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I tested 100x zoom on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Pixel 10 Pro, and Razr Fold - here's who won

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Why This Matters

This comparison highlights the evolving capabilities of smartphone zoom photography, emphasizing that even flagship models like the Galaxy S26 Ultra may lag behind competitors like the Pixel 10 Pro and Motorola Razr Fold in long-range zoom quality. For consumers, this underscores the importance of choosing a device based on actual camera performance rather than brand reputation alone. For the tech industry, it signals a competitive push to improve mobile zoom technology and meet user expectations for high-quality distant shots.

Key Takeaways

A man is holding the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Pixel 10 Pro, and the Motorola Razr Fold in front of an amusement park while conducting some long-distance photo shooting. Adam Doud/ZDNET

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ZDNET's key takeaways

We tested three smartphones in long-range zoom photography.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Pixel 10 Pro, and Motorola Razr Fold.

Samsung has some catching up to do.

A couple of weeks ago, I was in the midst of reviewing the Motorola Razr Fold while on a press trip to the Grand Canyon. The Razr Fold has a Super Res Zoom feature that will take a 100x photo and clean it up pretty convincingly. So, I saw a river in the distance and pulled out the Razr Fold to grab a shot.

Also: Google Pixel vs. Samsung Galaxy: I've tested both brands extensively, and there's a clear winner

Then, I remembered I had the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra in my pocket. Samsung is like the OG of super res zoom, so I decided to grab the same shot. The only problem is that the Samsung shot looked really bad, while the Motorola -- the folding Motorola -- came out crispy. Here are the two, side by side.

Side-by-side shots taken with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (left) and the Motorola Razr Fold (right). Adam Doud/ZDNET

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