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Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
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6.3/10
Informr score
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom currently has an Informr score of 6.3 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 16 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Excellent 10x zoom quality
  • Good screen color quality and viewing angles
  • Good battery life

What's bad

  • Sluggish performance when running multiple apps
  • Bulky and uncomfortable design
  • Inconsistent image quality in auto-mode

Unlike other smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom’s main attribute revolves around its rear-facing 16MP camera. While the Nokia Lumia 1020 might boast a higher resolution camera, the Zoom offers an impressive 10x optical zoom. According to reviewers, the zoom quality was impressive without much loss in image fidelity though CNET noticed it occasionally failed to focus on objects and suffered in the macro function.

Image quality itself was a mixed bag for many reviewers. For most, auto-mode produced inconsistent images that were often overexposed in bright light and underexposed in indoor situations with the occasional balanced picture occurring occasionally. The Zoom comes preloaded with different preset modes like food, indoor and action, which yielded better quality images than auto for most critics.

Unfortunately, reviewers found the Zoom difficult to wield. At its thinnest, the device measures 0.6 inches wide, but it doubles in thickness at the zooms lens at the top and large bottom hand grip and weighs a hefty 208 grams. The added thickness and weight made it difficult for many reviewers to use normally as a smartphone. When used in camera mode, critics still had issues as they found the side grip too small to hold and the plastic body too slippery.

On the front of the phone is a 4.3-inch AMOLED display. Resolution is 960x540 with pixel density of 256ppi. Reviewers noticed a slight loss of sharpness when playing HD video or games, but go on to praise the color quality and viewing angles. Trusted Reviews also compliments the screen's responsiveness and states that it reacts "just as smoothly to touch and gestures…as any other top end smartphone…"

Powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1.5GB of RAM and with 8GB of storage, performance is middle-of-the-road. Gotta Be Mobile observes that the phone can easily handle light processing tasks; however it ran into problems with heavy usage and suffered slowdown when numerous apps were running in the background.

Battery life, on the other hand, was slightly above average. Tech Radar drained the 2,330mAh battery after a full day of mixed heavy use and points out that web browsing and camera usage were the biggest battery killers. Engadget warns that at 5% battery life, the phone drops brightness and also ceases non-critical functions, which includes the camera.

Overall, experts are a bit torn on the Zoom. TechRadar states, "We really want to like the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom…but right now it's a poor compact married to a mid-range phone at a high end price tag." Android Central adds that it "doesn't do any one thing poorly…but we're far from compelled by the package as a whole."


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.5 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.5 GHz
4.3"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4.3"
16+ MP
Camera
Camera
16+ MP
2330 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Digital Trends
Digital Trends

The Galaxy S4 Zoom is half camera, half phone, but it's uncomfortable to hold and disappointing to shoot with.

- Jeffrey Van Camp, Digital Trends
GottaBeMobile
GottaBeMobile

The Galaxy S4 Zoom is a versatile device that allows users to ditch their telephoto zooms and smartphones for an all-in-one device that can still fit into your pockets. As a jack of all trades device, the Galaxy S4 Zoom excels at its photographic ability providing mobile photographers with additiona...

- Chuong Nguyen, GottaBeMobile
NDTV
NDTV

The Galaxy S4 Zoom is anything but a mainstream device. It's clearly targeted at the shutterbugs, people who like taking pictures all the time and want their pictures to stand out above the rest and don't mind the extra bulk that comes with the device.

- Anupam Saxena, NDTV
The Inquirer
The Inquirer

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is a good cameraphone let down by a clunky design that we found makes the device fairly unusable day to day. The handset does features some good specifications, including its AMOLED display, a number of useful software features and, of course, its 16MP camera with opt...

- Carly Page, The Inquirer
Digital Spy
Digital Spy

Despite the ergonomics being fairly bad, we have a soft spot for the S4 Zoom. There is no way it would replace our phone for day-to-day use, simply because we don't see the image quality as a necessity.For those who want a compact camera and a mobile, with space saved in their pockets for something...

- Hunter Skipworth, Digital Spy


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom user manual here.


Samsung backs up the Galaxy S4 Zoom with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Galaxy S4 Zoom has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Quick view

Screen Size
4.3"

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom's screen size is 4.3 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1.5 GHz

There is a ARM Cortex-A9 1.5 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
16+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 16+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 1+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
8 GB

Internal memory is 8 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 64 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2330mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2330 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 23.8 days standby time, 780 minutes, 540 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Galaxy S4 Zoom Specs

Overview
Release Date June 28, 2013
Regions Available USA, United Kingdom
Operating System No

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor ARM Cortex-A9 1.5 GHz
Internal Storage 8 GB
RAM 1536 MB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation No
SAR Head: 0.35 W/kg
Body: 1.05 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Data Cable, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+ 21.1
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Yes
SIM card size
Micro-SIM
variations
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared Yes
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 64 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
16+ Megapixels
Zoom
10x optical
Flash
No
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Brightness control, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, ISO, Multi-shot, Night mode, Exposure value, Macro, Metering, Voice recognition, Anti-shake, HDR
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 30 fps, up to 25 minutes
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
1+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology Super AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel Density 256 pixels
Size 4.3 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 2330 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 600 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 540 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 780 minutes
Standby Time Up to 23.8 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors White, Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 12.6 x 6.3 x 1.5 cm (5 x 2.5 x 0.6 in)
Weight 208 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Messaging: SMS, MMS, Google Talk
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Voice Commands: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Contact Groups: Yes
Voice Activated Dialing: Yes
Photo Caller ID: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: Yes
DLNA Support: Yes
Audio Formats: MP3, eAAC+, AAC+, AAC, AMR-WB, WMA, OGG, AMR-NB
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: Yes
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Haptic Feedback: Yes
Data Tethering: Yes
Mobile Hotspot: Yes
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable, Pre-installed
Included Software / Apps: -
To-Do / Task List, Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Stop Watch, Timer, Calculator, Maps, NotePad, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): Samsung SM-C101
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom Reviews
Where to buy Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
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