.jpeg)
We put the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra through our rigorous DXOMARK Camera test suite to measure its performance in photo, video, and zoom quality from an end-user perspective. This article breaks down how the device fared in a variety of tests and several common use cases and is intended to highlight the most important results of our testing with an extract of the captured data.
Overview
Key camera specifications:
Primary: 200MP 1/1.3″ sensor, 24mm equivalent f/1.7-aperture lens, multi-directional PDAF, OIS
Ultra-wide: 50MP sensor, 120˚ f/1.9-aperture lens, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Tele 1: 10MP 1/3.52″ sensor, 67mm equivalent f/2.4-aperture lens, PDAF, OIS
Tele 2: 50MP 1/2.52″ sensor, 111mm equivalent f/3.4-aperture lens, (periscope design), PDAF, OIS
Scoring
Pros
Good detail in zoom shots, especially at long range
Good exposure and wide dynamic range in bright light video
Good photo and video detail in most conditions
Natural skin tones in non-challenging scenes
Natural video color rendering with neutral white balance in bright light and indoors
DXOMARK
Ultra-Premium ?
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Camera test
March 1, 2025
Go to product review
146
camera
25th
Ranking Position
in Global Ranking
OTHER AVAILABLE TESTS FOR THIS DEVICE
displayDisplay
We put the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra through our rigorous DXOMARK Camera test suite to measure its performance in photo, video, and zoom quality from an end-user perspective. This article breaks down how the device fared in a variety of tests and several common use cases and is intended to highlight the most important results of our testing with an extract of the captured data.
Overview
Key camera specifications:
Primary: 200MP 1/1.3″ sensor, 24mm equivalent f/1.7-aperture lens, multi-directional PDAF, OIS
Ultra-wide: 50MP sensor, 120˚ f/1.9-aperture lens, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Tele 1: 10MP 1/3.52″ sensor, 67mm equivalent f/2.4-aperture lens, PDAF, OIS
Tele 2: 50MP 1/2.52″ sensor, 111mm equivalent f/3.4-aperture lens, (periscope design), PDAF, OIS
Scoring
Sub-scores and attributes included in the calculations of the global score.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
146
camera
144
Photo
Exposure
117
130
Color
125
130
Autofocus
103
125
Texture
121
125
Noise
84
117
Artifacts
77
82
70
Bokeh
Bokeh
70
85
81
Preview
Preview
81
93
149
Zoom
Tele
109
128
Wide
107
122
143
Video
Exposure
97
116
Color
111
120
Autofocus
101
120
Texture
114
118
Noise
114
120
Artifacts
84
86
Stabilization
116
119
Use cases & Conditions
Use case scores indicate the product performance in specific situations. They are not included in the overall score calculations.
BEST 180
Outdoor
Photos & videos shot in bright light conditions (≥1000 lux)
BEST 169
Indoor
Photos & videos shot in good lighting conditions (≥100lux)
BEST 138
Lowlight
Photos & videos shot in low lighting conditions (<100 lux)
BEST 154
Friends & Family
Portrait and group photo & videos
CAMERA
Position in Global Ranking
25th
CAMERA
Position in Ultra-Premium Ranking
22nd
Pros
Good detail in zoom shots, especially at long range
Good exposure and wide dynamic range in bright light video
Good photo and video detail in most conditions
Natural skin tones in non-challenging scenes
Natural video color rendering with neutral white balance in bright light and indoors
Cons
Some autofocus instabilities in video mode
Exposure adaptation issues in video
Noticeable noise in low-light videos
Noticeable noise, especially in high-contrast and low-light photos
Occasional white balance casts, especially in low light
Occasional activation failures in bokeh mode
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra delivered a solid performance in the DXOMARK Camera tests but was unable to secure a position among the very best in our ranking. An upgraded chipset (Snapdragon 8 Elite vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 2) and a higher pixel count on the ultra-wide camera (50MP vs 12MP) aside, the camera hardware specifications are very similar to the predecessor Galaxy S24 Ultra. The device was evaluated on multiple software updates (including the latest one before this publication), and in our tests, imaging performance improvements over the predecessor were only modest, despite slight improvements in software processing and some additional AI features.
While the S25 Ultra maintained its predecessor’s solid overall image quality, some issues were noticeable. In bright light, our testers observed some slight highlight clipping. While the camera produced vivid colors with natural skin tones in most tested scenes, we noticed occasional white balance shifts that resulted in slight color casts especially in low lights. Image noise was one of the S25 Ultra’s main areas for improvement, with grain particularly noticeable in high-contrast and low-light scenes. Our testers also observed some noise reduction instabilities across consecutive shots. In terms of detail, the S25 Ultra’s sharpness was slightly better than last year’s model in lowlight conditions.
In our zoom tests, the Samsung stood out at long-range tele settings, but also provided good image quality at close and medium range. The new ultrawide camera with its higher resolution sensor matched the image quality of the predecessor.
Like for stills, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra did not introduce any groundbreaking improvements in overall video performance. This said, video results remained strong. The camera was taking full advantage of its HDR capabilities to provide video footage with well-balanced highlights and shadows. In good light, video detail levels were high, with accurate exposure management and natural colors, making for an overall pleasant viewing experience. However, some struggles became apparent in dimmer conditions, with more intrusive noise, particularly in the shadows, and some quite pronounced color casts. Our testers also noticed objectionable autofocus and exposure adaptation instabilities. Video stabilization remained largely unchanged from the previous generation, providing a reliable experience. This said, it did not quite match the level of smoothness of the best-in-class iPhone 16 Pr
o Max.
