A couple of occasions yearly, we get new flagship smartphones that promise to “change our world” or attempt to assist us “reimagine” what a telephone is able to. We have reached a degree the place nearly each launch occasion is accompanied by a promo video that is been recorded utilizing no matter telephone is being introduced.
This continued with the Galaxy S25 Extremely regardless of the one change being an upgraded 50MP ultrawide lens. It additionally marks the third yr that Samsung has relied on the 200MP ISOCELL HP2 as its major lens. Even nonetheless, Samsung’s flagship units are often touted as being among the many greatest for cell images.
So, with that in thoughts, we determined to place these claims to the check in opposition to the iPhone 16 Professional Max and Pixel 9 Professional. I additionally included the Galaxy S24 Extremely simply to see whether or not it is actually value upgrading, purely for the cameras.
Earlier than diving in, I wish to guarantee you that all the footage you see have been taken with the default settings. The photographs weren’t manipulated in any approach, as to offer as balanced of a comparability as doable.
Galaxy S25 Extremely vs. iPhone 16 Professional Max
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Kicking issues off, I in contrast the 2 telephones that can probably dominate the market in 2025: the Galaxy S25 Extremely and the iPhone 16 Professional Max. The primary image within the gallery makes use of the ultrawide lens from each units, with the iPhone undoubtedly having a hotter tone.
Apart from that, the photographs look pretty related, capturing the identical quantity of element. I’ve to confess that it was fairly darn cool with the ability to see the S25 Extremely handle to seize the chook because it was flying in entrance of me within the prime proper nook.
Within the image of the birds largely chilling on the dock, the S25 Extremely once more produced a “cooler” picture than the iPhone. Nevertheless, the iPhone’s image is a bit brighter, making it a bit simpler to note a number of extra particulars. That being mentioned, there’s nothing fairly like capturing a chook because it takes off, and it was pure luck that I used to be capable of get this picture from the Extremely.
If you cannot inform, there is a recurring theme with these telephones, with the iPhone producing hotter tones, even when simply barely. Such is the case with the photographs in entrance of Tudor Corridor right here in St. Mary’s County. There’s actually not a lot else to say right here apart from that I am fairly pleased with each telephones thus far.
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With this picture from the Tudor Corridor Backyard, it was the primary time I seen that the Galaxy S25 Extremely managed a brighter picture. It is form of a troublesome image to course of, with the glare from the sundown affecting each telephones in some capability.
The factor about taking footage in your telephone is that they will look fairly good on smaller screens. Nevertheless, after seeing the iPhone’s image of the sundial, I used to be shocked to see that it simply… does not look good. There aren’t practically as many particulars because the S25 Extremely, which turns into obvious when wanting on the hedges surrounding the sundial.
With the final picture above, we’ve got one other troublesome situation to course of. Not solely is the solar setting, however the lights from the restaurant are in every single place. If you begin making an attempt to pixel-peep, the iPhone really captures extra element, particularly for those who take a look at the “OPEN” signal on the best aspect of the photographs. Nevertheless, I would must say that the Galaxy S25 Extremely managed to take an image that higher resembled what I used to be really seeing.
Final, however not least, the Galaxy S25 Extremely was given an opportunity to actually flex its muscle groups a bit. Each telephones have been set to 25x zoom, as that is so far as the iPhone’s digital zoom will allow you to go. Trying on the plaque, the textual content is legible within the iPhone’s image, nevertheless it seems so much prefer it was generated by AI. In the meantime, that is not even near being the case with the S25 Extremely, because it’s apparent that Samsung has the higher hand in relation to telephoto pictures.
Galaxy S25 Extremely vs. Pixel 9 Professional
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If you’re strolling round making an attempt to take footage with 4 totally different telephones, there’s actually not a lot time to investigate what you’ve got captured. In the mean time, I did not understand how related the photographs are between the Pixel 9 Professional and iPhone 16 Professional Max. Even whereas I used to be placing collectively the side-by-side examples, I ended up needing to double-check the photographs simply to ensure I wasn’t messing something up.
In truth, lots of what I mentioned in regards to the iPhone’s footage within the earlier part rings true in regards to the Pixel 9 Professional. And that features the image of the birds on the dock, because it’s brighter than the image from the Galaxy S25 Extremely.
Nevertheless, not like the iPhone, I used to be really capable of seize the chook spreading its wings earlier than taking off. Contemplating that each Samsung and Google have had points with shifting topics, I could not be happier to see the enhancements made culminating in what we’ve got now.
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In case you’re questioning why a few the comparability footage are totally different right here than the opposite sections, your guess is nearly as good as mine. Once I went again to attempt to discover the photographs on the Pixel, they apparently yeeted themselves from the telephone. Fortunately, I took loads of different footage to make up for that, however I nonetheless do not know what may’ve occurred.
Nonetheless, the Pixel 9 Professional manages to maintain up with the Galaxy S25 Extremely, producing pictures which can be each crisp and clear. And whereas the S25 Extremely seemed extra “true to life” with the image of the bar, the Pixel 9 Professional did the identical with the picture of Duke’s.
As for the telephoto digital zoom check, it once more was finished at 25x as a way to maintain issues the identical throughout all the units. That is regardless of the Pixel 9 Professional and its Tremendous Res Zoom being able to delivering a 30x digital zoom.
One factor that shocked me in regards to the Pixel 9 Professional is that it managed to make the textual content on the plaque look each much less and extra AI-enhanced than the S25 Extremely. There are some artifacts round among the letters, however the 9 Professional additionally makes it seem like somebody went and traced over the phrases to make them seem bolder. Even nonetheless, I used to be fairly impressed with how issues turned out, as the whole lot is obvious and legible.
Galaxy S25 Extremely vs. Galaxy S24 Extremely
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The final telephone that I in contrast the Galaxy S25 Extremely to was its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 Extremely. On paper, the one distinction between the 2 is the previous contains a 50MP telephoto lens in comparison with the 10MP sensor on the latter. In idea, that ought to imply that we find yourself with footage that look extra related than the opposite telephones.
And for probably the most half, that is precisely what we’ve got right here. Even within the third picture, with each units utilizing 25x zoom, you’d have a tricky time telling them aside if I did not inform you which image got here from which telephone.
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In case you want any extra proof that these telephones are utilizing an identical {hardware}, it does not get a lot better than the gallery of pictures above. Excluding the sundial, the backyard and entrance of Tudor Corridor look virtually an identical. The variations are much more delicate than I believed they might be, which ought to make those that determined in opposition to upgrading be ok with the choice.
That being mentioned, the tremendous zoom comparability tells a unique story. It was virtually just like the Galaxy S24 Extremely did not even attempt to sharpen the picture in any respect. As a substitute, it virtually feels as if it softened the image. In truth, the S24 Extremely was the one telephone of the 4 to do that, which undoubtedly shocked me.
For the sake of full disclosure, the Galaxy S24 Extremely is at the moment working the most recent One UI 7 beta. Seeing because the software program is not but ultimate, there is a non-zero probability that the beta software program performed an element in how this picture was processed.
A sight to behold
One thing unusual, for me not less than, after I was on my approach again residence. For the primary time ever, I really pulled off to the aspect of the highway to take an image.
After the climate being fairly uncooperative for the previous couple of weeks, it was refreshing to have the clouds break and the solar shine by means of. Add in the truth that the time between sundown and nightfall occurs to be my favourite time to take footage, on prime of the clouds nonetheless clearing out, and it was simply a type of “man, the sky seems stunning moments.”
So, I pulled over the automobile, rolled down the window, and simply needed to see whether or not any of those telephones may recapture what I used to be seeing.
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Out of all 4 telephones that I used after pulling off to the aspect of the highway, I believe that the Pixel 9 Professional was one of the best. There are extra particulars within the clouds, together with extra vibrant colours that do not look faux.
Whereas the iPhone seemingly managed to seize extra gentle, the sundown fell sufferer to Apple’s picture processing. On the flip aspect, it is apparent to me that Samsung has made some substantial tweaks to the picture tuning with the Galaxy S25 Extremely.
When wanting on the two Extremely footage side-by-side, it simply looks like one thing is off with the S24 Extremely. Once more, we would simply must chalk this as much as the One UI 7 beta, however we cannot be capable of know for certain till the ultimate model is launched.
Choosing a winner
With out burying the lede, I actually suppose you could not go improper with the Galaxy S25 Extremely, Pixel 9 Professional, or iPhone 16 Professional Max. Except Samsung manages to work some magic with One UI 7, I do not suppose the Galaxy S24 Extremely does sufficient to warrant consideration in relation to tougher images.
Nevertheless, whereas I am unable to decide one system over the opposite, there’s something that helps the Galaxy S25 Extremely stand out. Navigating by means of Samsung’s Digicam app is a a lot simpler expertise than the others.
Not by way of simply with the ability to take out your telephone and snap an image. However in really making an attempt to regulate the zoom, ensuring all your settings are appropriate, and supplying you with entry to the bucket of instruments that Samsung offers. In case you simply desire a point-and-shoot digicam, you will be advantageous it doesn’t matter what telephone you resolve on.
However for those who care about greater than tapping the shutter button, then Samsung is the clear winner. This may not be the case eternally as Google continues to make enhancements to its personal Digicam app. So we’ll must see what the long run may convey.
It certain seems just like the Galaxy S25 Extremely is the one to beat if you would like one of the best digicam expertise in a smartphone. However, it is not leaps and bounds forward of the competitors, not like in earlier years.
