S24 Ultra after Feb 2024 update: I am considering returning it

[Slavvd]

Just got the February 2024 update on my S24 Ultra.

This update promised a lot of improvements in the cameras department. 

I have to admit updating it improved the camera quality a little (emphasis on little). 

However, I also happen to own an iPhone 15 (cheapest one), currently used as a work device. 

After comparing the two phone's cameras I can honestly say: There is no competition, iPhone wins hands down. 

I took the same pictures with the phones side by side and using default camera camera apps settings. Then compared them on the same device (iPhone) to avoid display bias. I can summarise it as:

- Colors are better after the update but still not quite to the iPhone level

- IPhone takes 24MP shots by default, resulting in much more detail than the default 12MP Galaxy shots

- Switching to the Expert Raw mode on galaxy and taking 24MP shots (otherwise default settings) results in severely oversharpened and overall way worse photos than the standard 12MP ones.

- Switching the iPhone to take 12MP shots makes makes them about even in the details department but not colors. 

- The IPhone is much better in preserving details when a photo has both very lit and very dim areas. (think a light bulb in a dim room that **bleep** one side of your face and casts a shadow on the other) 

I just can't stand the fact that a £650 device can just blow a £1300 device to pieces when it comes to camera. 

For this reason I am seriously considering returning my S24U and using the iPhone full time. What's the point of spending £1300 extra and having to live with 2 phones when I can't even take a decent picture with the S24U?

I love android but this phone is a disappointment. 

[DrMips]

It's a separate app in the Samsung store. Search for 'camera assistant'. You then get a new menu option in the camera settings.

[DrMips]

For some reason, when I reply, it doesn't get posted.

You can find the camera assistant in the Samsung store. It gives your more advanced options like turning on HDR photos.

It will appear as a separate app, and as a new menu option in the camera settings.

[Slavvd]

Thanks I turned the focus prioritisation on. The auto hdr was already on for me.

Do you happen to know some fix for the colors? They are usually too pale especially when under artificial lighting. I feel like it's using the wrong white balance. I tried pro mode and adjusting it but that introduces other problems (blurriness, lighting etc).

[DrMips]

I can't help with the colour balance. I tend to take photos in good light so it's not normally an issue for me.

[DrMips]

I turn off auto lens switching as it can use the main 1x lens instead of the lens you have selected in low light conditions. It will then crop in to the sensor adding more noise.

I also turn on quick tap shutter, so it takes the photo as soon as you press the button, not after you have pressed and released. This could be the reason some people say there is camera lag taking photos of children, etc..

[RELKady]

This is weird I don't have it in good lock and in the samsung store , it seems region issue

[DrMips]

What region are you? I'm in the UK. Mine shows at the top in the 'Life Up' tab on the Good Lock app.

[DanyAlv]

Are we just judging the whole phone based on minor details related to pictures?? Good grief 😔
Not on what is capable, speed, AI features, spen, drawing editing, reading and other apps.. no just pictures, truly some of you are very shallow.

[Slavvd]

Pictures might not be a priority for you but a lot of people buy expensive phones just to get access to a better camera

[DanyAlv]

If your thing are pictures, pick a compact mirrorless camera for around £500, or a used DSLr getting a phone for just access to a "better" camera is being victim and very much gullible to marketing hype.
I am a picture enthusiast, love a good picture, as it is the phone is not amazing but is not garbage, with diff apps and software there you can get really good shots, but i used my s24u different, its my working desk, literally using DeX is a so underrated feature but hey if. Photos is all you want to compare against iPhone this and iPhone that..
Why did you pick a samsung then ?