Tested Comparison of iPhone 17 Pro's Novel Zoom Camera against Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro XL - Outcomes Are Unexpected
In the latest smartphone battle, the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, along with their competitors, the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro models, have been making waves with their advanced camera capabilities. Let's delve into the zoom performance of these devices, a key factor in capturing high-quality images from a distance.
The new iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max feature a 48MP telephoto camera, a significant upgrade from the 12MP sensor on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. At 4x zoom, the iPhone 17 Pro captures more detail and definition compared to the Pixel 10 Pro XL. However, when it comes to 8x zoom, the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max have slightly less defined textures and contrast compared to their previous model, the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
On the other hand, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, equipped with a 50MP telephoto camera and two telephoto lenses—a 10MP one with 3x optical zoom and a 50MP one with 5x optical zoom—performs remarkably well. At 8x zoom, the S25 Ultra captures more pronounced textures of a wooden fence compared to the iPhone 17 Pro. The S25 Ultra also retains more detail at 40x zoom compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The Pixel 10 Pro models, too, have a 48MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, which seems to have an edge over the iPhone 17 Pro / 17 Pro Max. The Pixel 10 Pro XL uses Google's Pro Res Zoom feature to clear up and sharpen the image at 40x zoom.
Mark Spoonauer, a colleague, recognizes the superior zoom performance of the Galaxy S25 Ultra over the iPhone 17 Pro Max, particularly at 40x zoom. He notes that the West 41st sign is more legible and retains more detail with the Galaxy S25 Ultra at 40x zoom.
However, it's important to note that the effectiveness of digital zooming and sensor cropping is limited at 40x zoom on the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. At this zoom level, they use sensor cropping to achieve 8x zoom, resulting in a 12MP snapshot at that zoom level. In contrast, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, with its superior zoom performance, manages to retain more detail even at 40x zoom.
In conclusion, while the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max have made strides in their telephoto capabilities, the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro models offer competitive performance, particularly in the high-zoom range. Each device has its strengths, and the best choice depends on the user's specific needs and preferences.
