I in contrast the Galaxy S25 Extremely’s digicam to the Discover X8 Extremely, and the winner is apparent

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, typically collaborate with well-known digicam firms, like Hasselblad, Zeiss, and Leica, to reinforce their digicam tuning.

Samsung and Google, however, have taken a barely totally different path. They rely extra on their very own computational pictures and software program optimizations relatively than counting on these legacy names for his or her digicam 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 have been fairly revealing.

A better take a look at the digicam {hardware}

Each telephones provide the same digicam setup

Earlier than we take a look at the photographs from each telephones, let’s shortly go over the digicam {hardware}. The Galaxy S25 Ultra incorporates a 200-megapixel main 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, however, comes with a quad 50-megapixel setup, together with a 50-megapixel main 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 completely in-house. In actual fact, 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 pictures.

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

The rear digicam showdown

Which Android smartphone has the higher digicam?

Earlier than we start, it is price noting that this digicam comparability focuses solely on photographs taken with the rear digicam setups of each telephones. All pictures have been captured in tap-and-shoot mode, with Professional mode not used, as most customers sometimes do not shoot that manner.

Additionally, remember the fact that photographs to the left of the slider have been taken with the Oppo Discover X8 Extremely, whereas these on the appropriate have been captured utilizing the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely.

Major

Proper off the bat, you may discover a giant distinction in shade replica 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 practical 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 general rendering feels extra balanced and visually pleasing on this case. Personally, I choose the look of the Galaxy S25 Extremely shot right here.

This one tells the same 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 truly choose the Discover X8 Extremely’s photograph right here. It goes for a extra saturated, punchier look, which works superbly on this scene, filled with shade and distinction.

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

Extremely-wide

Oppo Discover X8 Extremely vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely: ultra-wide take a look at

Shifting on to the ultra-wide photographs, 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, however, goes for a barely cooler look. Sure, the picture does look barely extra dramatic, but it surely additionally feels a bit flatter general and lacks the punchiness that the Oppo manages to ship straight out of the digicam.

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 take a look at

Oppo Discover X8 Extremely vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely: 3x zoom take a look at

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 exhibits within the background blur and shallower depth of subject. Nonetheless, that wider aperture additionally makes it trickier to deal with highlights, and Oppo would not fairly pull it off right here.

Samsung does a noticeably higher job at managing gentle. 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 pink flowers within the backside left.

Each are stable photographs, 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 take a look at

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

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely holds up surprisingly effectively, however loses sharpness once 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 stable work, however they strategy shade 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 take a look at the mugs and books within the shot above.

The Galaxy S25 Extremely leans in the direction of a extra impartial shade tone. The picture finally ends up wanting a bit flat and fewer participating. There’s additionally barely much less readability across the e-book labels and the mugs once 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 effectively. The feel of the material and the sharpness of the beads on the hairpiece are higher maintained right here.

Evening/Low-light

With regards to low-light and night-time photographs, 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 seems brighter general with out overexposing any a part of the body.

Alternatively, 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 brilliant string lights.

SoC

Snapdragon 8 Elite

Show

6.9-inch

RAM

12GB

Storage

256GB, 512GB, 1TB

Battery

5,000mAh

Rear digicam

f/1.7 200-megapixel extensive, 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 newest 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 effectively, the Discover X8 Extremely once more shines with higher publicity and extra correct shade tones. Particulars on the sofa, wall textures, and decor seem crisp and evenly lit, with out darkish patches or overly brilliant 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 digicam is best?

So, which digicam is best? Effectively, that is dependent upon what you worth extra.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely continues to ship wonderful consistency, particularly in daylight, with its pure shade science and wonderful dynamic vary. It additionally performs effectively 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 digicam produces livelier, extra balanced photographs, and each zoom and low-light pictures 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 photographs, and daylight picture high quality that is almost on par with Samsung.