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I took 500 photos with Samsung and Vivo's Ultra camera phones - and the winner is not so obvious

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Why This Matters

This comparison highlights the fierce competition between flagship ultra phones from Samsung and Vivo, emphasizing how Chinese manufacturers are closing the gap in camera technology. For consumers, it underscores the importance of evaluating camera performance beyond brand reputation, as newer models can deliver surprising results. The evolving smartphone camera landscape continues to push innovation, benefiting users seeking premium photography capabilities.

Key Takeaways

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

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The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is one of the best phones you can buy right now. However, outside the US, it is facing tough competition from Chinese ultra phones, the latest being Vivo's X300 Ultra.

It takes on the Samsung phone with a camera system that's packed with not one or two, but three massive sensors. I was curious how it'd compare to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, so I took the two phones on a photowalk. While I expected Vivo to perform better, Samsung surprised me in a few areas.

Before I dive into the results from both devices, here's an overview of how their specs compare.

By the numbers

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Vivo X300 Ultra Main camera 200MP (OIS, PDAF), 1/1.3" sensor with f/1.4 aperture and 23mm focal length 200MP (OIS, Laser autofocus, PDAF), 1/1.12″ sensor with f/1.9 aperture and 35mm focal length Telephoto Cameras 1. 50MP (Periscope tele, OIS, PDAF), 1/2.52" sensor with f/2.9 aperture and 5x optical zoom

2. 10MP (Telephoto, OIS, PDAF), 1/3.94" sensor, with f/2.4 aperture and 3x optical zoom 200MP (Periscope tele, OIS, PDAF), 1/1.4" sensor with f/2.7 aperture telemacro capabilities and 3.7x optical zoom Ultrawide camera 50 MP (Ultra-wide, PDAF), 1/2.5" sensor with f/1.9 aperture 50 MP (OIS, PDAF), 1/1.28" sensor with f/2.0 aperture

Main camera results

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