iPhone 17 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Camera Comparison

The iPhone 17 Pro and Galaxy S25 Ultra are some of the most powerful camera phones available on the market today. Both companies have a different approach to photography. Apple is banking on pro-level video features and color science, while Samsung is pushing the limits of raw megapixels and zoom capabilities.

But which of these phones has the superior camera experience? We can separate it by each lens and analyze the main sensor, telephoto zoom, ultrawide shots, and front cameras.

iPhone 17 Pro vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Camera Specifications

Firstly, let us take a look at their raw specs being compared:

Spec	iPhone 17 Pro	Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Main (Wide)	48 MP Fusion Main, ƒ/1.78, 24 mm equivalent, quad-pixel design, sensor-shift OIS	200 MP main sensor, ƒ/1.7, 24 mm equivalent, 1/1.3″ sensor, OIS & PDAF
Telephoto	48 MP Fusion Telephoto, ƒ/2.8, 100 mm focal length, 4× optical zoom, up to 8× “optical-quality” zoom	Dual telephoto: 50 MP periscope (5× optical), 10 MP 3× telephoto
Ultrawide	48 MP Fusion Ultra Wide, ƒ/2.2, 13 mm equivalent, 120° FoV, macro support	50 MP ultrawide, ƒ/1.9, 120° FoV, dual-pixel PDAF
Front Camera	18 MP Center Stage, auto-framing, wide FoV	12 MP front camera with strong video features
Zoom Range	Optical 4× + “optical-quality” 8×, digital up to 40×	Optical 3× + 5×, digital Super Res Zoom up to 100×
Video Tools	ProRes RAW, Dolby Vision HDR, Dual Capture, genlock support	8K recording, advanced stabilization, Galaxy AI enhancements

iPhone 17 Pro vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Main Camera

The iPhone 17 Pro is based on a 48MP Fusion Main sensor using quad-pixel technology. It interlaces pixels to enhance light sensitivity, which is useful during low-light scenes. Apple also maintains realism in colors, particularly in tricky lighting, where skin tones appear natural and noise is kept minimal.

Samsung takes a very different route with an enormous 200 MP sensor on the S25 Ultra. The high resolution enables incredible detail in daylight. It is possible to crop photos and still achieve sharp results. The catch is that Samsung occasionally uses additional sharpening and contrast, which may be excessive. The large sensor is beneficial in darker settings, but Apple’s stabilization and processing usually result in smoother and higher-quality images.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is unrivaled when capturing detailed shots in bright scenes. However, the iPhone 17 Pro is superior in overall balance, particularly in mixed or low-light conditions.

iPhone 17 Pro vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Which Telephoto Is Better?

These cameras are radically different when it comes to zoom features. Apple enhanced the iPhone 17 Pro with a 48 MP telephoto lens, which provides 4× optical zoom. It has a tetraprism design that allows it to achieve 8× optical-quality zoom, which is sharper than conventional digital zoom. It works well with portraits and long shots in good light.

Samsung goes the extra mile by adding two telephoto lenses: a 3× short telephoto and a 5× periscope telephoto. Its 5× lens is particularly remarkable, producing clear, natural zoomed images without relying on digital processing. Samsung also includes its popular 100× Super Res Zoom, though quality drops considerably at extreme levels.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra takes better pictures at mid-range zooms (3×–5×). However, with slightly more range, the 8× mode of the iPhone 17 Pro can perform remarkably well.

iPhone 17 Pro vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Ultrawide Camera Comparison

The iPhone 17 Pro features a 48MP ultrawide lens with a 120° field of view. It also doubles as a macro camera, allowing extreme close-ups with high detail. Apple’s advancements in low-light ultrawide performance enhance its usability indoors and at night.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 50 MP ultrawide with a slightly faster aperture and dual-pixel autofocus. It captures panoramic images with high edge-to-edge sharpness, and Samsung’s processing reduces distortion in the corners.

For broad scenery, Samsung is superior. For creative close-ups, the macro-capable ultrawide offers an advantage to Apple.

iPhone 17 Pro vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Front Camera Face-Off

Apple equipped the iPhone 17 Pro with an 18MP Center Stage front camera. The auto-framing automatically keeps you in focus during video calls. Selfies are crisp and balanced, and video calls appear smooth.

The S25 Ultra has a 12MP front camera that works well in daylight and provides smooth video recording. It lacks Center Stage framing and the higher resolution of the iPhone 17 Pro, but it benefits from Samsung’s powerful processing software for lively selfies.

If selfies and video calls are a major part of your usage, the iPhone 17 Pro’s front camera is more advanced.

iPhone 17 Pro or Galaxy S25 Ultra: Which Suits Your Needs?

This is a close competition. Both cameras have their strengths, catering to different user needs. The iPhone 17 Pro excels in low-light conditions, offers excellent video features, and provides pro-level zoom flexibility up to 8×. It is the superior option for creators, videographers, and those who appreciate balanced and natural photos.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra shines in daylight photography, ultrawide landscapes, and mid-range telephotography. Its 200 MP sensor delivers unrivaled detail, and its 5× telephoto is among the best in the industry. For close shots of distant objects or bold, dramatic images, the S25 Ultra is hard to beat.

Both phones are excellent for photography. It depends on whether you prefer Apple’s pro-oriented, color-true system or Samsung’s high-resolution, zoom-intensive system. If you are curious how the iPhone 17 Pro compares to the Pixel 10 Pro camera, check out this post.

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