Mobile Technology

Nokia Lumia 1020 vs. Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom

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Gizmag compares the specs (and other features) of two smartphones that take photography very seriously: the Nokia Lumia 1020, and Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
On paper, the GS4 Zoom has a better battery, but we'll have to wait to learn more about battery life
The build materials advantage is pretty clearly pointing towards the Lumia 1020
Pixels aren't everything, but 41 MP don't hurt either
Don't be fooled by the identical cores and clock speed: the Lumia has the better processor
The Lumia is taller and wider, but the Zoom is much thicker
Both devices provide Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
The Zoom has optical zoom, while the Lumia 1020 relies on digital lossless zoom
The Lumia has a bit more RAM than the Zoom does
Windows Phone, or Samsung-ified Android?
Though the GS4 Zoom's storage can be expanded with a microSD card, we'd probably prefer to have 32 GB of fast internal storage
The GS4 Zoom is 30 percent heavier
Gizmag compares the specs (and other features) of two smartphones that take photography very seriously: the Nokia Lumia 1020, and Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
The Lumia 1020 has a bigger, sharper display
View gallery - 14 images

It's almost hard to believe that, just a few years ago, many of us used to tote around point-and-shoot cameras and smartphones. How things have changed. Today the smartphone camera has evolved to the point where it's the main camera for many amateur photographers around the world. So it makes sense that more serious camera phones like the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom and the new Nokia Lumia 1020 would start popping up. Let's take a look at how the specs (and other features) of the two hybrid devices measure up.

Size

The Lumia is taller and wider, but the Zoom is much thicker

The Lumia 1020 is four percent taller and 13 percent wider, but it's much thinner than the chunky Galaxy S4 Zoom. The GS4 Zoom is a full 47 percent thicker than the Lumia, though we aren't yet sure whether or not that's accounting for the Zoom's protruding lens.

Weight

The GS4 Zoom is 30 percent heavier

The Zoom is also a much heavier device: it tips the scales at 30 percent heavier than Nokia's phone/camera hybrid.

Build

The build materials advantage is pretty clearly pointing towards the Lumia 1020

Though much of this comes back to personal preference, the Lumia's polycarbonate build is probably going to have the advantage over the Zoom's standard plastic. The Lumia has more of a "premium" feel to it (Samsung's Galaxy line has been called cheap more than once), and is more resistant to unfortunate drops.

Display

The Lumia 1020 has a bigger, sharper display

The Lumia 1020 looks like the clear winner here. Not only does the Galaxy S4 Zoom only give you 89 percent as much screen area as the Lumia does, but Nokia's phone also gives you 90 percent more pixels for a much sharper display.

Processor

Don't be fooled by the identical cores and clock speed: the Lumia has the better processor

Cores and clock speed are equal, but the Lumia 1020 has a leg-up, with the higher-end Snapdragon S4 processor. The chip in Samsung's phone is more of the budget ilk.

RAM

The Lumia has a bit more RAM than the Zoom does

Another advantage for the Lumia 1020, as it bests the Zoom's rather unconventional 1.5 GB of RAM.

Storage

Though the GS4 Zoom's storage can be expanded with a microSD card, we'd probably prefer to have 32 GB of fast internal storage

Technically the GS4 Zoom can store more photos once you pop in a 64 GB microSD card, but that could also cause some problems. MicroSDs generally have much slower write speeds than a phone's internal memory, so the Zoom might give you some lag, especially when shooting in burst mode. Hardly something you want to worry about on a device that's supposed to serve as a serious camera.

Megapixels

Pixels aren't everything, but 41 MP don't hurt either

After reaching a certain threshold, higher pixel counts alone don't necessarily lead to better shots, but the Lumia has a huge advantage there nonetheless.

Much of that advantage comes from how Nokia set up the 1020 to use those extra pixels, with its Dual Capture taking simultaneous 38 MP and 5 MP shots. Use the lower-res version to share with your friends on the fly, then use the high-res version as a master for finer editing when you get home. There are so many pixels in the master that you can crop tiny sections after the fact, without getting that upscaled, pixelated look.

Optical zoom

The Zoom has optical zoom, while the Lumia 1020 relies on digital lossless zoom

The GS4 Zoom gives you optical zoom, but that might not necessarily be an advantage. The Lumia's digital lossless zoom again takes advantage of its insane resolution to guarantee that even your zoomed shots supposedly stay sharp and clear. No whirring motor sound required, which could be a problem in the Zoom.

Image stabilization

Both devices provide Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)

Both phones have Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) in place, to help cut down on the effects of camera shake. We haven't put them through the paces yet to know if one works better than the other, but they do both tick this box.

Wireless

There isn't much point in having a super-powered camera in your phone if you can't upload those photos on the go, but both of these devices should fit the bill.

A couple of things to keep in mind though. Only select regions get LTE capabilities (which generally have much faster uploads than HSPA+) for the GS4 Zoom. Also, if you're on a capped data plan, as many carriers now require, you might be better off waiting until you're on a Wi-Fi network to transfer those pics anyway.

Battery

On paper, the GS4 Zoom has a better battery, but we'll have to wait to learn more about battery life

Battery life is a known concern in the GS4 Zoom, and the Lumia's lesser capacity (along with a higher-res display to power) could potentially cause some problems too. It's probably best to consider this an unknown, though, until both have been properly put through the paces.

Software

Windows Phone, or Samsung-ified Android?

Both devices are aimed at people who want a serious camera and typical smartphone capabilities. In that department, you're comparing Android Jelly Bean (with Samsung's TouchWiz layered on top) to Windows Phone 8.

On one hand, the Google Play Store is much more stacked than the Windows Phone Store, and Samsung throws in many of the same TouchWiz extras from the GS4 (including many that are photography-related). On the other hand, though, Windows Phone has a slick modern interface, no manufacturer UI, and its app selection is only going to improve over time.

Both phones have software-based features that let you tweak things like white balance, ISO, and manual focus.

Wrap-up

This is just an initial, spec-based overview of these two camera-phones. There are always intangibles that you won't know about until you actually put them under the microscope, and that may be even more the case with photography-focused devices like these.With that said, it's hard not to see the Lumia 1020 having an initial advantage here. It has a bigger, better screen. It should deliver better performance, which is crucial in any phone, but especially one which you'll use for semi-serious photography. And we're curious to see how those 41 megapixels stack up with real-world images.

So stay tuned. Devices like these could eventually find a loyal audience, if done right. For the moment, though, that if is very much hanging in the air.

View gallery - 14 images
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9 comments
Paul van Dinther
What a nonsense article. These are cameras! Don't you think comparing the photos they produce is kinda essential when you compare these devices?
dynamouse
Will, have you seen the photos taken with the Lumia 1020? They look like they were taken with a big DSLR camera!
I couldn't believe how detailed they were.. the 1020 camera trumps every smartphone and consumer camera in terms of image quality (and size), sharpness, low light performance, image stabilization.
Watch the Nokia launch event, they explain the tech behind the 1020. It's very impressive.
Szabolcs Szekacs
Policarbonate vs "plastic" Haha, I see what you did there :)
I cannot wait to read your future article about "aluminium housing" vs. "metal"

Taizong Yuan
It's funny how a phone being solely a camera easily loses from the Nokia Lumia 1020 which is primarily a phone, and aimed at ALL users rather than just photographers.
joe1946
The Nokia 808 is what you want if you want the largest sensor since it has the largest sensor of any smartphone. BTW since the 1020 Windows phone is only available from AT&T it will not be a big seller like Samsung Android smartphones or iPhones that are sold by all carriers. I bet 99% of people are satisfied with the cameras in their Samsung S4, iPhone 5 or HTC One smartphones.
Laszlo Ferenc Heredy
Will, Be honest. Have you physically touched either of these phones yet? =P L
PS: Why do phones have such weak front-facing cameras? It's pathetic! Think of the narcissists out there! What are we to do!? 41MP rear, 1.2MP front!? It's ridiculous! At least give me 3, 6 front! Something!
Rahul Chand
Note to editor - When comparing cameras you should post side by side camera quality photos duh!
Tom Granberg
As a photographer these kind of articles are ambiguous and leave a lot to be desired. That said, I want to pint out that most small sensor cameras, and that include ALL camera phones, takes "ok" pictures when there is good light. And mp ratings are useless if you cannot put more light on the sensor, (i.e. bigger sensor) And by bigger I do not mean going from small to the one Nokia one uses. (1.5") sensor, vs 1/3 in regular phones, is still by magnitudes smaller than entry level DSLRs. http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_lrg/camera-sensor-size-12.jpg
Smaller sensors also have big trouble in shooting shallow dof, so you generally see pitch sharp images at any distance from camera phones. There is also the tangible sense of quality factors, like bokeh, color reproduction, tonal reproduction, color aberration and such to consider. The Nokia is a step forward, but it is not a substitute for a real camera.
Pontianak Perfectworld
I for one appreciate this article. Yes I would love to see side by side comparisons of the pictures from each but considering that the 1020 was technically released today by AT&T and the Zoom is not even available in the US, I can appreciate that the pictures are not available yet to compare.
I have already read a couple articles this morning that either downplayed the sensor size and 41 mp while boasting about the optical zoom on the Zoom, and I even read one article that did not even give any stats at all on the 1020 but wrote "Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom shoots impressively at 16 megapixels." and "Sony's Xperia i1 Honami smartphone started making headlines months ago when the company announced its 20 MP camera and slim design." Seriously they did not say one thing about the camera on the 1020, but did make sure to point out the front facing camera is only 1.2 mp. So the fact that this at the very least gives the stats side by side on both phones is nice to say the least.