Camera Showdown: Xiaomi 15 Ultra vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

In the world of smartphone cameras, two giants stand tall: the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Both phones pack a powerful punch with their Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processors. Samsung's chip gets a special "For Galaxy" treatment, while Xiaomi teams up with Leica to fine-tune both hardware and software. The camera specs are impressive. Both phones boast a 200-megapixel main camera. However, Samsung's S25 Ultra has a 50MP wide-angle, a 50MP 5x optical periscope zoom, and a 10MP 3x optical zoom camera. Xiaomi's 15 Ultra, on the other hand, features a 50MP main camera, a 50MP wide-angle, and a 50MP 3x zoom camera with a 4. 3x optical zoom capability. The main camera test reveals some interesting differences. Xiaomi's 15 Ultra has a warmer tone and stronger depth of field, but it sometimes struggles with accurate focus. The Galaxy S25 Ultra's cooler tone and better HDR handling are noticeable, but it often introduces a haze and blur to details. The wide-angle camera category is a bit of a mixed bag. Xiaomi's 15 Ultra captures more detail in outdoor shots, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra handles indoor and low-light conditions better. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, making it a close call. Zoom capabilities are where things get interesting. At 3x zoom, Xiaomi's 15 Ultra shines with sharper images and better depth of field. However, at 5x and 10x zoom, the Galaxy S25 Ultra often produces more natural colors and better exposure, though it sometimes struggles with stability and sharpness. In low-light conditions, Xiaomi's 15 Ultra takes the lead. Its night mode captures more accurate colors and less blur, making it a clear winner in this category. Overall, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra edges out the Galaxy S25 Ultra in most categories. Its warmer tones, sharper images, and better night mode performance make it a strong contender for the best camera phone of 2025. However, Samsung's S25 Ultra isn't far behind, especially in wide-angle and zoom photography.