The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra features a versatile quad-camera system with the following focal lengths (in 35mm equivalent) and optical zoom capabilities:
Primary Camera:
200MP wide-angle lens with a 24mm focal length (ƒ/1.7 aperture). This serves as the main sensor for general photography and supports pixel binning for improved low-light performance 1811.
Ultra-Wide Camera:
50MP ultra-wide lens with a 120˚ field of view, equivalent to ~12mm focal length (ƒ/1.9 aperture). This is a significant upgrade from the S24 Ultra's 12MP ultra-wide sensor, enhancing macro and wide-angle shots 1612.
Telephoto Cameras:
10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom (67mm focal length, ƒ/2.4 aperture). 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom (111mm focal length, ƒ/3.4 aperture). The periscope design allows for sharper long-range shots, and Samsung's AI-enhanced processing improves digital zoom up to 30x 1811.
Key Upgrades Over Previous Models:
The ultra-wide camera now uses a 50MP sensor (up from 12MP in the S24 Ultra), improving detail and low-light performance 612. The telephoto system retains the dual-zoom setup (3x and 5x) but benefits from updated AI processing for sharper results in both optical and hybrid zoom modes 1112. For additional details on camera performance, including sample comparisons and video capabilities, refer to the full reviews in the provided sources.
How far can the S25 Ultra zoom:
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a versatile zoom system with both optical and AI-enhanced digital capabilities. Here's a detailed breakdown of its zoom range and performance:
1. Optical Zoom Capabilities
3x Optical Zoom: Enabled by a dedicated 10MP telephoto lens (67mm equivalent), this is ideal for mid-range subjects like portraits or close-ups 17. 5x Optical Zoom: Powered by a 50MP periscope telephoto lens (111mm equivalent), this lens excels at capturing distant details with minimal loss in quality, such as landscapes or architecture 137.
2. Hybrid and Digital Zoom
10x Hybrid Zoom: Combines the 5x optical lens with digital cropping and AI processing. While usable, results may appear slightly processed due to upscaling 89. 100x Space Zoom: A digital zoom feature leveraging AI to enhance details at extreme distances. Though Samsung markets this for long-range shots (e.g., capturing the moon), the quality degrades significantly, with images appearing soft or artificial at full magnification 129.
3. Comparison with Competitors
The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 5x optical zoom matches rivals like the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Pixel 9 Pro. However, its 100x digital zoom outperforms Apple’s 25x limit but falls short of the OnePlus 13’s AI-enhanced 120x zoom in detail retention 29. Testing revealed that while the S25 Ultra retains more detail than the iPhone 16 Pro Max at 10x, competitors like the OnePlus 13 use smarter AI to fill in gaps at ultra-high zoom levels 29.
4. Real-World Performance
Daylight: The 3x and 5x lenses deliver sharp, vibrant images with excellent dynamic range. The 10x hybrid zoom is serviceable for social media but lacks pixel-level crispness 89. Low Light: Zoom performance diminishes in darker conditions, with noise and grain becoming noticeable, especially at 10x and beyond. Night mode helps but introduces artificial sharpening 8.
5. Video Zoom
The S25 Ultra supports smooth transitions between lenses during video recording, maintaining stability up to 5x optical zoom. At higher digital zooms, stabilization struggles, and details soften
