Three of the very best profile smartphones proper now additionally occur to pack three of essentially the most succesful digicam techniques round.
The iPhone 17 Professional and Professional Max debut key on a regular basis upgrades like a higher-resolution telephoto snapper and a versatile new Heart Stage selfie digicam, in addition to professional-grade video skills, like GenLock.
Notice: Until in any other case specified, comparability photographs in galleries are introduced within the following order: iPhone, Pixel, Galaxy.
Specs comparability
Here is how the three telephones in query examine from a specs perspective:
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
iPhone 17 Professional |
Pixel 10 Professional |
Galaxy S25 Extremely |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Worth (at launch): |
Professional: $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,999; Professional Max: $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149 |
Professional: $999 / £999 / AU$1,699; Professional XL: $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$1,999 |
$1,299 / £1,249 / AU$2,199 |
|
Chipset: |
Apple A19 Professional |
Google Tensor G5 |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
|
Major digicam: |
48MP, 1.22μm pixels, ƒ/1.8, 1/1.28-inch, sensor‑shift OIS |
50MP, 1.2μm pixels, ƒ/1.68, 82° FoV, 1/1.31-inch sensor, OIS |
200MP, f/1.7, 24mm, 1/1.3-inch, 0.6µm pixels, OIS |
|
Extremely-wide digicam: |
48MP, ƒ/2.2, 120° FoV, 1/2.55-inch sensor |
48MP, ƒ/1.7, 123° FoV, 1/2.55-inch sensor |
50MP, f/1.9, 120˚ FoV, 1/2.55-inch sensor |
|
Telephoto digicam: |
48MP, 100mm, ƒ/2.8, 1/2.55-inch sensor, 3D sensor‑shift OIS, auto-focus, 4x tetraprism optical zoom |
48MP, ƒ/2.8, 22° FoV, 1/2.55-inch sensor, 5x periscope optical zoom, Tremendous Res Zoom as much as 30x, OIS |
10MP, ƒ/2.4, 67mm, 1/3.52-inch, 1.12µm pixels, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom |
|
Secondary telephoto digicam: |
N/A |
N/A |
50MP, ƒ/3.4, 111mm, 1/2.52-inch, 0.7µm pixels, PDAF, OIS, 5x periscope optical zoom |
|
Entrance digicam: |
18MP, ƒ/1.9, 1:1 sq. sensor, PDAF + TrueDepth system |
42MP, ƒ/2.2, 103° FoV, 1/2.51-inch sensor, twin pixel PDAF |
12MP ƒ/2.2, 1/3.2-inch, 1.12µm pixels, 26mm, twin pixel PDAF |
|
Key imaging know-how: |
Digicam Management, Good HDR 5, LiDAR scanner, Apple ProRAW, Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR recording at as much as 4K 120fps, Apple LOG 2 video recording, Academy Colour Encoding System, Cinematic video recording, latest-gen Photographic Kinds |
Professional controls, 10-bit HDR video, Cinematic Blue & Pan, Magic Editor, Greatest Take, Add Me, Picture & Group Unblur, Digicam Coach, Movement Mode, Actual Tone, Night time Sight, Astrophotography, High Shot, Stay HDR+, Video Increase |
ProVisual Engine, Reflection removing, Generative fill, Astrophotography, Professional Mode, Professional VideoMode, Twin Recording, Nightography, Instantaneous Sluggish-mo, Picture Help, Tremendous HDR, Tremendous Regular video |
Major sensor
Let’s begin with the principle sensor. We’re assessing these photographs as if we might simply fired up the digicam app, framed up our scene and tapped the shutter; no tweaked settings or filters, with focus and publicity as determined by every telephone.
God Rays
Picture 1 of 3
As with final yr’s three-way digicam comparability, the iPhone produced the darkest picture on this extremely dynamic scene. It arguably proved essentially the most genuine within the shadows, but in addition would not handle to render the orange sunbeams breaking by way of the clouds absolutely.
The Pixel gives the most effective total composition, with the broadest dynamic vary and people all necessary highlights within the mild beams and surrounding cloud cowl, as with its predecessor, its coloration science seems offset from its rivals, with the yellow mild showing much more orange (and thus much less true-to-life). Beneath scrutiny – particularly within the darker foreground elements of the scene – Google’s heavy-handing post-processing turns into extra evident.
The S25 Extremely captured the flattest of the three photos; not as darkish and the iPhone, not as vibrant because the Pixel, however night out the dynamism of the real-world state of affairs. Whereas it is technically essentially the most well-rendered scene total, by pulling again on the highlights within the mild rays, you lose the influence that lies on the coronary heart of the scene.
Winner: Pixel 10 Professional
Lancing Faculty Chapel
Picture 1 of 3
Turning to some structure, this gothic chapel introduced numerous element for every telephone’s digicam to select towards vibrant afternoon winter mild.
In a reversal of the final picture, the iPhone this time works arduous to brighten up the constructing towards the sky. This does give the picture an over-processed, unnatural look, however in return there’s loads of coloration and element all through the scene, even when the general result’s a little bit flat.
The Pixel arguably presents essentially the most true-to-life providing, with related element seize to the iPhone, however extra correct publicity of the constructing towards the sky, while nonetheless retaining element in darker areas. Name it inconsistency, however the over-processing from the earlier take a look at shot would not rear its head right here, creating essentially the most placing, correct shot of the three.
The Extremely as soon as once more brightens initially, paired with Samsung’s typical penchant for extra vibrant color rendition than what’s correct. Whereas extra interesting total, that brightening has resulted in much more noise within the darker elements of the scene, muddying the telephone’s effective seize element considerably.
Winner: Pixel 10 Professional
Chapel organ
Picture 1 of 3
Switching to synthetic mild, the 17 Professional appears to have been essentially the most heavy-handed relating to sharpening and element retention. It is a gamble the, for essentially the most half, pays off, which good sharp kinds, even when you can see the extreme processing underneath scrutiny. The iPhone’s shot fall brief almost about coloration depth, in comparison with the Pixel and the Galaxy.
The ten Professional as soon as once more gives up essentially the most dynamic picture, with loads of shadow element contrasting highlights that are not blown personal, operating down the pipes of the organ. It too has utilized sharpening to maintain particulars in-hand, however with a much less aggressive, extra pure strategy than Apple’s. Superior white stability means extra correct colours all through the scene too.
As soon as once more, the Galaxy delivers a heat, inviting vibrant picture total, however the longer you contemplate it, the extra points come up. Extra even distinction means a flatter, much less dynamic picture, colours veer away from genuine, and it sports activities the softest particulars of all three telephones.
Winner: Pixel 10 Professional
Macro
Major digicam
Picture 1 of 3
Every of those telephones comes with a devoted macro taking pictures mode, letting you get up-close and private with a topic, however they will additionally ship pleasing close-ups with their superior major sensors as effectively.
The iPhone gives essentially the most correct coloration stability on this scene but in addition has fairly an extended minimal focus distance and the deepest depth of area. The bokeh is at the least essentially the most pure wanting of the three, manifesting in direction of the again of the scene.
Simply as with its predecessor, the Pixel’s major sensor was capable of seize the closest shot and the sharpest macro imagery on the flower’s middle. It delivered good colours, brightness and a natural-looking fall-off too.
As for Samsung’s newest, as ever, brightness and vibrancy are essentially the most distinguished features of the shot, it is extra balanced right here than with a few of the different take a look at scenes, and boast good sharpness too. You’ll be able to’t get fairly as shut because the Pixel, nonetheless, and there are some unusual post-processing fake pas with the sting detection across the leaves additional again in-frame.
Winner: Pixel 10 Professional
Extremely-wide
Picture 1 of 3
Flipping to every telephone’s devoted macro mode, it is a close-run race between the iPhone and the Pixel, with spectacular effective element seize in each instances. The ten Professional clinches it, nonetheless, due to its superior white stability, and its tighter minimal taking pictures distance.
By comparability, the S25 Extremely’s ultra-wide produces a considerably over-processed shot, with much less interesting aberration, weaker dynamic vary, inaccurate colours and over-sharpening.
Winner: Pixel 10 Professional
Movement
Picture 1 of 3
This flag flapping in excessive coastal winds appeared like an incredible topic to check every telephone’s capacity to freeze quick movement; important for taking pictures shifting objects, like pets or your children on sports activities day.
The Pixel as soon as once more takes the highest spot for its command of white stability, correct coloration illustration and sharp element, providing up far more than both of the opposite combatants right here.
As for the S25 Extremely’s shot, in the meantime, it has considerably much less definition and inaccurate white stability; tinting every part – most evident within the clouds and the white of the flag – barely too yellow.
The iPhone delivered marginally sharper particulars than the S25, however demonstrated clearly weaker dynamic vary and a green-tinted miscoloring of the scene, turning the crimson components of the flag virtually brown.
Winner: Pixel 10 Professional
Zoom
The final two digicam comparisons I’ve carried out between these three model’s flagships see the Extremely’s rear quad-camera {hardware} grant it the win in each instances, relating to zoom capabilities.
This yr, nonetheless, the iPhone 17 Professional debuts an upgraded 48MP telephoto sensor sensor, whereas the Pixel integrates AI to supply a Galaxy-matching focal vary. As such, zoom supremacy is extra hotly contested than ever.
Picture 1 of 6
On of the opposite alterations to the 17 Professional’s telephoto snapper past a brand new higher-resolution sensor, is the leap from 5x to 4x optical magnification (with a losses 8x crop).
Whereas this would possibly sound like a downgrade, in on a regular basis taking pictures, most Professional customers appear to be proud of the change, with 4x discovering extra utility when taking pictures every part from structure to portraits.
As for the take a look at samples, the iPhone demonstrates good constant throughout its three rear lenses, by way of publicity, white stability and element seize. In reality, the one shortcoming is that – on this specific comparability – its most magnification of 40x is considerably shorter than its rivals and the resultant picture lack definition.
Picture 1 of 9
The Pixel 10 Professional permits for as much as 30x seize out the field, however when you obtain the suitable AI mannequin throughout the digicam app, you may unlock as much as 100x Professional Res Zoom, which use AI picture technology to basically fill in misplaced element in photographs at increased zoom ranges.
Wider testing reveals the AI would not at all times get it proper, when attempting to generate misplaced element, however on this occasion it nailed it (the final two samples within the above gallery allow you to examine the telephone’s 100x zoom shot with AI each on and off).
Just like the iPhone, there’s once more a delightful consistency throughout all the telephone’s sensors – even when the principle sensor (1x and 2x zoom) is marginally brighter than the opposite two – with good distinction and element all through.
At these increased zoom ranges, the Pixel’s AI does a formidable job of preserving the topic precisely. You simply must reconcile with the inauthenticity of those in any other case usable photographs.
Picture 1 of 8
There is not any doubting the S25 Extremely’s digicam versatility, however its lack of generative AI at increased zoom ranges – though extra sincere – means weaker outcomes compared to the Pixel, specifically by way of element.
There’s additionally extra inconsistency in coloration and white stability between the ultrawide, major and 3x sensors, with the ultra-wide providing oversaturation in comparison with the principle sensor, and photographs from the 3x snapper adopting a magenta tinge, which carries throughout to the 5x telephoto digicam and up.
It is in any other case nonetheless a superb digicam system, however solely falls brief as a result of it would not resort to AI just like the Pixel does.
Winner: Pixel 10 Professional
Low mild
Utilizing a light-weight meter, I examined all three telephones in synthetic mild, with the management scene above taken with the lights on. I then turned the sunshine off and – with about 50 instances much less out there mild – I captured a shot on every entry.
Picture 1 of 4
The iPhone did a good job brightening the scene again up, with the longest publicity time, utilizing a five-second shutter. Tremendous element restoration was middling, however essentially the most obvious challenge was the magenta hue it dressed all the picture in, leading to inaccurate colours.
Not like the opposite two telephones, I needed to manually flip the Pixel into Night time Sight to seize a usable shot, however as soon as doing so, the three-second shutter captured the darkest, however in any other case most interesting picture. Element retention, particularly, was considerably higher than both the 17 Professional or S25 Extremely, with essentially the most correct colours and white stability too.
It is only a disgrace it wasn’t capable of serve up a brighter scene. Mounting the telephone to a tripod, it did additionally change to a super-long publicity mode (equally to the telephone’s astrophotography characteristic), which took 2 minutes 19 seconds to seize. This clearly recovers a lot of the definition in darkish areas that the three-second publicity lacked, however though I did not depend that towards this comparability, realizing the choice’s there may be, necessary, nonetheless.
The S25 did a good job of brightening and attempting to precisely reassess white stability, however coloration accuracy may have been higher, with the crimson and blue controllers showing oversaturated, whereas the neon yellow controllers lack vibrancy. Greater distinction hides some definition, however the principle weak spot is poor effective element retention, seemingly on account of the extremely brief two-second shutter.
With the iPhone failing on white stability, the Pixel falling brief on publicity and the S25 Extremely on element, all three telephones go away room for enchancment, however every has apparent strengths and weaknesses that may sway you a technique or one other, if low mild images is of specific significance to you.
Winner: Tie
Portrait mode
By default, every of those telephones defaults to 2x crop, when taking pictures in Portrait Mode with their respective major sensors, nonetheless, I punched out to 1x for the needs of this take a look at.
As with its predecessor, the Pixel has the fewest out there focal lengths when in Portrait Mode (1x and 2x), adopted by the iPhone 17 Professional (1x, 2x and 4x), whereas the S25 gives the best versatility, masking 1x, 2x, 3x and 5x.
These photographs use every telephone’s default synthetic bokeh (background blur), however in every case, you may dial the impact up and down each on the level of seize and after the actual fact.
Picture 1 of 3
Probably the most obvious points is that the Pixel struggles with edge detection, a criticism I levelled towards final yr’s Pixel 9 Professional in my earlier comparability too. And I discovered the identical is true when snapping utilizing the telephone’s entrance digicam with Portrait Mode too.
Not solely that, the Pixel’s normally helpful white stability accuracy works additional time to attempt to wrestle my pores and skin tones again to what they would seem as underneath round 5600K, which negates the reality the scene, the place the nice and cozy glow of the afternoon solar attire spotlight with a yellow/orange tint.
The Galaxy S25 Extremely grabs silver, if just for the marginally washed-out pores and skin tones. The default bokeh can also be far more pronounced and synthetic wanting in comparison with the opposite two telephones, which may, after all, be dialled again at seize, however means it’s important to fiddle with the settings to get the proper shot.
The iPhone 17 Professional doles out related outcomes to the Samsung, however gave me extra genuine pores and skin tones, holding a few of the rosiness afforded to my cheeks and nostril, due to the December wind.
Winner: iPhone 17 Professional
Selfies
Within the age of content material creation we discover ourselves in, the customarily neglected entrance digicam is arguably extra necessary now than it is ever been. Whereas the Pixel and S25 Extremely look to make use of the identical selfie {hardware} as their respective predecessors, Apple has outfitted the whole lot of the iPhone 17 sequence (together with the bottom iPhone 17 and the iPhone Air) with an unorthodox new 24MP sq. sensor, which captures 18MP stills.
Whereas not examined right here, that sq. side ratio, paired with Apple’s Heart Stage tech means the 17 Professional can mechanically body cropped or ultra-wide selfies in both portrait or panorama, with out you needing to rotate your telephone. One thing to think about if it is the digicam you employ loads.
Picture 1 of 3
Fortunately, it additionally takes some wonderful pictures. There’s pleasing dynamic vary, correct colours, good element retention and pores and skin tones with out wanting synthetic, and even taking these photographs in ultra-wide mode, good lens correction, which suggests no frame-edge distortion.
The Pixel produces an analogous shot to the iPhone, by way of coloration, distinction, dynamic vary and pores and skin tone. Beneath scrutiny, nonetheless, heavier post-processing is obvious, particularly almost about aggressive sharpening.
As has cropped up again and again all through this comparability, the S25 Extremely is one thing of an outlier, specifically on account of its post-processing. Saturation has been pushed and brightening on the face is obvious too, making for the least pure wanting of the three selfies right here. That mentioned, it is not a foul picture.
Winner: iPhone 17 Professional
Video
The iPhone 17 Professional proves as reliable as ever, when evaluating its 4K 60fps video seize samples.
In addition to quick autofocus and fast publicity adjustment, it additionally demonstrates the smoothest stabilization of those three telephones, significantly when issues get very bumpy. It additionally gives the smoothest and most pure transition, when zooming between lenses, while recording.
As with pictures, the Pixel’s footage gives a decidedly extra magenta end, and seemingly weaker coloration stability and dynamic vary, with rougher publicity adjustment, stabilization and lens transitions. It additionally has the weakest audio seize of the three, significantly almost about voice seize, while additionally suppressing wind noise.
The S25 Extremely once more delivers vibrant footage, with a hotter total look, and stabilization and lens transitions that sit between the iPhone and Pixel by way of high quality and fluidity. The place the Extremely’s footage actually shines is with audio seize, providing the fullest, clearest sound and the most effective background noise suppression towards the wind.
Winner: Galaxy S25 Extremely
There’s much more to those telephone’s video experiences than merely evaluating 4K 60fps footage.
Samsung’s noise suppression, together with its Audio Eraser software, offers you the most effective retention in constancy. The Pixel has an analogous characteristic, however is a bit more heavy-handed in its execution.
The Pixel’s Video Increase characteristic additionally cures a variety of the shortcomings the inventory footage falls foul of, however requires that you’ve got sufficient cloud house and that you just’re keen to add your chosen video to mentioned cloud with a view to use the characteristic. In addition to bettering HDR efficiency, Video Increase additionally unlocks as much as 8K 30fps seize (though that is one thing the Extremely can do natively).
Apple would not readily examine the iPhone’s cameras to the most effective digicam telephones, however moderately the most effective cameras on the market, which is why its video characteristic set contains extra professional-grade instruments. Apple LOG 2 assist, ACES for coloration grading, Dolby Imaginative and prescient seize at as much as 4K 120fps and extra – like GenLock, render the 17 Professional extra of a severe software, than its rivals right here.
Conclusion
Whereas the earlier comparability noticed the S25 Extremely kind of sweep the sphere with Apple’s and Google’s former prime entries, there’s extra nuance the place the most recent iPhone and Pixel are involved.
For on a regular basis taking pictures, the Pixel 10 Professional has the sting, with the most effective element retention, movement seize and coloration stability, significantly with its major lens.
If it is selfies or social you have a tendency to make use of, the upgraded entrance digicam of the iPhone 17 Professional is unrivalled amongst these three.
Samsung’s present Extremely, in the meantime, is nice for content material creators who desire a self-contained system that features good audio seize, flexibility and enhancing.
Seldom is there a one-size-fits-all reply, however hopefully this comparability has highlighted every telephone’s strengths and weak spot, and which strikes the most effective stability for you.
The iPhone 17 Professional used on this comparability was equipped by Vodafone. For the most recent iPhone contract offers, head to Vodafone’s devoted iPhone offers web page, and take a look at TechRadar’s Vodafone low cost codes web page for additional financial savings.
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