Samsung’s usually disciplined corporate culture has been rattled by a controversy that refuses to fade quietly into the background. An online petition demanding the replacement of the head of the company’s smartphone camera division, and indirectly questioning the leadership of Mobile chief TM Roh, has already accumulated over 4,000 signatures in just a few days. 
What might have been dismissed as another internet outburst is now shaping into a genuine embarrassment for a company that prides itself on its engineering prowess and global dominance.
The campaign was sparked by well-known industry leaker Universe Ice, who has a reputation for scrutinizing Samsung’s smartphone photography choices. He publicly mocked Samsung’s recent claim that its cameras are “always one step ahead,” calling the boast shameless when compared to real-world performance. The petition he linked outlines eight major grievances, striking a nerve with frustrated users who feel Samsung has been coasting rather than innovating in mobile photography.
At the heart of the complaints lies stagnation. The Galaxy S flagship line continues to use older sensors such as the ISOCELL HP2 and IMX754, with little to no meaningful upgrades in years. Rivals like Google, Huawei, and Vivo have pushed forward in computational photography, while Samsung’s images still suffer from recurring flaws. Users highlight persistent issues: shadow noise and crushed detail in HDR, lifeless portraits, inaccurate white balance, clumsy telephoto rendering, and night photography that pales in comparison to competitors. Severe shutter lag in low-light and excessive sharpening in HDR video further add to frustrations.
Equally damning is the perception that Samsung has chosen imitation over differentiation. Its decision to mimic Apple’s iPhone camera hardware and software aesthetic, from telephoto arrangements to the so-called ‘natural tone’ processing, has left users underwhelmed. Instead of creating unique character in its shots, Samsung’s system often outputs images that feel flat, dull, and artificial. The criticism of skin tones – dubbed by some users as the “Samsung Yellow Face Filter” – underscores how poorly optimized algorithms can alienate customers, especially in Asian and Western markets alike.
Another sore point is Samsung’s lethargy with updates. Algorithm refinements either arrive late or skip older devices entirely. Owners of the Galaxy S23 and S24, for example, still lack the imaging improvements that appeared in the latest S25 models. Meanwhile, AI-assisted computational photography, which has become a pillar for rivals, is unevenly applied in Samsung’s lineup. Google’s HDR+ and Huawei’s XMAGE are cited as examples of what Samsung could be doing but isn’t.
The irony is striking. Samsung produces some of the most advanced camera sensors in the industry, selling them to Chinese brands whose phones often outshine Samsung’s own. The company clearly has the hardware expertise but appears trapped by corporate conservatism, risk-aversion, and cost-driven compromises. This conservatism has not only held back innovation but has chipped away at Samsung’s image as a leader in smartphone photography.
For now, the petition remains a symbolic move – 4,000 signatures is a fraction of Samsung’s global customer base. Yet its resonance cannot be ignored. The anger reflects not just technical nitpicking but a growing frustration that Samsung is losing its edge while rivals innovate fearlessly. Whether TM Roh responds by reshuffling leadership or doubling down remains to be seen, but the controversy exposes a crack in Samsung’s armor: when loyal customers start organizing against you, the brand promise itself is at risk.
1 comment
All that so-called Samsung ‘detail’ is fake af, like the moon shots. Whole brand feels fake lately