Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 5x zoom camera will make video recording seamless

Although we are four months away from the Galaxy S24 launch, its features have leaked already. The biggest upgrades are expected to be a faster processor and improved camera quality. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is likely switching from a 10x optical zoom camera to a 5x optical zoom camera. While it might look like a downgrade, it could improve the overall video recording experience.

Galaxy S24 Ultra could switch between all cameras while recording 4K 60fps videos

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is rumored to feature a 200MP primary rear camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and a 50MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom (likely with wider aperture and bigger pixels). It is a downgrade compared to optical zoom reach, but combined with the higher resolution sensor, Samsung could offer similar levels of performance as the Galaxy S23 Ultra. More importantly, this switch will also bring seamless video recording between all the cameras, even in the 4K 60fps mode.

Right now, none of the high-end phones from Samsung can switch between ultrawide, wide, and telephoto (zoom) cameras while recording 4K 60fps videos. That switch is currently only possible while using the 4K 30fps mode. With the Galaxy S24 Ultra, though, that will change. This improvement is likely a combination of an improved processor (and ISP) and a more capable telephoto camera.

Why is a downgrade from 10x to 5x zoom camera actually an upgrade?

Even Apple enabled seamless 4K 60fps video recording with the launch of the iPhone 15 Pro series last month, and Samsung could be following suit. The switch from 10x to 5x telephoto camera might look like a downgrade, but since Samsung is rumored to use a bigger and higher resolution sensor in combination, we could still see 10x optical quality and, more importantly, improved photos and videos in low-light conditions. Switching between cameras could also become smoother than it is now.