Just a couple of weeks after Samsung launched its latest flagship Galaxy S5, the South Korean company has acknowledged a major camera flaw that renders the shooter useless, according to The Verge.
Reports of the problem surfaced last week, when some S5 owners took to XDA messaging boards to report a randomly occurring "camera failure" error which leaves the camera hardware permanently disabled. Reinstalling the camera app, rebooting the phone or performing a full reset of the device, do not fix the issue; you'll need to get the device replaced.
"We have learned that a limited number of Galaxy S5 devices may have an issue that causes 'Camera Failure' pop-up error message", Samsung said in a statement. The company didn't comment on the flaw and the exact number of units affected.
In particular, the problem seems to be with the Verizon Model. The carrier was also quick to acknowledge the flaw in a post to Twitter on Friday.
Galaxy S5 customers who see "Warning: Camera Failed" please contact @VZWsupport & we'll work to resolve it, including replacing the device.
--- Verizon Wireless (@VZWnews) April 25, 2014
Affected customers can call 1-888-987-4357 to arrange an exchange under Samsung's warranty, or can visit their respective carrier for a swap.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 was released on April 11 simultaneously in 125 countries around the world. The flagship sports a 16-megapixel camera, a 5.1-inch HD display, and runs Android 4.4 KitKat. Its SIM-free units are priced around $699 in the US and around $599 in most of Europe and Asia.