Three of the best profile smartphones proper now additionally occur to pack three of essentially the most succesful digicam methods 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 talents, like GenLock.
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Notice: Until in any other case specified, comparability photographs in galleries are offered within the following order: iPhone, Pixel, Galaxy.
Specs comparability
This is how the three telephones in query evaluate from a specs perspective:
iPhone 17 Professional
Pixel 10 Professional
Galaxy S25 Extremely
Value (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
Primary 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 expertise:
Digital camera 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, Finest Take, Add Me, Photograph & Group Unblur, Digital camera Coach, Movement Mode, Actual Tone, Night time Sight, Astrophotography, Prime Shot, Reside HDR+, Video Increase
ProVisual Engine, Reflection elimination, Generative fill, Astrophotography, Professional Mode, Professional VideoMode, Twin Recording, Nightography, On the spot Gradual-mo, Photograph Help, Tremendous HDR, Tremendous Regular video
Primary sensor
Let’s begin with the primary 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 cellphone.
God Rays
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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 means of the clouds absolutely.
The Pixel provides the very best general composition, with the broadest dynamic vary and people all vital highlights within the gentle beams and surrounding cloud cowl, as with its predecessor, its colour science seems offset from its rivals, with the yellow gentle showing much more orange (and thus much less true-to-life). Underneath scrutiny – particularly within the darker foreground components of the scene – Google’s heavy-handing post-processing turns into extra evident.
The S25 Extremely captured the flattest of the three photographs; 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 general, by pulling again on the highlights within the gentle rays, you lose the affect that lies on the coronary heart of the scene.
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Winner: Pixel 10 Professional
Lancing School Chapel
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Turning to some structure, this gothic chapel offered plenty of element for every cellphone’s digicam to select towards vibrant afternoon winter gentle.
In a reversal of the final picture, the iPhone this time works laborious 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 colour 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 comparable 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 check shot would not rear its head right here, creating essentially the most hanging, correct shot of the three.
The Extremely as soon as once more brightens before everything, paired with Samsung’s typical penchant for extra vibrant color rendition than what’s correct. Whereas extra interesting general, that brightening has resulted in much more noise within the darker components of the scene, muddying the cellphone’s fantastic seize element considerably.
Winner: Pixel 10 Professional
Chapel organ
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Switching to synthetic gentle, the 17 Professional appears to be like to have been essentially the most heavy-handed on the subject of sharpening and element retention. It is a gamble the, for essentially the most half, pays off, which good sharp types, even should you can see the extreme processing below scrutiny. The iPhone’s shot fall brief as regards to colour depth, in comparison with the Pixel and the Galaxy.
The ten Professional as soon as once more provides 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 steadiness means extra correct colours all through the scene too.
As soon as once more, the Galaxy delivers a heat, inviting vibrant picture general, 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
Primary digicam
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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 important sensors as properly.
The iPhone provides essentially the most correct colour steadiness 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 trying of the three, manifesting in direction of the again of the scene.
Simply as with its predecessor, the Pixel’s important 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 outstanding features of the shot, it is extra balanced right here than with a number of the different check scenes, and boast good sharpness too. You possibly can’t get fairly as shut because the Pixel, nevertheless, 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
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Flipping to every cellphone’s devoted macro mode, it is a close-run race between the iPhone and the Pixel, with spectacular fantastic element seize in each instances. The ten Professional clinches it, nevertheless, because of its superior white steadiness, 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
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This flag flapping in excessive coastal winds appeared like an excellent topic to check every cellphone’s means to freeze quick movement; important for taking pictures shifting objects, like pets or your youngsters on sports activities day.
The Pixel as soon as once more takes the highest spot for its command of white steadiness, correct colour 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 steadiness; tinting every little thing – 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 purple components of the flag nearly brown.
Winner: Pixel 10 Professional
Zoom
The final two digicam comparisons I’ve performed between these three model’s flagships see the Extremely’s rear quad-camera {hardware} grant it the win in each instances, on the subject of zoom capabilities.
This yr, nevertheless, 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.
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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 may 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 little thing from structure to portraits.
As for the check samples, the iPhone demonstrates good constant throughout its three rear lenses, when it comes to publicity, white steadiness and element seize. In reality, the one shortcoming is that – on this explicit comparability – its most magnification of 40x is considerably shorter than its opponents and the resultant picture lack definition.
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The Pixel 10 Professional permits for as much as 30x seize out the field, however should you obtain the suitable AI mannequin throughout the digicam app, you may unlock as much as 100x Professional Res Zoom, which use AI picture era to basically fill in misplaced element in photographs at increased zoom ranges.
Wider testing reveals the AI would not all the time get it proper, when making an attempt to generate misplaced element, however on this occasion it nailed it (the final two samples within the above gallery allow you to evaluate the cellphone’s 100x zoom shot with AI each on and off).
Just like the iPhone, there’s once more a satisfying consistency throughout the entire cellphone’s sensors – even when the primary 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 powerful job of preserving the topic precisely. You simply should reconcile with the inauthenticity of those in any other case usable photographs.
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There is no doubting the S25 Extremely’s digicam versatility, however its lack of generative AI at increased zoom ranges – though extra trustworthy – means weaker outcomes compared to the Pixel, specifically when it comes to element.
There’s additionally extra inconsistency in colour and white steadiness between the ultrawide, important and 3x sensors, with the ultra-wide providing oversaturation in comparison with the primary 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 gentle
Utilizing a light-weight meter, I examined all three telephones in synthetic gentle, with the management scene above taken with the lights on. I then turned the sunshine off and – with about 50 instances much less accessible gentle – I captured a shot on every entry.
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The iPhone did a good job brightening the scene again up, with the longest publicity time, utilizing a five-second shutter. Fantastic element restoration was middling, however essentially the most obvious difficulty was the magenta hue it dressed the whole picture in, leading to inaccurate colours.
In contrast to 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, specifically, was considerably higher than both the 17 Professional or S25 Extremely, with essentially the most correct colours and white steadiness too.
It is only a disgrace it wasn’t capable of serve up a brighter scene. Mounting the cellphone to a tripod, it did additionally swap to a super-long publicity mode (equally to the cellphone’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, figuring out the choice’s there may be, vital, nevertheless.
The S25 did an honest job of brightening and making an attempt to precisely reassess white steadiness, however colour accuracy may have been higher, with the purple and blue controllers showing oversaturated, whereas the neon yellow controllers lack vibrancy. Increased distinction hides some definition, however the primary weak spot is poor fantastic element retention, probably on account of the extremely brief two-second shutter.
With the iPhone failing on white steadiness, 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 method or one other, if low gentle images is of explicit 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 important sensors, nevertheless, I punched out to 1x for the needs of this check.
As with its predecessor, the Pixel has the fewest accessible focal lengths when in Portrait Mode (1x and 2x), adopted by the iPhone 17 Professional (1x, 2x and 4x), whereas the S25 provides the best versatility, masking 1x, 2x, 3x and 5x.
These photographs use every cellphone’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 very fact.
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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 cellphone’s entrance digicam with Portrait Mode too.
Not solely that, the Pixel’s normally useful white steadiness accuracy works additional time to try to wrestle my pores and skin tones again to what they would seem as below 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 be far more pronounced and synthetic trying in comparison with the opposite two telephones, which may, after all, be dialled again at seize, however means you need to fiddle with the settings to get the proper shot.
The iPhone 17 Professional doles out comparable outcomes to the Samsung, however gave me extra genuine pores and skin tones, retaining a number of the rosiness afforded to my cheeks and nostril, because of the December wind.
Winner: iPhone 17 Professional
Selfies
Within the age of content material creation we discover ourselves in, the customarily ignored entrance digicam is arguably extra vital 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 collection (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. facet 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 cellphone. One thing to think about if it is the digicam you utilize loads.
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Fortunately, it additionally takes some wonderful images. There’s pleasing dynamic vary, correct colours, good element retention and pores and skin tones with out trying 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, when it comes to colour, distinction, dynamic vary and pores and skin tone. Underneath scrutiny, nevertheless, heavier post-processing is obvious, particularly as regards to aggressive sharpening.
As has cropped up repeatedly all through this comparability, the S25 Extremely is one thing of an outlier, specifically attributable to its post-processing. Saturation has been pushed and brightening on the face is obvious too, making for the least pure trying of the three selfies right here. That stated, 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.
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