Samsung is one of the biggest tech giants in the world, and is also one of the largest investors in R&D. The company has the ability to release countless smartphones on the market, each model bringing something different for each user – at least to a certain extent, after which most smartphones tend to “look” alike.
This however is not the case with the freshly announced Samsung Galaxy K Zoom. After numerous leaks and rumors hinting at the smartphone’s existence, the Korean manufacturer has lifted the veil on the camera-centric device, on April 29.
Although the K Zoom doesn’t have the same moniker used by last year’s Galaxy S4 Zoom, the K is a direct descendent of that device. Let’s take a look at what it has to offer and what improvements Samsung brought to the table.
Samsung Galaxy K Zoom – Raw Hardware Specs
As we usually tend to do when a new smartphone hits the scene, we’ll start off by taking a closer look at what lies under the hood of the Galaxy K Zoom.
The smartphone in question is being powered by an Exynos 5260 hexa-core processor comprising a Cortex A7 quad-core unit running at a frequency of 1.3 GHz and a dual-core Cortex A15 chip clocked at 1.7 GHz. The CPU is coupled with a Mali-T624 graphics chip and 2 GB of RAM.
Storage-wise not much has changed, as the new K Zoom features 8 GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD by up to an additional 64 GB.
Aside from storage, the new Zoom seems to step it up a notch in pretty much every aspect. The gadget boasts a 4.8 inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 and a pixel density of 306 ppi, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The entire package is being powered by a Li-Ion 2430 mAh battery, and everything is being coordinated by Android 4.4.2 KitKat, in conjunction with Samsung’s proprietary TouchWiz user interface. The UI includes newly added features such as Ultra Power Saving Mode, as well as “Kids mode” and the S Health Lite application.
Samsung Galaxy K Zoom – Design
As expected, in terms of design the new Zoom delivers cues that we’ve become familiar with since the Samsung Galaxy S5 hit the shelves. The K features a “patterned” back panel, and on the front-side, it continues to borrow the same design language applied to the SGS5.
As far as its dimensions go, the new Zoom is considerably larger than its predecessor – which is to be expected given the larger display. The K measures 137.5 x 70.8 x 16.6 mm (5.41 x 2.79 x 0.65 in), but interestingly enough, it weighs only 200 grams, making it 8 grams lighter than the SGS4 Zoom.
Samsung Galaxy K Zoom – Camera
Evidently, Samsung has focused its attention mostly on the camera side of things, given the nature of the K Zoom. The gadget features a 20.7 MP camera with optical image stabilization and 10x optical zoom. The unit comes with a 1/2.3 BSI CMOS sensor and an F 3.1-6.3 aperture. ISO levels can range from 100 to 3200, and the unit benefits from a Xenon flash, as well as “Smart Mode,” “Expert Mode” and “My Mode.” The unit is capable of recording 1080 x 1920 videos at 60 frames per second, and the main camera is complemented by a 2 MP front facing sensor.
Software-side, the smartphone boasts features such as “Smile / Blink detection,” object tracking and “Studio.” The K Zoom also includes AF/AE Separation (Auto Focus / Auto Exposure Separation), which contributes to the balance of clarity and light. There’s also a new “Pro Suggest” mode which includes five optimized filter settings.
Samsung Galaxy K Zoom – Price, Release and Other Details
The Galaxy K Zoom is expected to be released in two flavors, those being black and white. The gadget will apparently hit the shelves sometime in May, although no exact release date has been revealed so far. As far as pricing goes, if you are in Europe the K Zoom will set you back €499 off-contract. Carrier availability is expected to be announced later on.
This pretty much wraps up our Samsung Galaxy K Zoom overview, so it’s time for our readers to hit the comments section with thoughts and opinions on the device. Would you be interested in buying the Samsung Galaxy K Zoom? What are the most attractive features?
Vlad Andrici is editor for gforgames.com and writes about technology issues. Follow Vlad on Google Plus.