The iPhone 17 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra both promise pro-level photos straight from your pocket. Marcus L. Bennett spent days walking Edinburgh’s streets to see which flagship actually delivers.
At a Glance
- iPhone 17 Pro favors natural, film-like tones
- Galaxy S25 Ultra pumps saturation for instant pop
- Zoom, night, and selfie results flip-flop by scene
- Why it matters: Pick your style-Samsung’s punch or Apple’s subtlety-because neither phone sweeps every test
Main-camera face-off
Across daylight scenes, detail and exposure stay neck-and-neck. Samsung’s colors skew richer-bread-and-cheese shots look market-ready-while Apple keeps contrast deeper and blacks inkier. In autumn light, both capture crisp leaf veins; Apple’s true optical bokeh edges ahead, yet Samsung’s warmer tones still entice.
When saturation spikes, the gap widens. A blue boat hull turns electric in Samsung’s frame, pushing the scene toward artificial. Apple’s muted palette stays closer to film, a plus for editors who tweak later.
Ultrawide differences
Ultrawide repeats the story: Samsung cranks vibrancy, Apple reins it in. In one museum interior, Samsung’s highlight-suppressed floor looks gloomy next to Apple’s punchy reflection. Elsewhere, the tones nearly match, proving results hinge on subject matter more than brand badge.
Zoom range shootout
Zoom specs
| Phone | Max optical zoom | Sensor trick |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17 Pro | 8× | 48-MP crop |
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | 10× | native periscope |
At 8× and 10×, golden foliage looks sharp on both. Step down to 4×/5× and Apple’s image glows brighter; Samsung’s can dip into magenta dullness. Yet at 10× on a different tree, Samsung’s warmer leaves beat Apple’s cooler cast. The winner flips by scene, so pixel-peepers must choose shot-by-shot.
Night mode nuances
Night shots split the crown. Apple brightens skies and streets, trimming noise. Samsung keeps building details crisper, though a slight cyan cast sneaks in. Ultrawide night shots stay darker on both-tech still maturing. At 8×/10× zoom, Samsung again leads on clarity while Apple leads on color punch.
Selfie showdown
Selfies aren’t close. Apple’s front camera delivers warmer skin, stronger contrast, and wider group-friendly view. Samsung’s effort looks drab side-by-side, even in wide-angle mode.
The verdict
After hundreds of frames, Marcus L. Bennett calls it a draw. Samsung hands eye-catching saturation for social-ready shares. Apple offers subtler files ready for Lightroom tweaks. Zoom and night performance swing by scenario, and only the selfie round lands decisively for Apple.
Pick the phone whose style matches your eye, because spec sheets won’t decide this one for you.
