Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely: Which telephoto digicam is best?

Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Extremely and Galaxy S24 Extremely are each highly effective, top-of-the-line digicam telephones with two rear telephoto sensors and as much as 100x House Zoom. They even feel and look nearly an identical in hand. Nonetheless, one important distinction between the 2 ought to give Samsung’s newest flagship just a bit extra punch within the medium zoom vary.

Let’s see if extra megapixels (50MP vs 10MP), a smaller zoom (5x vs 10x), and a shorter focal size can trump the tried and true Galaxy S23 Extremely 10x sensor in a telephoto throwdown.

Earlier than we get to the outcomes, we should always in all probability dig into what these two glorious Android telephones are working with. On one facet, we have now the Galaxy S23 Extremely’s cameras, which carry the identical 10MP 10x optical telephoto sensor that Samsung used on the Galaxy S22 Extremely and Galaxy S21 Extremely earlier than. The 230mm-equivalent lens has a most aperture of f/4.9 and helps each PDAF and OIS, and the decrease decision implies that it doesn’t bin pixels to create smaller information.

However, the Galaxy S24 Extremely’s digicam setup now carries a 50MP 5x optical telephoto sensor with a a lot wider most aperture of f/3.4. Meaning it might probably seize extra gentle and supply a shallower depth of subject, in addition to punch in to 10x zoom utilizing a crop from the sensor’s heart. After all, the upper decision mixed with the equally sized sensor implies that the person megapixels are smaller than these on the 10MP telephoto digicam.

Exterior of the change in longer-range telephoto sensors, each flagships carry 200MP major cameras, 10MP 3x optical telephoto cameras, 12MP ultrawide sensors, and 12MP punch gap selfie cameras. As such, your outcomes from 0.6x zoom to 3x zoom must be practically an identical on both gadget.

Probably the most important distinction, nonetheless, ought to come when you inch previous that 3x zoom mark. Photographs taken at 5x zoom on the Galaxy S23 Extremely apply digital zoom and post-processing to the 10MP sensor, whereas the identical shot taken with the Galaxy S24 Extremely makes use of the total 50MP decision and bins the outcome all the way down to a extra manageable 12MP file. The newer sensor may apply a sensor crop for lengths between 5x and 10x zoom, whereas the older sensor leans increasingly more on digital zoom till you attain its 10x optical telephoto sensor.

With that little breakdown out of the best way, let’s get to some real-life examples.

Our first comparability comes from my colleague, Rob Triggs, who took his Galaxy S23 Extremely and Galaxy S24 Extremely out for a uncommon sunny stroll within the UK. It depicts a clock on the facet of a church tower taken at 5x zoom, a variety the place the Galaxy S24 Extremely ought to shine, whereas the Galaxy S23 Extremely ought to require a mixture of digital zoom and post-processing.

One of many first belongings you’ll discover is the distinction in shade profile, with the older Galaxy S23 Extremely providing a considerably lighter outcome. There’s additionally a little bit of shade bleeding within the white highlights, which is particularly noticeable on the pole within the foreground. However, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely gives a way more pure shade profile, with a darker blue shade to the sky and a extra pure tone throughout the stone tower.

The 2 flagships additionally deal with the white stains on the facet of the constructing completely in a different way. The place the Galaxy S24 Extremely treats them like a pure a part of the scene, the Galaxy S23 Extremely sharpens and brightens them, giving an impact that’s nearer to paintballs on the facet of the constructing. Whereas sharpening would in all probability be useful for particulars like these on the high of the tower, the Galaxy S23 Extremely usually goes overboard to provide the sharpest outcome doable.

The primary spherical is a straightforward knockout for the Galaxy S24 Extremely and its 5x optical telephoto sensor.

Now, let’s bounce to a zoom size that forces each telephones to do further work. At 6x zoom, the Galaxy S23 Extremely nonetheless makes use of a mixture of digital zoom and post-processing, whereas the Galaxy S24 Extremely can take a small crop out of the center of its high-resolution sensor. This time, we’re taking a look at a small glass decoration formed like a ladybug subsequent to a tree. It’s coated in reflective surfaces with loads of extra textures operating up the facet of the tree.

The outcomes, as anticipated, observe these of the 5x zoom check fairly carefully. The Galaxy S23 Extremely as soon as once more delivers a a lot lighter shade profile and severely oversharpens the small print within the tree bark. It’s nonetheless clearly identifiable however seems to be nearer to an AI-generated picture than an actual tree. The Galaxy S23 Extremely additionally loses some tiny flecks of filth, merging them into a bigger brown stain somewhat than preserving them distinct.

Sadly, the identical highlighting points nonetheless exist, too, with a number of the white parts changing into flat whereas the Galaxy S24 Extremely preserves extra element the place the highlights transition to different colours. The older sensor additionally makes the spider net look thicker and fuzzier than it’s, whereas the Galaxy S24 Extremely treats it appropriately.

Samsung’s up to date high-resolution telephoto sensor wins once more.

The final of our three comparisons ought to give the Galaxy S23 Extremely a bit extra of a preventing likelihood because it’s taken at 10x zoom. Meaning the older 10MP sensor can ditch its digital struggles and get again to optical high quality whereas the newer sensor applies a full crop to its 50MP sensor. On this case, we have now a memorial plaque on a concrete base filled with small particulars that might be powerful for any digicam to course of.

As anticipated, the older sensor’s optical zoom shines, capturing extra element within the bronze plaque and the concrete base than the Galaxy S24 Extremely can match. The lighter shade profile on the Galaxy S23 Extremely means you may see a number of the darker particulars across the bronze lettering, whereas the Galaxy S24 Extremely’s darker shade recreation washes them out. Samsung’s newer flagship additionally makes the bottom of every letter look a bit fuzzy, however wanting on the picture from the Galaxy S23 Extremely, you may inform that it’s the bottom of the letter the place it meets the plaque.

One of many extra appreciable variations between the 2 pictures is a flip-flop of the primary instance. This time, the newer Galaxy S24 Extremely takes the inexperienced stain on the concrete and makes it thicker, nearly like a layer of paint on the bottom. The Galaxy S23 Extremely, then again, retains it a lighter inexperienced that appears extra like a pure stain.

Though it loses the best-of-three shootout, Samsung’s older flagship proves there’s nonetheless a use case for an extended telephoto sensor.

In boxing, we have now a cut up determination — however not an surprising one. The newer sensor shines on the shorter zoom lengths (every part shy of 10x zoom), whereas the older sensor packs its largest punch when you attain its double-digit optical size. It’s a case of cropping vs digitally zooming and processing, and the previous wins each time. And truthfully, because of this Samsung made the swap within the first place. Throughout our Q&A session forward of the Galaxy Unpacked occasion in January, Samsung’s crew defined that almost all of its customers spend their time between 3x and 5x zoom, so the 10x telephoto sensor was going largely underutilized.

After all, that is solely a small slice of what each cameras are able to. We’ll have lots extra pictures to dig into within the close to future, lots of which illustrate the up to date processing powers of Galaxy AI on high of Samsung’s already highly effective {hardware}. We did evaluate different facets of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely vs Galaxy S24 Extremely to see if different elements justify an improve, however the ultimate selection is as much as you. It would additionally take some time to resolve if the swap from 10x optical zoom to 5x optical zoom was actually price it, however the early returns counsel a change for the higher.