Leaks suggest Samsung is working on a mid-range smartphone with four cameras

[Polycount]

Although the tech industry is constantly coming up with new ideas for gadgets, products, and software, that's far from an easy job. Part of the reason the smartphone industry has been a bit stagnant in terms of innovation -- we haven't seen an original iPhone-sized leap forward for some time -- is the difficulty associated with reinventing the wheel.

After all, the "next big thing" will likely need to drastically change the way we think about the devices we carry around in our day to day lives. Creating a new smartphone-like gadget that truly innovates is no small task, so it seems companies like Apple and Samsung have instead focused on smaller, iterative improvements, such as "notches" and edgeless displays.

However, if information leaked by AllAboutSamsung and Evan Blass is to be believed, Samsung may be going in a somewhat unusual direction for a mid-tier device called the "Galaxy A9 Star Pro." The smartphone, according to Blass, will have a whopping four rear cameras.

AllAboutSamsung offers additional details about the cameras - the first camera will reportedly house a 24MP lens, whereas the second, 5MP camera will feature a depth sensor with "live focus" capabilities.

The third camera is 8MP, with a 120-degree "wide-angle lens," according to AllAboutSamsung. The final camera has "twice the optical zoom" (though it's not clear what that's in comparison to) at 10MP.

The outlet adds that the A9 Star Pro will house a Snapdragon 660 processor, 6GB of ram, 128GB of starting storage space, and a 3720mAh battery. These specs are far from the most impressive on the market, but if the A9 Star Pro is priced as a mid-range device, it could be one of the better offerings out there. The smartphone industry is in dire need of more solid low and mid-tier devices that are priced accordingly.

However, as interesting as this is, it should be noted that this information is mostly hearsay at the moment. Samsung has not officially confirmed the A9 Star Pro's existence, though it's hinted at it in past tweets. Regardless, it may be wise to take this report with a grain of salt - for now.

Image courtesy Evan Blass (Twitter)

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https://www.techspot.com/news/76869-leaks-suggest-samsung-working-mid-range-smartphone-four.html

 

[yRaz]

*Samsung board meeting*
Boarddouche1: "alright guys, were running out of things to innovate. We've already taken away the headphone jack and added notches while curving all our screens and making AI mandatory, what do we do now?"
Boarddouche2:" let's add a bunch of cameras"

Boarddouche1: "perfect"

 

[Uncle Al]

Oh, they will make it truly innovative with a FILM camera .....

 

[yRaz]

Oh, they will make it truly innovative with a FILM camera .....

I would buy a phone with a 35mm camera

 

[kapital98]

This would be a nice niche phone. Especially if it could really help with HDR.

It will probably just be a gimmick though. So.... meh.

 

[Reehahs]

Placement of the camera at the centre is preferable to the edges so you don't smudge it with butterfingers.

 

[swagdaddy]

*Samsung board meeting*
Boarddouche1: "alright guys, were running out of things to innovate. We've already taken away the headphone jack and added notches while curving all our screens and making AI mandatory, what do we do now?"
Boarddouche2:" let's add a bunch of cameras"

Boarddouche1: "perfect"

Or maybe they are looking to target the more photo-specific demographic. This is an effort to push camera/photo quality in the smart phone world, it may not appeal to you but will to many others. If phone manufacturers did what all the TechSpot commenters suggested we would still be stuck with flip phones.

 

[OutlawCecil]

Gah wtf is with this trend?! More cameras does not make your pictures better. Two may help with focusing but that's it! You can add 20 cameras but it will not be a better photo! What's next? Let's make a phone with 6 microphones!? Picks up sound better than one!

 

[yRaz]

Or maybe they are looking to target the more photo-specific demographic. This is an effort to push camera/photo quality in the smart phone world, it may not appeal to you but will to many others. If phone manufacturers did what all the TechSpot commenters suggested we would still be stuck with flip phones.

Actually they would have a thick phone with a large battery and no notches.

 

[swagdaddy]

Gah wtf is with this trend?! More cameras does not make your pictures better. Two may help with focusing but that's it! You can add 20 cameras but it will not be a better photo! What's next? Let's make a phone with 6 microphones!? Picks up sound better than one!

Actually, more cameras can and do create better photos. Additional cameras/lenses can create new 'depth-of-field' effects that allow you to separate the background from the foreground in photos for better editing. More cameras also allows for better zoom effects as well as dynamic range effects. One camera cannot do all these things at once.

But true, more cameras does not necessarily equal better photos in itself but it certainly does allow for better photos to be made with amazing new effects.

 

[OutlawCecil]

Actually, more cameras can and do create better photos. Additional cameras/lenses can create new 'depth-of-field' effects that allow you to separate the background from the foreground in photos for better editing. More cameras also allows for better zoom effects as well as dynamic range effects. One camera cannot do all these things at once.

More so then simply making one camera with all the said features? I must be missing why one can't do them all other than depth which I mentioned. This is why humans have two eyes.

 

[swagdaddy]

More so then simply making one camera with all the said features? I must be missing why one can't do them all other than depth which I mentioned. This is why humans have two eyes.

It's not quite as simple as just 'making one camera do everything'. Much more efficient to make 5 cameras play to their strengths than have one camera do each effect sub-par.

 

[OutlawCecil]

It's not quite as simple as just 'making one camera do everything'. Much more efficient to make 5 cameras play to their strengths than have one camera do each effect sub-par.

I just can't see the benefit. Why are cameras any different than any other component on the phone? There is one of everything else, yet we need 4 times as many cameras in the same direction to make it work well?

 

[Capaill]

One camera cannot do all these things at once.

Yet Google's new Pixel 3 camera has just one lens and they say they can achieve the benefits of multiple lenses through software, where the phone actually uses the vibrations in the person's hand or mimics the lens moving to capture multiple images and manipulate them via software into the desired effect.