{"id":538904,"date":"2026-04-19T05:38:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T05:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/538904\/"},"modified":"2026-04-19T05:38:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T05:38:21","slug":"i-shot-over-200-photos-with-galaxy-s26-ultra-vs-galaxy-s26-heres-the-winner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/538904\/","title":{"rendered":"I shot over 200 photos with Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Galaxy S26 \u2014 here\u2019s the winner"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re thinking about upgrading your phone and considering Samsung\u2019s new flagship lineup, you might be wondering which one to get: the Galaxy S26<\/a> or Galaxy S26 Ultra<\/a>. From a price perspective, there\u2019s a common assumption that the more expensive phone is going to deliver better camera performance \u2014 but you might be surprised.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why I shot over 200 photos with the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy S26 to uncover how their cameras actually perform. From a specs standpoint, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has the more appealing hardware, consisting of a 200MP main camera, 50MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto, 50MP 5x telephoto, and 12MP selfie camera. But you can\u2019t count out the standard Galaxy S26, which features a triple camera setup made up of a 50MP main shooter, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto, and 12MP selfie camera.<\/p>\n

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Just like my other 200-photo shootouts, I take the same set of snapshots with both phones across different scenes \u2014 and then preview them on the same monitor, showing both photos side-by-side. That way, I can better inspect the differences to determine which of these contenders truly deserves the title of best camera phone<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Galaxy S26: Daytime<\/p>\n

More often than not, people stick with the default settings out of the box \u2014 which is why the photos I captured above, down by Bryant Park, don\u2019t look all that different. That\u2019s because both phones deliver 12MP snapshots, yielding similar results across the board.<\/p>\n

Broadly speaking, both phones do an excellent job of exposing the scene while boasting the same colors and contrast. And while the details appear the same, zooming into parts of the buildings in the background, reveals a bit more definition and sharpness with the S26 Ultra.<\/p>\n

Winner: Galaxy S26 Ultra<\/p>\n

Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Galaxy S26: Ultrawide<\/p>\n

When pointing both phones toward the sky, I really like the Inception-like perspective I get of these skyscrapers. This one\u2019s tougher to judge because the overall images appear to be identical, down to their exposure, contrast, colors and details.<\/p>\n

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I thought the Galaxy S26 Ultra would capture more definition in the building in the middle, but the Galaxy S26\u2019s ultrawide camera shows it\u2019s just as good.<\/p>\n

Winner: tie<\/p>\n

Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Galaxy S26: Colors<\/p>\n

Down in the produce section at Whole Foods, both phones aren\u2019t shy about saturating the colors of the different peppers on the shelves. I\u2019m particularly drawn to the red peppers, seeing that they\u2019re incredibly vivid, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra shot exhibits a bit of color bleeding.<\/p>\n

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Winner: Galaxy S26<\/p>\n

Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Galaxy S26: Dynamic range<\/p>\n

As I showed earlier with the daytime snapshots, both phones expose scenes identically \u2014 and these shots reinforcing their dynamic range performance prove that even further. With the sun high in the sky casting strong shadows over the buildings in the foreground, both sensors are put to the test.<\/p>\n

Again, the Galaxy S26 matches the Galaxy S26 Ultra by boosting the exposure in the shadows to reveal details like the stonework around the window frames. When looking at the highlights, such as the clouds and concrete pavement, they’re exposed exactly the same. The slight different that draws me to the Galaxy S26 Ultra is how it makes the trees on the left side pop out more.<\/p>\n

Winner: Galaxy S26 Ultra<\/p>\n

Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Galaxy S26: Macro<\/p>\n

The Galaxy S26 doesn\u2019t have a dedicated macro mode like the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but it still delivers an impressive shot of the sunflower above. Despite the phone being slightly further away, I really like the strong contrast of the dark inner portion of the flower against the yellow petals \u2014 and the amount of detail captured is remarkable.<\/p>\n

However, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is simply better suited for this task because it allows me to get much closer to the subject. At the same time, there\u2019s more definition around the petals, and it does a better job of keeping more of the frame in focus \u2014 evident in how the nearby green leaves remain sharp.<\/p>\n

Winner: Galaxy S26 Ultra<\/p>\n

Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Galaxy S26: Panorama<\/p>\n

At first glance, there are no glaring differences between the panorama shots of Bryant Park\u2019s sprawling lawn\u2014they both maintain consistent exposure across the entire image.<\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s only when I zoom in and inspect the New York Public Library on the right that I notice a subtle shift. The individual stones of the building are better defined by the Galaxy S26 Ultra, whereas they have a smudged texture in the S26’s shot.<\/p>\n

Winner: Galaxy S26 Ultra<\/p>\n

Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Galaxy S26: Selfie<\/p>\n

Both phones are equipped with 12MP selfie cameras, and it\u2019s almost impossible to tell them apart because the results look nearly identical. From the wrinkles on my forehead to the texture of my button-down collared shirt, both the S26 and S26 Ultra selfie cameras get everything right.<\/p>\n

There are minor differences, however, such as the Galaxy S26 Ultra having slightly more definition in the green shrub on the left \u2014 while the S26 applies a bit more contrast. I attribute that contrast to the angle I was holding the S26, as it appears the S26 Ultra\u2019s selfie camera was affected by a slight glare.<\/p>\n

Winner: tie<\/p>\n

Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Galaxy S26: Portrait<\/p>\n

Even though it\u2019s a bit too aggressive for my taste with the amount of bokeh it applies to the background, the Galaxy S26 Ultra does a better job with portraits.<\/p>\n

I say this because it better simulates the performance of an actual portrait lens. There’s a natural fall-off with the focus around my arm closest to the camera and around my shirt collar. In contrast, the Galaxy S26 stumbles by failing to blur the patch under my arm. Plus, that same area around my collar remains in sharp focus instead of having a slight blur.<\/p>\n

Although, it’s worth mentioning that you can adjust the level of blur later on to whatever setting you want.<\/p>\n

Winner: Galaxy S26 Ultra<\/p>\n

Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Galaxy S26: Zoom<\/p>\n

If zooming matters most to you, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is undoubtedly the one to get. That\u2019s because it features a superior 50MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, making it much better equipped for capturing sharp shots at longer ranges.<\/p>\n

I set both phones to 30x zoom \u2014 the maximum range for the Galaxy S26 \u2014 and the difference is immediate in the statue shot above. The Galaxy S26 photo is soft, resulting in textures that appear smeared. In comparison, the Galaxy S26 Ultra retains significantly more detail and definition.<\/p>\n

Winner: Galaxy S26 Ultra<\/p>\n

Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Galaxy S26: Low light<\/p>\n

In low light, I have to commend both phones for how they brighten the scene. In reality, the tree above appeared quite dim to the naked eye, yet it becomes well-exposed through their dedicated night modes.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s impressive how they handle the light source coming from the left side of the frame without overexposing the highlights or losing the shadows. The one distinguishing factor here is the level of detail captured by the Galaxy S26 Ultra\u2019s main camera. Zooming in reinforces this, as the tree exhibits much better clarity and sharper textures than the standard S26.<\/p>\n

Winner: Galaxy S26 Ultra<\/p>\n

Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Galaxy S26: Verdict<\/p>\n

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\"Galaxy\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide \/ John Velasco)<\/p>\n

Well, this outcome isn\u2019t all that surprising to me, but it\u2019s still worth pointing out that the gap between the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Ultra is much narrower than what their price tags might suggest. Is there a tremendous difference between the two? Not really.<\/p>\n

While the Galaxy S26 Ultra\u2019s main camera consistently yields better detail capture, I wouldn’t go so far as to say it\u2019s an overwhelming amount \u2014 especially when you just look at the overall shot rather than inspect the fine details. The \u201cUltra\u201d moniker still carries weight where it counts, specifically with zooming and macro photography. Otherwise, the Galaxy S26 holds up remarkably well against its more expensive sibling.<\/p>\n

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