Note: We may earn commissions (at no cost to you) if you buy through links on our site. Learn more.
Samsung Galaxy K Zoom
Samsung Galaxy K Zoom
Samsung Galaxy K Zoom
Samsung Galaxy K Zoom
Samsung Galaxy K Zoom
Samsung Galaxy K Zoom
...


7.3/10
Informr score
The Samsung Galaxy K Zoom currently has an Informr score of 7.3 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 16 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • 10x Optical Zoom
  • Removable battery
  • MicroSD support
  • 4G support

What's bad

  • Battery life
  • Slow camera boot time
  • Lack of manual camera controls
  • Mid-tier specs and performance at flagship prices
  • Inconsistent video quality

The previous Galaxy S4 Zoom was met with lackluster reviews and only mild acceptance. However, Samsung is back in the camera phone game with a new challenger--the Samsung Galaxy K Zoom. Will this be the one to carve out a dedicated niche for these beastly phone/camera hybrids? Let’s see what the reviews have to say!

As far as phone specs go, the K Zoom is firmly in the mid-range bracket. The 4.8-inch 720p AMOLED display is a good size compared to flagship devices but lacking in the resolution department. Unfortunately, the PenTile technology used in the display doesn’t seem to be earning it any points with reviewers either. TrustedReviews was the harshest of the crowd, stating, “if you’re expecting a real top-end display you’ll be disappointed.” Wired UK elaborated a little further saying the screen “appears a little fuzzy” and called the color balance “a bit over-saturated.”

The phone is powered by a 6-core Exynos processor. While you might think this is providing a real edge to the device, most benchmarks found the phone to perform on par with last year’s flagship, the Galaxy S4. However, reviews noted that performance was smooth and overall very enjoyable. Trusted Reviews stated, “Ensure there’s enough room on-board and there’s very little lag.” Just don’t expect it perform well on resource intensive tasks.

Of course, the star of the show is the K Zoom’s 20.7 megapixel camera with 10x optical zoom. When it comes to mobile devices with built-in cameras, there simply aren’t any (other than the previous S4 Zoom) that can even think of competing in the zoom department. Wired UK states, “Use the zoom and it's instantly head and shoulders above its digital zoom rivals.”

That isn’t to say there aren’t a few concerns about the camera. Trusted Reviews noted that it takes “4-4.5 seconds to get from the phone’s main interface to the point where you can take a photo.” If you’re looking to capture those one-in-a-lifetime shots, the K Zoom might be a bit slow. The other concern is video quality. Engadget put it through the ringer at the Taipei Zoo and found, “Video quality is generally rather poor, particularly at longer focal lengths.”

The final weak link is the battery life. The 2430mAh battery seems plenty to power it on paper. However, many reviews note that it appears the Exynos 5 processor simply fails to preserve power in standby mode. The result? Most reviews found the phone steadily drained throughout a single day. Trusted Reviews noted “The battery drains fairly quickly even if you barely use the phone.” While Engadget found that shooting more than an hour of video and a few hundred pictures completely drained the battery. If you’re looking for a dedicated vacation camera, you might need a spare battery.

When it comes to final verdicts, most were rather bittersweet. TrustedReviews said, “this phone is all about the optical zoom.” GSM Arena called the phone a device for “people who take tons of photos each day, but aren't into the nitty-gritty.” Engadget was perhaps hardest on the device, stating, “you'll probably be better off buying a separate camera and smartphone.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.7 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.7 GHz
4.8"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4.8"
20+ MP
Camera
Camera
20+ MP
2430 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Sammy Hub
Sammy Hub

I would say the camera on the Galaxy K zoom along with the optical zoom and variety of shooting modes does come in handy but it is still not up to the mark where you’d want to skip taking a camera for your trip. Also, if you consider the device from a smartphone’s perspective, there are...

- kunal, Sammy Hub
What Mobile
What Mobile

The Galaxy K-Zoom provides one of the best cameras we have have seen on a smartphone. Additionally, its zoom functions are unparalleled. It’s just a shame that it didn’t get the phone bit right. Aside from offering good usability across the board, it is too bulky to carry around as a mob...

- Saqib Shah, What Mobile
Fone Arena
Fone Arena

Samsung’s desire to make a camera-centric phone was evident with the K zoom’s weird hybrid predecessor, but things have changed a lot, for the better. For starters, the device is slimmer and much easier to operate with a single hand. It has better balance and the overall profile feels wa...

- Bharadwaj, Fone Arena
Digital Versus
Digital Versus

The Galaxy K Zoom is the result of Samsung greatly improving on the Galaxy S4 Zoom formula. The S4 was already doing well on the camera front, but really didn't offer the shape and handling of a smartphone. Its successor is just a tiny bit better for photo and video capture, and the 10x optical zoom...

- Sofian Nouira, Digital Versus
Pocketnow
Pocketnow

It’s both a smartphone and a compact point-and-shoot, and it does both pretty well, if you don’t mind the added bulk in your pocket.

- Anton D. Nagy, Pocketnow


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Samsung Galaxy K Zoom user manual here.


Samsung backs up the Galaxy K Zoom with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Galaxy K Zoom has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



Ask the Community


No questions for the moment.


Resources


Manuals / User Guides Helpful Links Share / Embed

Maybe one of your friends will find this review helpful? Please help us spread the word.


Quick view

Screen Size
4.8"

The Samsung Galaxy K Zoom's screen size is 4.8 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1.7 GHz

There is a ARM Cortex-A15 & Cortex-A7 Hexa core 1.7 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
20+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 20+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 2+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
8 GB

Internal memory is 8 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 64 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2430mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2430 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 20 days standby time, 840 minutes, 540 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Galaxy K Zoom Specs

Overview
Release Date May 31, 2014
Regions Available USA, United Kingdom
Operating System No

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor ARM Cortex-A15 & Cortex-A7 Hexa core 1.7 GHz
Internal Storage 8 GB
RAM 2 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.46 W/kg
Body: 0.88 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Micro-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 64 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
20+ Megapixels
Zoom
10x optical
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, ISO, Image stabilization, Multi-shot, Night mode, Exposure compensation, HDR, Scenes
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, 3G2 / 3GPP2, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 60 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
2+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology Super AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel Density 306 pixels
Size 4.8 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 2430 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 660 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 540 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 840 minutes
Standby Time Up to 20 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Charcoal Black, Electric Blue, Shimmery White
Dimensions [H x W x D] 13.7 x 7.1 x 1.7 cm (5.4 x 2.8 x 0.7 in)
Weight 200 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Samsung SM-C115
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Samsung Galaxy K Zoom Reviews
Where to buy Samsung Galaxy K Zoom
Suggest a correction