World Backup Day Deals Best Cloud Storage Options Apple AR/VR Headset Uncertainty Samsung Galaxy A54 Preorders iOS 16.4: What's New 10 Best Foods for PCOS 25 Easter Basket Ideas COVID Reinfection: What to Know
Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories?
No, thank you
Accept

Samsung Galaxy S7's camera could be a low-light champion

Samsung has given its new flagship phone's camera a few key tweaks to help it perform in low-light situations. We take a look at what's new.

samsung-galaxy-s7-edge-camera-19.jpg
Andrew Hoyle/CNET

The new Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge may be different sized, but they pack the exact same camera tech -- and it's that we're taking a closer look at here.

The most important thing about the camera to note is that the resolution has dropped from 16 to 12 megapixels. But don't despair! That change is for a good reason. The pixels on the sensor are physically larger than before, allowing them to capture much more light.

The aperture of the lens is wider too -- up to f/1.7, rather than f/1.9 on the S6 -- which allows more light to get into the camera. With both a wider aperture and a more sensitive sensor, the S7 and S7 Edge should be formidable low-light shooters.

Now playing: Watch this: A deep dive on the Samsung Galaxy S7 camera
1:17

The cameras also feature much faster autofocusing, as well as the usual wide range of scene modes. Along with a panorama function, you'll find high dynamic range (HDR) modes, time-lapse functions, a range of filters and effects, and a pro mode that gives you manual control over settings.

You can switch between those in the camera app, which looks mostly unchanged from the one we saw on the Galaxy S6. Video can be captured in 4K resolution, and there's a slow-motion option too.