The smartphone industry is full of twists and turns and though we’re often pleased with ever-impressive high-end specs appearing on phones and tablets, every now and then a device lacks something it was originally intended to have. Such is the case with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, where a 13-megapixel rear camera was first intended. It was released however, with an 8-megapixel rear camera but it seems that the Samsung Galaxy S4 (S IV) could benefit from a 13-megapixel camera instead.
We’re not saying the Galaxy Note 2 is not an extremely impressive smartphone but back in September we told how it was originally planned that it would include a 13-megapixel camera. However Sony had allocated so many of its 13-megapixel camera sensors for the LG Optimus G that there were not enough to supply Samsung for the Galaxy Note 2 as well. LG had managed to get the main bulk of the sensors with an earlier agreement made with Sony and so Sony was unable to supply Samsung’s requirements.
PC-Tablet also makes the point that Samsung felt compelled to stick with an 8-megapixel camera for the Galaxy Note 2 because of plans to release the Galaxy S4 only a few months later and as we’ve already reported, present rumors suggest an early 2013 launch for the Galaxy S4. It does appear then that what failed to materialize for the Galaxy Note 2 is more than likely to come to fruition for the Galaxy S4 and that Samsung felt the Galaxy Note 2 already had more than enough to offer with an 8-megapixel camera. The company seems to have been proven right as well, as the Note 2 has already seen huge sales and doesn’t seem to have lost out because it ‘only’ included an 8-megapixel camera.
A parallel is also drawn with Apple’s iPad mini as this was originally intended to have Apple’s renowned Retina Display but was being planned as a budget tablet. However as costs spiraled Apple realized the only way to keep the cost of the iPad mini down was to forego the Retina Display for a cheaper one. One of the only criticisms of the iPad mini since its release has been the lack of a Retina Display and many consumers would consider it’s price is still too high for a so-called ‘budget’ tablet. Nevertheless the lack of a Retina Display doesn’t seem to have impacted too severely as the iPad mini continues to fly off the shelves.
Back to the Galaxy S4 then and another point to consider is that Samsung said on its website back in September that work was underway on a next-generation 13-megapixel camera sensor to be used for smartphones and tablets coming out in 2013. Thus, it looks more and more certain that the Galaxy S4 will have a 13-megapixel camera and this is not far out of line with one analyst who previously stated a belief that the Galaxy S4 will have a 12-megapixel camera with video capture in stereo sound.
You may also be interested in our recent articles on a concept design and realistic specs of the Galaxy S4 and following this there have been rumors that the S4 will feature a 5-inch full HD display. We’ll be closely following developments for the Galaxy S4 and will be keeping readers up-to-date so do check back with us. In the meantime we’d like to hear your views about the Galaxy S4.
Are you looking forward to finding out what it will offer? Maybe you’re hoping for a 13-megapixel camera this time around? Alternatively perhaps the camera isn’t too much of an issue for you and there’s something else for the Galaxy S4 that you want more? Let us have your comments.