Samsung explains the Galaxy S5's "Camera Failed" issue

Last Friday, Samsung and Verizon officially acknowledged the “camera failed” issue that has been affecting a small number of Galaxy S5 customers. Although Samsung has said that it will replace any handsets that succumb to the fault, it doesn’t look like there’s much the company can do to advise users about avoiding the problem.

Samsung has narrowed down the cause for the camera fault, which turns out to result from the camera’s ROM experiencing a loss of data. The ROM is the camera’s internal memory, which stores important data for the camera module’s auto focus feature, as well as the CMOS image sensor. If the information stored in the memory becomes damaged or erased the camera unit ceases to work, resulting in the camera failed message that some users have been experiencing. Unfortunately, the damage is permanent as the data or memory cannot be replaced.

Usually memory like this is difficult to damage, but it is possible that interfering electronic signals or even ultraviolet rays could cause the data to become corrupt or erased. Whilst the exact trigger for the fault has not been pinned down yet, experts expect that something in Samsung’s new camera’s design is to blame, although this might not be directly related to the ROM. Clearly then, a full diagnosis of the fault is proving difficult, leaving Samsung with little choice but to replace afflicted handsets until it knows whether anything can be done to prevent further customers from experiencing the issue.

Perhaps most worryingly for customers, as well as for the company, this is that Samsung currently does not have a figure for the number of handsets affected. It is quite likely that a limited number of consumers across a range of carriers will continue to report the problem in the future.

If your Galaxy S5 is displaying the dreaded “camera failed” fault, Samsung has asked that customers call 1-888-987-4357 for help, or visit their carrier to arrange an exchange.

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