Samsung S25 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro: Which Is Better?

The battle between the iPhone 17 Pro and the Samsung S25 Ultra continues in 2025, with each phone offering unique features for photography, video recording, and editing. Both devices provide an excellent user experience, but which one stands out as the best phone for photographers and videographers? Let’s compare their camera systems, editing features, and user interface to determine which is the better choice.

Samsung S25 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro: Photo Editing Capabilities

When it comes to photo editing on smartphones, the Samsung S25 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro each offer distinct advantages. The Samsung S25 Ultra comes equipped with S Pen support, making it ideal for detailed photo editing and fine-tuning your images.

Samsung S25 Ultra with S Pen

Its large anti-reflective screen also provides clear visibility, making it great for editing in various lighting conditions. On the other hand, the iPhone 17 Pro shines with its optimized Lightroom app, offering smooth masking and color grading with minimal lag.

iPhone 17 Pro UI

Both devices are excellent for editing photos, but the S25 Ultra stands out with its stylus support, while the iPhone 17 Pro excels in app optimization and speed.

iPhone 17 Pro vs Samsung S25 Ultra Image Quality: Which One Wins?

In terms of image quality, the iPhone 17 Pro often produces sharper, more vibrant photos, especially in well-lit environments. Its computational photography system makes it easy to capture beautiful images with accurate colors.

iPhone 17 Pro Vs S25 Ultra Image Quality

However, the Samsung S25 Ultra offers a more neutral color profile, which some photographers prefer for post-editing. The Samsung S25 Ultra is also more versatile, offering a better zoom and more manual controls.

iPhone 17 Pro Vs S25 Ultra Image Sample

If you prioritize natural, true-to-life photos, the iPhone 17 Pro may be the better option, but for those looking to fine-tune images, the S25 Ultra’s manual settings might be a better choice.

iPhone 17 Pro vs Samsung S25 Ultra: Telephoto Zoom Comparison

The Samsung S25 Ultra leads the pack when it comes to telephoto zoom capabilities, offering 5x optical zoom that allows for detailed close-ups of distant subjects.

iPhone 17 Pro Vs Samsung S25 Ultra Detailed Close Ups

The iPhone 17 Pro, with its 4x optical zoom, still provides impressive zoom functionality but falls short compared to the S25 Ultra's additional zoom lens.

If zoom photography is a priority for you—whether it's capturing wildlife or distant landscapes—the Samsung S25 Ultra will likely be the better option for more flexibility and reach.

iPhone 17 Pro Camera UI Problems: Issues with Camera Navigation

Despite its impressive camera system, the iPhone 17 Pro has received some criticism for its camera UI. The interface can be a bit frustrating, especially when switching between modes or trying to zoom in quickly.

iPhone Camera UI

This issue is particularly noticeable when using the phone in cold environments, as gloved hands can make it difficult to precisely navigate through the menu options.

S25 Ultra Clean UI

The Samsung S25 Ultra, by contrast, has a much more intuitive UI, with easy access to all camera modes without scrolling through multiple menus. If ease of use and speed are critical for you, the Samsung S25 Ultra might be a better fit.

RAW Photography on iPhone 17 Pro vs Samsung S25 Ultra: Manual Mode Comparison

For those who prefer to shoot in RAW and manually adjust settings, the Samsung S25 Ultra is a strong contender. With manual mode support and long exposure settings, it provides the control necessary for capturing the perfect shot, particularly in low light conditions.

iPhone 17 Pro Raw Original Vs iPhone 17 Pro Raw Edited

On the other hand, the iPhone 17 Pro offers impressive RAW processing with excellent dynamic range and automatic adjustments. For casual photographers or those who prefer to avoid manual settings, the iPhone 17 Pro delivers great results with minimal effort.

S25 Raw edit Vs iPhone 17 Pro RAW edit

But for those who like to have full control over their shots, the S25 Ultra is the better option.

Samsung S25 Ultra Vs iPhone 17 Pro Auto Mode Image Processing

When it comes to auto mode and image processing, both phones do an excellent job, but the iPhone 17 Pro stands out. Its computational photography makes for a seamless editing experience, automatically adjusting contrast, saturation, and exposure to enhance photos without the user needing to do anything.

Auto Image Processing

The Samsung S25 Ultra, on the other hand, sometimes produces faded images in auto mode, though these can be adjusted with post-processing. If you prefer a quick and polished shot, the iPhone 17 Pro will likely give you the results you're looking for with less effort.

iPhone 17 Pro vs Samsung S25 Ultra: Portrait Mode & Background Separation

Both the iPhone 17 Pro and Samsung S25 Ultra excel in portrait mode photography. The iPhone 17 Pro has seen significant improvements in its edge detection and background separation, making it a great choice for creating professional-looking portraits.

Portrait Mode Comparison

However, the Samsung S25 Ultra offers more customizability in terms of background blur and portrait adjustments. Both phones produce beautiful bokeh effects, but the iPhone 17 Pro is better for quick, natural portrait shots, while the S25 Ultra provides more flexibility for creative control.

Video Quality on iPhone 17 Pro vs Samsung S25 Ultra: 4K vs 8K Recording

For video recording, both phones offer impressive capabilities. The Samsung S25 Ultra can shoot 8K video, which is excellent for those who want to future-proof their content. However, 8K video isn’t always necessary for most creators and can be overkill.

Shot on S25 Ultra at 8K

Better Colors on iPhone 17 Pro

The iPhone 17 Pro, while limited to 4K resolution, has superior color accuracy, and its video processing tends to handle high dynamic range better, making it ideal for vloggers and content creators who prioritize rich, accurate colors in their videos.

HDR10+ on S25 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro: Best for Video

One key advantage of the Samsung S25 Ultra is its support for HDR10+ in video recording. This feature delivers enhanced contrast and vibrant colors, especially in scenes with extreme lighting.

S25 Ultra HDR10+ Vs iPhone 4K

The iPhone 17 Pro, while not supporting HDR10+, still delivers excellent video quality with its color accuracy and automatic exposure adjustments. If cinematic quality with dynamic range is a priority for you, the Samsung S25 Ultra offers a superior HDR experience.

Samsung S25 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Battery Life and Performance:

In terms of battery life, the Samsung S25 Ultra outperforms the iPhone 17 Pro, especially for users who need a device that can handle long editing sessions or video recording.

Samsung Dex Setup

The S25 Ultra offers a larger battery capacity, ensuring longer usage times. Additionally, the DeX feature on the S25 Ultra provides a desktop-like experience, turning your phone into a mobile workstation when connected to a monitor. While the iPhone 17 Pro is efficient, its battery life is shorter, especially with its smaller battery size in the SIM card version.

Which Phone Should You Buy?

Both the iPhone 17 Pro and Samsung S25 Ultra offer outstanding performance in terms of photography, editing, and video recording, but the right choice depends on your specific needs:

Choose the Samsung S25 Ultra if you want a larger screen, better battery life, telephoto zoom, and more manual control over your photos and videos.
Opt for the iPhone 17 Pro if you prefer seamless user experience, automatic processing, and superior video quality with great color accuracy.

Ultimately, both phones are excellent for content creators, and the decision comes down to personal preference in terms of user interface, camera controls, and ecosystem compatibility.

Content Credit: Steven Divish

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Which phone has better camera quality for photos?
A: The iPhone 17 Pro excels in color accuracy and image sharpness, while the Samsung S25 Ultra offers more manual controls for editing.

Q: Is the Samsung S25 Ultra or iPhone 17 Pro better for video recording?
A: The Samsung S25 Ultra offers 8K video and HDR10+, while the iPhone 17 Pro has better color accuracy and 4K video support.

Q: Which phone has the best battery life for long editing sessions?
A: The Samsung S25 Ultra has a larger battery and supports DeX, making it ideal for long editing and productivity tasks.