Privacy concerns raised over the Samsung S20 Ultra’s ‘space zoom’ feature which is so powerful it is ‘basically invasive’, expert claims
- Galaxy S20 Ultra camera zooms up to 100 times while keeping a good resolution
- There are fears that the zoom could be misused by peeping into people’s houses
- Security specialist ‘doubts the average user require this level of magnification’
The powerful zoom capability on Samsung’s new range of smartphones is raising privacy concerns with reviewers and security specialists.
The ‘space zoom’ feature on the Galaxy S20 Ultra 108 megapixel camera allows users to zoom in up to 100 times while maintaining a high-quality resolution.
Samsung has kept the exact technology behind the space zoom feature a secret but it is believed to be a combination of Hybrid Optic Zoom and Super Resolution Zoom.
But there are fears that the powerful lens could be invasive and may be used to see inside people’s houses.
One reviewer called the camera zoom on the S20 Ultra ‘so good it’s basically invasive’, while another called it ‘a fantasy and a dream’.
Smartphone makers such as Samsung continue to push the boundaries on their camera zoom technology despite the threat of cyber stalking.
‘There is always a chance it will be misused by anyone for nefarious purposes such as peering into people’s bedrooms or offices from large distances,’ cybersecurity specialist Jake Moore told MailOnline.
‘Being watched may not be a thought that crosses people’s minds, especially in their own homes, but we need to remind people that as technology increases, we need to take more care and help protect our privacy and personal security.’
Samsung unveiled three S20 models at its Unpacked event in San Francisco last week – the standard S20, S20 Plus and S20 Ultra.
The S20 Ultra has a whopping 108MP wide lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 48MP telephoto lens, as well as a DepthVision sensor.
In demonstration at last week’s unveiling of the new phones, Samsung showed off the S20 Ultra’s ability to zoom in on a shot of beach-goers.
It also zoomed in on a Alcatraz Island and the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco from the other side of the bay, on Hawk Hill – more than three miles away.
At this range a S20 Ultra user visiting The Shard could zoom in on a shot of the British Museum.
It could also provide high definition shots of an apartment window 100 feet away.
‘We want to make sure that consumers can capture content and really feel part of the action,’ said Mark Holloway, Head of Smartphone Product Operations at Samsung last week regarding the impressive zoom.
The Galaxy S20 Ultra can zoom in up to 100x using a combined optical zoom and an AI-powered digital zoom
‘So if you’re sat at the back a football stadium, you can still capture what’s going on on the pitch and share it with your friends.’
While Samsung said the camera ‘will change photography and story-telling forever’, there’s the chance that it could be misused by intruding on people’s privacy at such a range.
‘I would suggest this is being marketed as a new feature to help sell more products albeit it may just be a gimmick as I doubt the average user require this level of magnification,’ Moore told MailOnline.
All three of the new models come with ‘space zoom’ – a combination of an optical zoom and an AI-powered digital zoom.
This allows users to zoom in up to 30x in the case of the S20 and S20 Plus, but up to 100x in the case of the S20 Ultra, and crop photos while maintaining picture quality.
Samsung’s S20 range will go on sale in the US on March 6 and in the UK on March 13.
Pre-orders open on February 21, with prices starting at $999 (£799) for the standard S20, $1,199 (£999) for the S20 Plus and $1,399 (£1,199) for the S20 Ultra.
Samsung is yet to reply to MailOnline’s request for comment regarding privacy concerns over the S20 Ultra’s zoom.
