Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few months, you'll know that the Samsung Galaxy S24 series' camera array makes heavy use of AI; What you may not know is how intelligent processing can take care of the most challenging aspects of phone photography: low-light shots.
Extolling the virtues of its AI-focused 'ProVisual Engine', Samsung highlighted how the Galaxy S24, Galaxy 24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra can capture “the perfect mobile shot.”
The crux of this is not only that the neural processing unit behind the engine is trained on a library of over 400 million image data sets, but that the smart technology can supposedly combat common challenges photographers face, such as low light conditions, fast movements. cluttered subjects and backgrounds or unwanted objects.
In our review of the Samsung Galaxy S24 we found that the camera system and AI processing make it a worthy candidate for a spot on our list of the best camera phones, and the AI tools work quite well. But it doesn't always outperform an iPhone 15 and the Google Pixel 8 handles low-light photos better. Speaking of which, let's dive into Samsung's low light claims.
Night Light
Low light conditions have always been a problem for photographers, and this is especially evident on smartphones, which use smaller sensors than the best DSLR cameras and, as a result, can struggle to capture enough light for detailed photography. .
By doubling the physical size of the Galaxy S24 Ultra's telephoto camera sensor from 12.52mm to about 24.47mm, Samsung said the sensor has 60% larger pixels that can capture more light, resulting in more detailed enlarged images.
Add in an AI-enhanced image signal processor and a 30% faster shutter speed compared to the Galaxy S23, and Samsung claims users can capture brighter, less noisy images, while details are removed from shadows. dark and bright lights.
However, in our tests, senior phones editor Philip Berne noted that the low-light photography on the Galaxy S24 Ultra didn't wow him, and the Google Pixel 8 Pro fared better.
Of course, if you're not happy with the low-light photos on your Galaxy S234 Ultra, or even the other Galaxy S24 models, then AI-powered Generative Editing can be used to intelligently edit them to your liking without the need for any skills. of Photoshop, just keep in mind that you could end up going to an image that is more artificial than enhanced.
When it comes to shutter speed, the Galaxy S24 is no slouch for sure. But we haven't noticed it being faster than rival phones from Apple and Google in real-world use. Continued testing and coexistence with Galaxy phones might highlight those quirks a bit more, but it looks like Samsung may be making a mountain out of a molehill here.
Despite the skepticism, however, the Galaxy S24 Ultra tops our lists of best Android phones and best phones, as well as a powerful smartphone with a pair of very good siblings. And there's room for updates to improve things, just take Samsung's hype with a pinch of salt and don't forget that phones like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Pixel 8 Pro and OnePlus 12 are worthy contenders in smartphone photography, although with its own peculiarities. also.
