Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra camera shootout vs iPhone and Pixel

The arrival of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely presents cellular images lovers with yet one more dilemma when choosing out the most effective smartphone digicam. Along with the already spectacular spec sheet, we’ve seen some minor enhancements with the brand new 200MP and modifications to how the cellphone handles zoom processing in comparison with its predecessor, however is that sufficient to surpass the competitors?

To assist determine, we’ve grabbed the mighty Apple iPhone 14 Professional Max and Google Pixel 7 Professional — your two high picks from late 2022 — to match in opposition to Samsung’s best. Let’s see what all of them have to supply.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely digicam specs vs the competitors

Earlier than diving into the images, let’s recap what these telephones carry to the digicam {hardware} desk. Samsung affords probably the most numerous array of {hardware}, sporting predominant, ultrawide, 3x, and 10x optical zoom capabilities. Apple and Google keep on with a extra classical triple-camera association which, at the least on paper, appears a bit much less versatile.

Nonetheless, there are some similarities between these three images powerhouses. Apple, Google, and Samsung have all embraced giant, high-resolution, pixel-binning sensors for his or her predominant cameras. Nonetheless, Samsung takes this to the intense with its 16:1 200MP sensor. Likewise, you’ll discover lower-resolution ultrawide and selfie snappers throughout the board. The desk under affords a better take a look at the specifics.

{Hardware} is simply a part of the image, although; all three handsets sport a collection of algorithmic and software program capabilities to take images up a degree. Google continues to tout its spectacular NightSight, Astrophotography, and Tremendous Res Zoom know-how. Samsung is bettering its personal Nightography function, whereas Apple has doubled down on its Deep Fusion capabilities.

Colours and HDR

Shade processing is, arguably, probably the most noticeable differentiator between smartphone cameras and the one that may immediately draw or repel customers to and from a specific model’s digicam setup. It’s additionally probably the most subjective ingredient of images, so let’s proceed cautiously.

Immediately, we observe substantial shade pop with Samsung’s flagship, whereas the iPhone and Pixel are extra reserved and pure. The fruit actually jumps out of the scene under, however the excitable shade pallet extends to the desk as effectively. If you happen to’re after a fast social share, this would possibly swimsuit you higher, however the iPhone and Pixel are extra practical within the photographs under.

The Galaxy S23 Extremely creeps again nearer to these dreaded days of full oversaturation. Fortunately, sky colours aren’t blown out of proportion, for instance, and the saturation isn’t dialed up in each image. The iPhone and Pixel have their very own points within the second shot above, this time with white steadiness. The iPhone is cooler however barely yellow, whereas the Pixel is overly heat. Each are widespread themes you’ll spot all through the snaps on this Galaxy S23 digicam shootout.

Turning to some trickier HDR snaps, the Galaxy and Pixel are the extra highly effective of the trio, with the S23 Extremely nudging forward within the trickiest environments. The iPhone 14 Professional Max presents us with a few underexposed topics that nobody ought to be proud of. This has been a continuing subject with previous iPhone fashions, which sadly hasn’t been addressed with the adoption of pixel-binning {hardware}.

There are telltale variations between the Pixel 7 Professional and Galaxy S23 Extremely. Google’s HDR algorithm is barely extra aggressive and scene-focused, virtually to the purpose of pushing shadow publicity proper up into the mid-tones. This appears just a little flat to my eye. Samsung does a greater job prioritizing the topic publicity, significantly within the second shot, even when it includes some spotlight clipping. That 16:1 binning 200MP digicam makes a good bit of distinction.

Even with only a handful of snaps underneath our belt, we are able to see a couple of execs and cons for every handset shaping up. The Pixel has the most effective colours however a barely heat white steadiness. Apple goals for realism on the expense of HDR. Samsung is usually overly punchy however in any other case handles publicity the most effective.

A more in-depth take a look at advantageous particulars

Regardless of resolutions spanning 48MP to 200MP, these three telephones all output 12MP snaps by default. Let’s take a better take a look at this default taking pictures mode to see if these distinctive sensors make any distinction for advantageous element seize. The snaps under are all 100% crops.

Sadly for the Galaxy S23 Extremely, there’s an excruciating degree of over-sharpening utilized in a lot of snaps. Whereas this does give the photographs extra pop, shut inspection reveals overly exhausting strains and jagged, aliased showing edges. Not what you count on from a clear, Hello-Res picture.

The iPhone 14 Professional is equally problematic, with ugly sharpening halos discovered round object edges in a bid to make up for barely extra smudged advantageous particulars than its rivals. Apple’s finest simply isn’t fairly as detailed as its rivals. Google’s Pixel 7 Professional is healthier throughout. Whereas there’s a transparent sharpening cross additionally, it avoids the worst of the artifacts whereas offering appropriate, if not higher, ranges of element in brilliant mild.

Turning down the lights extends Google’s lead. Not solely does the Pixel 7 Professional current the bottom degree of noise, however you possibly can pick barely completely different colours within the lights too. It’s a minuscule element however harkens again to the cellphone’s extra highly effective HDR capabilities. At full-frame, the picture maybe appears just a little flat, although.

The Galaxy S23 Extremely is noisy, grainy, and oversharp, however it captures probably the most texture element on the leftmost constructing. At full body, the added publicity and strong white steadiness would possibly look finest general, however it’s not nice by way of element. Apple’s iPhone is underexposed in comparison with the opposite two and nonetheless has sharpening artifacts, however you possibly can see some texture element hidden within the darkened areas.

After all, turning to the Galaxy S23 Extremely’s 200MP mode will produce extra element than its rivals in very brightly lit environments. However you do sacrifice HDR and low noise capabilities, and the sensor doesn’t appear to make sufficient of a constructive distinction at 12MP.

Ultrawide

There are some things to bear in mind when assessing the standard of a terrific ultrawide digicam. For starters, a large area of view with minimal distortion is a should, however we’re additionally wanting to see equal dynamic vary and colours when in comparison with the first digicam.

Beginning with the Galaxy S23 Extremely, the ultrawide gives an honest step again from the already very large predominant sensor. I don’t suppose you really want two large views like this, however that’s my desire. Maybe probably the most noticeable constructive right here is that the 2 lenses have virtually excellent shade matching, even whether it is relatively punchy on each.

Samsung’s ultrawide boasts strong dynamic vary, capturing an analogous degree of shadow and spotlight element as the principle lens. Nearer inspection reveals some noise and smudging points within the shadows, oversharpening, and a small quantity of chromatic aberration within the right-most bushes. Not excellent, then, however a fairly strong and constant effort.

Turning to the iPhone 14 Professional, there’s an equal field-of-view, however the ultrawide seems to take an additional step again, owing to the principle lens’ barely slender area of view. It’s a equally darkish and gloomy image on each lenses, owing to the cellphone’s extra muted colours and weaker dynamic vary. Slight variations are to be anticipated, however the iPhone de-emphasizes the cool blue tones just a little an excessive amount of between lenses.

Nonetheless, there’s little or no signal of chromatic aberration and an inexpensive degree of element, even within the shadows. Once more although, there’s a variety of picture cleanup and sharpening right here when trying carefully. Nonetheless, if it wasn’t for the all-around muted presentation right here, this appears like a fairly succesful ultrawide shooter.

Google’s Pixel 7 Professional is a much bigger offender relating to shade grading inconsistency. The cooler white steadiness of the 1x shot offers method to hotter, extra impartial hues on the ultrawide. The distant constructing, for instance, is a totally completely different shade when switching lenses. Nonetheless, it’s most likely the principle sensor that received the white steadiness fallacious right here.

Worse, there’s a transparent lack of element when cropping in. Shadows are very noisy, resulting in mushy textures and a common lack of sharpness. To the Pixel’s credit score, there isn’t any signal of chromatic aberration on the right-most tree.

The ultrawide comparability under reinforces these common themes. You’ll obtain a way more muted look from the iPhone 14 Professional Max. Its ultrawide is the cleanest by way of element, however oversharpening makes it removed from faultless, even in broad daylight.

The Galaxy S23 Extremely and Pixel 7 Professional ultrawide snaps are comparatively messy, significantly on the body edges but in addition within the middle of the shot. Samsung affords by far probably the most shade pop (it’s overkill right here), with the Pixel sitting between the Galaxy and iPhone. I can’t say I actually love any of those ultrawide cameras, however, as I’ve to choose, I’d take the iPhone to repair up in submit.

Zooming in

With three completely different lens setups on supply, we’ve examined how every stacks up at 3x, 5x, and 10x zoom ranges.

Google’s lens-merging Tremendous Res Zoom continues to supply fascinating outcomes at 3x. The element within the middle of the body is extremely sharp, and each bit nearly as good as you’ll discover from the devoted 3x optics on the iPhone and Galaxy. That mentioned, there’s a noticeable degradation in picture high quality within the outer third of the body, because the cellphone is counting on information to work with. The colour steadiness can be barely off, presumably as a result of white steadiness information carried between a number of lenses. The result’s good however not as persistently crisp because the devoted lenses on the opposite two telephones.

Samsung’s 3x result’s just a little noisier than we would count on from a daylight shot, and does scale back the extent of element on supply. Typically, the white steadiness, shade copy, publicity, and dynamic vary are very strong right here. The identical can’t be mentioned for the iPhone, which has washed out the brightly lit scene, maybe owing to the almost-direct daylight. It’s a disgrace as a result of the main points are in any other case strong.

Sadly for the iPhone, the state of affairs doesn’t enhance at 5x, at the least not by way of distinction and white steadiness. The small print maintain up surprisingly effectively, although, given it’s counting on 3x optical {hardware}. Apple’s software program zoom implementation is changing into more and more proficient. We are able to virtually invert our evaluation for the Galaxy S23 Extremely. Particulars flip mushy at 5x, because it’s caught out between its 3x and 10x zoom {hardware}, and there’s an overreliance on sharpening so as to add pop to the image. That mentioned, the cellphone continues handy in good outcomes when colours, publicity, and white steadiness.

Google’s Pixel 7 Professional is the winner at 5x in relation to element, owing to its devoted 5x digicam. Nonetheless, the iPhone isn’t far behind; Apple’s Deep Fusion algorithm continues to enhance at a tempo. The general picture is just a little heavy on the distinction, making it look a tad under-exposed in comparison with its rival. It’s nonetheless a great picture, although, even when this specific instance doesn’t fairly seize the scene’s brightness appropriately.

The Pixel 7 Professional appears just about nearly as good at 10x because it crops information instantly from the 48MP sensor for a “lossless” 10X zoom. The smaller pixels do end in extra noise and a lack of element, although (see the faces, for instance), so it’s not fairly equal to a extremely good 10x zoom. The cellphone has performed a greater job at shade seize and publicity this time round, producing a really pleasing picture general. The iPhone continues to battle with the glare of the solar on this occasion, which once more is disappointing as a result of the extent of element seems to be surprisingly satisfactory as soon as once more. But it surely’s definitely not fairly as much as the extent of its rivals.

Samsung’s 10x {hardware} comes out forward of its rivals, as we’d count on, offering a superior degree of element together with strong colours and publicity. It’s solely marginally sharper than the competitors, although, exhibiting that the most recent software-based zoom strategies are closing the hole on optical {hardware}.

Earlier than drawing any conclusions, let’s double-check our evaluation with extra snaps.

Once more, the iPhone appears to battle probably the most in acquiring the proper publicity, over-brightening the 3x shot and under-exposing the topic in our 10x comparability. Shade saturation and accuracy endure in consequence, which is disappointing as a result of even the 10x shot can be in any other case nearly satisfactory, regardless of solely that includes a 3x telephoto digicam. Google’s 3x outcome continues to be combined, once more exhibiting a muted publicity, iffy shade steadiness, and ranging sharpness throughout the picture. Its 10x result’s extra spectacular, with wonderful publicity and colours, and solely a smidgen much less element than the Extremely’s devoted 10x digicam. Samsung’s 10x shot is the decide of the pack, however it’s not flawless; the heavy sharpening cross and noise cleanup drop a couple of marks. Samsung’s 3x snap exacerbates the issue. It’s probably the most vivid however lacks the element we’d count on from a 3x lens. Its rivals are arguably higher in that regard.

Evening modes

What’s immediately clear from the snaps under is that the Galaxy S23 Extremely is the extra succesful performer in low mild with out assistance from night time mode. The massive, trendy picture sensor clearly pays dividends when the lights go down. Publicity, colours, and dynamic vary are all respectable, whereas night time mode largely improves the noise degree and element. If something, the dynamic vary is flattened when turning night time mode on.

The Pixel 7 Professional and significantly the iPhone 14 Professional Max battle extra for publicity and shade steadiness when taking pictures with the default mode. Google’s night time mode produces a outcome corresponding to Samsung’s, albeit with refined variations in sharpness and element. Apple remains to be a step behind the competitors. Though its night time shot is a transparent enchancment, it lacks the colour seize and advantageous element of its rivals.

However what concerning the ultrawide and telephoto capabilities in low mild? A strong digicam array ought to carry out equally effectively throughout all lenses relating to shade seize, dynamic vary, and publicity. All of the photographs under are captured with out assistance from night time mode.

Samsung’s Nightography extends its strong capabilities throughout lenses. There’s some noise in all three snaps, significantly the ultrawide, however it’s an appropriate degree right here. The S23 Extremely affords fairly constant colours, publicity, and dynamic vary throughout all three lenses, although the lighting appears just a little completely different on the ultrawide lens.

The iPhone 14 Professional Max is equally, if not much more, constant. Colours are a match, whichever lens you decide. There’s rather less noise than the S23 Extremely, aside from the ultrawide, which isn’t significantly clear. Nonetheless, all of the lenses maintain up higher in dim lighting than in very darkish circumstances.

Lastly, the Pixel 7 Professional is much less constant than the opposite two. With out assistance from night time mode, its photographs are just a little extra washed out, and we are able to additionally spot that the inexperienced Tetris block isn’t fairly proper both. It appears bluer on the principle digicam than the ultrawide. Once more, Google’s ultrawide digicam is noisier than the rivals and doesn’t look nice on shut inspection. Impressively, Tremendous Res Zoom at 3x holds up effectively, with minimal noise and respectable ranges of element. It’s only a tad underexposed.

All three are succesful low-light shooters, then, however there’s a well-known assortment of execs and cons. The iPhone struggles probably the most in very darkish circumstances with extra restricted night time mode capabilities, however handles dim mild effectively throughout all three lenses. The Pixel 7 Professional’s predominant digicam and night time modes are strong, however the ultrawide and shade accuracy are its weak hyperlinks. The Galaxy S23 Extremely is probably the most constant throughout circumstances and lenses however could be noisy.

Portraits and selfies

Let’s flip to some portraits and selfies to spherical out our Galaxy S23 Extremely digicam shootout.

As earlier than, the Galaxy S23 Extremely affords way more punch in its photos, however this excessive distinction look isn’t probably the most pleasing for facial options, whereas the colour oversaturation pushes pores and skin tones to barely unrealistic ranges. The iPhone leans the opposite method, with a cooler pallet and decrease distinction that appears softer however isn’t strictly correct both. The Pixel lands the most effective steadiness by way of tone however has the roughest trying pores and skin textures and harshes edges to its bokeh blur.

Utilizing portrait mode to seize objects produced extra combined outcomes. The S23 Extremely affords dependable edge detection and bokeh however fully underexposed the topic, in contrast to the iPhone, which is the most effective of the trio. The Pixel struggled with background detection right here, blurring some bushes greater than others. The image is in any other case advantageous, however the bokeh is a large number.

It’s an analogous affair with selfies, each indoors and outdoor. Samsung’s excessive distinction look provides an excessive amount of pop within the brilliant outside shot, however pores and skin textures and bokeh are good in each. Apple’s selfies supply usually extra practical pores and skin textures and are satisfactory, if not barely muted by way of publicity and shade. However there are points with edge detection and noise in decrease mild.

Selfies from the Pixel 7 Professional look finest outdoor; the indoor shot has an excessively heat white steadiness. You’ll be able to spot it within the outside shot too, however it’s extra pronounced in restricted lighting, which is a little bit of a theme all through this shootout. This subject apart, pores and skin tones look about proper, and the outside publicity is the most effective of the three, however the selfie snapper lacks finer particulars.

Google’s Pixel 7 Professional has constructed a fame on constant images, however this shootout has proven that Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Extremely ought to most likely pinch that title. Whether or not you’re taking pictures in HDR, low mild, throughout zoom ranges, or snapping selfies, the Galaxy S23 Extremely takes probably the most constant photographs on this shootout.

The issue is that the S23 Extremely fingers in constant points too. A return to oversharp, oversaturated photographs takes the shine off what would most likely in any other case be the most effective smartphone digicam package deal cash can purchase. The 3x digicam and 5x snaps are additionally beginning to present their age in opposition to the competitors’s extra modern approaches to zoom.

Apple and Google scored a couple of wins, although. The iPhone 14 Professional Max does surprisingly effectively within the zoom and selfie assessments, however its greatest weak spot continues to be sturdy HDR lighting and nighttime images. The Pixel 7 Professional is definitely superior in these regards and goes toe to toe with Samsung’s quad-camera array, due to spectacular night time and zoom software program smarts. Sadly, white steadiness points throughout lenses and tough portrait particulars let the cellphone down.

Nonetheless, I’d suggest the Google Pixel 7 Professional as the most effective bang-for-buck images expertise. It prices $300-$400 much less however takes snaps which are just about nearly as good and typically even higher than these ultra-pricey rivals. If cash isn’t any object, the Galaxy S23 Extremely is worth it for its best-in-class long-range zoom and night time capabilities, as long as you possibly can stay with Samsung’s hit-and-miss shade pallet or plan to shoot in RAW.