Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Photo
Was this photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3? Picasa

Another mysterious Samsung Galaxy Note 3 photo leak surfaced on Picasa last week, not of the device but one reportedly taken by the device. The EXIF data for the blurry shot of a sports drink bottle indicates that it was taken by a device with the model number SM-N9005, which could be a variant of the Galaxy Note 3.

Many propose that the model number could be in reference to the LTE variant of the Galaxy Note 3, which is currently known by the model number SM-N9000. Considering that the previous Galaxy Note 2 sold in a generic international version under the model number GT-N7100 and an international LTE version under the GT-N7105, this theory appears particularly credible. Samsung’s current flagship smartphone the Galaxy S4 also has similar variants, the GT-I9500 generic international version and the GT-I9505 international LTE version.

Whether the device was actually taken by a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 handset is heavily up for debate as the photo is not only quite low quality but also considerably out of focus, as previously mentioned.

According to the EXIF data provided, the alleged Galaxy Note 3 photo has a resolution of just 1024 x 576, which is very low in comparison to the Galaxy S4 for example, which standardly snaps photos at a resolution of 2322 x 4128 in 16:9 mode. A previous leak of a photo reportedly taken with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has also been questioned on its validity, with that photo being much more focused than the recent photo and also having a resolution of 2322 by 4128.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Photo
First photo reportedly taken by the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Picasa

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 camera is expected to feature a 13-megapixel lens similar to that seen on the Samsung Galaxy S4 but updated with optical image stabilization and a 3x optical zoom. With that, Samsung enthusiasts are expecting photos of a much better quality for the Galaxy Note 3, especially with OIS to offset the Galaxy S4 camera’s tendency to blur slightly if not perfectly still when taking photos. So if the recently leaked photo was in fact taken with a Galaxy Note 3 handset, it could be a bit of a disappointment for those hoping to see a significant update on Samsung’s mobile cameras.

Do you think the recent Samsung Galaxy Note 3 photo leak is real? Let us know in the comments below.

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