Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Camera Review, The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has arrived, and its camera system is turning heads among tech enthusiasts. With a quad-camera setup led by a 200MP main sensor, a new 50MP ultrawide lens, and advanced AI-driven features, this flagship promises professional-grade photography in any scenario. In this review, we dive deep into the S25 Ultra’s camera performance, exploring its strengths, quirks, and whether it lives up to the hype for photography buffs. Written in an informative tone, this post is tailored for tech enthusiasts eager to understand what this device can do.
A Closer Look at the Camera System
The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s camera array is a refined evolution of its predecessor, the S24 Ultra. Here’s the breakdown:
200MP Main Sensor (f/1.7, OIS): Delivers stunning detail and vibrant colors, excelling in both daylight and low-light conditions.
50MP Ultrawide (f/1.9, 120° FOV): A significant upgrade from the 12MP sensor in the S24 Ultra, offering sharper wide-angle shots and macro capabilities.
50MP 5x Periscope Telephoto (f/3.4): Provides excellent zoom performance up to 20x with minimal quality loss.
10MP 3x Telephoto (f/2.4): The weakest link, but still functional for mid-range zoom and portraits.
12MP Selfie Camera (f/2.2, autofocus): Produces sharp, natural-looking selfies with reliable low-light performance.
Samsung has paired this hardware with its ProVisual Engine and AI enhancements, including Generative Edit, Object-Aware Engine, and real-time tone mapping, to optimize every shot. Let’s see how it performs in real-world scenarios.
Daylight Photography: Crisp and Vibrant
In bright conditions, the 200MP main camera shines. Photos are sharp, with excellent dynamic range and well-developed tonal extremes, even in harsh lighting. Colors are vivid but not overly saturated, striking a balance that appeals to social media enthusiasts and purists alike. Skin tones are natural, and white balance is dependable, ensuring consistent results across scenes.
The new 50MP ultrawide lens is a standout, capturing edge-to-edge clarity with minimal distortion. Compared to the S24 Ultra, it delivers slightly sharper images, making it ideal for landscapes, cityscapes, or group shots. The ultrawide also doubles as a macro lens, producing detailed close-ups of textures like flower petals or fabric patterns.
Zoom performance is impressive, particularly with the 5x periscope lens. At 5x to 10x, images retain excellent detail, perfect for portraits or distant subjects. The 3x telephoto lens, however, feels underpowered at 10MP, and shots can appear soft in challenging conditions. Beyond 10x, AI-enhanced Space Zoom holds up reasonably well up to 20x, but 100x remains more of a gimmick than a practical feature.
Low-Light Performance: A Step Forward
Samsung’s Nightography has improved, thanks to the advanced processor and noise reduction algorithms. The 200MP main sensor captures well-lit, sharp photos in low light with minimal noise, outperforming competitors like the iPhone 16 Pro Max in some scenarios. The ultrawide lens also handles low light better than its predecessor, though shadows can appear soft, and a slight warm color cast may be noticeable.
The 5x telephoto performs admirably at night, maintaining detail in street photography or zoomed-in shots of illuminated subjects. However, the 3x lens struggles in darker settings, often producing noisier images. The selfie camera, with its dual-pixel autofocus, delivers clear low-light selfies, aided by screen flash and AI noise reduction.
Portrait Mode and AI Enhancements
Portrait photography is a strong suit for the S25 Ultra. The 5x telephoto lens, with its 111mm focal length, creates a pleasing shallow depth of field, blurring backgrounds beautifully for single-subject shots. Skin tones are accurate, and edge detection is precise, though group portraits may occasionally leave some faces out of focus due to the shallow depth of field. The default blur level in Portrait mode is intense but adjustable.
Samsung’s AI tools, like Generative Edit, allow users to remove unwanted objects, enhance lighting, or adjust backgrounds with impressive accuracy. The Object-Aware Engine optimizes skin tones and textures in real time, making portraits look polished without heavy editing. However, some users may find Samsung’s processing slightly over-sharpened, particularly in auto mode, though shooting in RAW or Expert RAW mode offers more control.
Video Capabilities: Cinematic Excellence
The S25 Ultra is a videographer’s dream, supporting 8K recording at 30fps, 4K at 120fps, and 10-bit HDR capture. The new Log Video mode allows for advanced color grading, giving creators flexibility in post-production. Videos are stable, with excellent dynamic range and color accuracy, though 4K footage at lower framerates appears slightly softer than the S24 Ultra’s.
AI enhancements like Audio Eraser and improved audio quality via AI processing elevate video content, making it ideal for vloggers and content creators. The main camera excels in bright and low-light environments, pulling out detail where competitors struggle. However, some sharpening in footage can detract from nuanced detail, an area Samsung could refine in future updates.
Software and Usability
Running on Android 15 with One UI 7, the S25 Ultra’s camera app is intuitive, with quick access to modes like Night, Portrait, and Expert RAW. The “Virtual Aperture” setting in Expert RAW mode offers pro-level control over depth of field, while digital filters add creative flair. The removal of Bluetooth functionality from the S Pen, however, is a letdown, as it no longer serves as a remote shutter trigger—a handy feature for group shots or long exposures.
Natural language search in the gallery is a time-saver, letting you find photos with queries like “flower close-up” or “night cityscape.” While not perfect, it’s a glimpse into the future of AI-driven photo management.
Comparison to Competitors
Against the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the S25 Ultra offers more vibrant colors and better zoom capabilities, though Apple’s low-light shots may appear brighter. The Google Pixel 9 Pro excels in natural skin tones and portrait detail but lacks the S25 Ultra’s telephoto versatility. Chinese flagships like the Vivo X200 Pro and Honor Magic 7 Pro pose strong competition with their advanced telephoto and macro capabilities, but the S25 Ultra’s ecosystem and software polish give it an edge for many users.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s camera system is a powerhouse, delivering pro-level shots in nearly any condition. The 200MP main sensor and 50MP ultrawide lens are highlights, while the 5x telephoto and AI features add versatility. Minor drawbacks, like the underwhelming 3x lens and occasional over-sharpening, don’t detract from its overall excellence. For tech enthusiasts seeking a smartphone that doubles as a professional camera, the S25 Ultra is a top contender in 2025.
FAQs
Q: Is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s camera better than the S24 Ultra’s?
A: The S25 Ultra improves on the S24 Ultra with a 50MP ultrawide lens (up from 12MP) for sharper wide-angle and macro shots. Other cameras remain similar, but enhanced AI processing and software refinements boost overall performance.
Q: How does the S25 Ultra perform in low light compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max?
A: The S25 Ultra’s main camera produces sharper low-light shots with less noise, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max may yield brighter images. The S25 Ultra’s ultrawide and 5x telephoto also handle low light well, giving it a slight edge in versatility.
Q: Can the S25 Ultra replace a professional camera?
A: For most casual and enthusiast photographers, the S25 Ultra’s 200MP sensor, zoom capabilities, and AI tools can rival entry-level DSLRs, especially for social media or prints up to medium size. However, professional cameras still offer superior control and lens options for advanced users.
Q: What are the best settings for photography on the S25 Ultra?
A: Use Expert RAW mode for maximum control, especially for low-light or portrait shots. Adjust the Portrait mode blur to 3–4 for natural bokeh, and shoot at 50MP for the main or ultrawide cameras if storage isn’t a concern. Enable HDR for high-contrast scenes.
Q: Does the S25 Ultra’s S Pen help with photography?
A: The S Pen no longer has Bluetooth, so it can’t trigger the shutter remotely, a feature some photographers may miss. It’s still useful for precise editing or sketching on photos.