Insider Ice Universe has vividly demonstrated the difference in photographic capabilities between Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. While there aren’t many comparative photos, they are quite indicative. For example, the images below were taken with 5x zoom for the Galaxy and 4.3x for Xiaomi’s latest model. The difference in this scenario is huge: the photos taken with Xiaomi clearly showcase all details, whereas the S25 Ultra fails to even depict the air vent grille.
In a series of images of a building, the Galaxy performs quite well. With 10x and 30x zoom, the difference between smartphones is not as evident, aside from the variations in image processing styles.
But when zoomed in 60 times, it’s again very easy to determine the winner.
Recall, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is equipped with a 200-megapixel “telephoto” sensor based on a large sensor, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s five-times zoom is provided by a sensor with a resolution of 50 MP with an optical format of just 1/2.52 inches, which is quite small. Additionally, it is worth noting that the Galaxy S26 Ultra should be released soon, but it seems its cameras will hardly differ from the current model.
