Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra lost to iPhone in a comprehensive camera test. Where are its weaknesses?

The DxOMark server has published the camera evaluation results for Samsung’s latest flagship. The Galaxy S26 Ultra achieved an overall score of 157 points, placing it 18th in the global ranking. It thus scored 11 points less than the competing iPhone 17 Pro, which, with 168 points, settled into a shared fourth place alongside the Oppo Find X8 Ultra. Let’s look at the strengths and weaknesses of the best South Korean smartphone, according to the testers.

Brighter Aperture Brings Low-Light Improvements

Compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the new generation comes with a 200Mpx main sensor measuring 1/1.3″ and, most importantly, a brighter f/1.4 aperture. This adjustment is the main reason for the improvement in photography under low-light conditions. DxOMark praises the higher level of detail, lower noise, and more stable color rendering compared to last year’s model.

The camera setup is complemented by a 50Mpx ultrawide with a 120° field of view and a pair of telephoto lenses – a 10Mpx with a 67mm equivalent and a 50Mpx with a 111mm equivalent. The phone supports video recording up to 8K resolution.

Where Does Samsung Lag Behind the Competition?

Despite the progress, the Galaxy S26 Ultra still struggles with several shortcomings that competitors have already managed better. Testers primarily criticize the exposure instability between consecutive shots, which leads to unpredictable results in more challenging scenes. Background noise remains noticeable, especially in portraits taken indoors or in low light.

Another weakness is autofocus in low light, which exhibits a delay of 0.5 to 1.5 seconds between pressing the shutter and capturing the image. This can lead to missed shots. For group photos, testers also point out the excessively shallow depth of field – only the person closest to the camera tends to be sharp, while others and the background are blurred.

Strengths: Colors, Dynamic Range, and Macro

Conversely, DxOMark praises the accurate white balance across most tested scenes, from backlighting to artificial indoor lighting. Skin tones appear natural and pleasing. Another positive is the wide dynamic range, which allows the phone to handle challenging light and shadow contrast well.

In the macro photography category, the Galaxy S26 Ultra achieves excellent results with a high level of detail and accurate colors. However, visible noise also appears here in poorer lighting conditions.

Video: Solid, but Not the Best

In the video category, Samsung scored 153 points, while the iPhone 17 Pro achieved 172 points. Image stabilization works reliably, and the results are smooth even when walking. However, testers noted slight frame shifts during slow panoramic camera movements, which can be distracting.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra lost to iPhone in a comprehensive camera test. Where are its weaknesses? Adam Kurfürst News Adam Kurfürst News

Autofocus in video is one of the weaker points – it reacts slowly to rapid changes in the focal plane, especially in low light. Tracking moving objects lacks smoothness, and “focus breathing” occasionally occurs when the subject’s distance from the camera changes.

Zoom and Ultrawide: Better Noise Control, but Focusing Issues

The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s telephoto lenses produce cleaner images with lower noise than its predecessor, with more accurate and natural color rendering. Samsung also fixed some sporadic issues that occurred with the S25 Ultra model.

The ultrawide camera performs well in daylight, but autofocus fails in low light, negatively affecting image sharpness. This shortcoming significantly reduces the ultrawide’s overall score compared to the competition.

Verdict: Progress, but Not a Breakthrough

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra represents a noticeable improvement over the previous generation, particularly in low-light photography, noise control, and color rendering. However, it still couldn’t catch up with the best competitors in the ultra-premium smartphone segment. The iPhone 17 Pro, Vivo X300 Pro, or Huawei Pura 80 Ultra offer more consistent results, more reliable autofocus, and lower noise levels.

For average users, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will still be an excellent camera phone. However, those who expect the absolute top in every discipline might be slightly disappointed – especially considering the device’s premium price.

Were you surprised by the DxOMark test results?

Source: DxOMark