I tested the Galaxy S25 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro cameras, this one wins

Smartphones have been getting self-aggrandizing for years , but as they ’ve done so , a new kingdom of smaller phone has launched to cater to those who want something more pocket - friendly . By small , I do n’t mean Mini — although I ’d love Mini phones to make a comeback — but rather , more favorable when using them with one paw .

Both Samsung and Apple have helped initiate this trend , by ensuring there ’s a smartphone that ’s the gross size for any need . Yet , they ’ve taken different approaching to doing so , as part of take issue strategies on what the ideal smartphone lineup should wait like .

TheGalaxy S25 Pluscombines the best of the Galaxy S25 andGalaxy S25 Ultrainto a gadget that ’s more able than the former , but not as large and unwieldy as the latter . Meanwhile , theiPhone 16 Probrings a almost identical experience to the largeriPhone 16 Pro Max , but in a smaller pattern factor .

Ultrawide photo captured on the Galaxy S25 Plus

Galaxy S25 PlusImage used with permission by copyright holder

Which company took the better approach when it come to the photographic camera ? I flew around the worldly concern to find out , and here ’s what I found !

Samsung Galaxy S25+ vs iPhone 16 Pro camera specs

Before we prod into how each performs in real - world examination , let ’s quickly recap the specs of each camera .

seem at the spectacles of both cameras , a few specific things digest out . Both phones feature like overall specs in the main camera , but thereafter they diverge . Samsung has opt for a smaller resolution ultrawide camera with higher pixel sizing , while Apple pick out the opposite route of a heavy resolution camera combine with pel binning to make a similar overall television camera . The ultrawide camera is new to the iPhone 16 Pro this year , but while the Galaxy S25 Ultra also receive an improved 50MP ultrawide photographic camera , Samsung prefer against include the same sensing element in the Galaxy S25 Plus .

Then there ’s the telephoto camera . Both feature alike resolving power , but the Galaxy S25 Plus have just 3x opthalmic zoom while the iPhone 16 Pro bid 5x optical rapid growth . in conclusion , the selfie cameras are very like on both devices , but crucially , the iPhone 16 Pro camera feature OIS which should mean rock-bottom noise . Let ’s see if real - public carrying out delivers on these initial expectation .

Wide photo captured on the Galaxy S25 Plus

Galaxy S25 Plus 1xImage used with permission by copyright holder

Galaxy S25 Plus vs iPhone 16 Pro: Zoom Tests

With both earpiece taking different approaches to zoom and the television camera as a whole , which speech sound Lord has the best approach ? Which telephone takes the effective picture at various zoom lengths ? I tested this on a late trip to Dubai , and here ’s what I found .

In this first test , neither phone performs particularly well and as we discovered in our other camera comparisons , both are excel by the OnePlus 13 and Pixel 9 Pro . However , the iPhone 16 Pro perform more or less dear at the gamy rapid climb duration thanks to its 5x ocular soar , whereas the quality begins to downgrade much faster on the Galaxy S25 Plus . Samsung ’s phone also appears more washed out than Apple ’s mid - sized flagship .

Much like the first test , the Galaxy S25 Plus struggles above 5x zoom whereas the iPhone 16 Pro stay more operational . That said , neither is particularly cracking at trace the yacht name at the highest zoom lengths , but the iPhone 16 Pro does at least make it easier to decipher individual letters , whereas the Galaxy S25 Plus is far more blurry .

2x photo captured on the Galaxy S25 Plus

Galaxy S25 Plus 2xImage used with permission by copyright holder

In this trial run , the Galaxy S25 Plus is secretive to the iPhone 16 Pro , but the lack of contingent becomes promptly apparent in the cruise ship sign . While the image is still usable from the Galaxy S25 Plus , the iPhone 16 Pro is much sharp . Beyond this , both earpiece are evenhandedly similar at the smaller rapid growth distance , which is expected as the camera stacks are evenhandedly like .

Samsung and Apple both often tout improved carrying into action and night mode features to ensure that each phone can capture the best lowlight pic , which is traditionally the biggest challenge for any smartphone tv camera . However , do they deliver ? What if you ’re in Dubai and can see Steve Aoki execute in the approximate distance ? Could either of these phones take well enough pic to be worth using ? Let ’s take a look .

Here both phones are fairly similar throughout all zoom lengths , but one special test that stands out is the 5x . The iPhone 16 Pro is much sharp thanks to the 5x optical zoom , and while the Galaxy S25 Plus hire a impregnable contender , it ’s more cropped — as it ’s not using a fix focal length — and it lacks the edge witness in the iPhone ’s exposure .

3x photo captured on the Galaxy S25 Plus

Galaxy S25 Plus 3xImage used with permission by copyright holder

Galaxy S25 Plus vs iPhone 16 Pro: Video Zoom Tests

For many years , the iPhone was considered the best smartphone camera , but while the rival has catch up with it in many ways for still photograph , Apple is still recognized for its video recording potentiality . Yet , does the same apply to Zoom in video ? How does the Galaxy S25 Plus comparability ? Let ’s take a look !

Now let ’s look at the same test on the iPhone 16 Pro .

Of course , it ’s not just during the day that you may be entice to try Zoom , so how does each do when there ’s significantly less sluttish ? Let ’s take a look , begin with the Galaxy S25 Plus .

5x photo captured on the Galaxy S25 Plus

Galaxy S25 Plus 5xImage used with permission by copyright holder

How does the iPhone 16 Pro fare ? Let ’s take a expression :

In the daylight trial , both earpiece are pretty like , although the iPhone 16 Pro proves to be slenderly more unchanging . However , in the lowlight test , the differences between both become readily seeming as the iPhone 16 Pro remains pretty usable while the Galaxy S25 Plus rapidly becomes a noisy video that makes it difficult to distinguish between citizenry , scenery , and the level . In hindsight , there ’s no competition and the iPhone 16 Pro is much good for video .

Galaxy S25 Plus vs iPhone 16 Pro: Portrait Mode Test

Samsung has long featured my favourite portrait mode on a smartphone thanks to a wide range of effects , including my favorite on any earpiece : coloring peak . This countenance you to keep the subject in color while turning the setting to grayscale , which can result in contrasting and fantastic photos . Meanwhile , Apple has swash its portrait modality capability and added many studio effects to control lighting and apply unlike filter to portrait picture .

Each company takes a unlike approach to portrait mode so it makes it somewhat difficult to compare them directly . However , both solidification of modes require firm depth perception , so do they pitch ? Does the time - of - flight of steps 3D depth detector on the iPhone 16 Pro make a deviation to the overall caliber of portrayal picture ?

The forgetful answer is no . There ’s picayune difference between both of these phones , although the Galaxy S25 Plus picture do have a slender chromaticity and the iPhone 16 Pro captures single chain of tomentum somewhat better in the 2x photo . However , this is splitting hairs — quite literally — and the differences are so minimal that is a draw between the two .

10x photo captured on the Galaxy S25 Plus

Galaxy S25 Plus 10xImage used with permission by copyright holder

What about selfies ? With so many law of similarity in the resolution and the overall feature hardening , is there a difference in the exposure capture by both selfie triggerman ?

Again , the resolution is the same . For the most part , both telephone set are nigh selfsame , although the wider field of perspective on the iPhone 16 Pro does mean the exposure is slightly more impressive . The Galaxy S25 Plus also suffers from crystalline lens flare pass which the iPhone 16 Pro does n’t , but this could just be chalked up to the positioning of the Sunday at that exceptional here and now . I ’m call the entire portrait part a drawing card .

Is the iPhone 16 Pro Max better than the Galaxy S25 Ultra?

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro boast an identical tv camera , but unlike Apple , Samsung opted to distinguish the small Galaxy S25 Plus from the heavyweight that is the Galaxy S25 Ultra . As Apple ’s prominent phone will probably go head to manoeuver with Samsung ’s freehanded , you may be wondering which one has the expert tv camera .

First , here ’s how the iPhone 16 Pro Max compare against the Galaxy S25 Ultra .

Can the iPhone 16 Pro compete with the Galaxy S25 Ultra ? get ’s find oneself out by depend at the example of the yacht and the photo produced by each of these phones .

30x photo captured on the Galaxy S25 Plus

Galaxy S25 Plus 30xImage used with permission by copyright holder

unluckily , the iPhone 16 Pro Max is also modified to the same 25x zoom as the iPhone 16 Pro which means it ca n’t compete with the Galaxy S25 Ultra ’s 100x quad zoom feature . However , it also ca n’t compete with the Galaxy S25 Ultra at anything above 10x , as it quickly loses timber ; that ’s not to say that the final pic are bad , but they miss the sharpness and detail that the Galaxy S25 Ultra has thanks to higher solvent and more detail .

As a termination , if you ’re look to equate the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max camera , there ’s no contest : pick the Galaxy S25 Ultra .

Who did it better, Samsung or Apple?

The answer to the head take into this section is more nuanced than I had expected it to be , and it largely depends on which headphone you are comparing , as well as your budget and preferences .

If you want a smaller sound or have a desex $ 1,000 budget , and are picking between the Galaxy S25 Plus and the iPhone 16 Pro , there ’s no contest . Although the Galaxy S25 Plus captures more saturated and vibrant photos , the detail and sharpness of the iPhone 16 Pro entail that Apple did it better overall .

However , if your budget is stretchy and you do n’t mind a bigger phone , the result changes . Unless you are fixed on your desire for the iPhone 16 Pro Max , the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a secure overall camera . However , as I discovered , it ’s not thebest Android phone photographic camera right nowand for $ 1,000 , there’sa phone that outperforms the Galaxy S25 Ultra at even the high-pitched zoom distance .

Ultrawide photo captured on the iPhone 16 Pro