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The Galaxy S22 Ultra is right here, packing one of the best digital camera Samsung has ever put right into a telephone. But how does it stack up in opposition to its greatest rivals, the iPhone 13 Pro and Google Pixel 6 Pro? Samsung’s newest flagship superphone has a potent processor, a giant stunning display and the S Pen stylus, lifted from the outdated Galaxy Note vary. But it is also acquired a hefty digital camera setup on the again, together with a 108-megapixel important sensor in addition to a superwide lens and two telephoto lenses providing as much as 100x zoom ranges. The S21 Ultra was already one in every of our prime digital camera telephones, however then so are the iPhone 13 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro, each of which might take beautiful pictures in each daylight and at night time. So to see which takes one of the best photographs, I’ve walked an exhausting quantity of the streets of Edinburgh to get as many pics as doable to check. You’re welcome.
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All photographs you may see listed here are taken in JPEG with the default digital camera settings, until in any other case said. Let’s dive into our exams.Galaxy S22 Ultra, customary lens.
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iPhone 13 Pro, customary lens.
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Pixel 6 Pro, customary lens.
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The iPhone shouldn’t be off to a very good begin right here with a chilly, dark-looking shot that appears a lot better within the S22 Ultra and Pixel 6 Pro’s photographs. There’s little to decide on between the 2 Android pictures as each photographs have nice colours and tons of element.
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Galaxy S22 Ultra, customary lens.
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iPhone 13 Pro, customary lens.
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Pixel 6 Pro, customary lens.
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All three telephones have executed a stable job at capturing loads of element inside this purchasing heart, but it surely’s the Galaxy S22 Ultra that is taken issues additional by capturing way more spotlight element within the sky exterior. Its shot has a a lot richer blue seen within the roof, with out sacrificing any of the tones contained in the constructing. That’s some good HDR work proper there. Galaxy S22 Ultra, broad lens.
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iPhone 13 Pro, broad lens.
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Pixel 6 Pro, broad lens.
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Switching to the broad lens, the iPhone’s shot hasn’t actually modified a lot with a just about empty white sky seen exterior. But each the S22 Ultra and Pixel 6 Pro have achieved way more balanced pictures, with vibrant blue skies on present. Galaxy S22 Ultra, customary lens.
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iPhone 13 Pro, customary lens.
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Pixel 6 Pro, customary lens.
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Moving again exterior to this beautiful road scene, the distinction in colours is especially evident within the strip of sky above the buildings. The S22 Ultra’s has been given an virtually cyan tint, whereas the iPhone’s is a extra pure, vivid blue. The general publicity and distinction is spot on with all three photographs, however for the colours alone I’d give this one a win for the iPhone. Galaxy S22 Ultra, broad lens.
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iPhone 13 Pro, broad lens.
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Pixel 6 Pro, broad lens.
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Shooting with the superwide lenses, the colours are once more much less pure on the S22 Ultra. I do like the hotter, lighter tones on the constructing and the highway, nevertheless. S22 Ultra, 3x optical zoom.
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iPhone 13 Pro, 3x optical zoom.
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Pixel 6 Pro, 4x optical zoom.
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At 3x optical zoom on the S22 Ultra and iPhone 13 Pro, each photographs are pin-sharp and full of element, however I choose the iPhone’s deeper tones, notably on the massive inexperienced door. The Pixel 6 Pro has a 4x optical zoom, which supplies a better view than the iPhone can handle and I believe its shot right here is excellent, with nice publicity and element. Galaxy S22 Ultra, 10x optical zoom.
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But the zoom is the place the S22 Ultra performs its actual trump card, taking its optical zoom proper as much as 10x and simply beating the attain of its rivals. Here I’ve been capable of get a lot nearer into this scene, and whereas there is a shift within the colours, I’m impressed with the general publicity and element. And it truly is that zoom that units the S22 Ultra aside from any of its rivals. It offers you a view that you just cannot get with the opposite telephones. While you won’t need to shoot with it on a regular basis, I actually get pleasure from making use of it typically. I’m a photographer myself and having this 10x zoom is identical as carrying a giant telephoto zoom with you on a DSLR. It lets you discover completely totally different compositions within the scene in entrance of you — ones that your folks with their wide-angle lenses merely will not be capable of seize. Galaxy S22 Ultra, 10x optical zoom.
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I’ve used it right here to get this superb shot overlooking the suburb of Leith, with the snow-capped hills within the background. Galaxy S22 Ultra, 10x optical zoom.
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And right here, to seize this dreamy scape overlooking the town.Galaxy S22 Ultra, 10x optical zoom.
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iPhone 13 Pro, 3x optical zoom.
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Pixel 6 Pro, 4x optical zoom.
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In this view of Edinburgh’s Salisbury Crags, I’ve been capable of fill the body with the rocky outcrop on the S22 Ultra, whereas the iPhone and Pixel simply present the crags as a distant little bit of geology. Galaxy S22 Ultra, customary lens.
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iPhone 13 Pro, customary lens.
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Pixel 6 Pro, customary lens.
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Then there’s this scene overlooking Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens. Very little to decide on between the three photographs.Galaxy S22 Ultra, 10x optical zoom.
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iPhone 13 Pro, 3x optical zoom.
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Pixel 6 Pro, 4x optical zoom.
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But hitting that zoom lens and the S22 simply destroys the competitors, giving a wonderful up-close view of the towers and turrets that I really like a lot on this stunning metropolis. Fair to say, then, that the S22 Ultra has impressed me with its zooming skills. But these are all daylight photographs taken when the solar is shining and the whole lot appears to be like gloriously colourful. So what about when the town falls into darkness?Galaxy S22 Ultra, night time mode, customary lens.
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iPhone 13 Pro, night time mode, customary lens.
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Pixel 6 Pro, night time mode, customary lens.
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The variations between the telephones’ common lenses turn out to be much more noticeable, for one factor. Both the S22 Ultra and Pixel 6 Pro’s pictures are tormented by this brown patch towards the underside of the body which does not precisely look stunning, however that is not a difficulty on the iPhone’s shot, which is crisp, vibrant and with spot-on colours. S22 Ultra, night time mode, customary lens.
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iPhone 13 Pro, night time mode, customary lens.
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Pixel 6 Pro, night time mode, customary lens.
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The S22 Ultra has executed a lot better right here, with a nicer-looking shot than it managed in that boat scene. It’s acquired a typically comparable coloration steadiness and publicity because the iPhone 13 Pro, however zooming proper in on these particulars exhibits that the iPhone 13 Pro’s shot has higher readability on these tiny night time time particulars. Galaxy S22 Ultra, night time mode, customary lens, 100% crop.
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iPhone 13 Pro, night time mode, customary lens, 100% crop.
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Whether you’d discover that distinction in your on a regular basis capturing is unlikely. But hey, when you’re spending over $1,000 on a telephone you would be proper to nitpick issues like this. Galaxy S22, night time mode, broad lens.
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iPhone 13 Pro, night time mode, broad lens.
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Pixel 6 Pro, night time mode, broad lens.
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None of the telephones are nice with regards to ultrawide night time photographs. Sure, the pictures are nearly vivid sufficient, however the particulars are a lot fuzzier than from the common lenses and there is much more picture noise. They’ll most likely do in a pinch, however you should not depend on any of them for actually fascinating wide-angle night time time pictures. Galaxy S22 Ultra, night time mode, 3x optical zoom.
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iPhone 13 Pro, night time mode, 3x optical zoom.
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Pixel 6 Pro, night time mode, 4x optical zoom.
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Night mode works a lot better with the varied zoom lenses nevertheless, with the S22 Ultra’s 3x optical lens and the Pixel 6 Pro’s 4x optical lens each capturing vivid and detailed photographs. Not a terrific effort from the iPhone right here, nevertheless. Galaxy S22 Ultra, night time mode, 10x optical zoom.
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You can take that zoom as much as 10x optical on the S22 Ultra even at night time. I’m impressed with this shot, particularly contemplating how way more it must stabilize the picture when utilizing such enormous zoom ranges. So which telephone has actually wowed me with its pictures on this take a look at? Well to be sincere I’m a bit disillusioned within the iPhone in a few of these photographs, with fairly chilly and darkish pictures which look a lot better taken with both of its Android rivals. The S22 Ultra’s photographs have been constantly vivid, vibrant and its zoom has no competitors. The iPhone 13 Pro does take the lead in some night-time conditions, and usually its coloration steadiness is a little more pure.Much of it will come down to non-public choice, and whereas I would criticize Samsung’s telephone for inaccurate colours, you may choose the way in which its photographs look. But the S22 Ultra has typically put in a stellar effort right here and it is a very good telephone to think about when you’re on the lookout for an incredible all-round pictures expertise out of your telephone.
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