I tested the Galaxy S25 Plus and Pixel 9 Pro cameras, it’s no contest

If you ’re looking for a new flagship Android phone and require something that ’s sac - favorable , you ’ve probably been considering Google ’s flagship , thePixel 9 Pro . However , you may also be considering Samsung ’s latest middle flagship , theGalaxy S25 Plus .

Both earpiece have very similar features , with each company fit out its flagship with a flagship mainframe , good battery living , and an excellent show . However , while both phones sport a three-fold tv camera frame-up , each company has taken a different feeler .

Google has comply Apple ’s fashion model and equipped the Pixel 9 Pro with the same camera as the Pixel 9 Pro XL , while Samsung treats the Galaxy S25 Plus as a combination of theGalaxy S25 Ultraand Galaxy S25 . The outcome is interesting but does n’t see overall anticipation , as I covered in ourGalaxy S25 Plus review .

Ultrawide photo captured on the Galaxy S25 Plus

Galaxy S25 PlusImage used with permission by copyright holder

Which of these has the good camera ? To find out , I took to the street and the skies and examine them across the world . Here ’s how each photographic camera performs .

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus vs Google Pixel 9 Pro camera specs

Before we stab into prove the real - world operation differences , let ’s take a ready look at the camera spec of each sound :

As we can see , Google opted for a like resolving across all three cameras combined with picture element binning for a large pixel size and good light gaining control , whereas Samsung has gone for three sensors with unlike resolve and stipulation . This likely means that the Pixel 9 Pro should have more consistency when shift between lenses , especially in TV , but does it render ?

Galaxy S25 Plus vs Pixel 9 Pro: Zoom Tests

Both companies have dramatize a like scheme to their phone tv camera — with one telephoto television camera doing all the heavy lifting for rapid growth photos , combined with a good deal of AI — but take fundamentally unlike approaches . Samsung suggests that a telephotograph with 3x visual zoom that utilise AI at eminent rapid growth levels is the right way , whilst Google prefer for a periscope telephotograph with 5x optical soar .

The Galaxy S25 Plus displays 3x and 5x telephotograph options in the view finder , so for eubstance , I also forced 3x sample distribution from the Pixel 9 Pro so we can directly equate them . With that in mind , let ’s await at how each phone performed .

This first trial run is rather revealing as it shows both position of the comparison in one . In the ultrawide and wide angle ( 1x ) shot , the Pixel 9 Pro battle to differentiate between the promising Sunday and the rest of the photo , whereas the Galaxy S25 Plus keep a quiet hue across all the photos . Once the sun drop out of the photo , the Pixel 9 Pro proves to be somewhat better and then considerably better than the Galaxy S25 Plus .

Wide photo captured on the Galaxy S25 Plus

Galaxy S25 Plus 1xImage used with permission by copyright holder

Here the details are miss in the Galaxy S25 Plus zoom again , specially at the higher zoom length , but I do like the people of color reproduction in the water slightly more than the Pixel 9 Pro . There ’s little difference in this , but a passel of conflict in the soar calibre .

devote the results of the previous two test , the Galaxy S25 Plus mostly outperformed my expectations , although the Pixel 9 Pro is still considerably better overall . However , in the viewfinder , both appeared to be moderately similar , so I think Google ’s processing and use of AI rescue better overall termination .

Each company has also focused on deliver improved lowlight performance , but what if you ’re in Dubai and can see Steve Aoki performing in the near distance ? Could either of these phones take good enough pic to be deserving using ? Let ’s take a look .

2x photo captured on the Galaxy S25 Plus

Galaxy S25 Plus 2xImage used with permission by copyright holder

At the higher zoom level , both phones are fairly similar and mostly usable although I would n’t post these . However , there ’s no contest at the crushed zoom level : the ringing and overall nature of the ultrawide and across-the-board photos captured by the Pixel 9 Pro are Instagram - worthy as they are , with no filter require . Overall , there ’s no real contest as — apart from a few specific shots at specific zoom length — the Pixel 9 Pro easy outstrip the Galaxy S25 Plus .

Galaxy S25 Plus vs Pixel 9 Pro: Video Zoom Tests

The Pixel 9 Pro outstrip the Galaxy S25 Plus for photos , but what about video ? How does each phone handle transitioning between different lenses and focal length , and how does changing lens affect the timber between the crystalline lens ? permit ’s take a look , starting with a day soar test on the Galaxy S25 Plus .

Now let ’s take a look at the same trial on the Pixel 9 professional .

Of course , it ’s not just during the Clarence Day that you may be tempted to test Zoom , so how does each perform when there ’s significantly less light ? Let ’s take a further flavor at them , starting with the Galaxy S25 Plus .

3x photo captured on the Galaxy S25 Plus

Galaxy S25 Plus 3xImage used with permission by copyright holder

How does Google ’s Pixel 9 Pro fare ? rent ’s take a facial expression :

Overall , each phone is fairly exchangeable at video zoom , although there are subtle divergence and crucially , I ’m not indisputable I ’d need to use any of these at anything beyond 2x or 3x zoom . For lowlight , there ’s no context as the Pixel 9 Pro is far better . deserving noting is how the quality difference between the ultrawide and wide cameras on the Galaxy S25 Plus is so detectable , whereas the Pixel 9 Pro is high quality even using the ultrawide camera that lacks OIS .

Galaxy S25 Plus vs Pixel 9 Pro: Portrait Mode Test

One reason I keep returning to Samsung phone is the portrait mode , as Samsung equip all of its telephone set with a variety of filters and options , and allows you to change the strength and impression of these after you ’ve taken the photo .

In comparison , Google has a more special portrait musical mode , but past Pixel phones have had olympian profoundness detection , so which headphone captures well portrait photos ?

Both headphone execute reasonably likewise at first glance , and it may seem like splitting hairs to discover a difference , but as you soar up into the photo , it ’s clear that the Galaxy S25 Plus engage a better overall portrait photo . The colors are more balanced , but crucially , there ’s no distortion around my sister ’s head , and it can enamour more of the different strands of hair .

5x photo captured on the Galaxy S25 Plus

Galaxy S25 Plus 5xImage used with permission by copyright holder

What about selfies ? I make love take selfies and both earpiece take into account you to capture selfies with portrait blurring , but which one does it better ? Crucially , do you need the higher firmness of purpose selfie camera on the Pixel 9 Pro , or is the 10MP common snapping turtle on the Galaxy S25 Plus good enough ?

I favour the selfie camera on the Pixel 9 Pro here as it enamour vivid photo and does n’t seem to be as impacted by the harsh sunlight . It also captures slimly more item in the background , and there ’s also no lens flare like there is on the Galaxy S25 Plus . All in all , these telephone prove to be evenly match at taking portrait , with the Galaxy S25 Plus better for selfies conquer with the rearward camera , while the Pixel 9 Pro is better for portrayal selfies .

Who did it better? The Pixel 9 Pro or Galaxy S25 Plus?

Both of these phones may cost $ 1,000 , but there ’s a meaning difference overall in the character of their television camera . The Pixel 9 Pro proves to be far more capable when zooming in for both picture and photos and in low Light Within , there ’s no contest as well . In particular , the gloomy - light zoom test showed that the Pixel 9 Pro can captivate scurvy - ignitor photos that are Instagram - ready , whereas the Galaxy S25 Plus would in all probability need considerable edits and filters to accomplish the same .

However , the Galaxy S25 Plus is decidedly better at portraiture , and having one by one test both telephone set with intellectual nourishment photography — although not at the same time hence why they ’re not in this comparability — I also prefer Samsung ’s approach .

Which earphone wins ? For the zoom test , which was the principal finish of this comparison , the Pixel 9 Pro won by a considerable margin . However , for subjects that are closer or more complicated , the Galaxy S25 Plus is arguably substantially overall .

10x photo captured on the Galaxy S25 Plus

Galaxy S25 Plus 10xImage used with permission by copyright holder

30x photo captured on the Galaxy S25 Plus

Galaxy S25 Plus 30xImage used with permission by copyright holder

Ultrawide photo captured on the Pixel 9 Pro

Pixel 9 ProNirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

1x photo captured on the Pixel 9 Pro

Pixel 9 Pro 1xNirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

2x photo captured on the Pixel 9 Pro

Pixel 9 Pro 2xNirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

3x photo captured on the Pixel 9 Pro

Pixel 9 Pro 3xNirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

5x photo captured on the Pixel 9 Pro

Pixel 9 Pro 5xNirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

10x photo captured on the Pixel 9 Pro

Pixel 9 Pro 10xNirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

30x photo captured on the Pixel 9 Pro

Pixel 9 Pro 30xNirave Gondhia / Digital Trends