CheckMag | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra takes baby steps: Early camera comparison with iPhone 16 Pro Max and S24 Ultra
The smartphone race is always evolving, with each new iteration of flagship devices trying to push the boundaries of technology, design, and performance. Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra is no exception. After much anticipation, the device has been revealed, and early impressions suggest that Samsung has made incremental improvements rather than a groundbreaking leap forward, especially when it comes to the camera system. In this early comparison, we’ll take a closer look at the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s camera capabilities compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, as well as Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Design and Display
Before diving into the camera specifics, let’s take a brief glance at the overall design. The Galaxy S25 Ultra continues the trend of premium design with a sleek metal and glass construction, a stunning 6.8-inch AMOLED display, and an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. It has a beautiful, vibrant display that offers excellent colors and deep blacks, which is comparable to the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s OLED display.
Camera Specifications
The main event here is the camera system, which has always been a deciding factor for many when choosing between these two heavyweights. Samsung has opted for a refined approach with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, adding a few tweaks and optimizations to its camera setup rather than overhauling the entire system. The camera hardware includes:
Primary Camera: 200 MP
Ultra-Wide Camera: 12 MP
Telephoto Camera: 12 MP (3x optical zoom)
Periscope Telephoto: 10 MP (10x optical zoom)
The iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the other hand, sports a versatile camera system featuring:
Primary Camera: 48 MP
Ultra-Wide Camera: 12 MP
Telephoto Camera: 12 MP (3x optical zoom)
Telephoto Camera (Telephoto Zoom): 12 MP (5x optical zoom)
Samsung’s 200 MP primary camera on the S25 Ultra remains one of the most powerful on the market, but the pixel size and sensor size still don’t feel quite as revolutionary as some might have hoped. In comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro Max continues to impress with its color accuracy, sharper detail in lower-light conditions, and overall computational photography improvements. It’s clear that Apple’s algorithmic approach to enhancing images is a strong suit, as we can see in early sample shots.
Camera Performance: Daylight Comparisons
When shooting in daylight conditions, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra impresses with its resolution. Images come out sharp and crisp, with excellent dynamic range, but the 200 MP sensor may sometimes feel a bit overzealous, capturing more detail than necessary and leading to some slightly over-processed images. The color temperature in Samsung’s shots tends to lean toward the cooler side, with an added vibrancy that some users may appreciate, though it can appear unnatural to others.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the other hand, remains more conservative in its approach. The 48 MP sensor, while lower in resolution, captures a more natural and balanced shot, with a slightly warmer and more lifelike color reproduction. The iPhone’s computational processing works in the background, providing excellent HDR, noise reduction, and fine detail retention, which makes for a more reliable all-around performance in varied lighting.
Low-Light Performance
When comparing the low-light performance of both devices, it’s evident that Apple has once again leveraged its prowess in computational photography. The iPhone 16 Pro Max excels in low-light conditions, providing bright and sharp images with minimal noise. The Night Mode on the iPhone does wonders to pull out details from dark areas without losing color accuracy.
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra does perform admirably well in low light, but it often has to rely on artificial brightness to make the image appear well-lit. This leads to a slight loss of detail in darker shadows and some noticeable noise in extremely low-light scenarios.
Zoom and Telephoto Performance
Zoom is one area where Samsung has an edge. The 10x periscope telephoto camera on the S25 Ultra allows for impressive detail at long distances, capturing clear and sharp zoomed-in shots with less distortion compared to the 5x zoom on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. However, while the zoom range is impressive, the image quality of the S25 Ultra’s long-range zoom can sometimes be more pixelated and less detailed than expected, which is something that Apple’s 5x telephoto sensor manages to handle better with its more refined zoom capabilities.
Video Capabilities
Both the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max offer impressive video performance, shooting in 4K at 60fps and supporting advanced features such as HDR10+ on the S25 Ultra and Dolby Vision on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The iPhone 16 Pro Max stands out for its cinematic video modes, which allow users to create professional-quality footage with blurred background effects and smooth transitions. Samsung’s video capabilities are equally strong, with smooth stabilization, but the focus and color balance may occasionally be more inconsistent in dynamic environments.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra appears to be a solid contender in the smartphone camera race, but it isn’t the massive leap forward some may have hoped for. Samsung has made notable refinements, but the overall camera performance still feels very much in line with the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s offering, with only minor improvements in some areas.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max continues to shine with its more natural image processing, better low-light performance, and reliable video recording. It’s clear that Apple’s focus on computational photography and video remains a dominant force in the smartphone industry.
Samsung’s S25 Ultra may be a good choice for users who prioritize high-resolution shots and zoom capabilities, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the better choice for those who seek a more balanced, natural, and dependable camera experience.
Stay tuned for further updates as more detailed camera tests and reviews of the Galaxy S25 Ultra are conducted.
