I in contrast the Galaxy S25 Extremely&#...

Most Android OEMs have shifted towards making an “Extremely” model of their flagship smartphones, that includes the best camera hardware they’ll provide. Many manufacturers, together with Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi, usually collaborate with well-known digital camera firms, like Hasselblad, Zeiss, and Leica, to boost their digital camera tuning.

Samsung and Google, alternatively, have taken a barely completely different path. They rely extra on their very own computational images and software program optimizations fairly than counting on these legacy names for his or her digital camera tuning.

To see how these two approaches examine at the moment, I examined the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in opposition to the Oppo Discover X8 Extremely — and the outcomes had been fairly revealing.

A better have a look at the digital camera {hardware}

Each telephones provide an analogous digital camera setup

Earlier than we have a look at the pictures from each telephones, let’s shortly go over the digital camera {hardware}. The Galaxy S25 Ultra contains a 200-megapixel major sensor with an f/1.7 aperture and OIS. It is paired with a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens, a 10-megapixel 3x optical zoom lens, and a 50-megapixel 5x zoom lens.

The Oppo Discover X8 Extremely, alternatively, comes with a quad 50-megapixel setup, together with a 50-megapixel major lens with an f/1.8 aperture, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens with a 120-degree FoV, a 50-megapixel 3x zoom lens, and a 50-megapixel 6x optical zoom lens.

As talked about earlier, Oppo has partnered with Hasselblad over the previous few years to fine-tune photograph post-processing, whereas Samsung handles picture tuning solely in-house. Actually, Oppo has renewed its collaboration with Hasselblad and claims to be engaged on a “next-generation cellular imaging system” that goals to set a “new customary” for smartphone images.

However does Hasselblad processing really make a distinction? Let’s discover out.

The rear digital camera showdown

Which Android smartphone has the higher digital camera?

Earlier than we start, it is value noting that this digital camera comparability focuses solely on photographs taken with the rear digital camera setups of each telephones. All images had been captured in tap-and-shoot mode, with Professional mode not used, as most customers usually do not shoot that approach.

Additionally, understand that photographs to the left of the slider had been taken with the Oppo Discover X8 Extremely, whereas these on the fitting had been captured utilizing the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely.

Major

Proper off the bat, you may discover a giant distinction in coloration copy and HDR processing between the 2 telephones.

Within the shot above, you may discover that the Galaxy S25 Extremely goes for a extra saturated and brighter look, whereas the Oppo Discover X8 Extremely goals for lifelike pores and skin tones with a wider dynamic vary. However the white stability on the Oppo shot feels barely off. The greenery within the background has a cooler, nearly bluish tint that does not look pure.

Samsung could also be boosting colours a bit, however its total rendering feels extra balanced and visually pleasing on this case. Personally, I favor the look of the Galaxy S25 Extremely shot right here.

This one tells an analogous story. The Oppo shot as soon as once more appears to wrestle a bit with both HDR or white stability. Look carefully on the textual content above the truck — it is clearly seen within the picture taken utilizing the Galaxy S25 Extremely, however tougher to learn within the Discover X8 Extremely one.

That mentioned, Oppo does a greater job of highlighting the main points contained in the truck.

That is the place Oppo actually shines. I really favor the Discover X8 Extremely’s photograph right here. It goes for a extra saturated, punchier look, which works superbly on this scene, stuffed with coloration and distinction.

The Galaxy S25 Extremely’s model is flatter, with much less coloration and distinction, and loses some data in shadowy areas.

Extremely-wide

Oppo Discover X8 Extremely vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely: ultra-wide check

Transferring on to the ultra-wide pictures, the Discover X8 Extremely produces a brighter (and hotter) picture. The greens look a bit livelier, and there is extra seen element within the darker areas close to the underside left. The general publicity feels extra even throughout the body.

The Galaxy S25 Extremely, alternatively, goes for a barely cooler look. Sure, the picture does look barely extra dramatic, but it surely additionally feels a bit flatter total and lacks the punchiness that the Oppo manages to ship straight out of the digital camera.

There’s additionally a giant distinction in distortion dealing with. The picture from the Galaxy S25 Extremely seems barely extra stretched towards the perimeters, whereas the Oppo flagship retains issues tighter and extra balanced.

Zoom check

Oppo Discover X8 Extremely vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely: 3x zoom check

At 3x zoom, each telephones seize contrast-heavy photographs, however the variations begin to present when you look nearer. The Oppo Discover X8 Extremely makes use of a decrease aperture (f/2.1 in comparison with f/2.4 on the Galaxy S25 Extremely), and that reveals within the background blur and shallower depth of area. Nonetheless, that wider aperture additionally makes it trickier to deal with highlights, and Oppo does not fairly pull it off right here.

Samsung does a noticeably higher job at managing mild. Have a look at the topic’s white clothes — the S25 Extremely retains texture and definition, whereas the Oppo shot blows out a few of these particulars. The identical goes for the crimson flowers within the backside left.

Each are strong pictures, however Samsung takes the lead right here with higher element retention and extra managed distinction.

Oppo Discover X8 Extremely vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely: 30x zoom check

That is the place the Discover X8 Extremely pulls forward. At 30x zoom, the Oppo flagship captures a noticeably sharper picture. You possibly can clearly make out the textures on the door in addition to the partitions. You possibly can even clearly see the timber behind the shed.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely holds up surprisingly nicely, however loses sharpness if you zoom in. The partitions and doorways of the shed begin to blur, and also you lose definition across the grass in entrance.

Indoor lighting

In well-lit indoor circumstances, each telephones put in strong work, however they method coloration and publicity otherwise. The Discover X8 Extremely tends to go for a hotter, barely extra saturated look. The pictures have a bit of additional vibrance, simply have a look at the mugs and books within the shot above.

The Galaxy S25 Extremely leans in direction of a extra impartial coloration tone. The picture finally ends up wanting a bit flat and fewer partaking. There’s additionally barely much less readability across the guide labels and the mugs if you zoom in.

Equally, within the second shot above, the distinction lies within the tone. Oppo goes for a hotter tone, whereas the Galaxy S25 Extremely retains issues cooler. The shot from the Galaxy S2 Extremely is sharper as nicely. The feel of the material and the sharpness of the beads on the hairpiece are higher maintained right here.

Evening/Low-light

Relating to low-light and night-time pictures, the Discover X8 Extremely clearly pulls forward. It delivers a cleaner, extra balanced night time shot — lighting is extra evenly distributed, highlights are higher managed, and the picture appears to be like brighter total with out overexposing any a part of the body.

Then again, the Galaxy S25 Extremely produces a warmer-toned picture, but it surely feels overprocessed. Lights seem blown out, and there is extra noticeable noise within the shadows. The shot lacks the pure dynamic vary that Oppo manages to retain, particularly across the vibrant string lights.

SoC

Snapdragon 8 Elite

Show

6.9-inch

RAM

12GB

Storage

256GB, 512GB, 1TB

Battery

5,000mAh

Rear digital camera

f/1.7 200-megapixel huge, f/1.9 50-megapixel ultra-wide, f/2.4 10 megapixel 3x telephoto, f/3.4 50-megapixel 5x telephoto

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely is essentially the most refined flagship from the model but. It comes with a giant 6.9-inch edge-to-edge AMOLED panel, the most recent Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and a quad-camera setup with as much as 5x optical zoom and 100x digital zoom.

Equally, right here as nicely, the Discover X8 Extremely once more shines with higher publicity and extra correct coloration tones. Particulars on the sofa, wall textures, and decor seem crisp and evenly lit, with out darkish patches or overly vibrant highlights.

The Galaxy S25 Extremely leans towards a contrast-heavy look, which additionally ends in some lack of element. Areas just like the left facet of the sofa and the wooden paneling seem muddier. The general scene feels darker and lacks the heat that Oppo delivers.

Which digital camera is best?

So, which digital camera is best? Properly, that is determined by what you worth extra.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely continues to ship wonderful consistency, particularly in daylight, with its pure coloration science and wonderful dynamic vary. It additionally performs nicely in indoor lighting, sustaining impartial and pure tones with out making photographs overly heat.

That mentioned, the Oppo Discover X8 Extremely makes a compelling case. Its ultra-wide digital camera produces livelier, extra balanced pictures, and each zoom and low-light images are exceptionally good.

If I needed to choose one, I might lean towards the Oppo Discover X8 Extremely. You get higher zoom efficiency, superior low-light pictures, and daylight picture high quality that is almost on par with Samsung.