Comparison video for blind cameras: iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Samsung debuted its latest flagship range for smartphones in January, including the Galaxy S21 Ultra, a direct competitor to the iPhone 12 Pro Max that Apple introduced in October. In our latest YouTube video, we pitted the two smartphones against each other for a blind camera comparison.

In the video above and the photos in this article, we’ve labeled images with an “A” or a “B”, with each letter corresponding to a different smartphone. All images come straight from the camera with no editing.

The idea is to look at the images and decide which aesthetic you prefer before we reveal which camera is which, so for the full experience it’s worth checking out our video, but we’ll also review the results at the very bottom of this article. share.

We compared different camera modes such as portrait mode and night mode, along with the different lens options ranging from ultra wide angle to telephoto. When viewing the photos, pay attention to elements such as color temperature differences, highlights and whether there are blown out (too bright) areas, sharpness of the subject in portrait photos and for video, stabilization and shake.

Both the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the Galaxy S21 Ultra have fantastic camera hardware and are capable of capturing great images in most lighting conditions, so choosing a winner usually comes down to your personal preferences.

Since we are not making a traditional comparison between these two smartphones, there are some Galaxy S21 features worth highlighting. Samsung limited its stylus, the S-Pen, to Note models, but this year the S-Pen is compatible with the Galaxy S21 Ultra and useful for taking notes, drawing, signing documents and more.

There’s also a reverse wireless charging feature to charge headphones or another smartphone, and an in-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which is basically something Apple may be adopting in the future.

As for the camera, there are four lenses, including ultra-wide (12MP), wide (108MP with laser autofocus), and dual telephoto lenses (both 10MP). The camera function is largely similar to the ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌, but Samsung has Space Zoom, a 100x digital + optical zoom option. Space Zoom was available last year, but this year it has improved. The ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ has no comparable function and cannot zoom in that far.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra also has a shorter minimum focus distance, allowing it to be used for close-up macro shots, something the iPhone 12 models cannot.

Coming back to the photo comparison test, if you’re wondering what photos they are, there’s an answer below the pause.

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All “A” images were from the ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌, while all “B” images were from the Galaxy S21 Ultra. If you’ve seen our previous comparison between the iPhone 12 Pro Max and Galaxy Note 20, you may already know the results.

Apple’s algorithms for the sky are designed to amplify the color and move to a blue, cool tone during the day that is very recognizable compared to the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ photos are more vivid, while the S21 Ultra has a flatter color profile. Neither is really lifelike, with the real color somewhere in the middle.

Brightness and sharpness are similar for both smartphones, and in general all photos are sharp and clear. Portrait mode photos are more or less the same, but Apple’s iPhones have always struggled with certain items like drinking glasses.

There are notable differences in night mode. The S21 Ultra doesn’t do well with warm lighting in some situations, so some of these photos have a hue that tends to be too warm. Video is also comparable (everything is captured in 4K at 30fps), with no major differences in quality or stabilization.

Which photos did you prefer from the camera test? Were you surprised by the results? Let us know in the comments.