Would it be right if we did n’t put the latest Samsung Galaxy S series against the up-to-the-minute iPhone in a photographic camera tryout ? We do n’t think so , which is why we ’ve been out taking photograph with theSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultraand theApple iPhone 16 Pro Maxto see which one has the best tv camera .

Camera specification

The Galaxy S25 Ultra ’s tv camera has the same 200 - megapixel main camera , 50MP telephoto for 5x ocular soar , and 10MP telephoto for 3x visual zoom as theGalaxy S24 Ultra . What ’s novel , outside of the processor and software driving it , is a new 50MP all-encompassing - angle camera . Samsung has collaborated with Qualcomm on a especial Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy C.P.U. and uses good deal of AI in the tv camera for improved results .

A 48MP main camera heads the iPhone 16 Pro Max ’s camera setup , and it ’s fall in by a 12MP telephotograph for a 5x optical zoom , and a 48MP panoptic - angle photographic camera . Apple ’s own A18 Pro processor powers it , and both earphone make use of optic image stabilization across the master and telephoto camera . While it was the 16 Pro Max test here , the camera is the same as the smalleriPhone 16 Pro , so the results should apply to it too .

Main camera

The main camera is the one you ’re going to use the most , and throughout my time aim photos with both , there has been one overriding quality difference between them — distinctness . It total down in the iPhone 16 Pro Max ’s favor , as there ’s a continue hint of blur and fuzz in the Galaxy S25 Ultra ’s photos .

It ’s most noticeable when you crop an image , but as it ’s there , the keen - eyed may distinguish it without getting up close and personal . The pic of the church is a good example , as the Harlan F. Stone walls and tile ceiling are n’t as rowlock sharp in the S5 Ultra ’s photo , and although I favour the way it has exposed the shot , the iPhone ’s colour are more vibrant and innate .

The iPhone ’s main photographic camera also always generates a more pleasing depth of field of view around its field , while the Galaxy S25 Ultra maintain more of the tantrum in focal point . I tapped to focus on the live water bottle foretoken in this photo , and the iPhone makes it clear this was my intention , while the S25 Ultra does not . I prefer being able to frame a shot like this , and find the S25 Ultra ’s photos can be quite “ flat . ” However , some may prefer the S25 Ultra ’s wider focal point .

In a photo taken in a flower shop , you’re able to see the two kickshaw colors in a similar way without oversaturating the vista , but the iPhone ’s generally sharp exposure with its warmer tone is more pleasing . The two cameras never seem to quite get the bloodless balance right hand , and both want consistency here . However , in ecumenical , while I ’ve liked photos taken with both phones , the iPhone 16 Pro Max ’s sharper images are my predilection .

Winner : Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Wide-angle camera

This is where the Galaxy S25 Ultraneedsto shine , as the across-the-board - angle camera is the only computer hardware difference between it and the S24 Ultra . Compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max , it ’s in spades an improvement , with richer colours and more accurate photograph , but it ’s not consummate and there ’s still work to be done .

The wide eyeshot of a vineyard shows Samsung has amped up the colors but sensibly used the exposure to not make the tantrum too unrealistic . The iPhone ’s exposure wash the foreground out too much , despite present a piffling more contingent in the shadows . The Galaxy S25 Ultra ’s exposure is quite heavily - handed with its smoothing though , but the detail in the far aloofness is less hazy than the iPhone .

There ’s a monumental difference in tone too , as you could see in this picture of a bridge over a lake . I do n’t hate the iPhone ’s intervention of the scene , but it ’s far from realistic , and the Galaxy S25 Ultra captures it really well . The S25 Ultra ’s smoothing work in its favor , avoiding the harsh pixelation ascertain in the iPhone ’s photo when you crop it down , but I ’d like to see it toned down in future software updates .

Our final wide - slant photo , taken on the same day as the one above , show up the S25 Ultra ’s realism and accurate colors , and the amount of additional detail its photos contain . The trees in the background are in sharp focal point , while the iPhone ’s background are slur . It ’s the same situation with the water . The Galaxy S25 Ultra ’s wide - slant camera easily takes the win here .

Winner : Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Telephoto

The telephotograph television camera was always the Galaxy S25 Ultra ’s thing , but this has lento deepen as other brands have view up , and Samsung itself abandoned the S - serial publication ’ defining 10x ocular in favor of a intercrossed 10x . The camera provides an array of shortcuts — 2x , 3x , 5x , and 10x — but only 3x and 5x are ocular . The iPhone ’s tv camera app shows a 2x , and 5x shortcut , and both are optical zooms .

Let ’s talk about the 5x rapid growth first , as this is where both cameras technically match . Straight off the Galaxy S25 Ultra ’s white Libra the Scales is more exact , and along with the punchier Marxist and greens , the photograph pops more than the iPhone ’s simulacrum . Crop it down and there ’s more detail and less dissonance from the S25 Ultra too .

How about 10x ? The Galaxy S25 Ultra has the iPhone beaten here too , with less interference ( but more smoothing , which may knock over some ) and sharper focal point in its 10x photos , but it ’s quite a nigh matter . You really notice the differences when you try out the photograph tight or crop them down . At first coup d’oeil , the iPhone 16 Pro Max does a very good job at a rapid growth mountain chain it ’s not supposed to ply , and it ’s still astonishingly useable .

expend the 2x on the iPhone and the 3x on the Galaxy S25 Ultra and not much variety . This lowlight crack shows both handle picture and tincture in a like way , but there ’s a lot more caryopsis in the iPhone ’s picture , and the S25 Ultra takes the sharper photo , diametrical to how the chief tv camera performed . The iPhone 16 Pro Max ’s telephoto ability is decent , but it ca n’t match the Samsung phone .

Night mode

Before getting go with the photos , it ’s worth observe the Galaxy S25 Ultra ’s improbably dreary on - cover trailer for lowlight images , which makes you think the photo is n’t go to come out . Luckily , it is not representative of the end effect . The iPhone ’s preview are exactly like the concluding photo and generally , the iPhone 16 Pro Max ’s lowlight pic are ardent than the Galaxy S25 Ultra ’s photos , which border on harsh sometimes , as you could see in the first pic .

Both can struggle with noise , which the S25 Ultra compensates for with more smoothing than the iPhone . Neither is preferable , but it can make Samsung ’s photos see more dressed at a glimpse . However , when you pasture the ikon down both pic have the same level of contingent .

The final photo usher the thin difference of opinion between the two tv camera in low-down light , and neither is really better than the other , reveal standardized levels of particular , and maintaining basically the same colour and tone . Only borderline exposure change are seeable , which do n’t affect the overall spirit of the photo . Both are very good in low illumination .

success : imbibe

Photo editing and AI

Both smartphones sport extensive photo redaction capabilities . The iPhone ’s Photographic Styles are available “ live ” and can bechanged after you ’ve necessitate the photograph , but only if you ’re saving image in the HEIF format . Samsung ’s interpretation is more flexible . A range of filter are available in the editing app , more can be downloaded from the Galaxy Store , and I wish the manner it has added granulose redaction using sliders . It ’s more intuitive than Apple ’s organization , and can really change the way a photo looks .

Both apply AI to exchange photo . Apple has its Playground app , while Samsung adds its AI into the Gallery app , and its resume to Image feature of speech is a fun increase , where the AI adds an element to a photo free-base on your own canonical sketch . Lightroom is also available for both operating organisation , and there are n’t obvious difference in the direction they work , and a subscription is needed to access in - deepness features .

Both redaction suite are feature - packed and relatively easy to use . It ’s childlike to alter the look of your photos , but the AI features are gimmicks used only for merriment , and I doubt many people will consistently use them .

The Galaxy S25 Ultra beats the iPhone

The Galaxy S25 Ultra has beaten the iPhone 16 Pro Max in our camera comparing , despite losing in the critical main photographic camera family . This make some problems , as the chief camera is likely the one everyone will utilise the most , and therefore the quality here will be most important . I ’m not look at anything aside from the Galaxy S25 Ultra , as it ’s obvious it has the superior spacious - angle and telephotograph cameras , but if you seldom practice either of them , the iPhone 16 Pro Max may be the dear option .

However , taken as an overall camera organization — which is what this trial run is about — the Galaxy S25 Ultra is more versatile , and goes on to equal the iPhone 16 Pro Max in every other category . It ’s a worthy winner .