Samsung’s Galaxy S25 smartphones launched in the present day, however in terms of the all-important cameras, the corporate leaned on AI quite than making any significant adjustments. There’s one welcome addition, although. Samsung lastly caught as much as to rivals like Honor by introducing log video to permit extra exact colour grading. Different key updates embody improved low-light functionality on all fashions, the brand new “ProVisual engine,” a “virtual aperture” and a a lot greater decision ultrawide digicam on the high-end Extremely.
Final yr the Galaxy S24 Extremely’s massive promoting level was the 200MP digicam, which made the 12MP ultrawide look weak as compared. Samsung remedied that with the Galaxy S25 Extremely by greater than quadrupling that sensor to 50MP. That additionally helps Samsung match up higher in opposition to Google’s Pixel 9 Professional and its 48-megapixel ultrawide digicam.
With that, the Extremely now has a formidable suite of cameras: a 200MP extensive, 50MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto and 50MP 5x tele. Nevertheless, that makes the extra mainstream Galaxy S25 and S25+ look a bit weak as compared. These solely include a 50MP extensive, 12MP ultrawide and 10MP 3x tele, identical to the final two fashions. All telephones have a entrance 12MP selfie digicam with as much as 4K 60p video.
Samsung additionally rectified a weak level we addressed in our evaluations on the S24: sub-par low-light efficiency. With Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, Samsung says the brand new cameras can analyze noise extra successfully utilizing a brand new “spatial-temporal filter,” that may detect transferring and static objects extra exactly. That in flip permits for cleaner video, significantly with transferring objects in dim environments. The draw back is that making use of stronger noise discount can generate bizarre artifacts, one thing we’ll take a look at additional in upcoming evaluations. In truth, throughout Samsung’s presentation, I could not assist however discover a wierd separation between the transferring topic and background.
Different key new digicam options are additionally out there throughout the S25 lineup. An important one for content material creators is Galaxy Log, which lastly allows log video to enhance dynamic vary and permit extra correct colour grading. That is a much-requested function for Galaxy telephones that was solely out there beforehand with third-party apps. It additionally data with 10-bits of colour just like the HDR mode. Nevertheless, the brand new function nonetheless falls wanting the flexibility to seize ProRes log video on the most recent iPhones.
I examined go browsing Honor’s Magic smartphone sequence and it may meaningfully enhance video by boosting dynamic vary in tough lighting conditions (a backlit topic or sunny day, as an illustration). The issue is that remodeling log into common footage requires an enhancing app and a few information about issues like LUTs — so whether or not this can catch on with customers relies on how Samsung implements it.
Samsung additionally enabled 10-bit HDR video seize by default, which lets you shoot extra colourful and detailed photos. Nevertheless, remember that such content material won’t show correctly on apps and gadgets that do not assist HDR (different smartphones, PCs, TVs, and so on.).
To deal with images after you’re taking them, Samsung enhanced Portrait Studio with new options like customized avatars with extra true-to-life facial expressions. It additionally added new analog filters for a extra film-like aesthetic for images and movies.
There are two different new tips: Audio Eraser and Digital Aperture. Although all of the cameras have a set aperture, the latter simulates having an adjustable one identical to mirrorless cameras. Nevertheless, the feat is achieved by computational tips, so it is prone to look a bit synthetic.
Audio Eraser, in the meantime, is an AI-powered noise discount system designed to chop out background sounds in busy environments when capturing video, little question impressed by Apple’s Audio Combine and the Audio Magic Eraser on Pixel gadgets. In the course of the demo, Samsung confirmed the way it may minimize various kinds of noises like wind, waves and nature.
The Galaxy S25 Extremely’s new digicam is nice should you can afford that $1,300 mannequin, whereas the improved low-light dealing with, Galaxy Log and AI ought to present good, however not spectacular, advantages. All instructed, Samsung did not deliver as a lot to the desk because the iPhone 16 with its Digicam Management button, or the Pixel 9 (Video Enhance, Add Me, Auto Body). For extra on how the Galaxy S25’s cameras work in the actual world, try our hands-on assessments and keep tuned for full evaluations.
