T-Mobile AT&T Verizon Sprint Samsung Android

Samsung says the Galaxy Note 4 is "about to change how you photograph"

posted by Florin T. / Oct 05, 2014, 12:44 PM

What we’re seeing above is a rather surprising statement from Samsung Mobile US, which claims that the brand new Galaxy Note 4 will change the way we “photograph & much more.” While we certainly expect the Note 4 to have a very good camera (better than the one featured by the Note 3), we’re not sure that it can truly change the way we take photos.

As you may already know, the Note 4 features a 16 MP ISOCELL rear camera with Smart Optical Image Stabilization and LED flash. Granted, this could be one of the best cameras ever found on a Samsung handset, but it just doesn’t seem to be revolutionary enough to change anything. Of course, we’ll have to wait until we can test the camera to have a final conclusion.

Besides

the 16 MP main camera, the Note 4 also offers a wide-angle 3.7 MP front-facing camera, though the statement above doesn’t seem to be related to this snapper (since the image accompanying it shows the rear camera).

The Galaxy Note 4 can currently be bought in South Korea and China, and will be released in lots of other markets (about 140) this month. In the US, all major carriers are already taking pre-orders for the new Note, expecting to release it on or about October 17.

What do you think, does it look like the Note 4 can change the way we take photos with a smartphone?

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

View more + 57 images

source: Samsung Mobile US (Twitter)

Related phones

View Full specs

PhoneArena Rating:

9.3

Read Full Review

User Rating:

9.2

Based on 75 Reviews

Display 5.7" 1440 x 2560 pixels

Camera 16 MP / 3.7 MP front

Processor Samsung Exynos 7 Octa, Octa-core, 1900 MHz

Storage 32 GB + microSDXC

Battery 3220 mAh(20h 3G talk time)

FEATURED VIDEO

Options

59 Comments

1. zig8100

Posts: 243; Member since: Dec 13, 2012

I hope its the best camera. Have mine on preorder. Im pretty sure the OIS will come into play when I snap pics at night.

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 12:56 PM 8

10. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

Well, Sammy has certainly managed to set expectations. I too am hopeful the camera hardware + software set a very high bar for everyone else. Late October for my pre-order from VZW.

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 1:17 PM 4

23. Ashoaib

Posts: 3282; Member since: Nov 15, 2013

samsung's flagship phones cameras are always good and on the top in competition but I think the statement is little exagrated, it is quite common in marketing to over exgerate... thats why I never believe on what ads say... I try and research by myself before buying although called freak by my family, thats not bad anyway

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 2:48 PM 2

45. kevin91202

Posts: 642; Member since: Jun 08, 2014

"...I think the statement is little exagrated..." -Ashoaib Because you have the Note 4? If not, how would you know?

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 9:26 PM 0

50. Ashoaib

Posts: 3282; Member since: Nov 15, 2013

thats a common sense dude, lumias have best camera in the phones so far and they didnt changed the way ppl take photos.. then how note 4 wil change? no doubt the camera of note 4 will be exceptionally great bcoz samsung is notorious in good camera optimization from a long time

posted on Oct 06, 2014, 1:37 AM 1

38. -box-

Posts: 3991; Member since: Jan 04, 2012

It's no PureView, but Samsung has come a long way in being able to approach Nokia/Microsoft in the camera department, along with LG and Sony. That said, as fast as the industry moves, it's disappointing that it has taken Nokia's competitors so long to catch up to using physical OIS, which Nokia helped pioneer years ago. Maybe they had to license their patents or find workarounds.

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 5:24 PM 0

2. bigmaster

Posts: 198; Member since: Sep 05, 2014

Waiting for this beast!!

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 12:59 PM 5

3. DogeShibe

Posts: 1121; Member since: Jan 10, 2014

Amaze us Samsung. Will wait for camera samples :)

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 12:59 PM 3

11. The-Sailor-Man

Posts: 1095; Member since: Mar 25, 2014

” While we certainly expect the Note 4 to have a very good camera (better than the one featured by the Note 3), we’re not sure that it can truly change the way we take photos. " Yup Only Apple can "revolutionize" whatever. (Even if don't). Right?

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 1:22 PM 14

18. Iodine

Posts: 1480; Member since: Jun 19, 2014

Still better than going from few additional gimmicks and pixels into "changing the way we photograph" based only on that it's samsung and so nothing can be more revolutionary than improving a samsung phone.

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 1:40 PM 1

31. CanYouSeeTheLight

Posts: 1122; Member since: Jul 05, 2012

Still better than recycling the 5S sensors, adding phase detection autofocus so they can say it's a new sensor and teaching it new software tricks.

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 3:59 PM 4

4. twens

Posts: 1175; Member since: Feb 25, 2012

Irrespective of everything. When I'm buying a samsung phone I don't worry about camera. People may praise iPhones for good camera but sammy to me has always had a better camera for my taste. I use a 5s now but don't like the images it takes at all. Don't know but my preference. I preferred my old note 3 cam to the iPhones camera.

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 1:02 PM 7

7. SupermanayrB

Posts: 1188; Member since: Mar 20, 2012

Why did you switch? I always used Motorola phones before getting the Note 3. Motorola's improvements between models or lack thereof is why I switched.

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 1:08 PM 1

8. ManusImperceptus

Posts: 724; Member since: Jun 10, 2014

The camera on iPhones is mediocre at best, and have been for years...

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 1:12 PM 5

5. SupermanayrB

Posts: 1188; Member since: Mar 20, 2012

My next device will be this or the Droid Turbo depending on the camera comparison.

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 1:04 PM 1

6. kach22

Posts: 153; Member since: Nov 04, 2011

Well I think there's something gross wrong with the way phonearena perceive great features of phones other than Apple. Had Apple released the same (or at least to some extent near same) feature Florin would have gone all so ga ga about it. We have seen how they praised 8 MP of iPhone. But now I know the reason why they do it. Who doesn't fear the wrath of the mighty Apple? (we also know now Computer Bild and gsmarena doesn't)

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 1:05 PM 2

9. DogeShibe

Posts: 1121; Member since: Jan 10, 2014

You should expect a warning from Florin. On topic - I think the first impression Apple made in 2007 is still counting.They deserve it honestly.

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 1:14 PM 0

12. 0xFFFF

Posts: 3806; Member since: Apr 16, 2014

One thing that Apple does well with their low megapixel camera is take pictures FAST. Many Android phones don't do a good job with this, especially when the megapixel count starts getting up there. The S5 with 16MP shoots pretty fast, but it is still about 50% slower than the iPhone 6 with its 8MP. Hopefully the Note 4 -- with more processor power than the S5 -- will close the gap.

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 1:22 PM 3

15. nodes

Posts: 1159; Member since: Mar 06, 2014

Agreed, iPhone/iPad takes photos blazing fast, i mean, REALLY fast. turn on HDR, and you won't notice it's on HDR mode, as in Android i notice a delay in HDR mode, but not in iPhones/iPads. and honestly, i love how the photo processing algorithm works on the iPhone.

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 1:32 PM 1

14. Florin.T

Posts: 316; Member since: Dec 16, 2013

@kach22 So you're saying we are biased towards Apple? If that were true, would we still publish articles like these:http://www.phonearena.com/news/iPhone-6-vs-Samsung-Galaxy-S5-speed-comparison-which-is-faster_id61149 and http://www.phonearena.com/news/Old-iPhone-5-ad-suggests-Apple-has-lost-its-common-sense-with-the-announcement-of-iPhone-6_id60528 ? Had Apple released a similar statement, I'd still have questioned it until we'd be able to confirm (or infirm) it.

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 1:29 PM 6

16. nodes

Posts: 1159; Member since: Mar 06, 2014

Save your time, sir. it's not worth it to respond to people like this. People nowadays think that if anything/anyone praising Apple, it's biased towards Apple. Android fanboys are all over the internet.

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 1:36 PM 2

27. TheGenius

Posts: 339; Member since: Mar 06, 2014

Commending iPhone 6 for its 8 mp camera gives us enough idea about how 'fair' this site is.

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 3:32 PM 3

28. Pattyface

Posts: 1658; Member since: Aug 20, 2014

You could just leave if it's that bad? Stop being a female dogs a$$

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 3:46 PM 0

59. TheGenius

Posts: 339; Member since: Mar 06, 2014

Same about you. You dont need to reply to me! Stop sniffin my a$$?

posted on Oct 07, 2014, 4:25 PM 0

32. tedkord

Posts: 17356; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

Florin, I don't think PA is biased overall (for the most part), but that first link you provided clearly shows that some of the writers are. On nearly every test that the S5 was a fraction of a second slower, the author used the word "lag." He never used that word for the roughly half the tests the iPhone lost, instead using phrases like, "a hair slower." Even when the iPhone lost by a larger margin than any of the S5 losses.

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 4:00 PM 4

58. kach22

Posts: 153; Member since: Nov 04, 2011

Thanks Florin for your words. IF you think I have overstepped in my comment just ignore what I have said. It's nice to know that you are not a blind supporter of any particular phone, OS or Phone manufacturer though. That is sensible and professional for Mobile tech Journalism. Unfortunately some of the well known website on mobile technology are so biased that I stopped visiting their sites.

posted on Oct 07, 2014, 9:37 AM 0

13. kyan-

Posts: 78; Member since: Apr 25, 2012

can we have the phone now ffs

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 1:26 PM 0

17. gabriel2

Posts: 22; Member since: Sep 27, 2013

Well here are some proof visit with chromo for translation hi-tech.mail.ru/review/Apple_iPhone_6_Plus_vs_Samsung_GALAXY_Note_4.html no contest the iPhone 6 plus doesn't come close

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 1:38 PM 3

19. poppy.a

Posts: 41; Member since: Sep 24, 2014

I'm patiently waiting

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 1:42 PM 0

20. shuaibhere

Posts: 1986; Member since: Jul 07, 2012

This is total bs... Samsung is marketing it in apple way.. "Revolutionise".. You can't find success this way samsung...only apple has power to fool people..... This from samsung fan...

posted on Oct 05, 2014, 1:52 PM 1

view all comments