Well, after a mulitude of rumors and leaks that gave us most of its details unofficially, Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy K zoom, the successor to the Galaxy S4 zoom from last year. As the leaks had already revealed, the star of the show here is a 20.7-megapixel 1/2.3 BSI CMOS camera sensor with 10x optical zoom, which comes with retracting lens technology that makes the K zoom a lot less thinner and ligher than the S4 zoom. Samsung has also brought over the dimpled back from the Galaxy S5 – in fact, the Galaxy K zoom looks pretty similar to the company's latest flagship on the side where the 4.8-inch 720p Super AMOLED display resides, and the textured back should offer a tight and comfortable grip that one would prefer on a camera-specialized smartphone.
The camera features optical image stabilization (OIS) for clearer and blur-free pictures and videos (a feature Samsung unfortunately didn't put on the Galaxy S5), and a Xenon flash for brighter and more natural photos in low-light. Other features include AF/AE Separation, a Pro Suggest mode that will offer 5 optimized fiter settings, a Selfie Alarm for timed selfies (you know, since selfies are the next big thing in mobile photography), object tracking for “a clear, focused shot of a moving subject,” for a total of 28 different shooting modes. According to Samsung, the user interface is simpler than before, which suggests that Samsung is using the same redesigned camera UI it has on the Galaxy S5.
In fact, other Galaxy S5 features are present as well, including Ultra Power Saving Mode for extended battery life and Kids Mode, with Android 4.4 KitKat ticking away underneath. Samsung has also included a Studio app for picture and video editing, though how flexible and advanced it is something we'll find out only after trying out the device. Of course, since the Galaxy K zoom runs Android, you can download third-party picture editors like Adobe's Photoshop Express, so you're not just limited to what Samsung offers out of the box.
Hardware specs of the Galaxy K zoom include a hexa-core Exynos 5 Hexa (5260) processor with two 1.7GHz Cortex-A15 cores and four 1.3GHz Cortex-A7 cores, 2GB of RAM, a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera, 8GB of internal storage, a microSD slot with support for up to 64GB memory cards, and a 2,430 mAh battery. Connectivity features include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0LE, GPS, NFC and HSPA+ (42mbps), all of which should be enough for the sharing needs of most users.
The Galaxy K zoom comes is three colours, Charcoal Black, Electric Blue and Shimmery White. The K zoom will be available next month.
Press Release:
SINGAPORE – April 29, 2014 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, today announced the new camera specialized smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy K zoom. The Galaxy K zoom is a new smartphone that blends advanced digital camera technology with Samsung’s industry-leading Galaxy experience. It features effortless capturing ability, real optics, and a premium design, offering users the mobile solutions they need with the ability to create professional-quality visual content in a fun, easy–to-use device.
“With the introduction of the Galaxy K zoom, Samsung continues to demonstrate our commitment to creating products that meet the diverse demands of our consumers,” said Sun Hong Lim, Senior Vice President of Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. “The new Galaxy K zoom empowers users to effortlessly capture and share their most important everyday moments in stunning clarity, with the convenience and connectedness of a Galaxy smartphone, for a unique, all-in-one mobile experience.”
As a camera-specialized smartphone, the Galaxy K zoom offers an advanced technical camera system designed to offer the control and functionality of a professional camera, ensuring that the important moments are never missed and always captured with complete clarity. The Galaxy K zoom is equipped with new retracting lens technology that provides 10x optical zoom in a remarkably slim and chic body. Other notable features include the 20.7 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor for ultra-clear, ultra-detailed images. It excels in low light conditions, and provides Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) to reduce blur caused by movement. These specifications ensure the device delivers pictures and video (Full HD) that are crisp and sharp, even when zoomed and in low light. In addition, the device’s Xenon Flash provides a brighter light than LEDs to improve the quality of the image with natural brilliance.
The new device also integrates the most advanced camera usability features and functions, including AF/AE Separation (/Auto Focus/ Auto Exposure Separation) for the precise balance of light and clarity, next-generation Pro Suggest mode which offers 5 optimized filter settings, Selfie Alarm that allows users to take timed selfies with ease, and object tracking for a clear, focused shot of a moving subject. Each feature comes with a simple User Interface, allowing users to easily capture photos and videos with groundbreaking quality, in any situation.
The compact and highly portable Galaxy K zoom features an ergonomic grip and sleek, stylish lines that feel soft and comfortable in the hand. Additionally, the Galaxy K zoom offers all the features that consumers want in a flagship Galaxy smartphone, such as Ultra Power Saving Mode for minimizing the battery consumption, S Health Lite for personalized fitness and lifestyle coaching, and a Studio app to allow users to easily edit their pictures and videos.
