Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom Review - GSMinfo.nl

Where some manufacturers only a limited number of smartphones release per year, Samsung makes it completely different: the Korean manufacturer brings tens of devices, so there is something for everyone. Whether you are looking for a small smartphone of 2.8 inches, or a smartphone so great that “he is almost like a tablet, Samsung has it. Do you want an Android or an Android clamshell with QWERTY? Samsung has it.

In 2013, Samsung will more than ever experiment, and one of the most striking result of our efforts, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom. The camera of a smartphone is becoming increasingly important to many consumers, and we see manufacturers brag about the increasing number of megapixels that they know in their smartphone to cram in recent years. But however connoisseurs know that the number of megapixels says little about the quality of a camera.

therefore not put in the number of megapixels, but a built-in optical zoom lens. Even if what you want to photograph is a lot farther than you can still make sharp pictures. That has some distinct implications for the design: the back of the Galaxy S4 Zoom looks like a camera, the front on a Samsung smartphone. Is the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom it the ultimate camera phone, or the straw that breaks the camel’s back Samsung? GSMinfo.nl tried the phone a few weeks.

Design

We did not joke about the design: the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is literally a smartphone with a camera stuck behind. A separate control, which is not always turn out as well in practice. The big optical zoom lens that sits behind the S4 Zoom at the thickest point a thickness of more than two inches. You must have big pockets, otherwise you walk around with a strange bulge in your pants with the S4 Zoom on bag.

The unique design of the Galaxy S4 Zoom lies comfortably in your hand as you use it as a camera, but if the smartphone is far from ideal. The Zoom is quite clumsy in hand, the zoom lens is almost always a bit off if you just want to use the device. Smartphone as You can also use the device properly while flat on the table is: start by the height difference between the top and bottom of the Zoom soon to wobble when you type. Whatever you try, the S4 Zoom is never really comfortable smartphone.

the durability of the design is otherwise little wrong. The Galaxy S4 Zoom feels solid, and there is extra protection on the lens so that no one just scratches come when the device is in your pocket. The front of the handset is not too exciting, and like all other Samsung phones in the past year: round corners, plastic, firm but not too exciting or attractive.

Display

a smartphone where (homemade) are central images you expect that the display quality is, right? That is unfortunately a bit disappointing. The Galaxy S4 Zoom screen is only 4.3 inches, much smaller than the screen of the ordinary Galaxy S4. If that was the only limit we can still enjoy life with a larger screen was the S4 Zoom have been a lot clumsier

.

Unfortunately, Samsung has also opted for a much lower resolution of only 540×960 pixels. That equates to a pixel density of 256 pixels per inch. That’s fine for a mid-range perhaps, but for a smartphone with the “Galaxy S4′ name is quite the contrary. In addition, you want your photos and videos on a sharper screen view, and that do not really offer. The Zoom Although the AMOLED screen is bright enough and provides good contrast, making your photos look beautiful will see on the screen, from the low resolution is pretty disappointing.

Software

Samsung Galaxxy S4 Zoom runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, covered with Samsung’s own TouchWiz interface. Samsung knows smartphones are always packed to stop proprietary software, and that is the S4 Zoom again the case. Think of Group Play to share with your group of friends, easy file its own app store, and Samsung Go. Our experience is that most of those apps after the first few weeks will be using. Never to the It is unfortunate that there are so many, and you still can not remove them. Again Especially since the amount of storage is still limited though we would have preferred less bundled apps.

There are some adjustments made to TouchWiz. So you can turn the ring around the lens to take pictures. At any time Turn, beginning and a menu appears on the screen with different cameramodussen, including auto, macro and other scenes. You can also take pictures while you make a call, and send them directly. However, the software does not focus quite right on the camera-phone idea: the home screen can not be displayed vertically example, while you really usually fixed’ll love if you use the device as a camera

as the Zoom.

Hardware

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom features a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 1.5 GB of RAM. Again a lot less than the Galaxy S4, which is a pity. In terms of specifications is a mid-range zoom more than a top model, while the name still suggests otherwise.

In practice, it is fortunately still enough to ensure that the S4 Zoom usually runs smoothly. Apps start fairly quickly, websites render quickly enough, and most games you can play without having annoying stuttering. Burden Do not expect top performance. Samsung’s TouchWiz skin also sometimes seems to be rather heavy: connect an app, and you go back to the home screen, then sometimes it takes a few seconds for the home screen is in full view. Be used to quickly switch between apps sometimes arise hitches on.

Flink disappointing is the limited storage of the Zoom. Samsung has the device with only 8GB of storage, which a few GB already used by the operating system. Photos and videos with high resolution will take quite a lot of space, so you’ll soon have to invest in a microSD memory card if you want your photos to store. Other top models from Samsung have at least 16 GB of storage, so it’s a shame that the company with the S4 Zoom be very economical.

Camera

The most important aspect of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is, of course, the camera. As we discussed earlier in this review is already filled with the Zoom softwarefoefjes you pictures and videos help as attractive as possible, but ultimately it is natural to the camera itself.

S4 Zoom has a 16-megapixel camera with 10x optical zoom, which is unique for a smartphone. Smartphones have always had digital zoom so far, with a few exceptions. If you zoom in with digital zoom, then the quality of a photo quickly back and keep your pixelated mess about. With optical zoom, you can zoom without losing the sharpness. In addition, the zoom-camera optical image stabilization, making photos and videos are stable, even if you’re shaking hands while making it.

It must be said: the pictures that the S4 Zoom makes look fine. Photos are sharp, colors are vibrant, and always quite stable. Also pictures you low-light shooting in the dark or in situations look fine. Videos are just as stable, and once again colorful and tighten. If you zoom while making a video soon focus, and with the optical zoom, the device really quite an advantage over other camera phones.

Battery

battery S4 Zoom has a capacity of 2330 mAh. The relatively small screen of the S4 Zoom ensures that you usually do the day you come to the phone without having to recharge. By You regularly check your email and social media, sometimes with a game in between, you’ve probably just enough power to get. The end of the day

Unfortunately

changes things when you use the camera regularly. A ‘heavy’ camera as the S4 Zoom using relatively much of your battery. Are you a long while, like half an hour or an hour, busy with the camera, then your battery suddenly runs much faster. Take your charger with me to a shoot, because before you know it the S4 Zoom empty.

Conclusion

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is not successful smartphone. It’s a fun experiment from Samsung, but the form factor ensures that the device is not really ideal for most smartphone purposes. The Zoom barely fits in your pocket, is a lot less powerful and impressive than the ‘real’ S4,

you looking for a good smartphone that you can make great pictures there are also getting better solutions. For example Nokia’s Lumia 1020, taking pictures that are nicer than most S4 Zoom pictures while the phone a lot more attractive looks. Prefer an Android smartphone with a good camera? Then there is the Sony Xperia Z1, with a 20.7-megapixel camera well equipped for great photos. Other manufacturers seem the ‘camera problem “a lot to deal with than Samsung. Elegant

If you need a good smartphone with a good camera, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is an excellent choice. Most of the pictures you make are probably still go on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and if you are a professional photographer you are probably better served by a separate camera and smartphone then this solution which floats halfhearted between two worlds.

+ Very good camera
+ Optical zoom much more useful than digital zoom
+ Smart software enhancements: Zoom ring and take pictures while sharing

– Clumsy design
– Specifications are very disappointing: disappointing compared to “real” Galaxy S4
– Only 8GB of storage built

Comparison Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphones

	Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom	Samsung Galaxy S4	Samsung Galaxy S4 Active	Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini
Weight	208 grams	130 grams	151 grams	108 grams
Standby time	570 hours	350 hours	312 hours	300 hours
Talk	900 minutes	1020 minutes	1020 minutes	720 minutes
OS	Android	Android	Android	Android
Processor	1.5GHz dual-core	1.9 GHz quad-core	1.9 GHz quad-core	1.7GHz dual-core
Memory (RAM)	1.5 GB	2 GB	2 GB	1.5 GB
Display Format	4.30 inch	5.00 inch	5.00 inch	4.30 inch
Touchscreen	Capacitive	Capacitive	Capacitive	Capacitive
Number megapixels	16.00 megapixel	13.00 megapixel	8.00 megapixel	8.00 megapixel
WiFi
With subscription	Free from € 21 , 50	Free from ?? € 30 , 00	Free from € 33 , 75	Free from ?? € 19 , 00
Los device	?? € 349 , 00 ?? € 629 00	?? € 453 , 00 € 705 05	€ 472 , 05 ?? € 619 00	?? € 296 , 00 ?? € 449 00