Welcome to Whatgear reviews for the second blind camera comparison test of 2025. It's, of course, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs the brand new Galaxy S25 Ultra Vs iPhone 16 Pro Max.

So I'm going to give you a few pointers on what to look for in the photos, and then you'll have 10 seconds to decide which looks best, and then you'll see the results. Sounds good? Let's kick this off with a 30X Zoom test.

30X Zoom Test

I was in California, and there was no doubt about it. That dome is the Palace of Fine Art. Look at that roof and the detail on the panels, and pay attention to the digital noise there.

Now, take a look at that taller building, which is the Salesforce Tower. Which one has done the best job of picking up the details without oversharping them to the point where they don't look too artificial? Ok, you got 10 seconds. Which one wins?

Golden Gate Bridge

Alright, you picked a winner; write that down. Now, this was taken with ultra-wide cameras. It's the Golden Gate Bridge. Hey, Did you know the amount of cable used on this bridge is enough to wrap around the world 3 times? Quite often ultra wide cameras are not the top priority for Smartphone manufacturers. However, Samsung upgraded its ultra-wide hardware significantly this year. Let's see if you notice the difference.

So, aside from the noticeable colour differences here. Keep an eye out for colour banding in the sky. Also, glance at the edge detail at the bottom of the picture; sometimes, you can see softness and lack of detail here due to the lens shape.

Video stability test - To see the video quality stabilization test, see the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH6-hgsJHkc

10X Alcatraz

So, this is what I wanted to show you. I was just sitting on the bay dock when I took this. It's the La Isla de los Alcatraces, Alcatraz or how Call of Duty players will know it… Rebirth Island.

Anyway, this is a shorter zoom range of 10X. Again, there are some noticeable colour differences. Which would you say has the most natural or eye-pleasing sand colour in the foreground. And if we zoomed way back there on the water tower 500X in post.

Which has done the best at retaining detail? And let's zoom out now because many bad memories of being sniped from there in Call Of Duty are returning to me.

So, which looks best as a whole? Add an extra feather to the cap for the one with the best details. Start the clock.

Portrait

All right, this one was taken in portrait mode. And yes, this is Daniel from Zone Of Tech. Massive thanks to Daniel for standing in for me on this one. Anyway, despite all phones being set to portrait mode, the phone on the right didn't add a lot of effect.

Look at edge sharpness here, which presents the most natural background blur aka bokeh effect. It was also quite sunny, which handled the highlights the best.

Macro

Ok, everything has been so distant so far. Let's see what happens when right up close. So this is a Macro shot. These three phones will default back to the ultra-wide lens for these photos.

Things to look for here are sharpness at the centre but also the edges of the frame. Colour tones can shift considerably when switching from the primary, so consider that, too. And of course, which has done the best regarding details.

Hockey

Ok, so if you are following me on Instagram. You'll know I went to my first ice hockey match. This is the home of the San Jose Sharks. The SAP centre. Ignore the JumboTron, as the display changed slightly between shots. This is a 1X photo with the primary cameras. You'll notice some significant contrast & shadow differences here. And let's quickly zoom in on the logo on the ice and see which looks the best.

After Party

This was very kindly taken by Nick TA Tech Tips on TikTok. Many thanks to Nick for this one. Anyway, this is me doing the Jabba the Hutt pose. A much lower light setting. Black jacket, white sofa, lots of contrast and shadows to throw off the camera Ai. Which would you say has done the best overall at dealing with this challenging shot without ruining my skin tones?

Now, I did notice MKBHD was at the party. Constantly surrounded by flocks of people, I did want to say hello. I'd ask him if he got there early…? because I've seen how he drives, lol 😂 but not sure he would have appreciated my sense of humour. Probably best, I didn't speak to him. Anyway, moving on.

Shark Mural

Ok, this is the first night shot. It was taken with the 5x zoom. It was just a small part of a massive wall of graffiti. There were some streetlights around, but it was pretty dark. Some phones turn night into day, and some boost the shadows and brightness but retain the original colours. But all that aside, which looks the best here…?

Alright, I've been talking too much. I'm all talked out. So, I will roll a few of these night shots for you. Extend the timer to 15 seconds so you can get a good look before choosing your winners and I'll join you again towards the end of the video.

Night Street

I want to draw your attention to something in this photo. There are lots of lights. And there's a real art, a bit of magic that phones need to perform in these kinds of shots. The ability to balance the exposure. With a traditional camera, the rest of the scene would become dark if you want to see the details of the light fixtures. If you were exposed to the street level, the lights would become overblown, and all detail would be lost in those areas. So this one is about balance…which has done the best here?

Portrait Selfie

Ok, it's me again. This is a selfie portrait. Areas to focus on here are skin tone, ignoring the bags under my eyes, edge detection, and how natural the blurry background looks. There is a big difference in contrast here, too.

Dragon

Now, the last shot is a 2X photo. And all three phones use the main sensors to take these photos. They just crop in a bit. And I know what you're thinking.

It's not. It appears to be a Dragon or a snake thing. Snake Dragon. Anyway, look at the details on this snake Dragon. What do you think? It seems 3D printed, right?

Now glance up at the tree details. And again, overall, which looks the best.

Cheesecake

Those of you who have watched the channel in the past might be wondering why no burger shot this time. Here's a bonus shot, it's a cheesecake; it's 2025, time to start eating a little healthier. Many thanks to Dom from Samsung PR for this one. Take a look and let me know which one looks the nicest.

I hope you appreciate the effort and time it takes to do these blind camera tests. If you did a little thumbs up, I would appreciate it. Subscribe if you want to see more camera comparisons like this.