In the world of mobile photography, two of the most formidable contenders are the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Both smartphones have garnered impressive reviews, but which one truly excels in taking stunning photos? This article will delve into a detailed comparison of their camera capabilities to help you decide the best option for your photography needs.
Both the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra are powered by the advanced Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. Samsung has tailored its chip specifically for the Galaxy series, while Xiaomi has collaborated with camera experts from Leica to enhance the hardware and software, making the 15 Ultra an appealing choice for photography enthusiasts.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra boasts a remarkable 200-megapixel main camera, complemented by a 50MP wide-angle lens, a 50MP 5x optical periscope zoom, and a 10MP 3x optical zoom camera. In comparison, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra features an equally impressive 200MP main camera, but with a 4.3x optical zoom capability, alongside a 50MP wide-angle and a 50MP 3x zoom camera. For our comparison, we focused on the 5x optical zoom of the S25 Ultra and the 4.3x optical zoom of the Xiaomi, as the differences in zoom levels are minimal.
The main camera's performance is critical in determining the overall photography experience. In our tests, the first image of a tree in a field showcased some clear differences. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra produced a warmer tone, thanks to the Leica Vibrant setting, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra had a cooler tone, resulting in muted colors. My personal preference leaned towards the Xiaomi's photo due to its richer colors.
When examining depth of field, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra excelled in close-up shots, although it sometimes struggled with focus accuracy. Notably, the HDR performance of the Xiaomi outshined that of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, providing more detail and less pixelation in challenging lighting conditions. This resulted in a significant win for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.
Judging the wide-angle camera performance proved to be more complex. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra's photo of a church demonstrated superior detail, whereas the S25 Ultra displayed the same hazy blur seen in its main camera shots. However, the Galaxy S25 Ultra excelled in color and exposure, particularly in capturing vibrant skies, which is essential for landscape photography.
In lower light environments, such as indoors, the S25 Ultra managed to outperform the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, capturing more detail with improved exposure. Consequently, we deemed this category a draw, as both smartphones have their strengths.
Next, we examined the zoom capabilities, starting with 3x photos. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra showed impressive sharpness and detail, besting the S25 Ultra, which suffered from its characteristic haze. As we transitioned to 5x and 10x zoom, the S25 Ultra displayed more natural colors and better exposure, but also faced issues with stability and blurriness.
Ultimately, while the Xiaomi 15 Ultra triumphed in 3x zoom shots, the S25 Ultra took the lead at 5x. However, at 10x, both cameras had significant drawbacks, leaving our verdict in this category to be a tie. Interestingly, when factoring in 30x and 100x zoom capabilities, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra emerged as the overall winner.
In low-light conditions, we tested both smartphones' night mode capabilities. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra excelled in producing sharp, accurately colored images even in near-darkness. Its performance in capturing the night sky was commendable, revealing less banding and blur than the S25 Ultra. While the S25 Ultra had a slight edge in white balance, the overall image quality of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra led to a decisive victory.
In conclusion, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra outperformed the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in multiple categories, solidifying its position as the better choice for mobile photography enthusiasts. The only exception was in the wide-angle camera category, which resulted in a draw. The comprehensive comparison highlighted notable differences between the two smartphones, with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra consistently delivering superior images. After spending additional time with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra's camera during my review in Barcelona, its impressive tone and versatility became increasingly evident.
