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Smartphone Cameras, Smartphone Memory

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Thanks to higher resolutions and more camera features, the quality of images shot with a smartphone camera is inching closer to what you get with a digital camera. But if you're looking for a cheap phone with a built-in camera that can replace your point-and-shoot, don't smile just yet.

Smartphone cameras often lack features found in dedicated digital cameras (such as image stabilization), although they're convenient and easy to use and can snap Facebook-worthy pics more often than not. A good low-price smartphone camera includes basic controls such as autofocus, flash, and digital zoom. Many smartphone cameras also shoot video and some phones, including the HTC Windows Phone 8X and Evo 4G LTE, Motorola Droid Razr M, and Google Nexus 4, even record video in full 1080p high definition.

While most of the better smartphones include a camera with resolution between 5 megapixels and 8MP, which is easily high enough for printing, reviewers have found that even 8MP smartphone cameras often have some shortcomings. The HTC Windows Phone 8X is a good example. A reviewer from CNET, who liked the 8X quite a bit overall, found that the phone often took poor-quality pictures that appeared way too soft. However, some photos turned out well, with good color accuracy and sharp edges. A Digital Trends expert says the camera on the 8X is decent but photos tend to look washed out. The 8MP camera on the Motorola Droid Razr M failed to impress reviewers as well. The reviewer at Digital Trends says photos taken with that smartphone's camera lack vibrancy and detail, and a reviewer from Laptop Mag notes that colors in the photos look washed out. The HTC Evo 4G LTE, on the other hand, made quite an impression on a reviewer from TechCrunch, who raves about the fast 8MP camera. It delivers good color reproduction and can even take pretty respectable photos in low light, according to the review.

The 5MP camera on the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G satisfied an expert from TechHive despite some graininess in the photos. According to the review, the smartphone takes pictures with bright and natural color. An Engadget reviewer notes that the camera on the Blaze 4G has good color balance and exposure, but indoor shots turn out blurry. The Kyocera Rise has a comparatively modest 3.2MP camera that doesn't impress reviewers. A CNET expert calls the photo quality adequate and the colors good, but the phone tends to lag when starting the camera, according to this review. A PC World reviewer finds fault with the quality as well, saying photos look a bit fuzzy and have dull colors.

The Nokia Lumia 810 (starting at $99 with T-Mobile, Amazon) has an 8MP camera that takes excellent snapshots in the estimation of a Slashgear reviewer, although it can struggle in darker environments. The phone also records HD video. At Engadget, a reviewer praises the Lumia 810 for taking impressive photos with realistic colors. The review points out, though, that the smartphone's camera can be a little slow to fire as it focuses on its subject.

Many smartphones now include cameras on the front as well, so users can take self-portraits and video chat with friends via Skype or other means. These front-facing cameras are typically much smaller than the phone's primary camera. For the models we researched, the front cameras range from .3MP on the Motorola Droid Razr M to 2.1MP on the HTC Windows Phone 8X. The Kyocera Rise doesn't have a front-facing camera. The LG Viper 4G LTE, another Sprint phone, also lacks a front camera but has a 5MP camera on the back.

Smartphone Memory.

Today's consumers need ample smartphone memory for photos, videos, and music. Look for at least 8GB of smartphone memory, or a memory card slot to supplement a lack of internal storage. The HTC Evo 4G LTE offers the best storage combination of any phone on our list, with 16GB of built-in memory plus a microSDHC slot. The HTC Windows Phone 8X has 16GB of storage but no memory card slot. The Motorola Droid Razr M has 8GB of internal storage and includes a microSD slot for memory cards up to 32GB. Both the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G and Kyocera Rise have memory card slots and come with a memory card as part of the package. The Samsung has 4GB of internal memory and a 4GB memory card, while the Rise offers only has 2GB of internal memory and a 2GB memory card. Many users will probably want to invest in a larger memory card for either of those phones.

by Michael Sweet (Google+ Profile)

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LG Viper 4G LTE Review
Nokia Lumia 810 Review
Google Nexus 4 Review
Kyocera Rise Review
Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G Review
HTC Evo 4G LTE Review
HTC Windows Phone 8X Review
Motorola Droid Razr M Review

HTC Evo 4G
Samsung Epic 4G
HTC Droid Incredible 2
BlackBerry Curve 3G
Apple iPhone 3GS 8GB
BlackBerry Torch
BlackBerry Bold 9780
T-Mobile myTouch 4G
Motorola Droid 2 Global

 

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