Xiaomi 15 Ultra Crushes Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in Camera Showdown | Image Source: www.zdnet.com
13 March 2025 – Smartphone photographers are looking forward to the final match between two of the industry’s greatest players: the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy ​S25 Ultra. With both devices with ​high-level camera ​technology, the battle for the best 2025 smartphone camera has never been more intense. While the two phones ​marked ​high in criticism, a ​comparison of ​the head to head reveals a ​decisive winner.
The camera specifications: ​a battle on paper
On paper, the Xiaomi ​15 ​Ultra and Samsung ​Galaxy S25 Ultra offer impressive specifications. Both phones are powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite ​processor, ensuring first-level performance. Samsung ​improves ​its ​device with ​exclusive optimizations for Galaxy, while Xiaomi ​is associated with Leica for advanced camera setting.
The Xiaomi ​15 ​Ultra features a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP wide-angle camera, ​a 50MP 3x zoom and a powerful 200MP camera with ​4.3x ​optical zoom. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra ​contours with a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP wide ​angle camera, a 50MP ​5x periscope optical zoom and a 10MP 3x optical zoom.
While both smartphones appear uniformly ​matched, real world tests ​reveal amazing differences in how each manages photography through different conditions.
Main camera: Hot tones against fresh tones
The comparison of the ​main camera highlights the ​biggest ​differences between the Xiaomi 15 ​Ultra ​and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra offers warmer and more natural tones, ​while the Samsung is tilted ​to cooler tones. This is evident in landscape plans where grass and sky appear silent ​in the Samsung compared to the richest and most detailed images ​of Xiaomi.
As far as depth of field is concerned, ​Xiaomi takes the ​lead. Clichés nearby have a natural blur, ​which makes the subjects take off more vividly. ​However, the accuracy of the ​development remains a minor problem, with a ​slight macro emphasis. Samsung’s HDR performance, on the other hand, fights ​with fine details, introducing an ​unwanted ​slate or loop to textures.
Winner: Xiaomi ​15 Ultra
Wide eel camera: a difficult call
By ​capturing large angles, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra provides more details, ​especially in textures such as ​stone ​and brick. However, Samsung’s wide-angle camera tends to produce brighter colors, making the sky more striking.
Interior photos favor Samsung, as it handles the wide angle image of low light better than Xiaomi. S25 Ultra’s superior exposure control reduces noise and improves color accuracy in illuminated environments.
Winner: ​Drawing
Zoom Performance: ​Xiaomi ​vs. Samsung Precision ​Color
Zoom cameras present ​an interesting battle. At 3x zoom, Xiaomi’s images are lighter with richer textures, while Samsung’s treatment has a slight nobility. The depth of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra 3x field ​also adds a beautiful ​background slate that improves the overall composition.
At 5x and ​4.3x, the Samsung ​Galaxy S25 Ultra advances with ​greater color accuracy. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra, while acute, sometimes overlooks exceptional aspects, leading to less natural images. However, the advantage of Samsung’s acuity fades to 10x, where image stabilization problems result in blurred images. Xiaomi’s 10x zoom captures more details, so this is the best option for extreme zoom photography.
Winner: Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Night mode: Low weight above Xiaomi
Low-level photography has always been a challenge for smartphones, but Xiaomi 15 Ultra manages ​it better ​than Galaxy S25 Ultra. Under almost dark conditions, Xiaomi produces sharper images with more precise colors, while ​Samsung tends to introduce a ​softening effect that reduces details.
Night photography of the sky also favors Xiaomi, as its camera prevents excessive coupling and maintains more natural colors. Samsung’s ​advantage in the accuracy of white balance helps in some situations, but the Xiaomi 15 Ultra ​gains due to its low performance ​of ​clearer light.
Winner: ​Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Xiaomi 15 Ultra: The smartphone camera?
After rigorous ​testing through multiple photo scenarios, ​the Xiaomi 15 Ultra appeared as the superior smart camera in 2025. While Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra ​stands out in certain areas such as wide ​angle and colour accuracy, its ​occasional, blurred and processing inconsistencies hold it behind.
Samsung ​still offers a well rounded headlight, but for photo lovers looking for the ​best smartphone camera, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra takes the crown. With its precise details, the natural depth of the terrain and high light performance, it turns out to be the best option for serious mobile photographers.
