I shot 200 photos with Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL — here’s the winner

With this first set of images taken near Bryant Park in New York City looking down 6th Avenue, I’m hard-pressed to tell any difference at first glance: both properly expose the scene and maintain similar color temperatures. The Galaxy S26 Ultra impresses with its brighter colors and higher contrast.

However, when I zoom into different parts of the shot, I can see that the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s image is noticeably sharper — which in turn draws out better details, like the bricks on the building to the left. The truck on the right also has more definition in the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s shot, so much so that I can clearly discern the bolts all throughout its frame.

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Winner: Pixel 10 Pro XL

I really love the perspective of the shots captured with their respective ultrawide cameras above, as the lines of the buildings converge toward a single point in the sky.

Both phones capture an impressive amount of detail and maintain an even exposure throughout the scene, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s superior contrast draws my attention the most — partly because it makes that central skyscraper pop against the rest of the scene.

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Winner: Galaxy S26 Ultra

There’s no shortage of vibrant colors in the bouquet of flowers I snapped inside a Trader Joe’s. Both phones do a fantastic job of drawing my eye with their rich hues, but I like the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s shot a smidge better.

That’s because it isn’t as over-saturated as the Pixel 10 Pro XL, which is especially noticeable with the reds and oranges in the scene. On top of that, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s superior exposure makes the colors appear more authentic to what I saw in person.

Winner: Galaxy S26 Ultra

When you get close to a subject, the macro modes on both phones automatically kick in — indicated by the flower icon that pops up in the camera app. Overall, both are masters at getting ultra-close, though you have to be mindful about setting the focus properly or risk the subject being blurry.

I have to admit, both phones do an exceptional job of capturing this flower. Not only are the edges of the petals clearly defined, but smaller details near the center are practically identical on both. However, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has a tendency to smooth out the details — whereas the Pixel 10 Pro XL doesn’t. The drawback for the Pixel, however, is that the image looks a bit noisier when viewed close up.

Ultimately, I’m giving the win to Samsung because that punchier, high-contrast look seals the deal for me.

Winner: Galaxy S26 Ultra

When it comes to capturing panoramas, these two phones use very different implementations. While I prefer the smooth panning movement of the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s approach, it is more susceptible to motion blur. Although it’s hard to tell from the overall view, it becomes immediately clear that the image suffers from blurring and a softer look when I zoom into different parts of the shot. It also doesn’t help that Samsung overexposes the highlights.

In contrast, the Pixel 10 Pro XL forces you to hold the phone still while it captures the individual frames needed for the panorama. As a result, it’s less prone to the same issues as the Galaxy S26 Ultra — and that really shows in the shot above. Aside from its crisp capture, it better manages the exposure across the entire scene.

Winner: Pixel 10 Pro XL

The advantage goes to Google when it comes to capturing selfies. Not only does its front-facing camera offer a wider field of view, but it also provides sharper definition throughout the shot. From my facial features to the texture of my shirt, the Pixel does an excellent job of preserving fine details.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s selfie shot is still quite good — especially with how it handles my skin tone — but the overall details are noticeably softer.

Winner: Pixel 10 Pro XL

As someone who captures photos professionally, I look for the subtle details that set a great portrait apart. While both phones successfully blur the background to keep the focus on me, the Galaxy S26 Ultra better mimics the realism of a dedicated camera.

That’s largely due to how it handles depth of field. Since my right shoulder is farther from the lens than my face, the slight blurring the Galaxy S26 Ultra applies feels more authentic — whereas the Pixel 10 Pro XL keeps that same area in sharp focus. You can also see how my arm holding the phone gradually blurs out with the Samsung, creating a more natural fall-off.

While the Pixel 10 Pro XL renders slightly more fine detail, the Galaxy S26 Ultra isn’t far behind. Ultimately, the optical realism of the Samsung’s portrait shot makes it the superior choice for me.

Winner: Galaxy S26 Ultra

With the contrast of the buildings in shadow against the bright sky, the shots above are perfect for gauging their dynamic range performance. The Galaxy S26 Ultra gets my attention for high it boosts the shadows in the frame, like the the skyscraper in the middle of the shot. This results in making the building pop from the rest of the scene because of its brighter look and stronger contrast.

Winner: Galaxy S26 Ultra

For my zoom test, I captured three different shots that I think best represent their overall zooming performance. Starting at 10x, I pointed both phones at a sign far off in the distance down 6th Avenue.

I’m pleased by the results at 10x, though each phone handles the scene differently. The Pixel 10 Pro XL has a habit of smoothing out details, which makes the textures of the pole and building appear soft. In contrast, the Galaxy S26 Ultra does a much better job of retaining them.

At 30x zoom, it’s fascinating to see how their respective image-processing algorithms enhance the shots. This time, the Galaxy S26 Ultra applies more of a smoothing effect to the textures, yet it manages to make the “Out of many, one people” motto at the bottom of the sign more legible.

Finally, we have the nighttime shots above that showcase their low-light performance. I will say that I can confidently rely on both phones in these conditions, as they both successfully brighten the scene using their respective night modes.

While the scene was quite dark to the naked eye, these night modes reveal details that clearly define the tree branches. However, I prefer the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s more even exposure of the night sky. It also offers slightly better definition, and I like how it captures more stars than the Pixel.

Winner: Galaxy S26 Ultra

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)

After tallying the results, the Galaxy S26 Ultra comes out on top in this photo shootout. While the margin was incredibly narrow, the Galaxy S26 Ultra proves to be the best camera phone around — consistently capturing outstanding photos regardless of the situation.