sailwiz Loc: Santee, CA

I'm not mr. science or tech, so please explain to me why a "company spent a large portion of its Unpacked presentation outlining the various new camera improvements: a higher-resolution 200-megapixel sensor, wider dynamic range, steadier optical image stabilization for video, faster autofocus and clearer shots in low light, among other upgrades" and our cameras can't seem to match or perform like that. Thank you.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

They can perform like that. You have to read between the lines. Just because their camera is 200mp doesn't mean much. It's all in how the pixels are "rated" and arranged on the sensor. Fast autofocus doesn't mean much when it's all digital. I guess if our cameras tried to be phones some would worry about that, too.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

They want people to buy their phone because it has a "better" camera? Cool stuff sells.
Matters to some.
Then there's me... My phone has a camera, it takes pictures nicely.

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

My camera phone even can makes calls, and I bet 3/4 of all usage of a camera phone is not photo or camera usage

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yup... texting, twittling, ...

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

There is only so much a telephone can do, be it a land line or cell phone. As far as I can tell the phone capabilities are about equal in all phones. So what are you going to use to sell your product. The companies seem to have decided on camera capabilities. Simple as that.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

"... our cameras can't seem to match or perform like that."

Which smartphone shoots at 120 fps? Which smartphone has Pro Capture? Which smartphone actually has a shutter? Which smartphone can be handheld for 10 seconds? And there are many more questions I could ask that the answer is, "There are none."

Yes, there are new and exciting things being added to smartphones. And, yes, I will eventually buy a better smartphone camera when my smartphone gets old enough. But I can guarantee you that a smartphone camera and a "regular" camera are two different tools. The smartphone cameras tend to be mainly for videos and stills images for social media uses. And those people are going to want the best they can get for social media. And most want a camera that they can carry 100% of the time and designed for such. Most smartphone users are not going to be interested in going beyond that kind of shooting and that kind of camera. Smartphones can sometimes capture "the decisive moment" but are not really designed to do so as easily as a regular camera.

So which tool do you want?

Personally, I want both.

I want a camera that I can carry 100% of the time. And I will know how to use the smartphone's features to the best of their abilities.

But when I truly want more serious shooting and getting into more serious shooting situations, I will be using my regular camera, not my smartphone.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Samsung is telling the audience they are targeting, that this is their latest and greatest iteration. The phone will not be their best seller although it will be their best performer, if you care about those features...they didn't intend it for everyone. The typical user does not spend $1200 on a phone.

Red6

As someone mentioned, the way cellphone makers attract new customers is through features. All phones make phone calls, probably one is just as good as another. What separates them are the flashy features. Cellphones as a phone are basically appliances like a toaster or microwave oven. They all do their primary job as well as it can be done, but it is marketed and sold on their features. Cell phones are no different today. Cell phone photography will always be limited somewhat by the physical size of its optical components. The real magic is the software inside. That makes these tiny lenses and camera components appear to do more than possible.

Personally, as photographers, I think we should stop stressing out and burning brain cells worrying whether or not cellphone cameras are going to rule the world and take over photography. The PRIMARY reason people buy cell phones is for communication, in whatever mode they care to communicate. Secondary is the convenience of also having a camera, a calendar, maps, a personal data assistant, internet access, listening to music, watching movies on a high-def screen, reading books, accessing their bank accounts, paying for stuff, ad nauseam.

All these features in a small sexy box and they can carry it in their back pocket and look cool at the same time. Try that with your Canon, Sony, or Nikon.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

joer said in part: The typical user does not spend $1200 on a phone.

True, but the new Tesla Pi will be $390
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrI_9rQcCqI

Red6

However, the TYPICAL user probably pays nothing. Daddy pays for it!!

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

I have never taken a photo with a cell phone. And never will. The last time I bought a cell phone I looked all over the place for one without a camera. Couldn't find one. And the young punks in the stores looked at me like I had three eyes when I asked.
There was a time in my life when I used crutches for quite a long time. I bought a shoulder bag to free up my hands and I have carried it ever since, and yes, it's the "Manly" kind! I carry my Oly TG-6 in the shoulder bag every where I go. It's all I will ever need for an every day carry camera!

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Phone capabilities are about the same for all phones? Maybe so if you said all top of the line phones have about the same capabilities, but I have an inexpensive phone, and the camera has nowhere near the capabilities of the expensive phones.

Red6

My wife and I both have iPhones. Mine is an iPhone SE about 2 years old and hers is a new iPhone 14.

The images from her iPhone 14 are stunning! She knows nothing about photography and some of her beach sunset images are better than anything I could have done with Sony A6400 or RX100. It handles low light very well with no input or effort from her to adjust anything. The newer cell phone cameras and their software are truly marvels.

We have a test coming soon. We are going on an extended cruise to Europe and I am traveling light, taking only a small travel camera and cell phone for photos. My wife will have her iPhone 14. It will be interesting.