Samsung has updated its Camera Assistant app for the Galaxy S23 series. The new version of the app brings an optimized 2x zoom option for photos and videos. The devices must be running the latest security patch (August 2023) to get this update. The new security update is now available widely, including in the US. It’s rolling out with firmware version S91*USQU1AWGH for carrier-locked units.
The Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23 Ultra already let you take photos and videos at 2x zoom level. In fact, you can capture up to 30x zoom shots on the former two, and go all the way up to 100x on the latter. Of course, you won’t get the best quality at non-native zoom levels, which is 3x for the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+, and 3x and 10x for the Ultra model.
Nonetheless, 2x photos and videos come out fine. There’s a little loss of detail and dynamic range over regular shots, but the output is usable. And they are getting better with the latest Camera Assistant update. Version 1.1.03.1 of the app, which is now available for Galaxy S23 users via the Galaxy Store (link below), optimizes 2x zoom shots for improved quality.
Once you have updated your phone to the August security patch and installed the latest version of Camera Assistant, you should find an Optical Quality Crop Zoom toggle in the app (via). Enable this feature and you will have a dedicated 2x zoom option in the stock camera app of your Galaxy S23. Photos and videos captured at 2x zoom will come out better than before. Samsung claims optical zoom-like (native zoom levels) quality.
The Galaxy S23 series will get more new camera features
Samsung has pushed several camera updates to the Galaxy S23 series since the official launch in February this year, adding and improving many features. Some have come as updates for standalone apps like Camera Assistant, Galaxy EnhanceX, and Expert RAW, while others with system software updates. More new camera goodies are in the pipeline for the trio.
Samsung recently confirmed that many of the new camera features introduced with the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 will trickle down to older models, including the Galaxy S23 series. Among those are the ability to copy effects from one photo and apply them to another, improved document scanning, and an improved Photo Remaster tool. Some of these will arrive with the One UI 6.0 update, which brings Android 14. Samsung is currently beta testing the new One UI version. The stable update is expected in October.