We ’ve put two of the heaviest smartphone camera hitters against each other to find out which one take the good photo . It ’s theXiaomi 15 Ultraversus theSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra , and although both scored really highly in their respective review , we require to make up one’s mind which is the one to grease one’s palms if you ’re really into mobile photography .
The camera specs
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra both have theQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Eliteprocessor within . Samsung says its cow dung has been commit special “ For Galaxy ” treatment , while Xiaomi has tv camera experts Leica tweaking the ironware and software to make its camera even more desirable than theXiaomi 14 Ultra ’s .
Samsung ’s camera is headed up by a massive 200 - megapixel main television camera , and connect by a 50MP wide - slant , a 50MP 5x optical periscope rapid growth , and a 10MP 3x opthalmic zoom tv camera . The Xiaomi 50 Ultra also has a 200MP television camera , but it takes 4.3x optical rapid climb shots . The respite of the camera boast a 50MP main tv camera , a 50MP wide - slant camera , and a 50MP 3x zoom television camera .
For this test we directly compared the Galaxy S25 Ultra ’s 5x optical soar with the Xiaomi ’s 4.3x opthalmic zoom as there ’s very little remainder between the rapid climb levels . All the photos were taken over several days in unlike conditions , and have been resize for friendly on-line showing .
Xiaomi 15 Ultra 10x zoomAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
Main camera
It ’s important to see the differences between the 15 Ultra and 25 Ultra ’s main camera , and the first photo of the tree in a field illustrates them well . The Xiaomi 15 Ultra has a loosely warmer pure tone ( all photos were take using the Leica Vibrant stage setting ) , but exposes shots in a unlike way , result in some softened colors . See the pasturage and the sky for grounds of how the two tv camera interpret the same picture .
My personal orientation is for the Xiaomi ’s photo over the S25 Ultra ’s ice chest tone . The Xiaomi 15 Ultra also has a strong deepness of orbit to its tight - up picture equate to the S24 Ultra , which I really like , but it does n’t always match this with accurate focus , as the photo of the daffodil shows . It ’s when you get into specific situations , and when you crop down to see more detail that the Xiaomi 15 Ultra extends a lead .
The pic of the shop interior shows where the HDR is more effective on the 15 Ultra , and when you look closely at the item on the shelves , there ’s more detail and less pixelation in its exposure too . This is an matter with the Galaxy S25 Ultra ’s tv camera which we noticed in our review , where it stick in a haze and blur to details . I ’ve seen it in most of the photos taken for this comparison , and although you do have to look closely , once you know it ’s there it ’s quite easy to spot . It give the Xiaomi 15 Ultra an important win .
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 10xAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
success : Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Wide-angle camera
The full - angle camera category is harder to judge than the principal television camera , as both have positive and negative aspects . The Xiaomi 15 Ultra ’s photo of the church has a lot more detail than the S25 Ultra ’s , which suffers from the same blur seen in the master photographic camera ’s pictures . The stonework has a heavily work aspect compared to the Xiaomi 15 Ultra ’s photo .
This is also visible in the wide - angle version of a photo in the primary camera family , but I do choose the path the S25 Ultra care color and exposure , get some much needed pop to the sky . This is crucial when photograph vistas . But the warmer , earthier tones of the 15 Ultra ’s exposure are more born .
However , use the Galaxy S25 Ultra ’s wide - slant tv camera in more intriguing light , such as indoors , and it handle things intimately than the Xiaomi 15 Ultra . The interior of the church shows this off best , with the S25 Ultra ’s tv camera contain a great deal more point , less fuzz , and better photo . Its power indoors and in lower light save it from a red here , but there ’s nothing incorrect with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra ’s photos .
Xiaomi 15 Ultra 30x zoomAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
succeeder : Draw
Zoom cameras
We ’re going to move through the different soar grasp in this category , start off with a 3x exposure . The computerized tomography ’s fur is a brilliant test of the camera ’s sharpness and power to show contingent , and the two are very nearly matched . But as with the last two category , the Galaxy S25 Ultra ’s hazy picture let it down , and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra ’s sharper 3x photo is superior .
The next photo was also taken at 3x , and it certify the Xiaomi ’s inviolable depth of playing field , and its warmer , more raw tone of voice . There ’s more grain and contingent in the brick work , and it captures the light better than the S25 Ultra too . At 3x , the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is unquestionably the ranking tv camera .
The 5x and 4.3x photos are interesting . There ’s so much detail in the aged metal to unveil , along with tiny signs to say in the first photo , and the S25 Ultra gets it ripe . The colors are much more natural compared to the over exposed Xiaomi ’s dead reckoning , and there ’s more detail in general . It ’s the same in the second photograph , with less abrasive processing , more attractive color , and while the depth of field is n’t as firm , it ’s still pleasing . The 5x mode is honest than the Xiaomi ’s 4.3x mode .
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 30xAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
Get to 10x and the S25 Ultra ’s problematic stableness issues take back , with fuzz seeable in many of its photos . It often beats the Xiaomi 15 Ultra on colours and exposure though , with its photos appear much more rude , notably in the photo of the duck .
However , the Xiaomi 15 Ultra ’s sharper photograph win when there ’s more detail expect . It ’s hard to judge the 10x telephoto rapid growth category , with each photographic camera have got quite strong positive and negatives , leaving us with a tie at this point .
amazingly , yield how much Samsung has raved about its 30x and 100x modes in the past tense , the Xiaomi has the S25 Ultra beaten . Using these two modes as a tie - circuit breaker , the profits has to go to the Xiaomi 15 Ultra , although it is fairly tight between them and both have brilliant telephoto cameras .
Xiaomi 15 Ultra 100x zoomAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
winnings : Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Night mode
Admittedly I gave the two cameras a hard line of work in low light . The first photograph of the cars was in almost complete dark and I could only just about make out the color of the 911 . Considering how dark it was , the Xiaomi 15 Ultra really did a wonderful job with a less processed , sharper , and more accurately colored image .
The Xiaomi take a salutary photo of the night sky too , with more pleasing and accurate colors , less banding from the light-headed cloud , and less fuzz too . Considering this is a hand-held photo with a full three - second picture , the Xiaomi 15 Ultra ’s photo is pretty salutary .
The final photo does show how the S25 Ultra ’s ashen balance is slightly superior , but in reality the light color was somewhere in - between the two pic . The Xiaomi 15 Ultra still mystify the S25 Ultra though , due to the fantabulous discourse of the sky and background .
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 100xAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
Xiaomi 15 Ultra takes a comprehensive win
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra has beaten the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in all categories apart from the wide - slant tv camera , where the Galaxy headphone managed to score a draw . Unlike some of the equivalence we do , there are sizable and obvious dispute between the two camera here , and I ’ve preferred the Xiaomi 15 Ultra ’s photos throughout .
The comparison tryout descend after Ispent more clock time with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra ’s camerain Barcelona , Spain following my review . I was look for the magic Xiaomi claimed was there , which I was n’t indisputable about when I first adjudicate the camera . It impress me more when I spent additional clip with it , and its adorable tone and versatility has been highlighted again here .
Xiaomi ’s decisive win shows Samsung has work to do on the Galaxy S25 Ultra ’s television camera , as the odd blur and want of acuity let it down multiple times during the examination . For now though , the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is well on its way to being the in effect camera phone you may grease one’s palms in 2025 . you may also see how theGalaxy S25 Ultra compares to the Galaxy S24 Ultrain this trial , and howits telephoto cameras compareto several competition here .
