Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Extremely and Galaxy S24 Ultra are each robust, among the best camera phones with two rear telephoto sensors and as much as 100x House Zoom. They even appear and feel virtually an identical in hand. Then again, one important distinction between the 2 must give Samsung’s newest flagship just a bit extra punch within the medium zoom fluctuate.
Let’s see if extra megapixels (50MP vs 10MP), a smaller zoom (5x vs 10x), and a shorter focal duration can trump the attempted and true Galaxy S23 Extremely 10x sensor in a telephoto throwdown.
Make a selection your fighter: 5x at 50MP or 10x at 10 MP?
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Prior to we get to the consequences, we must most certainly dig into what those two superb Android phones are operating with. On one aspect, we’ve the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s cameras, which raise the similar 10MP 10x optical telephoto sensor that Samsung used at the Galaxy S22 Extremely and Galaxy S21 Extremely sooner than. The 230mm-equivalent lens has a most aperture of f/4.9 and helps each PDAF and OIS, and the decrease decision signifies that it doesn’t bin pixels to create smaller information.
Then again, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s camera setup now carries a 50MP 5x optical telephoto sensor with a much broader most aperture of f/3.4. That implies it might probably seize extra mild and be offering a shallower intensity of box, in addition to punch in to 10x zoom the usage of a crop from the sensor’s middle. After all, the upper decision mixed with the in a similar fashion sized sensor signifies that the person megapixels are smaller than the ones at the 10MP telephoto digicam.
Would you quite have extra megapixels or longer optical zoom? Samsung turns out to have made up its thoughts.
Out of doors of the exchange in longer-range telephoto sensors, each flagships raise 200MP number one cameras, 10MP 3x optical telephoto cameras, 12MP ultrawide sensors, and 12MP punch hollow selfie cameras. As such, your effects from 0.6x zoom to 3x zoom must be just about an identical on both software.
Probably the most important distinction, on the other hand, must come whenever you inch previous that 3x zoom mark. Pictures taken at 5x zoom at the Galaxy S23 Extremely observe virtual zoom and post-processing to the 10MP sensor, whilst the similar shot curious about the Galaxy S24 Extremely makes use of the overall 50MP decision and packing containers the outcome all the way down to a extra manageable 12MP record. The more recent sensor too can observe a sensor crop for lengths between 5x and 10x zoom, whilst the older sensor leans increasingly on virtual zoom till you achieve its 10x optical telephoto sensor.
With that little breakdown out of the best way, let’s get to a couple real-life examples.
Spherical 1: 5x zoom
Our first comparability comes from my colleague, Rob Triggs, who took his Galaxy S23 Extremely and Galaxy S24 Extremely out for an extraordinary sunny stroll in the United Kingdom. It depicts a clock at the aspect of a church tower taken at 5x zoom, a variety the place the Galaxy S24 Extremely must shine, whilst the Galaxy S23 Extremely must require a mix of virtual zoom and post-processing.
Some of the first belongings you’ll understand is the variation in colour profile, with the older Galaxy S23 Extremely providing a considerably lighter outcome. There’s additionally slightly of colour bleeding within the white highlights, which is particularly noticeable at the pole within the foreground. Then again, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely provides a a lot more herbal colour profile, with a darker blue coloration to the sky and a extra herbal tone around the stone tower.
The 2 flagships additionally maintain the white stains at the aspect of the construction solely another way. The place the Galaxy S24 Extremely treats them like a herbal a part of the scene, the Galaxy S23 Extremely sharpens and brightens them, giving an impact that’s nearer to paintballs at the aspect of the construction. Whilst polishing would most certainly be useful for main points like the ones on the most sensible of the tower, the Galaxy S23 Extremely typically is going overboard to provide the sharpest outcome conceivable.
The primary spherical is a straightforward knockout for the Galaxy S24 Extremely and its 5x optical telephoto sensor.
Spherical 2: 6x zoom
Now, let’s leap to a zoom duration that forces each telephones to do further paintings. At 6x zoom, the Galaxy S23 Extremely nonetheless makes use of a mixture of virtual zoom and post-processing, whilst the Galaxy S24 Extremely can take a small crop out of the center of its high-resolution sensor. This time, we’re having a look at a small glass decoration formed like a ladybug subsequent to a tree. It’s lined in reflective surfaces with a variety of further textures operating up the aspect of the tree.
The consequences, as anticipated, apply the ones of the 5x zoom take a look at lovely carefully. The Galaxy S23 Extremely as soon as once more delivers a far lighter colour profile and significantly oversharpens the main points within the tree bark. It’s nonetheless obviously identifiable however seems to be nearer to an AI-generated symbol than an actual tree. The Galaxy S23 Extremely additionally loses some tiny flecks of grime, merging them into a bigger brown stain quite than protecting them distinct.
Sadly, the similar highlighting problems nonetheless exist, too, with probably the most white parts turning into flat whilst the Galaxy S24 Extremely preserves extra element the place the highlights transition to different colours. The older sensor additionally makes the spider internet glance thicker and fuzzier than it’s, whilst the Galaxy S24 Extremely treats it as it should be.
Samsung’s up to date high-resolution telephoto sensor wins once more.
Spherical 3: 10x zoom
The remaining of our 3 comparisons must give the Galaxy S23 Extremely slightly extra of a preventing likelihood because it’s taken at 10x zoom. That implies the older 10MP sensor can ditch its virtual struggles and get again to optical high quality whilst the more recent sensor applies a complete crop to its 50MP sensor. On this case, we’ve a memorial plaque on a concrete base stuffed with small main points that might be difficult for any digicam to procedure.
As anticipated, the older sensor’s optical zoom shines, shooting extra element within the bronze plaque and the concrete base than the Galaxy S24 Extremely can fit. The lighter colour profile at the Galaxy S23 Extremely method you’ll be able to see probably the most darker main points across the bronze lettering, whilst the Galaxy S24 Extremely’s darker colour game washes them out. Samsung’s more recent flagship additionally makes the bottom of every letter glance slightly fuzzy, however having a look on the symbol from the Galaxy S23 Extremely, you’ll be able to inform that it’s the bottom of the letter the place it meets the plaque.
Some of the extra really extensive variations between the 2 pictures is a flip-flop of the primary instance. This time, the more recent Galaxy S24 Extremely takes the fairway stain at the concrete and makes it thicker, virtually like a layer of paint at the base. The Galaxy S23 Extremely, then again, helps to keep it a lighter inexperienced that appears extra like a herbal stain.
Despite the fact that it loses the best-of-three shootout, Samsung’s older flagship proves there’s nonetheless a use case for an extended telephoto sensor.
Which optical telephoto duration do you suppose Samsung must use one day?
25 votes
Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely: Which telephoto is healthier?
Damien Wilde / Android Authority
In boxing, we’ve a break up choice — however no longer an sudden one. The more recent sensor shines on the shorter zoom lengths (the whole thing shy of 10x zoom), whilst the older sensor packs its greatest punch whenever you achieve its double-digit optical duration. It’s a case of cropping vs digitally zooming and processing, and the previous wins each and every time. And in truth, because of this Samsung made the transfer within the first position. All the way through our Q&A consultation forward of the Galaxy Unpacked match in January, Samsung’s group defined that the majority of its customers spend their time between 3x and 5x zoom, so the 10x telephoto sensor used to be going in large part underutilized.
After all, that is just a small slice of what each cameras are able to. We’ll have masses extra photographs to dig into within the close to long run, a lot of which illustrate the up to date processing powers of Galaxy AI on most sensible of Samsung’s already robust {hardware}. We did evaluate different sides of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Galaxy S24 Ultra to look if different components justify an improve, however the ultimate selection is as much as you. It’s going to additionally take a little time to make a decision if the transfer from 10x optical zoom to 5x optical zoom used to be in reality price it, however the early returns counsel a metamorphosis for the simpler.
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