Early camera samples from the Galaxy S26 Ultra are already making the rounds. This time, the comparisons go beyond last year’s model. Beyond the S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra camera comparison, YouTube creator Sahil Karoul has also posted side-by-side shots on X against the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Vivo X300 Pro.
The tests aren’t perfectly controlled. Framing isn’t identical, and conditions shift between shots. Still, they offer a useful early look at how Samsung’s latest flagship might position itself against two of its biggest camera rivals.
Against the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the S26 Ultra’s images appear noticeably more restrained. Colors lean natural rather than punchy. Apple’s image looks more contrast-heavy and immediately eye-catching. Samsung’s version feels closer to what you’d see with your own eyes. It arguably looks more true-to-life.
The comparison with the Vivo X300 Prohighlights an even bigger stylistic difference. Vivo’s Zeiss-tuned system, especially in its default Vivid mode, delivers saturated, high-contrast images designed to impress at a glance. They’re bold and social-media ready. Samsung’s output, by contrast, stays relatively muted.
In one shot of a vase with red artificial berries, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, S25 Ultra, and Vivo X300 Pro all struggle slightly to render the reds accurately. Vivo’s version not only looks the brightest and most detailed, but also slightly overexposed. Interestingly, some viewers have commented that the S25 Ultra’s handling of the scene actually looked preferable to the newer model.
Overall, there isn’t a major shift in color processing between the S26 Ultra and its predecessor. In some situations — including this one — the S26 Ultra keeps the image a touch brighter and manages noise slightly better, but the differences are subtle.
On the technical side, the S26 Ultra appears to be using a 24MP shooting mode — enabled through Samsung’s Camera Assistant — instead of defaulting to 12MP binning like the S25 Ultra typically does.
