While Chinese smartphone brands have been consistently improving camera hardware every year on their high-end phones, Samsung is moving slowly on that front. This year, it upgraded just one camera sensor with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. However, that doesn't mean you won't see improved image quality from its cameras.
Let us look at all the hardware and software improvements Samsung used to bring you class-leading image and video quality with the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Galaxy S25 Ultra camera specifications and features
1. Camera hardware
First, let us check out the Galaxy S25 Ultra's camera specifications. It retains the 200MP ISOCELL primary camera, 10MP telephoto camera, 50MP super-telephoto camera, and 12MP selfie camera of the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The ultrawide camera has been upgraded from a 12MP sensor to a 50MP sensor.
The 200MP primary camera has an F1.7 aperture, multi-directional PDAF, and OIS. The 10MP telephoto camera has an F2.4 aperture, PDAF, and OIS. The 50MP telephoto camera has an F3.4 aperture, PDAF, and OIS. The 50MP ultrawide camera has an F1.9 aperture and PDAF. Its 12MP front-facing camera has an F2.2 aperture and Dual-Pixel autofocus.
The new 50MP ultrawide camera should offer higher details in images and videos. Its macro mode will also likely provide more details. Since it has a wider aperture (F1.9) compared to the 12MP ultrawide camera from the Galaxy S24 Ultra, it can gather more light, resulting in lower noise and faster shutter speeds.
2. Improved ProVisual Engine
The new ISP inside the Galaxy S25 Ultra's (and other Galaxy S25 models) Snapdragon 8 Elite For Galaxy chip offers advanced image and video processing. Samsung's improved ProVisual Engine, which uses AI-powered algorithms, brings out more from each frame, offering higher details, lower noise (Double Analysis Noise Removal), deeper colors, and a wider dynamic range.
Samsung has used something called Spatio Temporal Filter, which identifies static and moving subjects in a frame and processes them differently so that everything is captured without any blur.
3. 8K video recording using primary, ultrawide, and telephoto cameras
Even videos recorded using the Galaxy S25 Ultra's cameras have lower noise and higher details. The phone can record 8K 30fps videos using its primary rear camera, ultrawide camera, and 50MP telephoto camera. However, you can't switch between those cameras while recording 8K videos.
4. 10-bit HDR capture is enabled by default
Samsung also said that all Galaxy S25 phones now capture videos in 10-bit HDR by default. This allows the new phones to offer 4x richer colors in all lighting conditions compared to 8-bit videos from previous-generation phones. This move fits nicely with the Super HDR feature that debuted last year with the Galaxy S24.
5. Improved Expert RAW with Virtual Aperture, 200MP mode
The new phones also feature an improved Expert RAW mode. It now allows you to capture 200MP RAW images on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. On the Galaxy S24 Ultra, it was limited to 50MP.
While the new phones don't have the dual-aperture like the Galaxy S9 or other recent high-end phones from Chinese brands, they have a new feature called Virtual Aperture. In Expert RAW's Labs feature, you can activate Virtual Aperture and then change the aperture to anywhere from F1.4 to F16. It allows you to adjust the separation between the background and the foreground according to your preferences.
6. Galaxy Log video recording
All Galaxy S25 series phones can capture videos in Galaxy Log (log or logarithmic) format. It has a flat color profile, so videos look dull and washed out, but professionals still prefer shooting in that profile as they can adjust the colors later without losing details in the post-production stage. You can enable log video recording in Video and Pro Video modes.
In the phone's built-in Gallery app, you can swipe up on the video to reveal the Correct Color feature. Doing that adjusts the colors so that the footage looks bright and vibrant, offering it the Samsung look. You can then export that color-corrected video on the phone.
You can also import that video into your preferred video editing app and adjust the colors according to your preferences.
7. Portrait Studio
Samsung has also improved the Portrait Studio with the Galaxy S25. It offers more personalized avatars with “more true-to-life facial expressions.” It allows you to turn your portrait photos into an AI-generated photo using a user-selected style: 3D Cartoon, Comic, Sketch, or Watercolor.
This feature was introduced with the Galaxy S24 and then released to older compatible high-end phones with the One UI 6.1 update.
8. Filters
The Galaxy S25 series also has a new feature called Filters. It offers various analog-style filters so that you can capture images and videos with film-like aesthetics.
9. Improved Single Take
First introduced with the Galaxy S20, Single Take mode captures multiple images and short videos (for 15 seconds), each in a different style and even with different cameras on the rear. Samsung has improved it on the Galaxy S25 by adding a ‘Pre Record' feature and the ability to capture a still anytime you want.
With Pre Record, the phone captures frames and videos before you hit the on-screen shutter button. A separate shutter button on the bottom left corner lets you capture the exact frame whenever you want.
10. Best Face
When Motion Photo is turned on, the Galaxy S25 captures a short video a few seconds before and after you hit the shutter button. That short video is saved alongside a regular image. Then, using frames from that short video, you can choose the best face of a person in the frame.
It is particularly helpful while capturing images of kids or a group of people. If someone in the frame has blinked their eyes or their facial expression isn't appropriate, you can choose a suitable (alternative) moment from the Motion Photo to use the facial expression at that time.
You can access the Best Face feature by swiping up an image in the Gallery app and then tapping on Choose Best Face.
