Smartphone cameras have gotten so good over the past years that no matter which flagship (or even mid-range device) you buy, the output should be more than passable. Now, it's just a matter of how we can capture photos more effectively and efficiently.
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In this guide, I'll break down five hidden camera features found on Samsung Galaxy devices, because (1) Samsung smartphones make up a good chunk of the global market, and (2) they're often packed with a few too many features for a regular person to sufficiently explore -- many of which are actually quite useful.
The Galaxy S23 series consists of the most capable Samsung smartphones we've tested, especially if great camera quality is desired.
View at SamsungAs weird as it sounds, I like to compare framing a photo to plating food. How the food (or, in a photo's case, the subject) is presented evokes a certain emotion and response, either positively or negatively. That's why Samsung's Shot suggestions is a feature I highly recommend turning on, even if you no longer consider yourself to be a beginner photographer.
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The feature, which is turned off by default, uses your phone's AI object detection to give you an indicator of where to best position the camera. With a bit of shifting and tilting, you can easily capture your subject without it looking off-centered. Here's a GIF demoing Shot suggestions.
June Wan/You can turn on the feature by opening the camera app, tapping the settings icon (gear), and then toggling on "Shot suggestions".
If you prefer framing and capturing photos manually, grid lines are your best friend. By turning on the setting within the camera app, your viewfinder will display a faint 3x3 grid to help you position your subjects just right.
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For example, I use grid lines as guides when I'm capturing product photos for reviews. When the subject is within the middle box of the grid, I look at the area surrounding it to ensure even spacing.
The blue circles represent the ideal corners that you want to frame your subject on.
June Wan/I also use the built-in grid lines to fulfill what photographers call the "rule of thirds," a composition that places a subject within the corners of the center box (see reference image above) to draw focus on it.
I feel like I say this year after year but smartphones are becoming increasingly unwieldy. TheSamsung Galaxy S23 Ultra that I recently reviewed had a massive 6.8-inch display which, especially when encased by a case, made taking photos an ergonomic nightmare.
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One feature that genuinely helps with capturing photos and videos in comfort is the floating shutter button. It's a setting that's existed in Galaxy phones for years now, but I'm always surprised by the number of people who don't know about it and are delighted when they find out about it.
June Wan/You can activate the floating shutter button by opening the camera app, tapping the settings icon, then "Shooting methods," and toggling on "Floating Shutter button."
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To use the feature, all you have to do is, from the main camera screen, swipe outward from the shutter button as if you're pulling it away from its default spot. A second shutter button should appear, which you can drag to anywhere on the screen that you'd like. I've found the upper right corner to be the most natural when the phone is held in landscape orientation.
When it comes to taking family photos or really anything that involves setting the phone down, a countdown timer is often your best friend. But, to save someone from having to set a timer and quickly find an open spot to squeeze in, try using a voice command or palm gesture to trigger the photo capture.
June Wan/From the camera settings, tap on "Shooting methods," and then toggle on "Voice commands," "Show palm," or both. You can use them interchangeably. When activated, you can trigger your phone's shutter button when you say one of the keywords ("Smile," "Cheese," or even "Record video") or simply show your palm -- think waving your hand at the camera.
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The best part is, both methods automatically set a two-second timer so you have a moment to set your hand down and position yourself just right.
If your Galaxy phone has a built-in S Pen, then you may familiar with its note-taking capabilities. But, did you know that the S Pen doubles as a Bluetooth shutter button?
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Whether you have an older Galaxy Note device or anew S23 Ultra , the S Pen, which is automatically paired to your smartphone via low-energy Bluetooth, supports a series of photo and video-capturing gestures. Here's the full list: