The Samsung S25 Ultra and Vivo X200 Pro smartphones are held side by side in front of a historical building with a bridge and clock tower in the background.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Vivo X200 Pro: A Complete Camera Comparison

When it comes to flagship smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Vivo X200 Pro are both top contenders, each offering powerful camera systems aimed at mobile photographers and videographers. From stunning cinematic shots to detailed macro photography, these phones bring pro-level features to your fingertips. But which one is the better choice for you?

In this detailed comparison, we’ll dive into the strengths and weaknesses of each phone's camera system and discuss how accessories like filters and lenses can elevate your mobile shooting experience.

Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Vivo X200 Pro Camera Comparison

Both the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Vivo X200 Pro are packed with impressive camera hardware, but they approach photography differently. The S25 Ultra features four cameras—main, ultra-wide, telephoto, and a 3x telephoto lens. The Vivo X200 Pro, on the other hand, has three lenses: ultra-wide, main, and 3.7x telephoto.

While the S25 Ultra’s four cameras offer more versatility, the X200 Pro’s 3.7x telephoto lens provides higher image quality at longer zoom levels. The S25 Ultra’s 3x telephoto, while useful, may not capture as sharp or detailed images as the Vivo X200 Pro, especially when zooming in on fine details.

Close-up of a statue taken with the Samsung S25 Ultra using its telephoto lens, showing sharp details of the sculpture against a clear sky.

S25 Ultra vs Vivo X200 Pro Cinematic Shots and SPOILER

Both phones support log video recording, offering flexibility for filmmakers looking to color grade their footage. The S25 Ultra shines here with its ability to switch between cameras while maintaining log recording, which is a huge advantage for creators looking to shoot smoothly across different focal lengths.

That said, the Vivo X200 Pro offers excellent portrait mode, delivering sharp and natural bokeh effects with ease. While the S25 Ultra can achieve similar results in RAW format, the Vivo X200 Pro offers a more intuitive user interface, including real-time adjustments for blur and focal length.

If you’re shooting cinematic footage, the S25 Ultra is a better option for flexibility with log video and camera switching, but the Vivo X200 Pro is a fantastic choice for natural portrait shots and ease of use.

Samsung S25 Ultra A bridge is shown in three different perspectives: the left image uses an ultra-wide camera, the middle shows the main camera, and the right image uses a telephoto lens to capture a zoomed-in view of the bridge.

S25 Ultra vs Vivo X200 Pro Portrait Mode

Portrait mode is where the S25 Ultra and Vivo X200 Pro diverge in terms of image processing. The Vivo X200 Proprovides a much more punchy and dynamic portrait effect, with more control over background blur and focal length. You can even adjust the blur's character, simulating the look of different lenses. This makes the X200 Pro more intuitive and better suited for portrait photography.

On the other hand, the S25 Ultra offers RAW portrait photography, which gives you more post-processing flexibility. However, it requires additional editing and manual adjustments to match the punchy quality that Vivo achieves directly in-camera.

A portrait of a person standing by a railing with a cityscape in the background. On the left, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra captures the image, and on the right, the Vivo X200 Pro's portrait mode is shown with a blurred background using its 85mm lens.

S25 Ultra vs Vivo X200 Pro (4 cameras vs 3 cameras)

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has an edge with its four-camera system, including a 5x telephoto lens, which is great for those looking to get a bit more zoom flexibility. However, many users feel that the 3x telephoto lens on the S25 Ultra doesn’t provide significant added value. It could have been a better lens for macro photography, but in practice, the ultra-wide lens is more useful for that purpose.

In contrast, the Vivo X200 Pro has just three cameras, but the 3.7x telephoto lens offers better overall image quality when zooming in on distant objects. It gives clearer and more detailed shots, especially for fine details like street signs or text on distant objects.

S25 Ultra vs Vivo X200 Pro Macro Mode Comparison and Wide Angle

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra uses its ultra-wide camera for macro photography, which allows you to focus closely on subjects but introduces some distortion in the process. While the wide-angle camera can focus on small objects, it doesn’t always preserve the proportions as well as a dedicated telephoto lens would.

The Vivo X200 Pro doesn’t have a dedicated macro lens, but it’s still capable of capturing impressive macro shots with its main 1X camera or 3.7x telephoto lens. Many photographers prefer the X200 Pro for its ability to preserve the proportions of objects at close range.

A close-up comparison of frost on a plant. On the left, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra captures the image with a macro lens, while on the right, the Vivo X200 Pro uses its 85mm lens to focus on the same scene with a clear depth of field and sharp details.

S25 Ultra vs Vivo X200 Pro ZOOM Camera Photography Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 5x telephoto zoom lens, which allows you to capture distant subjects with relative ease. However, the image quality can degrade when you zoom in beyond 3x, especially in finer details. The Vivo X200 Pro only offers a 3.7x zoom lens, but it produces sharper and more detailed images at similar focal lengths, making it a better choice for telephoto photography.

A zoom camera comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (left) and the Vivo X200 Pro (right), both showcasing a sign with text in Czech. The image highlights the difference in zoom capabilities, with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra capturing a wider scene, while the Vivo X200 Pro offers a much closer and clearer zoom on the text.

S25 Ultra Video Quality Improvements from S24 Ultra

One of the major upgrades in the S25 Ultra over its predecessor, the S24 Ultra, is in video quality. The 5x telephoto camera now offers smoother transitions when zooming in and out, with much better stability during camera switches. This makes the S25 Ultra an excellent choice for mobile videographers who need more control over their shots.

Vivo X200 Pro vs S25 Ultra Video Stabilization on Telephoto Camera

When it comes to video stabilization, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra performs slightly better, especially with its telephoto lens. The video is more stable and less shaky compared to the Vivo X200 Pro, even when filming handheld. The Vivo X200 Pro does offer action mode, but it crops the image, which reduces the overall field of view.

S25 Ultra Freewell Filters & Lenses

To truly elevate your filming experience with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, consider using accessories like the Freewell Anamorphic Lens. This lens can significantly enhance the cinematic look of your videos, giving them the signature wide, cinematic feel with stunning horizontal lens flares. Additionally, the Freewell Lenses & Filters Lineupoffers a variety of lenses and filters that help control light, improve image clarity, and offer more shooting options in different lighting conditions.

These accessories, such as the Samsung S25 Ultra ND Filters, can improve the quality of your footage by enabling you to control exposure in bright conditions, allowing for smoother video results.

S25 Ultra vs Vivo X200 Pro 200MP Mode Photo Comparison

Both phones boast 200MP cameras, but they handle resolution differently. On the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, the 200MP mode is available on the main camera, offering incredible detail and clarity. The Vivo X200 Pro offers a 50MP mode for the 3.7x telephoto lens, which also produces sharp images, but it’s limited by the sensor size and telephoto capabilities.

Side-by-side comparison of high-resolution mode photos from the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (left) and Vivo X200 Pro (right), showing detailed close-up shots of brickwork with the S25 Ultra performing better with the main camera and the Vivo X200 Pro excelling with the zoom camera.

S25 Ultra vs Vivo X200 Pro My Opinion on Camera UI and Pro Mode

Samsung’s camera UI is well-organized and intuitive, especially in Pro mode, where you can adjust settings like ISO, shutter speed, and white balance. However, Vivo’s UI is simpler and quicker for those looking to take great shots without delving deep into manual controls. The Vivo X200 Pro also offers quicker access to settings like macro mode, HDR, and background blur adjustments, making it more convenient for casual users.

Comparison of the camera interfaces on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (left) and Vivo X200 Pro (right). Both phones display the camera viewfinder with the user adjusting settings in the Pro Mode, showcasing the UI differences between the two devices while capturing a scene with frozen water.

S25 Ultra Needs To Fix This One Thing

While the S25 Ultra excels in many areas, it’s not without its shortcomings. One major issue is the lack of real-time LUT previews in log video recording. The ability to see a live preview of the color grade would help users make quicker adjustments in bright environments.

Side-by-side photo comparison of the Charles Bridge in Prague taken with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (left) and Vivo X200 Pro (right). The photo showcases similar lighting conditions and perspectives, highlighting the color rendering and sharpness differences between the two phones

S25 Ultra vs Vivo X200 Pro LOG Video Comparison

Both phones support log video recording, but the S25 Ultra offers the advantage of continuous recording across cameras. The Vivo X200 Pro requires users to stop and start recording when switching between cameras while in log mode.

A comparison of two photos showing the sky and buildings with high resolution mode enabled. On the left, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra photo shows more detailed architecture, while on the right, the Vivo X200 Pro's photo showcases a sharper sky and building details, with a different color tone and slight exposure differences.

S25 Ultra Cons in Log

While log recording on the S25 Ultra offers great flexibility, the lack of a preview LUT in the camera makes it difficult to judge how the footage will look after color grading, especially in high-light environments.

Vivo X200 Pro Cons in Log

On the Vivo X200 Pro, while log recording works great, it lacks the ability to continuously switch between cameras during a recording. This makes it less versatile than the S25 Ultra for multi-camera video shoots.

Opinion on Their Cameras

In conclusion, both the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Vivo X200 Pro offer impressive camera systems, but they cater to different needs. If you’re looking for a versatile, all-around performer with the ability to shoot in log, macro shots, and zoomed-in detail, the S25 Ultra is the way to go. However, if you prefer a more user-friendly interface, better portrait mode, and sharper telephoto shots, the Vivo X200 Pro excels in those areas.

Content Credit: Steven Divish

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