devices before going for the A52. Don't assume that just because it's a Samsung, it's gonna be a great phone. Samsung intentionally nerfed this phone so there is more incentive for people to go for the more expensive S series phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate your feedback. I'm certain most of those who are still undecided will as well.
To be frank, this device has received overwhelming amounts of good press, which, as a consumer, is a good thing.
That said, constructive criticism is a key component towards improving upon future A series models and/or polishing the current user experience.
AHE_XDA said:
I appreciate your feedback. I'm certain most of those who are still undecided will as well.
To be frank, this device has received overwhelming amounts of good press, which, as a consumer, is a good thing.
That said, constructive criticism is a key component towards improving upon future A series models and/or polishing the current user experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Paid press is always good press...
The Samsung Fold series always get rave reviews but they're expensive, fragile and limited devices. Worse I'm being kind in my criticism.
6. Random spammy apps like Dailyhunt get automatically installed every few days. I set all settings to not update anything automatically but it still does that. I even contacted customer care about this and they couldn't provide any solutions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Weird, I have never encountered this.
3. The charger provided is really weak. Sometimes I like to use my phone while it's charging. Sadly this charger is too weak to do that and can't keep up. I did have a faster charger from my previous budget moto phone and it does a much better job charging the A52. So I really don't know why Samsung pulled an Apple with the charger
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't mind this at all since it's already proven that fast charging does hurt your battery longevity.
2. The display isn't bad (the 90hz is definitely an upgrade over 60hz) but the color calibration out of the box by Samsung is very boring and washed out. You can switch to "vibrant" mode but it over saturates everything. The saturation is so off the charts that you have no choice but to go back to the pale "natural" mode. Hopefully, the xda community will do something about this, maybe a graphics engine or some app that can tinker with the display settings more finely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with this, although I prefer it for the occasional media consumption. For general usage, it might lead to some eye strain for some people which includes me.
The build despite plastic is decent enough considering the trade-offs with its other specs at this price point and an IP6X is always welcome. The camera is nothing spectacular but not bad, given that it's harder to quantify the expected degrees of quality per $ at this price range. Performance is fine for the majority of the time but there are occasional stutters or lag you will encounter. Overall, I'm very satisfied with my purchase. It's also worth noting that warranty and software support tend to get overlooked when looking at the price.
I was considering Poco F3 as an alternative before getting my A52 however, I didn't go through with the Poco F3 because of various issues and concerns that I can't be arsed to list.
This phone is on my list to upgrade from my Essential PH-1. Keeping an eye on ROM development and Gcam development. I can get it for around $354 depending on the COP to USD conversion rate in Colombia. Anyone know better deals out in the wild?
NiceGuyIncel said:
Hi guys. I bought an A52 4G for myself a few weeks ago and here is my brutally honest review. As you will see, there are some things I wasn't satisfied with but I needed a phone quickly and for my budget and availability, I thought I'd give Samsung a chance.
Pros
1. Lots of QoL services by Samsung like always on display and apps like Gallery by Samsung can be more useful than Photos by Google. I also mapped the double tap power button to start the flashlight.
2. The 720G chipset along with a 90hz display feels plenty powerful especially for those coming from an older midrange device. However, it's not as fast and instantaneous as stock Android or OxygenOS. Also, you will face lots of stutters and bugs if you enable animation to .5x. At default 1x, animations are too damn slow.
3. Stereo speakers. Sound quality is average though. I don't use it much so I don't care.
4. Water resistance. It's nice of Samsung to bring this feature to a midrange device.
5. The macro camera can be useful for taking pictures of very small items like coins. The selfie camera seems alright.
6. The display, despite having kind of inaccurate colors is actually a lot better looking than most Chinese brand (OnePlus, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, Realme, etc) phone displays. Most Chinese brand displays tend to have a washed out, pale look to them despite having high refresh rates.
7. Battery life is pretty decent. If you don't use it much, it'll last a couple days easily. Of course, battery will degrade over time so a few years later, you might need to change the battery or the phone itself.
Cons
1. Sound quality output through the 3.5mm jack is very bad. My previous phone (Moto G5s Plus) had a much better built-in DAC. But at least the jack is there so I guess it's better than nothing but I'd suggest you get a good type-c to 3.5mm converter and use that instead if you're looking for decent audio.
2. The display isn't bad (the 90hz is definitely an upgrade over 60hz) but the color calibration out of the box by Samsung is very inaccurate and kind of pale. You can switch to "vibrant" mode but it over saturates everything. The saturation is so off the charts that you have no choice but to go back to the pale "natural" mode. Also, the amoled screen can be fatiguing to your eyes. Not everyone faces this but personally I have this problem.
3. The charger provided is really weak. Sometimes I like to use my phone while it's charging. Sadly this charger is too weak to do that and can't keep up. I did have a faster charger from my previous budget moto phone and it does a much better job charging the A52. It would be better if Samsung didn't provide this crappy 15 watt charger and made the phone cheaper so I could buy a 25 watt charger myself. I don't see the logic in this. The phone supports 25 watt charging but Samsung includes a 15 watt charger in the box.
4. The lightly colored matte plastic back looks awesome in the beginning but with some mild use, the colors are already starting to fade and become yellowish. So put a case or skin on it if you wanna preserve that awesome color.
5. The colors and details of the main camera are not very good for an upper midrange device in 2021. I saw some reviews on YouTube with review units provided by Samsung that showed much better camera quality than what I'm getting with my retail unit. Especially after you take a picture, if you zoom in on a person's face for example, the details are just not there. Also, the colors are inaccurate and not life like. Hopefully, someone can make a good GCAM for this phone. Otherwise, expect to live with an average camera.
6. Random spammy apps like Dailyhunt get automatically installed every few days. I set all settings to not update anything automatically but it still does that. I even contacted customer care about this and they couldn't provide any solutions. EDIT: Luckily, it stopped doing this.
7. If the bezels were a bit narrower especially the sides and top, it would have quite a flagship killer look. Even the A51 has narrower bezels on the side. But I know Samsung did this on purpose so their more expensive S series phones would look more special than the A series.
8. It's a bit on the heavier side if you compare it to the A51. Putting a case and tempered glass on it will only increase the weight further. I find myself having to put the phone down on a table or bed to use it. I can't hold it in the air for long due to its weight.
Bugs1. "Force dark mode" option in developer settings automatically turns itself off whenever you restart your device.
2. If you set animation to .5x instead of the default 1x, and cycle through your recent apps, there's a weird stutter.
Conclusion
If you can live with Samsung's annoying OneUI stutters or slow animations, this isn't a bad phone especially if you can get it for around $300 USD. I'd call this a good phone for moms/dads and grandmas/grandpas. If you're a young millennial trying to live on the cutting edge, I'd pass on this one and get something that's a little faster, maybe the new Nord CE (it has a more washed out display than the A52 though).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I will answer this from the perspective of an Indian Millenial coming from Mi A2 (and having only used crappy Micromax and Redmi phones in the past, this is something which I think most Indian youth can relate to). Let's go point by point :
1. UI
Having used stock android and MIUI, I can confidently say that OneUI is definitely a bit clumsy, but it is easy to get used to compared to FuncTouch and MIUI. Also, *there is no Google dialer*, meaning you can safely do call recording. Also OneUI has "Link to Windows" baked right into it, which is a huge boon in my opinion as it kinda compensates for the lack of DeX support, I think this is one of the most underrated feature of Samsung phones.
2. Ads and Bloatware scene
Now this maybe specific to India only. I set the device up using GeekyRanjit's guide on "How to setup Samssung devices" on YT, and so far (1 month later) I have got no ads except wallpaper services message when I swipe from right on lock screen. Also, all bloatware can be either disabled or uninstalled (unlike MIUI and ColourOS), so no problem there. Overall it is much much better than Redmi, Poco and Realme offerings. Though here Oneplus NORD maybe better.
3. Camera
TBH I bought this phone for the camera, and consider the competition it did not let me down, sure there is a bit of over sharpening going on in most images and indoor/low light photos and videos have a ton of noise but considering the competition in 15k-25k INR, it is definitely better. I use Gcam 7.3.018 by Urynx05, and it does improve video stabilisation a lot thanks to OIS (only Oneplus NORD has OIS in this price). For night mode, stock night mode is better than night sight (much brighter and well balanced). Daylight pics, it is a mixed bag, macro camera is good but could have been better,but considering how rarely it is used, it is fine.
4. Display
Most Indian milllenials like me are currently upgrading from LCD to Amoled. I having never used an Amoled, am satisfied with the display. But yeah you are right Amoled displays do cause more eye fatigue than LCD.
5. Availability and Customer support
This is where this phone shines! Here in India, this phone is available like everywhere, in most mobile shop in any market no matter, how small or rural the area, this unfortunately is not the case for OnePlus and Redmi, POCO (infamous for flash sales and black-marketing)etc., thus Galaxy A52's actual competitors are phones from Vivo and Oppo, which are usually more pricey. Also, Samsung customer services is next to Apple.
Set your priorities before buying a phone and you won't be disappointed, my suggestion, if you want good camera hardware and reliable phone go for it, but if you want to do gaming I would suggest you to look elsewhere say iQOO Z3 for 20k INR.
I am trying to get either this phone or s10? I was leaning more towards a52 since it could get up to android 14 opposed to 12 on s10.
Which one should i get?
Hi All,
I'm torn between Pixel 7 and 7 Pro because of its size. I'm afraid I won't be able to get used to the 6.7" size and it will be awkwardly big. But the better camera, color, and design make this choice tough.
Is it comfortable to hold the 7 Pro? Isn't it frustratingly big? What are your thoughts on this?
I would appreciate any opinion about this which helps decide my dilemma.
What phone are you coming from? I went from the Pixel 3XL to the P7P and the P7P is about the same size. It is about the same with, but about a quarter inch taller. I think I have large hands, but I haven't really had an issue with the phone.
I'm coming from a Huawei P10 (5.1"), so it would be a big difference I don't have small hands either, so maybe I just have to get used to it.
Druantia said:
I'm coming from a Huawei P10 (5.1"), so it would be a big difference I don't have small hands either, so maybe I just have to get used to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With the bezels on the p10 it won't be a huge size difference in the device itself. I think you will really like the 7 Pro vs the 7.
Coming from a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra the p7p seems just right (i.e. smaller)
I prefer the size (and flat screen) of the 7, as for the camera being better, I'd say more flexible not better and so far the zoom is concerned it isn't a patch on what my P6P was, it is ok'ish as 5x but the colours are washed out and not consistant with 1x , it is pretty soft and it is disappointing at any zoom after that, the P6P zoom was very respectable even at 15X. Hopefully Google will work on it.
Having AF on the ultrawide is a negative for me as well, i am getting landscape shots where either the foreground or the background are out of focus depending on if there is something in the frame in the middle to near distance, they should have stuck with a fixed lens at a hyperfocal distance and not bothered with the macro IMHO.
Druantia said:
Hi All,
I'm torn between Pixel 7 and 7 Pro because of its size. I'm afraid I won't be able to get used to the 6.7" size and it will be awkwardly big. But the better camera, color, and design make this choice tough.
Is it comfortable to hold the 7 Pro? Isn't it frustratingly big? What are your thoughts on this?
I would appreciate any opinion about this which helps decide my dilemma.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 6 and 7 pro's are *frustratingly SMALL*. They advertise a big screen, but they're incredibly NARROW screens and the display comes way too close to the edge of the phone without any bezels at all to hold onto it with.
MrBelter said:
I prefer the size (and flat screen) of the 7, as for the camera being better, I'd say more flexible not better and so far the zoom is concerned it isn't a patch on what my P6P was, it is ok'ish as 5x but the colours are washed out and not consistant with 1x , it is pretty soft and it is disappointing at any zoom after that, the P6P zoom was very respectable even at 15X. Hopefully Google will work on it.
Having AF on the ultrawide is a negative for me as well, i am getting landscape shots where either the foreground or the background are out of focus depending on if there is something in the frame in the middle to near distance, they should have stuck with a fixed lens at a hyperfocal distance and not bothered with the macro IMHO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Macro is a much more important aspect of the camera for me, I would choose the pro because of the macro rather than the zoom functions. I have no problem with the curved display, I really like the look of it. I agree ultrawide shouldn't be autofocus though.
Thanks!
I just think you can achieve the same result by cropping an image and the cropped version looks less of a digital mush, it it was a true macro where you could get the compound eye on a fly etc. then id be all for that.
Only reason i prefer a flat screen is for glass screen protectors and the screen itself is of course a little less prone to damage.
Although I don't have the opportunity to test it myself, according to this site, you get much worse results when you crop the image:
Macro test
I heard that the curve is quite subtle, wonder if it helps with the slipperiness because I usually don't put any case on my phone.
When you open it fully you can see just how horrible the Pixel 7 Pro shot is, weirdly you can see more detail in the wood grain on the P7 shot which would imply they got the focusing just out.
As for the slippiness of the phone you will need a case or a skin, it is slippier than a block of wet ice competing in the wet ice championship on national wet ice week.
I've just taken a photo of my avatar on my 1440p monitor at 1X with macro on and 5x (no macro) at as near the closest i could get while keeping focus both are uncropped and as they came off the camera.
MrBelter said:
I just think you can achieve the same result by cropping an image and the cropped version looks less of a digital mush, it it was a true macro where you could get the compound eye on a fly etc. then id be all for that.
Only reason i prefer a flat screen is for glass screen protectors and the screen itself is of course a little less prone to damage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 for the flatscreen
I upgraded from a OnePlus 3. I was initially concerned about P7P's size but got used to it as most people suggest. I'm still not a fan of its proportions/width and the remote control look but it's one con—everything else about the phone has been a great experience.