Skip to main content

Rumor: Samsung working on a new Galaxy S4 model with fancier camera

Kf5NesfShz
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Despite not even fully completing its rollout into every market and every planned carrier, rumors are already starting to make their way around the Web suggesting that Samsung is working on an alternative version of its new flagship phone, the Galaxy S4.

According to the crew over at PhoneArena, the Korean mobile manufacturer made the decision to create this varied model as a response to the increase in planned smartphones with exceptional cameras, particularly the suspected devices that are believed to be in the works by major companies like Nokia and Sony.

The Galaxy S4 sports a not-too-shabby 13 megapixel rear-facing camera. The new design – code named the SM-C1010, but likely to be officially named the Galaxy S4 Zoom – will increase the camera sensor an additional 3 megapixels, totaling 16 altogether.

The name of the phone suggests that Samsung will be fitting it with the ability to optically zoom while taking photos. But other than the beefed up camera, the rest of the phone will be pretty standard. The qHD AMOLED display will measure 4.3 inches; it will come with 8GB storage, but can support a microSD card up to 64GB; and it will come loaded with Google’s Android Jelly Bean operating system. (We hope it’s the most current one; we can’t imagine why it wouldn’t be.) Unfortunately, there’s no word yet as to what processor the phone might run on, nor how much RAM it will be equipped with.

Though the rumors have just started to make their way around, it appears that the company may very well be a good deal into the production process. The phone is expected to be introduced to the market sometime this summer. We’re not sure on pricing yet, but we feel that it will probably be in roughly the same range as the standard S4 model.

Editors' Recommendations

Joshua Pramis
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Spending a childhood engrossed in such technologically inspiring television shows like Voltron, Small Wonder, and Power…
A new version of the Samsung Galaxy S24 could be coming soon
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Mint Green color along with a coaster and leaf in the front.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Tushar Mehta / Digital Trends

Samsung could soon be adding a new phone to the flagship Galaxy S24 lineup. Following the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra from earlier this year, it looks like Samsung is getting ready to launch the Galaxy S24 FE.

Read more
The Galaxy S24 just got a big camera update. Here’s what’s new
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in Titanium Orange and in Titanium Silver.

Samsung Galaxy S24 owners just received some great news. Samsung recently released an April software update that addresses various camera issues. Unfortunately, this update is only available in South Korea, but according to information posted on the Samsung Korea forum, it is expected to be released in other regions soon.

Firmware version S928NKSU1AXCA is almost 800MB in size. It includes improvements for lowlight images and image colors in Samsung's Expert RAW app, improved text clarity when zooming in photo mode, and support for 480 x 480 resolution when recording Instant Slow-Mo videos. The Galaxy S24 update for April builds on the improvements from the previous February release, which included enhanced zoom, portrait mode, night mode, and rear camera video capture capabilities.

Read more
5 things I want to see in the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and S Pen stylus on its screen.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is definitely one of the best smartphones on the market right now, no doubt about that. You get incredible performance with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, plenty of RAM and storage, a whopping 200MP camera, two telephoto lenses for 3x and 5x optical zoom, S Pen integration, and more. It’s certainly an impressive package.

But it’s not perfect. In fact, some weaknesses could be improved in the next version, the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Here’s what I hope to see next year.
A new design
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (left) and Galaxy S23 Ultra Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Read more