Samsung S24 Ultra vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max Camera - After Updates!

Summary

In this video, Mo and Tanya compare the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max's camera performance after six months of updates. They discuss differences in exposure, white balance, and skin tones, noting the Galaxy's superior zoom quality and the iPhone's better night photography. They also touch on portrait mode, with a preference for the Galaxy's 3X zoom, and evaluate sound quality. The video includes a sponsored segment on HITWAY e-bikes and concludes with a nature photography session, emphasizing each phone's strengths in various lighting conditions.

Takeaways

• 📱 The iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra were compared after six months of updates, focusing on camera performance.
• 🌟 The iPhone tends to have deeper whites and a colder skin tone, while the Galaxy has a more saturated blue tone in photos.
• 🔍 In zoomed photos, the Galaxy appears less noisy compared to the iPhone, especially with the 5X optical zoom.
• 📹 The zoom transition on the iPhone is smoother than on the Galaxy, which still shows color and position shifts.
• 🏞️ For 10X zoom, the Galaxy retains more detail and has less noise, suggesting better computational photography.
• 🌴 The Galaxy performs better in wildlife photography, with superior zoom quality and detail, especially in videos.
• 🎥 Both phones can create cinematic Bokeh effects in portrait mode, but the Galaxy's 3X zoom is preferred for more natural-looking portraits.
• 🌆 In low light, the Galaxy adds a yellow tint, while the iPhone increases exposure, with the latter being more natural but less detailed.
• 🎶 The video also features a fun segment with Tanya singing, showcasing the sound quality of the devices.
• 🚴 The video is sponsored by HITWAY, which offers affordable e-bikes, with a focus on the BK19 model that was tested by the presenters.

Q & A

What is the main difference in white balance between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max?

The Galaxy S24 Ultra tends to have a deeper white balance, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a colder side for skin tones and a more gray tone for the sky.

How does the zoom quality differ between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max?

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is known for better zoom quality, especially in wildlife photography, with less noise and cleaner images at high zoom levels compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

What is the user's preference for portrait mode between the two phones?

The user prefers the Galaxy S24 Ultra's 3X zoom for portrait mode as it provides a more natural look and better face proportions compared to the iPhone's 2X zoom.

How do the two phones handle computational photography for Bokeh effect?

Both phones can create an artificial Bokeh effect using computational photography, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra's 3X zoom is preferred for more natural portrait photos.

What is the difference in skin tone representation between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max?

The Galaxy S24 Ultra tends to have more red and orange tones in skin, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max has less saturation and a colder skin tone representation.

Which phone does the user prefer for outdoor photography and why?

The user prefers the Galaxy S24 Ultra for outdoor photography due to its superior zoom quality and detail retention, especially in wildlife scenarios.

How does the iPhone 15 Pro Max perform in night photography compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra?

The iPhone 15 Pro Max handles night photography with more natural colors and better flare control, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra tends to add a yellow tint to night photos.

What is the user's opinion on the sound quality of the video featuring Tanya singing?

The user does not provide a direct opinion on the sound quality in the script, but it is mentioned that the video includes a song sung by Tanya.

What is the sponsor of the video and what product do they offer?

The sponsor of the video is HITWAY, which produces e-bikes, specifically the model BK19, a road electric bike.

What are the assembly and performance features of the HITWAY BK19 e-bike mentioned in the script?

The HITWAY BK19 e-bike is described as easy to assemble, with a Shimano 7-speed and 250W motor power, allowing for uphill riding without pedaling. It has a sleek design, a removable battery supporting up to 80KM, and a top speed of 25KM per hour.

What is the user's final recommendation based on the comparison of photography and videography capabilities?

The user recommends the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra for zoom and general video quality, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max for night photography and when the intention is to capture LOG and color grade the footage later.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Comparative Smartphone Photography Review

In this segment, the hosts Mo and Tanya compare the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max after six months of updates. They discuss the differences in exposure, white balance, and color saturation, particularly noting the Galaxy's bluer and more saturated sky tones and the iPhone's deeper whites. The video quality, especially at 5X and 10X zoom, is analyzed, with the Galaxy showing less noise and better detail retention. The hosts also touch on the differences in skin tone rendering and the Galaxy's smoother zoom transition compared to the iPhone. They highlight the Galaxy's superior zoom capabilities for wildlife photography and the importance of portrait mode, where the Galaxy's 3X zoom is favored over the iPhone's 2X for more natural-looking portraits. The segment ends with a discussion on the sound quality of Tanya's singing, hinting at a focus on audio performance in the devices.

05:04

🚴‍♀️ E-Bike Review and Low-Light Photography Test

The second part of the video features a sponsored segment on HITWAY e-bikes, specifically the BK19 model, which is praised for its affordability, ease of assembly, and performance. The hosts discuss the bike's features, including its 7-speed Shimano gear system and 250W motor, which allows for uphill assistance without pedaling. They also mention the bike's lightweight design and legal speed limit. Following this, the hosts conduct a low-light photography comparison between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max. They note the Galaxy's tendency to add a yellow tint in low light, which they find less natural compared to the iPhone's more balanced exposure. The iPhone is also credited with better flare management and a larger, though less detailed, center spot in night photos. The hosts conclude by reiterating that both phones are excellent for everyday photography and videography, with preferences depending on individual taste, and they hint at a future long-term comparison video.

Keywords

💡Exposure

Exposure in photography refers to the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor, which influences the brightness and detail of an image. In the video, the comparison between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max highlights the difference in white exposure levels, with the iPhone appearing to have deeper whites. This is a critical aspect of photography as it can greatly affect the mood and quality of photos.

💡Saturation

Saturation refers to the intensity of colors in an image. A highly saturated image has vivid colors, while a less saturated one has more muted tones. The video script mentions that the Galaxy's sky color is more saturated and has a bluer tone compared to the iPhone, indicating that the Samsung phone may produce more vibrant colors in its photos.

💡Zoom Quality

Zoom quality pertains to how well a camera maintains image detail and clarity when magnifying a subject. The script discusses the zoom capabilities of both phones, noting that while the Galaxy has traditionally been strong in this area, the iPhone's 5X optical zoom is now more comparable. The Galaxy's smoother zoom transition and better detail retention at higher zoom levels are highlighted as advantages.

💡White Balance

White balance is the process of ensuring that white or neutral colors appear their true color under different light sources. The video script compares the white balance between the two phones, with the Galaxy tending to produce a warmer, more yellowish tone, while the iPhone's images are described as colder and less saturated. This difference is particularly noticeable in outdoor and low-light conditions.

💡Skin Tone

Skin tone in photography refers to how accurately a camera captures the natural colors of human skin. The video notes a difference in skin tone rendering between the Galaxy and iPhone, with the Galaxy introducing a red and orange hue, and the iPhone presenting a colder, less saturated look. Accurate skin tone reproduction is important for portrait photography.

💡Computational Photography

Computational photography is the use of digital processing algorithms to enhance or modify images. The script mentions computational photography in the context of zoom quality and portrait mode, where the Galaxy and iPhone use computational techniques to improve image detail and create artificial bokeh effects. This technology is crucial for enhancing camera performance in smartphones.

💡Portrait Mode

Portrait mode is a camera setting that focuses on a subject while blurring the background, creating a depth effect similar to that of a DSLR camera. The video discusses how both phones handle portrait mode, with a focus on skin tone accuracy and bokeh quality. The Galaxy's 3X zoom is preferred for more natural-looking portraits, while the iPhone's 2X zoom is also effective.

💡Bokeh

Bokeh refers to the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in an image, often used in portrait photography to isolate the subject. The video script compares the bokeh effects produced by the Galaxy and iPhone, noting that while both can create cinematic bokeh through computational photography, the Galaxy's 3X zoom provides a more natural look.

💡Flares

Flares in photography are the bright spots or streaks of light that occur when a strong light source, like the sun, is included in the frame. The script comments on how each phone handles flares, with the Galaxy showing a stronger flare and a green tint, while the iPhone manages flares more subtly but with a larger central spot.

💡Night Photography

Night photography involves capturing images in low-light conditions. The video script discusses the performance of both phones in night settings, with the Galaxy introducing a yellow tint and the iPhone increasing exposure for a more natural look. Night photography is a challenging aspect of mobile photography that tests a camera's low-light capabilities.

💡LOG

LOG, or Logarithmic, is a video recording format that captures a wider dynamic range, allowing for more flexibility in color grading and post-production. The video mentions that the iPhone is suitable for capturing LOG footage, suggesting that it records with a flat image profile that can be adjusted later for creative purposes.

Highlights

Comparison of Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max after six months of updates.

iPhone has deeper whites and Galaxy has a bluer, more saturated sky color in photos.

Galaxy photos appear less noisy when zooming into subjects.

Skin tone differences with Galaxy showing more red and orange tones compared to the colder iPhone.

Both phones retain background details well in photos.

Galaxy Ultra traditionally excels in zoom quality, now with similar 5X optical zoom lenses on both phones.

iPhone has a smoother zoom transition compared to Galaxy.

Galaxy retains more details and has less noise at 10X zoom.

Galaxy produces less noisy images at 15X zoom, while iPhone's image is noisier.

Preference for Galaxy in wildlife photography due to zoom quality and detail.

Autofocus, colors, and detail combination on Galaxy is praised, especially at 5X zoom.

Portrait mode comparison shows Galaxy's 3X zoom provides more natural-looking photos.

iPhone portraits have more contrast and less saturation compared to Galaxy.

Galaxy's yellow tint in night photos is criticized, while iPhone's exposure is more natural.

Galaxy retains more detail in low light, but has a yellow color cast.

Final recommendation: Galaxy for zoom and video, iPhone for night photos and color grading.

Sponsorship mention of HITWAY e-bikes, highlighting their affordability and features.

Transcripts

Hello, this is Mo! Tanya here!

And today we are going to compare the Galaxy S24 Ultra vs.

the iPhone 15 Pro Max after six months of updates!

Thanks to this Viennese young man for giving us  great content! The iPhone is always on the right  

side and the Galaxy is on the left side. The first  obvious difference between the two at first glance  

is the exposure and level of whites. I always feel  the whites are deeper on the iPhone, which is also  

visible in photos. The other visible difference  is that the Galaxy's sky color has more of a blue  

tone and is a little more saturated. I took all  the photos in default mode, and when zooming into  

the subject, the Galaxy photo looks less noisy  compared to the iPhone. Another difference between  

the two, in my opinion, is the skin tone. There is  a bit of a red and orange tone to my skin tone and  

Tanya’s on the Galaxy, whereas iPhone faces are  a bit on the colder side. In the background, both  

of them retained the details in the sky and did a  great job keeping the information there. For me,  

Galaxy Ultra phones were always great for zooming,  but there is less of a difference now that both  

Pro Max and Ultra have similar 5X optical zoom  lenses. There are still two major differences  

between the zooming on the Galaxy and the iPhone.  The first one, which is more obvious at first  

glance, is the zoom transition, which is much  smoother on the iPhone compared to the Galaxy.  

Unfortunately, on the Galaxy, there is still a  visible color and position shift when zooming in,  

which I hope Samsung solves in future updates or  the next generation of Galaxies. For the picture  

quality at 10 times zoom, the Galaxy seems  to retain details better with computational  

photography and digital zoom. There is again  an obvious white balance difference between the  

two phones, but it’s hard to say which one did a  better job. The Galaxy also seems to do a better  

job when it comes to retaining details and noise  level, as you can see in this 10X zoom picture.  

Maybe this picture shows the difference better  when I zoomed 15X into the COPA BEACH logo. The  

Galaxy is less noisy and produces a cleaner image,  while the one on the iPhone, though it looks less  

digital, is noisier and seemingly not the same  quality as the Samsung S24 Ultra. You probably  

already know that I always carry both iPhone  and Samsung in my pocket, but whenever I’m  

in the wild, I use the Galaxy since I prefer the  zoom quality and feel it does much better when it  

comes to wildlife; the quality is sometimes just  surreal. Like, look at this insect video I took,  

or the video of the bee. The combination of  autofocus, colors, and level of detail is just  

amazing, especially on the 5X zoom on the Galaxy.  I’m not saying it’s bad on the iPhone, but it’s  

simply not the same level, and you can clearly  see the difference looking at this video I took  

with the iPhone 15 Pro Max 5X zoom lens. One other  thing that is essential when comparing the cameras  

is the portrait mode, especially skin tone. Both  of them can take "quote to quote" cinematic video,  

which basically means they create an artificial  Bokeh effect to give depth to the subject and  

scene—something usually achievable using a lens  with a very low aperture like 2.8. However, since  

phone cameras have a fixed aperture, which is not  that wide, they have to add it with computational  

photography. One thing I prefer on the Galaxy  is the 3X zoom compared to the 2X zoom lens,  

which makes the portrait photo more natural  looking, and I like the face proportions more.  

For example on a normal camera, you want to take  a photo with at least 50mm. Using the main lens,  

it seems the iPhone picture on the right has  more contrast compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra  

on the left side. Maybe this picture shows the  difference better. The subject on the iPhone is  

a bit darker compared to the S24 Ultra. On the  other hand, I feel there is too much yellow tone  

in the picture that the S24 Ultra produced. As I  said, you cannot get a great Bokeh on the portrait  

photo if you don’t use the portrait mode, but  you can do a trick and move the background far  

from the subject, as I did here with Tanya,  which resulted in a somewhat acceptable Bokeh  

without relying on computational photography.  Skin tone is another big difference between the  

iPhone and the S24 Ultra. The iPhone photo has a  bit more contrast and less saturation, and there  

is less red and orange in Tanya’s skin tone,  whereas on Samsung, there is more. Write down  

in the comments which one you actually prefer.  This picture shows the difference even better;  

Tanya’s face has more red tone to it on the S24  Ultra compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It’s  

not only because of the software both phones are  using, but it also depends on the chipset they are  

using and how it handles the computation. Let’s  also hear Tanya singing to see the sound quality.  

Hungry, I’m so hungry, I  have no yummy, of my own!  

Are you serious now? Alright, today this is  all you get from Tanya! This is the song she  

decided to sing! This is not enough! BTW, today's video has a sponsor, 

it’s called HITWAY! HITWAY produces great e-bikes  at a crazy affordable price. The one that Tanya  

and I are riding today is the model called BK19,  a road electric bike priced at 900 Euros or  

800 Pounds. It’s super easy to assemble and only  took Tanya and me half an hour to assemble each  

of them. It has a Shimano 7-speed, and with the  250W motor power that it offers, you don’t even  

need to pedal when you are going uphill. It’s  almost cheating and it’s a great thing to have  

on hot summer days when you don’t wanna sweat like  a pig! Even though the removable battery is huge  

and supports up to 80KM distance, you don’t  even notice it because of the sleek design of  

the bikes, and also the bike is not as heavy as a  normal bike. It’s only 20KG, and both Tanya and I  

can easily lift it with our hands, or without  hands. The bike can go up to 25KM per hour,  

which is the legal limit, pretty fast, like  scary fast! I sometimes think it’s dangerously  

fast! That’s why maybe put it on number one or  two instead of three when you are riding it! They  

also have other great products that you can check  on their website, they also sell accessories like  

bike bags. I put the link in the description down  below. Thanks, HITWAY, for sending the bikes; we  

had a great time riding them! It was getting dark,  and we decided to do some nature photography.  

There is again this obvious difference between  the white balance of the phones. I prefer the one  

on Galaxy in this instance because it captured the  sky tone better while it’s too gray on the iPhone.  

The pictures on the Galaxy are more film-like,  whereas on the iPhone, it’s more clear due to the  

higher contrast and lack of yellow and warm tone.  For the sunset, I feel the iPhone did a better  

job at capturing the sun even though there is a  visible flare on the picture. Each phone handles  

the flares differently, in my opinion. The flare  is a bit stronger on the Galaxy, and there is also  

a green tone on it if you look at the direct  impact on the middle of the screen. Whereas on  

the iPhone 15 Pro Max, I feel it’s handling  it slightly better, but on the other hand,  

the spot in the middle is larger compared  to the S24 Ultra. It got completely dark,  

so I took some more videos and pictures. The  white balance is completely different on night  

photos. The Galaxy photos have this famous yellow  tint to them and make everything more vibrant,  

while the iPhone increased the exposure.  Unfortunately, in low light settings,  

Galaxy didn’t do a great job and added this yellow  color that I kind of hoped they would fix at some  

point with updates, but they never did, while the  one on iPhone is more natural. On the other hand,  

if you look at the lamps, Galaxy did a better  job retaining the details. At the end of the day,  

both phones are great photography and videography  tools for day-to-day life, and it depends on your  

taste which one you prefer. I would pick  Samsung for Zoom and video in general,  

especially with the great Samsung Camera app,  whereas the iPhone is great for night photos  

and if you want to capture LOG and color grade  it later. If you liked this video, you are also  

going to like the long-term comparison of  iPhone 15 Pro Max versus Galaxy S24 Ultra,  

and you can watch it next. Thanks for tuning  into Techmo, and I will see you in the next one!