Samsung hasn't said much about its Android 4.2-powered Galaxy NX camera ever since the device first debuted back in June, but today that silence has been broken. Samsung this morning revealed that the Galaxy NX will launch both online and at authorized Samsung retailers in the U.S. this October. Pricing for the Jelly Bean camera will be set at $1,599.99 for the body-only or $1,699.99 for a bundle that includes an 18-55mm lens.
The Galaxy NX is an interchangeable lens camera that, like the original Galaxy Camera before it, runs Google's Android operating system. The camera itself touts a 20.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, ISO of up to 25,600, 1/6000 sec shutter speed and a built-in pop-up flash. There's a 4.8-inch HD LCD display on the Galaxy NX's backside, and buried inside the unit is a 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage (with microSD slot for additional space), Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity and a 4,360mAh battery.
On the software side of things, the Galaxy NX comes preloaded with Android 4.2 running beneath Samsung's custom TouchWiz UI. That customized software includes features like Photo Suggest, which displays locations of popular photography spots, and over 30 different Smart Modes that can be used to tweak the camera settings for different scenarios. The Galaxy NX also has access to Android's full suite of Google apps, including Chrome, Gmail and the Google Play Store.
With its 20.3-megapixel sensor and interchangeable lens system, the Galaxy NX looks to be quite a step up from 2012's point-and-shoot Galaxy Camera. That's something that's reflected in the price difference between the two models, with the Galaxy Camera carrying a price tag of $449.99, over $1,000 less than the Galaxy NX's body-only price. The NX's higher price isn't exactly a surprise, though, as it's a higher-end, more professional product. What do you think of the Galaxy NX? Does its combination of interchangeable lenses and Jelly Bean have you saving up your pennies in preparation for its October launch?