Here’s how the Galaxy S Series camera technology evolved over the past decade
12,March 2021, Colombo – A smartphone camera isn’t just a good to have these days, it is a must have. To match consumer needs, cameras on Samsung Galaxy S series smartphones have evolved through several groundbreaking technologies that have been developed over the years.
We explore the legacy of the S series’ camera, from the launch of the very first Galaxy S in 2010, right up to the recently introduced Galaxy S21 series, which is now available for purchase in Sri Lanka.
You too can be a part of this legacy of great cameras by purchasing the new Galaxy S21 series at island wide authorized dealers of John Keells Office Automation, Softlogic Mobile Distribution and authorized partners; Singer, Softlogic Retail, Singhagiri and Damro and network partners Dialog and Mobitel. You can also purchase them via online portals — Samsung EStore, Daraz.lk and MySoftlogic.lk.
The first Galaxy S device featured a VGA-class front camera that was capable of making video calls, as well as a 5-megapixel (MP) rear camera that could record HD videos. The rear camera also included built-in autofocus, facial recognition and anti-shake functions, and featured a Panorama Shot mode.
A year after the Galaxy S, the Galaxy S2 featured a thoroughly enhanced camera. Included among the upgrades were boosts in pixel counts – 2 megapixels in the front and 8 megapixels in the rear.
Introduced with 2012’s Galaxy S3, Burst Shot offered users the perfect tool for capturing blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments like fun jump-in-the-air shots. The Galaxy S4 ushered in the era of 10-plus megapixel cameras by combining a 2MP front camera with a 13MP rear camera.
The Galaxy S5 was a landmark release, as it was the first smartphone in the industry to feature a 16MP ISOCELL camera. The ISOCELL image sensor enhanced image quality with less cross-pixel interference. To make it easier for smartphone users to capture more moments, Samsung introduced a Quick Launch function with the Galaxy S6.
The Galaxy S7 incorporated a dual pixel image sensor to allow users to quickly snap crisp and clear photos even in the dark while the Galaxy S8 introduced an improved image signal process algorithm that ensured clear, stable images regardless of time or place.
The Galaxy S9 introduced a Dual Aperture camera that would automatically adjust to ambient light just like the human eye. The Galaxy S10 that was released in 2019 came with the Super Steady mode that catered to content creation needs of users.
The Galaxy S20’s outstanding performance raised the bar for smartphone photography. Perhaps the most eye-catching camera enhancement was the Space Zoom. The Galaxy S20 Ultra allowed users to zoom up to 100x. In addition to supporting 8K video recording, the camera also included an upgraded Super Steady mode that took camera stability to the next level.
The newly launched Galaxy S21 series builds on this legacy by debuting an epic pro-grade camera for users of any skill level.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra is equipped with a quad rear camera (ultra-wide, wide and dual tele-lenses) that features an upgraded 108MP pro sensor from which you can capture 12-bit HDR photos with 64 times richer colour data and more than three times wider dynamic range. For the first time on a Galaxy smartphone, you can shoot in 4K at 60fps across all lenses including front and four rear lenses, so you can shift to a different perspective with the same quality.