Camera Specs of the Ultra Four Siblings at a Glance

Guide to Choosing the Right Galaxy S Ultra for You

All four models are excellent flagship smartphones, but choosing based on your usual shooting style can maximize satisfaction and optimize spending.

The Galaxy S series Ultra models from Samsung Electronics have always been referred to as the 'ultimate Android smartphone camera.'

However, with new models released every year, users often find themselves wondering, "Is it worth spending more money to upgrade to the latest model?" or "Would it be more reasonable to buy a second-hand or leftover model from the previous generation?"

From the S22 Ultra, which shocked with 100 million pixels, to the S25 Ultra, which improved its completeness with vision ISP and ultra-wide upgrades, we will take a deep look at the changes in camera hardware and the evolution of software across generations, providing a guide to help you choose the model that fits you best.

Summary of Camera Changes by Generation in the Galaxy S Ultra Series

[Hardware Big Jump] S22 Ultra -------->

[Telephoto Generation Change] S23 Ultra  (200 MP Main) -------->

[Video and Ultra Wide Completion] S24 Ultra (50 MP 5x Telephoto) -------->

S25 Ultra (50 MP Ultra Wide Upgrade)

2. Detailed Analysis of Camera Performance and Features by Generation

Galaxy S22 Ultra: The Symbolism of 100 Million Pixels and the Start of the Dual Telephoto Legend

• Key Features: 108 million ($108\text{ MP}$) main camera, 3x and 10x dual optical telephoto lenses.

• Real-World Experience: The title of "100 million pixels" was enough to attract public attention. However, due to the sensor size and limitations of the ISP at the time, there were disappointments with noise occurring in low-light indoor or nighttime conditions compared to pixel density. To achieve truly high-quality results, one had to go through post-processing using the Expert RAW app, making it somewhat geared towards professionals.

• Reasons for Being a Legend: Nevertheless, the dual telephoto system, divided into fixed optical 3x and optical 10x, was an unmatched powerful weapon when shooting at concerts or distant subjects. The clarity of the pure optical 10x zoom without cropping remains the biggest driving force that makes this model feel current.

Galaxy S23 Ultra: Transition to 200 Million Pixels and Stable Detail

• Key Features: Transition to 200 million ($200\text{ MP}$) main camera, significant ISP improvements due to Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

• Real-World Experience: With the main camera rebranded to 200 MP, the detail expression has evolved to a new level. Thanks to the improved sensor performance and upgraded pixel binning technology, the range of ISO sensitivity expression has widened, and the dynamic range (contrast expression) has significantly improved. Especially when shooting in 50 MP RAW mode, the noise suppression that was criticized in the previous S22 Ultra has improved dramatically.

• Disappointments: However, since only the 'main wide camera' underwent dramatic changes among the camera modules, users who frequently use ultra-wide or telephoto lenses may find it somewhat disappointing to feel the generational change just by looking at the thumbnails of the results.

Galaxy S24 Ultra: Practicality of 5x High Resolution by Giving Up 10x Zoom

• Key Features: Exclusion of optical 10x lens, equipped with 50 MP optical 5x telephoto lens, introduction of Samsung AI zoom remaster.

• Real-World Experience: This generation sparked the hottest debates among users at launch. The previously legendary 'optical 10x' lens was removed and replaced with '5x zoom.' However, once opened, the quality of the 50 MP high-resolution 5x lens was overwhelming. The quality in the 5x to 9.9x range, which is most commonly used in daily life, improved dramatically, and the quality of 5x zoom in low-light indoor portrait photos was fantastically captured.

• AI Involvement: The previously concerning high-magnification zoom area over 10x was filled by the newly introduced 'Samsung AI Zoom Remaster' engine. It restored pixels precisely in both photos and videos, producing natural and clean results that are noticeably free of discomfort compared to the original optical 10x.

Galaxy S25 Ultra: Completion of Ultra-Wide High Resolution and Pro-Level Video Recording

• Key Features: Upgrade of ultra-wide camera to 50 MP, support for 4K 60fps / 8K 30fps on all cameras, next-generation vision ISP.

• Real-World Experience: The most noticeable change on the hardware spec sheet is that the ultra-wide camera, which had remained at 12 MP, has finally been changed to a 50 MP high-resolution sensor. This has eliminated the loss of detail at the edges when shooting landscapes, and much more precise depiction is now possible in close-up shots.

• Revolution in Video: While the physical specs of the telephoto lens remained unchanged, the new 'Vision ISP' hardware acceleration has dramatically reduced the long-standing issues of shutter lag and noise during night shooting. Most importantly, with support for seamless 4K 60fps and 8K 30fps recording across all camera lenses, it has completely shed the long-standing label of "great photos but disappointing videos" that the Galaxy Ultra series had, transforming it into a true vlogging and video production device.

The cameras of the Galaxy S Ultra series clearly divide the answers based on the user's purpose. If zoom photography of distant subjects is the top priority: The S22 Ultra with optical 10x or the S24 Ultra with high-resolution 5x and AI remaster are excellent choices. If wide-angle landscapes and high-quality video at any time of day are the top priority: There is no alternative to the S25 Ultra, equipped with high-quality recording on all lenses and a 50 MP ultra-wide.

If you clearly identify whether your shooting purpose is zoom photography, wide-angle landscapes, or smooth 4K video, the chances of regret after purchase will be close to zero. Enjoy Samsung's cutting-edge camera technology, layered on the convenience of a large screen and S Pen, in a way that fits your lifestyle.