The DxOMark laboratory has released an initial analysis of the photographic performance of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra in relation to the Apple iPhone 17 Pro. The Samsung model features notable advances in detail capture and noise reduction in low-light environments. Apesar of progress, the iPhone 17 Pro maintains a small advantage in overall consistency, autofocus and processing in challenging situations. The comparison reveals an increasingly competitive smartphone market in computational photography.
Câmera main Galaxy S26 Ultra captures more light
The 200 MP main camera of the Galaxy S26 Ultra operates with an f/1.4 aperture, representing 47% more light capture compared to the previous generation. Essa enhancement results in cleaner images at night and more natural skin tones in portraits. The zoom system has evolved with the new optical design in the 50 MP periscopic lens with 5x optical, producing more rounded and visually pleasing bokeh.
The rear set maintains a similar structure to the previous model, with a focus on key hardware updates. The 5x lens adopts technology that compresses the optical module and changes the shape of the background blur. Essas changes aim to balance light capture and optical quality without significantly increasing the size of the photographic module.
Especificações complete optical system
- Câmera main: 200 MP with f/1.4 aperture for better night performance.
- Ultra-wide: 50 MP maintaining f/1.9 aperture for consistent wide angles.
- Teleobjetiva intermediate: 10 MP with 3x optical and f/2.4 for intermediate portraits.
- Long-range Teleobjetiva: 50 MP with 5x optical and new compact optical design.
The increase in minimum focusing distance on the long-range tele reaches about 52 centimeters, which can limit accurate close-ups on this lens. Image processing continues to rely on the ProVisual Engine to optimize details and reduce noise in different lighting conditions.
iPhone 17 Pro maintains advantage in overall consistency
The iPhone 17 Pro excels in complex scenarios with more reliable autofocus when detecting faces. Portrait mode photos feature superior segmentation and fewer artifacts at the edges of objects. In low light conditions, the Apple model preserves slightly better sharpness and better controls visual noise.
Overall image consistency favors the iPhone 17 Pro in varied tests. The balance between exposure, colors and dynamics contributes to predictable results in different environments. Video also maintains strong performance with effective stabilization, consolidating the model’s leadership in general photography.
Progresso of Galaxy S26 Ultra in portrait mode and low light
The Galaxy S26 Ultra shows clear progress in portrait mode with more balanced processing and effective noise reduction. Tons skin looks natural, especially in night scenes. Detalhes appears preserved in photos with moderate zoom, demonstrating a significant improvement over its predecessor.
Alguns challenges still persist in the new model. Autofocus occasionally fails to detect faces accurately in extreme conditions. Artefatos appears at the edges during portraits in difficult situations. Low light performance improves considerably, but does not completely outperform the direct competitor in all scenarios.
Sistema dual telephoto offers balanced versatility
The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s dual telephoto system delivers strong results across multiple zoom ranges. Quality remains consistent between 3x and 5x optical, extending digitally to high levels. The iPhone 17 Pro delivers sharpness in complex scenes, but the Samsung preserves more detail at certain intermediate zooms.
Versatility benefits users who switch between wide and close-up shots. The new optical design contributes to natural bokeh in distant portraits. Initial tests indicate general balance between the models, with small differences by specific category of use. DxOMark’s full evaluation should bring final scores and detailed comparisons in the coming days, positioning the iPhone 17 Pro with an advantage in overall image quality.
