Samsung has once again pushed the boundaries of smartphone technology with the release of its highly-anticipated Galaxy S24 series. Packed with a multitude of unique features, one that particularly stands out is the Instant Slow-Mo feature. This groundbreaking function allows users to effortlessly watch recorded videos in slow motion simply by long-pressing onto them, without the hassle of recording in slow motion or manually editing the effect. Originally exclusive to the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung is now expanding the availability of this impressive feature to older phone models as well.
In an exciting announcement on February 13th, a moderator from Samsung’s official South Korean community forum revealed the company’s plans to extend Instant Slow-Mo support to older smartphones. The moderator shared the exciting news and disclosed that eight older phone models will soon be able to enjoy the benefits of this cutting-edge feature. The included models are the Samsung Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9+, Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip 5, and the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
To fully understand why these specific eight models have been chosen, it is important to consider the technological requirements behind the Instant Slow-Mo feature. In order to utilize this feature, a device must possess a powerful Neural Processing Unit (NPU) and Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) with a minimum processing speed of 16.6 milliseconds for 60fps videos. Coincidentally, all eight of the listed smartphones are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which appears to be the minimum threshold for this groundbreaking feature. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that devices running on older or less powerful processors will ever have access to this innovative functionality.
Samsung has aptly described the Instant Slow-Mo feature as “time zoom”. Similar to the spatial zoom in still images, where users can stretch the image to observe finer details, the company applies the same concept to videos. By elongating the time interval between each frame of a video, users can discern the subtle nuances and finer details of the motion, creating the illusion of slowed-down footage. This commendable innovation showcases Samsung’s dedication to providing users with an immersive and enhanced multimedia experience.
What’s Next?
While Samsung has not provided a specific timeline for when Instant Slow-Mo will be available on older handsets, industry reports suggest that it may arrive with the highly-anticipated One UI 6.1 update expected next month. At present, the Instant Slow-Mo feature supports 8-bit videos ranging from 720p to 8K resolution, and is compatible with the MP4 file format. However, Samsung remains committed to refining this feature and has expressed intentions to expand its capabilities by adding support for 10-bit videos shot in 480p resolution, as well as the MOV file format.
Samsung’s introduction of the Instant Slow-Mo feature demonstrates the brand’s ongoing commitment to innovation and user experience. By making this cutting-edge technology accessible to both their latest flagship series and older phone models, Samsung continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of smartphone capabilities. As users eagerly await the rollout of this revolutionary feature, Samsung’s dedication to providing powerful and immersive multimedia experiences remains at the forefront of their innovative endeavors.
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