In a world where companies are adding keyboards, rumble packs, even lasers to their smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy S9 might seem a little dull. Not only does it strongly resemble its immediate predecessor the Galaxy S8; it also carries much of the same functionality. So whether you should splurge on the Galaxy S9 will depend mostly on how old your current phone is … and how much you care about that camera. I’m MrMobile and I'm here to help you figure it out in the Galaxy S9 review, brought to you by Tech21.
The very first time I laid eyes on the Light L16 camera, I knew I had to test it. Sixteen individual 13MP sensors ranging from 28mm to 150mm, laid out in a scattershot pattern without even the pretense of adhering to a grid, festooned with steerable mirrors that wiggled and warbled as they fixed those big mechanical eyes on a subject ... it was the perfect mix of oversized smartphone and terrifying Matrix robo-spider. I snapped one up as soon as it went on sale.
Unfortunately, I very quickly encountered many of the problems I'd read about – all of which trace themselves back to the core promise of the product. Light calls the L16 the "camera of the future," and given its potent mixture of cutting-edge technology and the hefty $1950 price tag, I expected nothing less. Sadly, though, the photos the L16 delivered fell far short of the pictures kicked out by my Pixel 2 XL – disappointments which continued even after a software update and a trip through Light's special Lumen desktop suite.
Of course the L16 wasn't made to go head-to-head with a smartphone; rather, it seems to have been built as equal parts technology showcase and DSLR replacement. And there's still a lot to learn (and some, even, to like) about the L16. It's just not a camera I would recommend to anyone at this point. Click on through to the MrMobile L16 review to find out why!
MrMobile's Holiday Gift Guide is a distillation of Michael Fisher's favorite tech gift ideas of 2017. No manufacturer provided any compensation for inclusion in this video.
