The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra represents the latest flagship in Samsung’s smartphone lineup, boasting significant camera advancements, especially in low-light conditions. However, when comparing its low-light noise performance to older models like the Galaxy S24 Ultra and earlier iterations, the picture is nuanced.
Noise Performance in Low Light
The S25 Ultra employs a 200 MP primary sensor combined with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which enables advanced computational photography techniques, including spatial-temporal noise filtering. This is designed to reduce noise and enhance detail in low-light photography and video, particularly for moving subjects. Additionally, the Ultra model introduces a “ProVisual engine” and features like Galaxy Log for improved dynamic range in video recording, targeting content creators who shoot in dim environments.
Despite these advancements, independent tests by DXOMARK reveal that while the S25 Ultra controls noise well in bright light, noise becomes more intrusive in low-light scenes compared to its predecessor, the S24 Ultra. This is especially noticeable in areas of plain color or shadow portions of the frame, where noise and detail inconsistencies can appear between consecutive shots. The video noise is generally well managed but shows stronger noise presence in darker scenes than the S24 Ultra, which could affect overall image quality in such conditions[1][3].
Comparison to Older Models
Older Samsung models, including the S24 Ultra, generally exhibit less intrusive noise in low-light video capture, indicating that the S25 Ultra’s sensor and processing pipeline may have trade-offs that introduce more noise under certain conditions. Community feedback and user reports suggest that Samsung’s choice of sensors in the S25 series may be inferior to competitors’ (notably Sony sensors) in low-light scenarios, leading to noticeable issues such as color inaccuracies, purple noise, and yellowish tint in photos and videos.
While the S25 Ultra benefits from improved software features like Nightography mode, which uses pixel analysis to reduce noise in night videos, these software enhancements do not fully compensate for the hardware sensor limitations. This contrasts with some competitors who combine cutting-edge hardware with software for superior low-light noise control.
Stabilization and Its Impact on Noise
The S25 Ultra maintains strong video stabilization performance comparable to the S24 Ultra, helping produce smoother footage in low light. However, stabilization alone does not mitigate noise issues, and residual camera motion can still slightly affect video clarity in darker scenes[1][3].
Summary
- The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra offers advanced computational photography and video processing features aimed at improving low-light performance, especially for video.
- Despite these improvements, noise is more intrusive in low-light conditions compared to the S24 Ultra and some older models, particularly in shadowed or uniformly colored areas.
- Sensor choices and hardware limitations contribute to this increased noise, with some users and reviewers noting that Samsung’s sensors in the S25 series lag behind competitors in low-light noise management.
- Software features like Nightography help reduce noise in videos but do not fully overcome hardware constraints.
- Overall, while the S25 Ultra pushes boundaries in certain aspects of low-light imaging, users seeking the best noise performance in dim environments might find older models like the S24 Ultra or other brands more consistent.
This analysis underscores that despite technological progress, the balance between sensor hardware and software optimization remains critical for achieving superior low-light noise performance in flagship smartphones[1][3].
[1] https://www.dxomark.com/samsung-galaxy-s25-ultra-camera-test/
[2] https://www.dxomark.com/smartphones/Samsung/Galaxy-S25-Ultra
[3] https://www.dxomark.com/samsung-galaxy-s25-ultra-camera-test-retested/