Sure, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra's buzziest upgrades center around AI, but make no mistake — this is a flagship that aims to be the best camera phone around. There's just one problem: the iPhone 16 Pro Max currently sits at the top of our list. So can Samsung take down the champ?
The Galaxy S25 Ultra comes to this battle with a powerful new 50MP ultrawide camera, up from 12MP on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. This same lens also promises four times as much detail when taking macro shots. Like its predecessor, the S25 Ultra also packs a monster 200MP main lens, as well as dual telephoto lenses with a 50MP 5x shooter and a 10MP 3x camera. There's a 12MP selfie camera, too.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro Max features a 48MP main camera, a 48MP ultrawide and single 12MP 5x telephoto lens. There's a very capable 12MP camera up front. So which camera phone reigns supreme? I put them through an 11-round face-off and I have to say I'm very impressed by Samsung's new phone — especially in low light. Here's the results.
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max cameras: Ultrawide shots
For this first comparison, I brought the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max to a park in New Jersey, standing on a bridge overlooking a creek on a cold winter day. The iPhone's ultrawide shot looks better at first glance because it's brighter, but I prefer the Galaxy S25 Ultra's pic because you get more details in the water and snow.
If you look along the edge of the water, the Galaxy S25 Ultra's photo also offers better contrast; the iPhone 16 Pro Max blows out parts of the scene where the sun is brightest.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max cameras: Crystal macro
I had high hopes for this macro shot of a crystal decoration, and I made sure the S25 Ultra was in 50MP mode. However, while I was able to get in close on the subject, the crystal turned out a bit blurry. The iPhone 16 Pro Max does a much better job with this subject, as you make out more of the individual crystals. It's simply a sharper overall shot and it's not even close.
Winner: iPhone 16 Pro Max
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max cameras: Flower macro
This macro photo of an individual flower was a challenge because there was a bit of a breeze at the time, so I took several shots and then picked the best one for this comparison.
I actually think both photos have their own merits in this comparison. With the Galaxy S25 Ultra, I really like how sharp the petals look in the upper left part of the frame. The iPhone 16 Pro Max doesn't quite achieve the same level of detail in any single part of the image, but the overall pic looks clearer, especially the center of the flower.
Winner: iPhone 16 Pro Max
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max cameras: Mural
Next up is a shot of a mural in San Jose, which has lots of vivid colors. Picking a winner in this round isn't easy. I really like the brighter exposure from the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Apple's tendency to produce warmer shots works well in this scenario, especially with the sun bouncing off the wall.
However, I give the Galaxy S25 Ultra credit because there's more gradation in the colors and there's a deeper blue closer to what I saw in real life. It wins on detail, but the overall image is a bit too dim.
Winner: iPhone 16 Pro Max
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max cameras: Sculpture
I next turned the main cameras on the San Jose Museum of Art and the Mercury sculpture in front of it. The Galaxy S25 Ultra's shot make a better impression overall. My eyes are immediately drawn to the relief in the bricks and the dancing sunlight throughout the image. The iPhone 16 Pro Max's shot looks flatter. The sculpture in the foreground pops more, but not enough to win.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max cameras: Low light indoors
When it comes to low light images, brighter isn't always better, and this is a great example. The figure sitting on the table is clearer through the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and it's noisier through the iPhone 16 Pro Max when you zoom in. Samsung also gives a bit more detail in the leaves in the plant on the left side. The iPhone's shot is still remarkable given that this was taken in complete darkness, but I give the nod to Samsung here.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max cameras: Low light outdoors (5x zoom)
Look fast and you'll probably pick the iPhone 16 Pro Max as the winner of this low-light round. The street, cars and streets signs all look brighter through the iPhone. But there's a better subtlety to the Galaxy S25 Ultra that better fits the scene.
I prefer the Samsung's photo because the multi-colored string lights look sharper and more realistic, and you can make out more detail at the top of the lamp posts. It's moodier in a good way.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max cameras: Low light sign outdoors
This round is an easy call for me. I think the iPhone 16 Pro Max provides a better overall exposure, capturing both the San Jose Museum of Art sign and the building in the background. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra loses the building, though some of the letters look sharper and pop more as a result. But overall, I prefer the iPhone's pic here.
Winner: iPhone 16 Pro Max
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max cameras: Portrait
I polled four people on staff about this portrait and all four voted for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. While both phones do a good job of blurring the colorful wall in the background, my blue shirt with white dots pops more, and the warmer complexion in my face looks better through the Samsung. This is the image I'd be more likely to share.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max cameras: Selfie
I had to look at these images side by side a lot before deciding, but I prefer the Galaxy S25 Ultra selfie in this case. Samsung's phone does a better job of picking up the sunlight in the background. My eyes also look brighter through the Samsung's front camera, and my blue shirt looks more vivid, too. There's nothing wrong with the iPhone 16 Pro Max's selfie; it just feels more one-dimensional.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max cameras: Zoom clock
The winner of this 10x zoom round really depends on what you value most. I think the overall iPhone 16 Pro Max photo pops more because the building and blue sky are brighter. But if you zero in — especially around the clock itself — you can make out more detail in the glass, metal and bricks.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max cameras: Overall winner
I have to admit I'm surprised with the results of this camera face-off. The iPhone is a great camera phone, and it handily beat Samsung in our iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra 200-photo camera shoot-out.
But based on our early testing the Galaxy S25 Ultra has all the makings of becoming the best camera phone. It won several more rounds in this face-off, although the iPhone 16 Pro Max did take better macro shots and the dynamic range is superb.
Any face-off like this is quite subjective, so what you consider to be the better photo in each case can vary based on your preferences. But overall, I'm very impressed with the Galaxy S25 Ultra's cameras and I think you will be too.
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