Introduction
The iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Camera Test 2025 is here. We put both flagships side by side to see which truly shines in photos and video.
If you’ve been keeping up with smartphones in 2025, you already know the big question:
👉 Which one takes better photos — the iPhone 15 Pro Max or the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra?
These two phones are the flagships of flagships, and both are fighting hard to claim the crown of best camera phone in 2025.
But here’s the thing: numbers and specs don’t tell the full story. A 200MP sensor doesn’t automatically beat a 48MP sensor. That’s why I decided to do a real-world camera test, putting the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung S24 Ultra side by side in daylight, low light, portraits, selfies, zoom, and video.
And instead of just rattling off features, I’ll share how these phones actually perform in your hands — whether you’re snapping casual pics, making TikToks, or shooting serious content.
Let’s jump in. 📸
Camera Specs at a Glance
Before testing, here’s what each phone brings to the table:
iPhone 15 Pro Max
- 48MP main camera with sensor-shift OIS
- 12MP ultra-wide
- 12MP telephoto with exclusive 5x zoom lens (Pro Max only)
- 12MP TrueDepth front camera with autofocus
- Features: Photonic Engine, Smart HDR 5, ProRAW/ProRes, Dolby Vision HDR, Cinematic Mode
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
- 200MP main camera with OIS
- 12MP ultra-wide
- 10MP telephoto (3x) + 50MP telephoto (5x)
- 12MP AI selfie camera
- Features: AI Nightography, Expert RAW, 8K video, 100x Space Zoom
On paper, Samsung looks like a beast. But real-world results aren’t always what the spec sheet promises.
Daylight Shots
Both phones are fantastic in good lighting, but their styles are totally different:
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: Sticks to natural colors. Skin tones look real, skies aren’t overly blue, and you get a very balanced photo. It feels like what your eyes actually saw.
- Samsung S24 Ultra: Goes bold. Colors are more vibrant, grass is greener, skies pop harder. Honestly, photos look Instagram-ready straight out of the camera — but sometimes a bit exaggerated.
👉 Verdict: Tie. iPhone = realism, Samsung = drama.
Night Mode 🌙
This is where you see the philosophy split again.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: Keeps things natural. Night shots look like night shots — cinematic, darker, with clean detail. Apple doesn’t try to fake daylight.
- Samsung S24 Ultra: Brightens the whole scene like it’s daytime. Eye-catching for sure, but zoom in and you’ll notice extra noise and sharpening.
👉 Verdict: iPhone wins for authentic night photos. Samsung wins if you like brighter, share-ready pics.
Portrait Mode 👩🦱
Here’s where Apple flexes.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: Skin tones are lifelike, edge detection is on point, and the bokeh blur looks smooth and DSLR-like.
- Samsung S24 Ultra: Still good, but it smooths out skin a little too much. Great if you like that beauty-filter vibe, but not as natural.
👉 Verdict: iPhone takes it.
Zoom Test 🔍
Samsung owns this category — no debate.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: The new 5x zoom lens is sharp, but once you go past 10x, detail drops off quickly.
- Samsung S24 Ultra: The 5x telephoto is fantastic, and thanks to AI processing, zoom photos stay usable even at 30x. At 100x, it’s more for fun, but still impressive.
👉 Verdict: Samsung is the zoom king.
Video 🎥
If you care about video — this section matters most.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: Still the best video phone on the market. Dolby Vision HDR, excellent stabilization, and cinematic mode in 4K give you pro-level results. Perfect for vloggers, YouTubers, or anyone serious about content.
- Samsung S24 Ultra: The 8K option is cool, but stabilization and color consistency aren’t as polished as Apple’s.
👉 Verdict: iPhone by a mile.
Selfies 🤳
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: Natural, detailed, sharp. Great skin tones.
- Samsung S24 Ultra: Brighter selfies with built-in beautification. Some people will love it, others will find it too processed.
👉 Verdict: iPhone for realism, Samsung for polished selfies.
What Makes Each Phone Unique?
iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Exclusive 5x zoom telephoto lens only on Pro Max
- Best video in any smartphone right now
- Apple’s Photonic Engine for true-to-life colors
- ProRAW & ProRes support for serious creators
- Seamless Apple ecosystem perks (AirDrop, iCloud, Final Cut integration)
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
- A crazy 200MP main sensor for unmatched detail
- Dual telephoto lenses (3x + 5x) — more zoom flexibility
- AI Nightography for brighter low-light pics
- 100x Space Zoom for fun experiments
- S Pen support for editing and productivity
Side-by-Side: Unique Features
| Unique Trait | iPhone 15 Pro Max | Samsung S24 Ultra |
| Telephoto Setup | 5x exclusive zoom | Dual telephoto (3x + 5x) |
| Main Sensor | 48MP Photonic Engine | 200MP beast |
| Video Strength | Dolby Vision HDR, Cinematic Mode | 8K video |
| Editing Tools | ProRAW & ProRes | S Pen + Expert RAW |
| Night Photography Style | Natural & cinematic | Bright & boosted |
| Ecosystem | Apple integration | Samsung DeX + S Pen |
| Overall Vibe | Best for creators & pros | Best for zoom & bold pics |
Real-World Takeaways
- Pick the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if you’re obsessed with zoom shots, want the most versatile camera setup, or prefer punchy, colorful photos.
- Pick the iPhone 15 Pro Max if you care about realistic photography, natural skin tones, and hands-down the best video quality in a phone today.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | iPhone 15 Pro Max | Samsung S24 Ultra | Winner |
| Daylight Photos | Balanced & natural | Vibrant & bold | Tie |
| Night Photos | Realistic | Brighter | iPhone |
| Portraits | Natural skin tones | Slightly smoothed | iPhone |
| Zoom | 5x sharp | 100x zoom monster | Samsung |
| Video | Cinematic, best-in-class | 8K but less polished | iPhone |
| Selfies | Real detail | Beautified | Tie |
So, Which Should You Buy?
- Pick the iPhone 15 Pro Max if you:
- Care most about video quality.
- Prefer natural, realistic colors.
- Want pro-level tools like ProRAW and ProRes.
- Already use other Apple products.
- Care most about video quality.
- Pick the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if you:
- Love experimenting with zoom and megapixels.
- Want bright, bold photos straight out of the camera.
- Shoot lots of low-light or nightlife content.
- Like the added utility of the S Pen.
- Love experimenting with zoom and megapixels.
Final Verdict
At the end of the day, both of these phones are monsters in mobile photography.
- The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is perfect if you love experimenting with zoom, bold colors, and you want the most versatile camera setup.
- The iPhone 15 Pro Max is unbeatable if you shoot lots of video, care about natural colors, and want photos that look exactly like real life.
So, which one’s for you? Honestly, you can’t go wrong. But if you’re a creator or filmmaker — go iPhone. If you’re a zoom addict or social media sharer — go Samsung.
Either way, in 2025, you’ll be holding one of the best camera phones ever made.
