Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra faces off against its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, in a camera showdown.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, the latest addition to Samsung's flagship smartphone series, has been unveiled, and it's making waves in the world of mobile photography. In a fair comparison, both the S25 Ultra and its predecessor, the S24 Ultra, were tested under identical conditions to highlight the key differences in their camera performance.
At first glance, both devices share a similar triple-camera setup—50 MP main, 12 MP ultrawide, and 10 MP telephoto with 3x zoom. However, the S25 Ultra's ultrawide sensor has been upgraded for sharper landscape shots, providing a noticeable improvement over the S24 Ultra's 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2) lens.
The real game-changer, though, is the new AI ProVisual Engine on the S25 Ultra. This advanced piece of technology significantly enhances image processing, enabling better detail capture, improved low-light photography, and more realistic color tones compared to the S24 Ultra.
The AI ProVisual Engine applies advanced AI-driven algorithms that refine photos beyond what the hardware alone can achieve. It allows the S25 Ultra to produce sharper images, better macrophotography results, and improved zoom sharpness, especially when cropping images at full 50 MP resolution for higher digital zoom levels. Moreover, the engine provides sophisticated AI photo editing tools, such as resizing and moving subjects using generative AI, which enhances creative control.
This enhancement carries over to video capabilities, maintaining strong 8K video performance with improved processing.
Here's a side-by-side comparison of the key differences between the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and S24 Ultra:
| Aspect | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |--------------------------|------------------------------------|-----------------------------------| | Main Camera Hardware | 50 MP main, 12 MP ultrawide, 10 MP telephoto (3x zoom) | Same triple-camera setup but with upgraded 50 MP ultrawide camera | | AI & Image Processing | Standard processing | Enhanced by new AI ProVisual Engine for sharper, more detailed images, improved low-light performance, and realistic color | | Zoom | 10 MP telephoto with 3x zoom, digital zoom capabilities | Same zoom hardware but with improved image processing for sharper cropped photos at 10x zoom | | Photo Editing Tools | Basic Samsung AI editing | Advanced AI-assisted editing including generative AI features for subject manipulation |
The AI ProVisual Engine is the main driver for improved photo realism and detail on the S25 Ultra, moving away from the oversaturated look of the S24 Ultra toward more natural and nuanced images.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra retails for $1,299.99 / £1,249, the same price as the S24 Ultra, making it an attractive option for content creators seeking software and AI upgrades without a significant increase in cost.
For those interested in mastering smartphone photography, especially portraiture, we recommend checking out Rankin's 8 steps to Smartphone Photography Success.
As for future comparisons, the Honor Magic 7 Pro and the Nothing Phone 3a Pro are worth keeping an eye on as they continue to push the boundaries of mobile photography.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra was announced in 2025, following the innovative launch of the S24 series in 2024. Despite no major hardware advancements, improvements to the AI ProVisual Engine have undeniably impacted the image quality of the S25 Ultra, making it a top choice for content creators.
- The upgraded 50 MP ultrawide camera on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra offers sharper landscape shots compared to the S24 Ultra.
- The AI ProVisual Engine on the S25 Ultra significantly enhances image processing and provides better detail capture, improved low-light photography, and more realistic color tones.
- Advanced AI-driven algorithms in the AI ProVisual Engine allow the S25 Ultra to produce sharper images, better macrophotography results, and improved zoom sharpness.
- The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra retails for the same price as the S24 Ultra, making it an attractive option for content creators seeking software and AI upgrades.
- For those interested in mastering smartphone photography, especially portraiture, Rankin's 8 steps to Smartphone Photography Success is worth checking out.
- As for future comparisons, the Honor Magic 7 Pro and the Nothing Phone 3a Pro are worth keeping an eye on, as they continue to push the boundaries of mobile photography.
- The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra was announced in 2025 and, despite no major hardware advancements, improvements to the AI ProVisual Engine have undeniably impacted the image quality, making it a top choice for content creators.
