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Galaxy S10: Samsung might grab this LG feature for its triple camera setup
- The Galaxy S10 will reportedly have a 16MP super-wide angle camera, forming part of a triple camera setup.
- If confirmed, this means Samsung is taking a different route compared to HUAWEI’s zoom-focused triple-camera-sporting P20 Pro.
- A super-wide angle camera allows users to capture more of a scene in a photo, such as more people in a group.
Rumors have been circulating for a while now that at least one Samsung Galaxy S10 model will offer a triple-camera setup to compete with the HUAWEI P20 Pro. Now, ETNews (h/t: PhoneArena) has reportedly revealed more details, and it might be a major departure from the setup found on HUAWEI’s pioneering flagship.
According to the Korean language publication, the Galaxy S10 triple-camera combination will consist of a 12MP regular camera, a 13MP telephoto shooter, and a 16MP super-wide angle camera. The latter would be a new addition to Samsung flagships, which have usually offered a regular camera and a telephoto shooter.
Huawei’s P20 Pro, by comparison, offers a zoom-focused triple camera setup consisting of a 40MP RGB camera, a 20MP monochrome snapper, and an 8MP telephoto shooter. The company uses a combination of the three cameras, pixel binning, and other computational smarts to deliver 5X “Hybrid Zoom.” This type of zoom tech doesn’t quite beat optical zoom but it bests digital zoom in most situations.
It’s not the first time we’ve heard of a Galaxy S10 model getting a triple camera setup with a super-wide angle camera either. Last month, Korean-language publication The Bell reported that the Galaxy S10 Plus would offer a triple camera with a 16MP super-wide angle shooter. So unless ETNews has the same sources as The Bell, evidence is mounting for a third camera with an ultra-wide perspective.
Why would you want this triple camera combo?
If the Samsung Galaxy S10 triple camera details are confirmed, it might make for a more versatile combination than HUAWEI’s setup. The P20 Pro is likely to retain the zoom advantage (owing to its array of camera tech), but it doesn’t allow you to shoot super-wide angle images like we’ve from LG’s recent flagships (see above) which have been kitted out with wide angle lenses.
A Galaxy S10 with this claimed setup, however, would deliver both telephoto zoom and super-wide angle shots. So if you struggle with fitting everyone into group shots, then you should keep an eye on the 2019 Samsung flagships.
Personally, I’d love to see a triple-camera setup with both telephoto zoom and ultra-wide angle capabilities. Right now, consumers have to choose between the two when making a purchase, as no phone has both features.
We also wonder about the computational photography possibilities that are enabled by having this particular triple camera setup. Could we see seamless zoom from super-wide to telephoto zoom? Would we be able to take a photo and zoom in/out after the fact? We’ll have to wait and see what 2019 brings for Samsung.
What do you think of the purported Galaxy S10 camera setup? What would you like to see from the next triple-camera smartphone? Let us know in the comments section!