Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra ( left ) and Galaxy S24 UltraAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
When did photographic camera zooms get so complicated ? These day , we do n’t just have a unmarried number like 3x to deal with , but many other rapid growth levels , . we also demand to understand optical rapid growth , hybrid zoom , periscope zoom , Space Zoom , and a whole lot more . Samsung has confused the issuing again with theGalaxy S24 Ultra , which has a 5x opthalmic zoom and a 10x loanblend zoom , intend it ’s dissimilar from theGalaxy S23 Ultra .
The doubt is , do the change make any difference , and if so , which one is upright for taking zoomed - in shots ? I took both Samsung Ultra phones out to see which one is best — new or honest-to-god . The result areveryinteresting .
The Ultra camera specs
Before we get started , be cognisant this is not a full tv camera comparison between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Galaxy S23 Ultra . We ’re only looking at the telephotograph cameras and equate the zoom capacity of both — we ’re not looking at the chief , full - slant , or video cameras . Before we get to the picture , here are the camera specifications .
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a 200 - megapixel independent tv camera , a 12MP wide - slant camera , and a pair of telephoto cameras : one with 10MP and the other with 50MP . These camera supply a 3x and a 5x visual soar , and a 2x and 10x optical quality soar . The Galaxy S23 Ultra has exactly the same camera system asunder from both its telephotograph cameras having 10MP , providing a 3x and 10x opthalmic rapid growth .
Samsung has swapped the second 10MP telephotograph tv camera for a 50MP telephoto on the Galaxy S24 Ultra , predict that the greater megapixel count will return 10x optical caliber rapid growth photos that look just as just as the S23 Ultra ’s 10x ocular soar . The S24 Ultra has an optical 5x telephoto rapid climb , while this is a digital rapid growth on the S23 Ultra , and both provide a 3x optical zoom .
What ’s the difference between visual , digital , and intercrossed zoom ? Samsung itselfprovides a great definition , saying an optical rapid growth “ physically adjust the camera lens to bring the bailiwick closer without sacrificing paradigm timbre , ” while a digital zoom , “ uses software system to blow up images without give any strong-arm lens of the eye adjustment . ” A intercrossed zoom , or “ optical quality , ” uses a little of both to make the zoomed - in photos .
3x optical zoom
Both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S23 Ultra have a 3x optical soar , and unsurprisingly , there is very piddling difference in quality between the two — with both providing passel of detail and clarity . However , there are differences in look , color , and overall balance , a theme we ’re going to continue seeing throughout this equivalence .
The first exposure show marginal difference in texture between the two , with the Galaxy S24 Ultra smooth the wall of the construction in the background , as well as the stone walls under the arch , more than the S23 Ultra . The Galaxy S23 Ultra image has stronger contrast , and slimly more vivid colors than the S24 Ultra , but a weaker photograph , where the sky is not quite as defined . The remainder are minimal , and only really detectable when the two are compared .
However , in the 2nd photograph , the divergence are far more obvious . The railroad car ’s bleak paint and red roof are a little wash - out in the S23 Ultra ’s photo , but far more realistic and optic - catching in the S24 Ultra ’s photograph , and the white balance is more accurate too . This extends to the autumnal colors of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and the gravel route . There ’s perhaps a tinge more racket in places in the S24 Ultra ’s photo , but I ’ll take that when the people of colour are so much more pleasing .
The Galaxy S24 Ultra ’s software , Samsung ’s update Super HDR , and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 are at work here , as the two cameras are basically the same . Samsung ’s hard study has pay off , and the Galaxy S24 Ultra ’s 3x ocular zoom takes good photos than the Galaxy S23 Ultra ’s .
victor : Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
5x digital and optical zoom
Moving on to the 5x ocular soar , remember that the Galaxy S24 Ultra has a new 50MP telephoto camera for an optical zoom here , while the Galaxy S23 Ultra uses its computer software for a digital zoom to create the images , and therefore we should expect a gravid difference in the photos .
It ’s hardly surprising that the first image shows some conflict in detail , with the snowy school text crisp and readable in both , but obviously light and more specify in the Galaxy S24 Ultra ’s image . But it ’s the differences in colouring material and tone that bound out , as the S24 Ultra ’s photo seem more like the circumstance did in real life , compare to the S23 Ultra ’s cooler image .
The Galaxy S23 Ultra can still do a really good line of work at 5x though , as the photograph of the clock show . There ’s still a batch of detail , and really less fuzz in places than in the S24 Ultra ’s photo . It ’s only when you face close that the pixelation and noise appear all over the stone paries . The S24 Ultra ’s photo is clean , and the natural grain shows through rather . Again , the difference in tone and contrast is clean , and the S24 Ultra ’s pic looks far more naturalistic and sympathetic .
10x optical and hybrid zoom
The 10x comparison is arguably the big tryout here , as the S23 Ultra ’s 10x optical zoom is unique , and the S24 Ultra ’s 10x hybrid rapid climb less so . Samsung promises the S24 Ultra ’s 50MP telephoto photographic camera ’s ability will negate any drop in quality that come with a non - optic zoom , but is that the case ?
The first photo was taken in spite of appearance in average light , which really favors the ocular zoom , so we get the reverse of the 5x situation above , where the Galaxy S23 Ultra ’s photograph has less blur and more detail . It ’s obvious in the white sugar oaf , the text on the display panel in the background knowledge , the metallic element open , and the glass jar lid . The benefit of an ocular zoom over an opticalqualityzoom are obvious in this pic .
What about a 10x picture of the clock featured in our 5x zoom compare ? Now tthat we ’re alfresco in decent lighting , it ’s far harder to see the contingent remainder here , with the Galaxy S24 Ultra doing a great problem of minimizing the noise and pixelization , while still establish plenty of detail . You may even see more texture in the S24 Ultra ’s picture , and favour the warmer flavour that has been discernible throughout the test .
Our third picture was taken outside in average lighting , and again the differences are fewer . The S23 Ultra ’s text is marginally shrill , and the blacks are a morsel blacker , but there is somewhat more noise than in the S24 Ultra ’s pic . I wonder if seeing the S24 Ultra ’s photo in isolation would make anyone think it ’s a loan-blend and not an optic nip ? It ’s certainly direction more acceptable than many may have feared an opthalmic quality stroke would be , and the S24 Ultra has execute dear than the S23 Ultra did in the 5x trial .
That said , it ’s impossible to say the S24 Ultra optical tone has take respectable exposure than the S23 Ultra ’s 10x optic rapid growth , but they are definitely not an embarrassment or a disaster . It can’tquitetake the profits , but the S24 Ultra ’s more pleasing tone and stronger stochasticity decrease makes this class a shocking tie .
victor : lot
30x zoom
Both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S23 Ultra can take photos at a purely digital 30x rapid growth , a feature Samsung has beenworking on and refining for several generations . We only need one pic to show how much the S24 Ultra has ameliorate over the Galaxy S23 Ultra in term of 30x soar .
While the storey of detail is fairly exchangeable , the Galaxy S24 Ultra ’s exposure , contrast , and light have been sufficiently altered to land the detail out more , which get to the photo seem more realistic . It ’s still not something many mass will want to practice often , but work has been done to improve the feature over the premature contemporaries .
victor : Galaxy S24 Ultra
100x zoom
Yes , if you require to soar in to 100x , the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Ultra will allow you . Samsung ’s full Space Zoom mode is as pointless as it ever was , but it appears to have become even worse on the S24 Ultra . There ’s more smoothing , more blur , and less point . It ’s a tv camera mode no one in their ripe idea will ever apply , and it ’s out of the question to pick a victor as the mode is a unsuccessful person from the start . Even saying it ’s a draw poker suggests it has some merit , which it does not , so we ’re not rack up it at all .
The Galaxy S24 Ultra wins
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has either gain or tied in all the categories , cementing its topographic point as the new telephotograph superstar of the smartphone world . It ’s something of a shock that it carry off to bind with the Galaxy S23 Ultra in the 10x soar category , but none of the picture I ’ve taken with it have been markedly worse than the S23 Ultra ’s photos , peculiarly when shooting out of doors in decent lighter . They ’re very close , and if you are n’t comparing them side by side , you probably wo n’t care that it ’s ocular quality and not simply optical .
But it ’s not just the 10x mode that puddle the S24 Ultra a winner . The 5x optical rapid climb is excellent , and along with the melioration to the 3x optical rapid climb , the Galaxy S24 Ultra legitimate Samsung ’s decision to interchange the telephoto cameras . Add in new software and some very clever AI enhancements , and it take better telephotograph photo than the S23 Ultra in almost all berth .
I wasworried about the changes Samsung madeto the Galaxy S24 Ultra ’s telephoto television camera , but the results are excellent . I ’m not sayingI wo n’t overlook the 10x optic zoom , but I wo n’t feel shortchanged by the S24 Ultra , and that ’s really important . Now , for the Galaxy S25 Ultra , I ’d like a 3x , a 5x , anda 10x optical zoom . Please , Samsung .
