Why does my 16 megapixels camera take bad quality photos?

I was recently given a Samsung ST93 camera. It says right on the box "16.1 Megapixels". However it takes suprisingly bad photos. My iPhone 4s which has an 8 megapixel camera takes much much better shots. This is the first time that I'm using this camera and I'm very dissapointed. It even says on the internet 16.1 megapixels, but I thought that meant at least my iPhone's camera quality. At first I thought it was just the camera screen couldn't show the photos in high quality, but they show up pretty bad on my computer too. What do I do guys? I can't return it and I have a trip to London coming up next week. And then Paris after that. I was really hoping to capture the moment (my iPhone's battery lasts like 10 minutes when taking pictures).

First lesson in photography. Megapixel count is meaningless. I suggest returning it an going to a real photography store and letting them help you pick out a good camera.

The number of megapixels does not dictate image quality. Probably due to a poorly designed lens.

And you're surprised that this cheap little camera from a company with whom cameras are only a side line gives you bad pictures? Really? Want real photos, get a real camera.

I think the lenses have Fog inside, check if it does. Gl

Its a small camera with a cute little lens on it and nothing that great in the specifications. In short it is made to be cheap and to make half decent images. Thats it.

Look megapixels, as the other said, mean nothing. What matters is the glass, that the lens! Then the sensor and of course the further hardware in the box.

This camera costed you very little didn't it. Very very little. I seen the prices this model is made to be ultra cheap. Well that means ultra cheap glass, ultra cheap sensor, ultra cheap processor, ultra cheap. Yada yada.

In short you can't really expect wonders for a model like that. It will do its job, it will make half decent pictures possible. There…

Now first stop loving the megapixels, those mean nothing. And second, it still works right. It still makes images. It just isn't as good.
And just shoot pictures you still can learn with a lesser tool. You never know maybe you get that shot. Just by being there at the right moment.