RSS
 

Posts Tagged ‘Note’

Samsung unveils the details of its new Galaxy Note 20, Note 20 Ultra smartphones

06 Aug

Today, Samsung unveiled its latest flagship Note devices, the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, and teased a successor to its original Galaxy Fold. The new devices bring improved specifications across the board, including an upgraded three-module camera system.

While similar in name, the two devices appeal to different user bases, with the Galaxy Note 20 being the more entry-level phone, while the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra goes big across the board with a massive screen, tons of RAM and an impressive camera setup.

Galaxy Note 20

As their names suggest, the Galaxy Note 20 is the more basic of the pair, but it still has plenty to offer. The phone is built around a massive 6.7” AMOLED display with a 20:9 aspect ratio and a 60Hz refresh rate. It’s constructed of Samsung’s ‘Glasstic’ plastic, uses Gorilla Glass 5 for the front display and is IP68 certified.

In North America, the device will use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 Plus CPU and the global version will run on Samsung’s Exynos 990 CPU. Inside, it has 128GB of internal storage (no microSD card slot), 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, 5G, Wi-Fi 6 and a 4,300mAh battery that can charge at 25W wired and up to 15W wirelessly.

Moving onto the camera setup, the Galaxy Note 20 offers three camera modules on the back: a 12MP F1.8 optically-stabilized wide-angle camera with 1.8?m pixels, a 64MP F2.0 telephoto (hybrid 3x zoom) camera with 0.8?m pixels and a 12MP F2.2 wide-angle camera with 1.4?m pixels. The front of the devices uses a 10MP F2.2 camera module with 1.22?m pixels. As for video capture, the Galaxy Note 20 can record 8K video at up to 24fps in either 16:9 or 21:9.

The Galaxy Note 20 comes in ‘Mystic Gray,’ ‘Mystic Green’ and Mystic Bronze, and will start at $ 1,000.

Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra takes the ‘bigger is better’ approach in nearly every way. The phone has a 6.9” AMOLED 120Hz display that wraps around the edge of the phone to form a 19.3:9 ratio. It’s constructed of metal and glass, with a Gorilla Glass 7 display cover, and is IP68 certified.

A front-view comparison between the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra.

The CPU options for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra are the same as the Note 20: a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus in North America and a Samsung Exynos 990 CPU for the global version. Inside is 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, a 4,500mAh battery that can charge at 25W wired and up to 15W wirelessly, 5G, Wi-Fi 6 and the option for either 128GB or 512GB of internal storage (no microSD card slot).

For photography, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has the same 108MP F1.8 wide-angle optically-stabilized camera module found in the Galaxy S20 Ultra, a 12MP F3.0 telephoto (5x zoom) camera module and a 12MP F2.2 ultra-wide cameras, as well as a Laser AF module for improved autofocus speed and accuracy. It can record 8K video at up to 24fps in either 16:9 or 21:9, identical to its non-Ultra counterpart.

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra comes in ‘Mystic Black,’ Mystic White’ and Mystic Bronze, and will start at $ 1,300. Pre-orders for both phones start at 12:01 AM August 6th, with the first units expected to ship on August 21.

Galaxy Z Fold 2

In addition to the two Note devices, Samsung also showed off the Galaxy Z Fold 2, a successor to its original Galaxy Fold phone release last year. Samsung didn’t divulge too many specifications for the new folding phone, but does appear to use the same camera setup found on the Galaxy note 20, based on the product images. Samsung says it will reveal more information on the Galaxy Z Fold 2 on September 1.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Samsung unveils the details of its new Galaxy Note 20, Note 20 Ultra smartphones

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro with dual-tele and 108MP primary camera is official

06 Nov

Last week Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi teased the penta-camera setup in its Mi Note 10 flagship device. Now the smartphone has been officially released and more detailed specifications have become available.

As previously teased, the new device comes with five cameras on its back. The centerpiece is a large 1/1.33″ Quad-Bayer Samsung ISOCELL BRIGHT HMX sensor with 108MP nominal resolution that produces 27MP output files. It’s accompanied by not one but two tele-cameras for optimal performance along the zoom range. There are 2x 12MP tele and a 5x variant with 5MP sensor.

At the other end of the zoom spectrum a 20MP ultra-wide camera with a 16mm equivalent field of view is deployed and there is also a 2MP dedicated macro camera that can get as close to the subject as 15mm. A 32MP front camera with F2 aperture is hidden in a waterdrop cutout in the display.

On the software side of things the Mi Note 10 features a new version of Xiaomi’s Night mode that now stacks frames at Raw level rather then JPG for better results. Xiaomi also says this feature will be made available on the ultra-wide camera via a software update soon.

Other specifications include a 6.47-inch AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution, a Snapdragon 730G chipset, 6 GB RAM and a non-expandable 128GB internal storage. The large 5,260 mAh battery features 30W fast-charging support.

In Europe the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 will set you back 549 Euros (approximately $ 608). There will also be a Pro version with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and an 8-element lens on the primary camera (vs 7 elements on the non-Pro) which will cost €649 (approximately $ 718).

The Mi Note 10 and Note 10 Pro are the international version of the China-only Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro and CC9 Pro Premium Edition which were announced yesterday. The China-market versions don’t come with Google services but everything else should be the same.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro with dual-tele and 108MP primary camera is official

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Xiaomi teases Mi Note 10 penta-camera smartphone with Samsung’s new 108MP sensor

02 Nov

Xiaomi has officially teased its new Mi Note 10, an upcoming handset, first teased in early August, that packs Samsung’s 108MP camera sensor inside.

The Mi Note 10 is the first smartphone to offer a ‘penta camera,’ according to Xiaomi, which has also included a 12MP portrait camera and 5MP 50x zoom camera in the same module. The model also features two other cameras on the phone’s rear that are isolated from the other three sensors: a 20MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a tiny 2MP macro camera.

Xiaomi published an image (above) of the Mi Note 10 and its five cameras on Twitter this week, teasing the handset that will be detailed at an event later this month. The company has shared a couple of sample images captured with the 108MP camera on its Twitter account, as well:

Xiaomi also tweeted a brief video clip, indicating that it demonstrates the 5MP 50x zoom camera’s capabilities:

A pair of dual-LED flash modules are expected to accompany the five cameras. GMS Arena notes that the Mi Note 10 is a global version of the China-only Mi CC9 Pro model set to launch on November 5, which packs optical image stabilization for two of the cameras, as well as a 32MP front-facing selfie camera.

Other official details about the handset are lacking at this time, but based on a previous leak, the Mi Note 10 may feature a 6.47in Full HD+ OLED display. Xiaomi will fully detail the CC9 Pro variant on November 5 and the Mi Note 10 will be fully introduced on November 14.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Xiaomi teases Mi Note 10 penta-camera smartphone with Samsung’s new 108MP sensor

Posted in Uncategorized

 

The Redmi Note 8 Pro is the first officially-announced smartphone with a 64MP camera

30 Aug

Samsung announced its 64MP Isocell GW1 Quad-Bayer smartphone image sensor in May this year. Now Xiaomi has announced the first device featuring the new sensor in the shape of the Redmi Note 8 Pro.

The Isocell sensor is deployed in the primary camera of the Note 8 Pro’s four-camera setup. It is a 1/1.7″ sensor and coupled with an F1.8 aperture lens and PDAF autofocus system. Like with other Quad-Bayer sensors, it is not primarily designed to output 64MP files but to combines four pixels into one, for better detail, lower noise levels and increased dynamic range, resulting in a 16MP default image size.

The primary camera is accompanied by an 8MP super-wide-angle, a 2MP macro camera and a 2MP depth-camera for a simulated bokeh effect. The front camera is located in a notch and offers a 20MP resolution plus several AI features and scene recognition modes.

Camera aside, the new phone’s specifications are distinctly mid-range. The IPS display measures 6.53 inches and comes with an FHD+ resolution. The Android 9 OS is powered by a Mediatek’s Helio G90T chipset and 6 or 8GB of RAM. In terms of storage you can choose between 64 or 128 GB. The 4,500 mAh battery offers quick-charging.

The Note 8 Pro will be available in September in China and set you back CNY1,399 ($ 195) for the 6/64GB version and CNY1,799 ($ 250) for the 8/128GB option. Pricing and availability for other regions have not been revealed yet.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on The Redmi Note 8 Pro is the first officially-announced smartphone with a 64MP camera

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 hands-on

11 Aug

Hands on with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+

On Wednesday, Samsung announced the latest generation of its Galaxy Note series and for the first time, the Note is offered in two sizes: the 6.8″ Note 10+ and the 6.3″ Note 10. If you want everything the Note offers but don’t love a massive phone, you now have the option of a slightly less massive phone!

We had the opportunity to get our hands on the new phones at Samsung’s launch event in New York. Take a look at what’s new in the Note series.

Triple cameras for all!

Both the Note 10 and Note 10+ share a nearly-identical rear triple camera array with the S10 series. That’s a 12MP main camera with F1.5/F2.4 dual apertures and a 27mm equivalent field-of-view, a 12mm equivalent ultra-wide 16MP F2.2 camera and a 52mm equivalent 12MP tele camera with F2.1 aperture – slightly faster than the F2.4 tele lens in the S10 series. Both the main and tele rear cameras are optically stabilized. While the main camera has a dual pixel sensor design for fast AF, the tele lens utilizes masked phase-detect pixels, which we’ve found on prior Samsung models to offer a sub-par autofocus experience.

The Note 10 (above) lacks one key camera feature Note 10+ offers: a Time-of-Flight camera for better depth-mapping and live bokeh effects in video mode (more on that later), and presumably better augmented reality experiences.

Front-facing camera

Both the Note 10 and 10+ use a hole punch-style front-facing camera. There’s no dual selfie camera on either model (the S10+ and S10 5G models had accompanying RGB depth and ToF flight cameras, respectively), just a 10MP 26mm equiv. lens with F2.2 aperture. This camera does not feature optical stabilization, but the sensor is a dual pixel design for fast autofocus.

Video recording

The Note 10 and 10+ are capable video shooters as well. The rear camera can record 4K UHD video at up to 60 fps with optical stabilization only, and up to 4K/30p with optical lens stabilization and electronic image stabilization (for very steady footage). The rear camera can shoot HDR10+ video for playback on HDR TVs; however, there’s no mention of HDR capture in video. The AMOLED displays on both Note 10 devices are HDR10+ certified, which isn’t surprising given the high contrast ratio, brightness and wide (P3) color gamut of Samsung OLED displays.

Both devices are capable of super slow motion video, with 960 fps capability in 720p mode, and 240 fps capability in 1080p.

Live focus video

The Note 10 and 10+ offer something first introduced by the S10 5G: live shallow depth-of-field effects for video recording. Users can change focus between background and foreground on the fly, and adjust the level of blur to taste.

We’ll be curious to test if the Note 10+ has a better implementation of live focus video thanks to its ToF camera.

Video depth-of-field effects

Not only can you blur the background behind your subject, you can add a few different effects like black-and-white backgrounds, out-of-focus highlight overlays, and this red/blue stereoscopic treatment. Maybe 3D cameras aren’t dead after all?

Still photo depth-of-field effects

Background blur effects are also available for still photos – a feature introduced in the S10 and recently added to the S9 series via software update. As in the S10, the Note 10 and 10+ provide the ability to add effects as you’re shooting or after-the-fact.

S Pen, headphone jack and other curiosities

Other highlights on the new phones include the ability to control certain functions by gesture via the updated S Pen. Samsung will open up its ‘Air actions SDK’ to invite third party developers to make use of this way of interacting with the phone. And sadly, the 3.5mm headphone jack has left the building – the USB-C connector will allow for wired audio connections.

The Galaxy Note 10 starts at $ 950; the Note 10+ starts at $ 1100.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Samsung Galaxy Note 10 hands-on

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Samsung launches triple-camera Galaxy Note 10 series

08 Aug

With its latest Galaxy Note generation, Samsung gives potential buyers the option to choose from two sizes. The flagship Galaxy Note 10+ comes with a massive 6.8″ display for those who want maximum screen size in a smartphone. At 6.3″ the display of the standard Note 10 falls much more in line with the Galaxy S10 series, which is traditionally smaller than the Notes.

Both displays are of the AMOLED variant and support HDR10+ with Dynamic Tone Mapping. However, the Plus model comes with a 1440p+ resolution while the smaller model offers a 1080p+ resolution.

Both phones come with the same triple-camera setup but the 10+ adds a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor which can be used to create 3D models with a scanning app and should also benefit the simulated bokeh effect.

The 12MP main camera comes with a 1/2.55″ sensor and a 27mm equivalent lens with variable aperture (F1.5-2.4). Dual-pixel AF and optical image stabilization are on board as well. The 12MP tele uses a smaller 1/3.6″ sensor and offers a stabilized 52mm equivalent lens with F2.1 aperture which is slightly faster than on the tele-equipped S10 models. The ultra-wide angle offers a higher 16MP pixel count and a 12mm equivalent focal length.

The 10MP front camera is hidden under a ‘punch hole’ and features a 26mm equivalent lens with F2.2 aperture. Front and rear cameras can record 4K video, and a new ‘Live Focus Video’ mode allows for shallow depth-of-field effects in real-time. Other special effects, like simulated out-of-focus highlights or black-and-white backgrounds, can also be added in real-time to video. Software features include a new and more advanced video editor and a special version of Adobe Premiere Rush which is available as a free download.

Like previous Galaxy Notes the 10th generation comes with Samsung’s S-Pen stylus which now features both an accelerometer and a gyroscope, allowing it to be used as a motion controller. The phone can be controlled at a distance using the gestures app and Samsung says it will make an SDK available to third-party app developers as well.

Depending on region the Note 10 will be powered by either Samsung’s new Exynos 9825 chipset or the Snapdragon 855 and users can choose from 256 or 512GB storage options. The Plus model also comes with a microSD card slot.

In terms of audio output you get stereo speakers and a pair of USB-C headphones but no conventional audio jack. Battery sizes differ between models, with the Plus version offering a 4,300mAh unit versus the standard model’s 3,500mAh variant.

Both models will be available as 5G versions for those lucky enough to live in an area with 5G coverage. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ will be available from August 23. Pricing starts at $ 949 for the Note 10 with 256GB. The Plus version will be $ 1,099 for the 256GB model and $ 1,199 for the 512GB variant.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Samsung launches triple-camera Galaxy Note 10 series

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Report: Samsung’s upcoming Note 10 will have a ‘3-stage variable aperture’

26 Jun

Samsung guru and leaker Ice Universe claims Samsung China engineers have said the camera inside the upcoming Samsung Note 10 smartphone will feature a ‘three-stage variable aperture.’

As noted in the above tweet, Ice Universe says the camera on the Note 10 will offer three specific apertures as options: F1.5, F1.8 and F2.4.

Since the Galaxy S9, Samsung’s flagship lineups have featured dual-aperture camera systems, so it’s not new territory for Samsung. It is interesting though that Samsung is continuing to put an emphasis on the mechanical side of mobile photography when so many others, including Leica, are clearly doubling down on the computational side of it.

It’s unknown how the variable apertures will be implemented in the camera system, but the option alone is an improvement over other manufacturers and so far Samsung’s dual-aperture setup has proven itself.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Report: Samsung’s upcoming Note 10 will have a ‘3-stage variable aperture’

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 comes with dual-aperture 12MP dual-cam

10 Aug

At a high-profile launch event in New York, Samsung took the wraps off its much-leaked, next-generation Note device. The Galaxy Note 9 borrows the S9+’s 12MP dual-aperture dual-cam, with OIS in both rear cameras and an emphasis on AI-enhanced shooting modes. It’s roughly the same size as its predecessor, though its 6.4″ Super AMOLED “Infinity Display” is a touch larger than the Note 8’s.

Both rear cameras offer 12MP resolution – a wide-angle camera with F1.5/2.4 variable aperture, and a telephoto camera with F2.4 fixed aperture. An 8MP F1.7 front-facing camera is also on board.

The camera will also alert the user with a notification if it detects that a “flawed” image has been taken

Samsung’s camera app uses an AI-powered Scene Optimizer to identify subjects and sort images into one of 20 categories. The camera will also alert the user with a notification if it detects that a “flawed” image has been taken – too blurry, backlit or marred by a smudged lens.

One of the Note 9’s headline features is the option for massive built-in storage capacity: either 128GB or 512GB. Both options are expandable via MicroSD. The S Pen stylus also gets a revamp, with Bluetooth Low-Energy support which allows it to act as a remote shutter for the camera. A 4000 mAh battery claims all-day performance, with a “Water Carbon Cooling system” and real-time performance adjustments to prevent… well, we know what can happen.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 goes on sale August 24th – a 128GB model will cost $ 1000 and the 512GB version will sell for $ 1250.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Samsung Galaxy Note 9 comes with dual-aperture 12MP dual-cam

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Five things to know about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9’s camera

10 Aug

Five things to know about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9’s camera

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 made its debut today at a high-profile launch event in New York. While we knew not to expect any new camera hardware thanks to numerous leaks, we still found a few interesting new features under the hood.

It has a two stabilized cameras, one of which is dual aperture

First: the hardware. The Note 9 seems to be basically using the S9+’s camera (flipped sideways of course) and that’s not a bad thing. Both lenses are stabilized (a tradition the Note 8 started) and are coupled to a 12MP sensor. The wide-angle camera carries over the F1.5/2.4 dual aperture feature Samsung introduced in the S9+, which isn’t terribly useful in real-world shooting. Based on our experience with the S9+, we expect very nice image quality from the wide-angle camera, and slightly disappointing results from the telephoto side.

It tells you when you took a bad photo

While there’s no new hardware to speak of, the Note 9 camera boasts some new AI. A feature called ‘Flaw detection’ can be toggled on and off in the camera settings menu, and presents the user with an on-screen indication when it detects a photo is too blurry, backlit or a subject is blinking. In our quick test the feature worked as advertised, and the notification isn’t too obtrusive.

It will optimize image settings based on scene detection

Another intelligent feature is Auto Scene Optimization, shortened to just ‘Scene optimizer’ on the menu screen pictured above. Samsung says this mode identifies subject matter and sorts the photo into one of 20 categories automatically. Saturation, white balance, brightness and contrast are adjusted accordingly.

It can automatically correct distorted faces

Here’s one we found in the camera settings menu: automatic distortion correction for faces. We don’t know anything more about it other than the feature can be toggled on and off in the camera settings menu. If the results look natural it could be a nice feature, especially when using the camera’s wide-angle lens with subjects positioned toward the edge of the frame – speaking from personal experience, you can take a really unflattering selfie that way.

It comes with a remote trigger

Now that the S-Pen supports Bluetooth Low Energy it can double as a remote shutter trigger. A single button press will take a photo, and a double button press will switch between cameras. The pen now needs a battery, of course, but Samsung says it charges in under a minute in the phone.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Five things to know about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9’s camera

Posted in Uncategorized

 

DxOMark: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 ties iPhone 8 Plus as best ever smartphone camera

07 Oct

News that Apple’s new iPhone 8 Plus had suddenly taken the top spot on DxOMark’s smartphone camera rankings was met with the expected range of praise and critique—everything from “of course, iPhone’s are awesome cameras” to “how much did Apple pay DxOMark for this result!?” But it turns out the iPhone 8 Plus’ ranking as the best smartphone camera DxOMark had ever tested didn’t last very long.

As of today, the iPhone 8 Plus has been tied by the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, which significantly bested its Photo score and only tied the iPhone 8 Plus overall because Apple’s smartphone does so much better in the video category.

The full breakdown of the results can be found on DxOMark, but this comparison between the two phones’ scores speaks volumes:

The Photo categories where the Note 8 really outperformed the iPhone include Autofocus (94 vs 74) and Zoom, where the Note 8 got a score of 66 to the iPhone’s 51. DxOMark’s conclusion is appropriately praiseworthy:

When all the tests are verified, the scores calculated, and the perceptual analyses discussed, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 comes out as an outstanding choice for the smartphone photography enthusiast, matching the top overall score of 94 points of the iPhone 8 Plus. Dual-cam setups offering a second telephoto zoom for portraits are a real step forward for high-end smartphone photography, and the implementation on the Note 8 is exceptional, making it the best smartphone for zoom shots we’ve tested.

Read DxO’s full thoughts and see all of their sample and test photos at this link. And if you’re an Android user in need of some serious photography power from you smartphone, the Galaxy Note 8 should definitely make it to the top of your list.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on DxOMark: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 ties iPhone 8 Plus as best ever smartphone camera

Posted in Uncategorized

 
« Older Entries