Ever taken a stunning photo in your Samsung Camera app, only to post it on a social app like Instagram and think, “Wait… why does this look like it was taken with a potato?” You’re not imagining it — and Samsung has been working on solving that very issue.
Let’s break it down.
🤔 Why the Difference in Quality?
Until recently, Samsung’s top-tier camera performance didn’t fully carry over to third-party apps. Here’s why:
- Samsung’s own Camera app uses a special internal framework.
- Social apps use the standard Android camera framework — basically, a one-size-fits-all approach.
So even though you’re using the same phone, the camera behaves differently depending on the app. It’s like using a racing engine… in a lawnmower.
Some apps do try to tap into Samsung’s camera magic using SDKs (special developer tools), but:
- Each camera feature has to be offered as a separate tool.
- App developers have to build those tools into their apps.
- And even then, they might only use a “lite” version of the feature due to technical limits.
Bottom line? There’s been a gap between what your Samsung phone can do and what third-party apps let it do.
🚀 Enter UniHAL+: Better Quality, Wherever You Shoot
With the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung introduced a clever new software structure called UniHAL+.
Here’s the idea:
UniHAL+ gives social app cameras direct access to the same powerful tools used by the Samsung Camera app — so now, even when you’re filming directly in an app like Instagram, your shots look just as good.
In other words: Samsung gave social apps the VIP pass to its high-performance camera hardware.
🎥 What’s New for Social App Cameras on Galaxy S24?
Thanks to UniHAL+, the following pro-level camera features now work inside supported social apps:
✅ Super HDR (High Dynamic Range) – Makes bright areas pop and dark areas detailed.
✅ Low-light noise reduction – Say goodbye to grainy night videos.
✅ Video stabilisation – No more earthquake-vibes in your Insta stories.
✅ Scene optimisation – Keeps people and backgrounds balanced and natural, even in tricky lighting.
And yes, this means better previews and better actual photos/videos — not just what you see before hitting the shutter.
[Person and background clear even in backlight] [Bright, clear photos and videos even in low light]
🌟 Not Just Filming – Viewing Got an Upgrade Too
It’s not just about capturing better content — viewing has been supercharged too.
With the Galaxy S24, Samsung added HDR viewing to social apps, making your display brighter and photos/videos look more vivid.
[Emphasize highlight areas to enjoy richer picture quality]
So whether you filmed using the Samsung Camera or the in-app camera, you can enjoy HDR playback in-app too (as long as the app supports it).
[Film HDR movies with the In-App Camera and view them in the In-App Gallery]
⚠️ A Few Things to Keep in Mind
- UniHAL+ is available starting with the Galaxy S24 series. It’s not coming to older models.
- HDR photo viewing starts with the Galaxy S24 series.
- HDR video viewing works on devices from the Galaxy S23 series onwards (S23, Fold5, Flip5, S24).
- HDR features only show up in apps that choose to implement Samsung’s solutions.
Samsung figured out why your social app photos didn’t match the quality of the Camera app — and fixed it. With UniHAL+ on the Galaxy S24, you now get top-tier photo and video quality in select social apps, with smoother, brighter, and more detailed results.
So next time you open Instagram’s camera, take a moment to appreciate how sharp your selfie is. That’s not a filter — that’s Samsung flexing its tech.
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