Sony Xperia 1 VII, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, Pixel 9 Pro XL: Nowadays, smartphone is not just for making calls or social media, but has become an “all-in-one” camera. Every brand brings its own philosophy—some emphasize on pro-level manual controls, some offer the easiest point-and-shoot experience, some create vibrant and flashy photos and some offer a different level of photography using computational AI. That’s why we have done a detailed camera test which includes Sony Xperia 1 VII, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro XL. Let’s see which phone shines in which situation.
Sony Xperia 1 VII
Sony Xperia 1 VII is a special phone for photography lovers. This phone gives a very “pro-level” feel as its camera interface is inspired by Sony’s Alpha mirrorless cameras. Meaning if you need full control of shutter speed, ISO and manual focus then this phone is perfect. Its main aim is to give natural and realistic output-not too much filter and not too much artificial saturation. In daylight the result is very neutral, just like seeing the scene through the eyes. In low-light too there has been a lot of improvement due to the new sensor, now there is less noise and more detail comes out.
The most special thing is its unique continuous optical zoom, which gives a very DSLR like feel. Xperia is also ahead in terms of video, as it offers pro features like Eye AF and real-time tracking. But yes, its interface can seem a bit complex for casual users.
iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple’s iPhones have always been a “safe choice” for photography, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max takes that tradition further. Its biggest plus point is consistency—whether you take a photo during the day or at night, every shot looks absolutely balanced and natural. Apple’s image processor makes the colors a bit vibrant, which looks directly appealing.
The iPhone’s performance is also quite excellent in low-light. Pictures look natural and videos are a class apart. Cinematic video, ProRes 4K 120p and unbeatable stabilization make iPhone a professional videography tool. That is, if you want the best photo and video without tension by just picking up the phone, then iPhone 16 Pro Max is unmatched.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
If you like the world of versatility and features, then Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a dream camera phone. This phone is made for those users who want to upload stunning photos directly on social media. Samsung has a typical style that gives colours a little extra pop—some people like it, some find it a bit artificial, but one thing is for sure: the photos are definitely eye-catching.
This phone’s biggest weapon is its zoom. With 5x optical zoom and Space Zoom, it captures even the farthest scenes with plenty of detail. Sharpness is excellent in daylight and general photography, but in low-light, photos can sometimes look a bit artificial due to the aggressive noise reduction. Video is strong too, but stabilisation and autofocus fall a little short of the iPhone.
Pixel 9 Pro XL
Google Pixel phones have always been the kings of computational photography, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL takes the game to the next level. The phone uses AI to deliver clarity and HDR that other phones cannot. Pixel photos have a special depth and contrast that creates an artistic feel.
In low-light photography, the Pixel is simply unbeatable. No matter how dark the scene, the phone uses AI to balance shadows and highlights to produce crystal-clear photos. The zoom is also quite strong with the telephoto lens, but falls a little short of Samsung’s versatility. Video recording is solid—stabilization is good, but you don’t get the cinematic smoothness of the iPhone.