The Sony Xperia 1 IV and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra seem to be two of the most sought after smartphones this year. Both go above and beyond with their camera systems, but which one takes the best photos?
Given Sony’s knowledge of digital cameras and its reputation for durable and reliable electronics, it won’t be surprising to learn that its devices are regulars in T3’s guide to the best android phones. They have found a winning formula, that’s for sure.
The Sony Xperia 1 IV combines all this experience in a high-end smartphone with photography at its heart. But that’s not all it has to offer, the 6.5-inch OLED screen is a beauty, it packs the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and there are all sorts of extra features for gamers, while its waterproof design It means that it should survive anything. The weather.
Competition is fierce right now, and there are tons of other really great phones out there, including the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra which is widely regarded as one of best phones in the entire world.
Samsung’s high-end flagship blew us away when we tested it, so much so that it earned a coveted 5-star rating in its T3 review. We were impressed with its performance, we loved the built-in stylus and the large square screen design was also a hit, but of all we liked the most about it was its camera system.
I tested these two giants of photography side by side to see which one takes the best pictures and what better place to do it than in some of the UK’s most beautiful locations.
Each sample shot is labeled below with the phone it was captured on, so you can judge for yourself which camera takes the most impressive photos.
Sony Xperia 1 IV vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: Camera Specs
Keeping a similar camera setup to its predecessor, the Sony Xperia 1 IV has a 12 MP main camera, a 12 MP ultra-wide camera and a 12 MP periscope lens with a new 85mm to 125mm optical zoom. On the front, you get a 12MP selfie snapper.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is made up of a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 108MP wide camera, two 10MP telephoto lenses (one with 3x optical zoom and one with 10x optical zoom), and a 40MP front camera. I’m not kidding either.
Sony Xperia 1 IV vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: rear cameras
You can see from the images below that the Sony Xperia 1 IV generally gives a lot of detail and an accurate rendering of the scene, but it can sometimes make it look a bit dull without a bit of editing here and there.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, on the other hand, uses AI to enhance the image, making them much more eye-catching, though that does mean images can sometimes look a bit oversaturated.
Sony Xperia 1 IV vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: Low Light Photography
Shooting at night has long been a challenge, but the Sony Xperia 1 IV and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra have automatic night modes to illuminate the scene so you can shoot at any time of day (and night).
Both worked fine, but for me the Samsung won out as it was able to light up shots considerably later at night and you can make out a bit more of the scene than the Sony equivalent, though if you play around with the Xperia settings you’ll definitely could get better results.
Sony Xperia 1 IV vs. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: zoom
Both devices lead the way when it comes to their zoom, be it optical or digital.
The Sony Xperia 1 IV has a periscope lens, which can vary its optical zoom between 85 and 125mm (3.5 to 5.2x zoom). The lenses inside the phone physically move, which means there’s no digital cropping. It’s a feature that’s unique to Sony as is.
In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra only reaches 3x optical zoom, but its digital zoom can reach a whopping 100x zoom, which is incredible.
Sony Xperia 1 IV vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: selfies
The front cameras on these phones are very different, with the Sony Xperia 1 IV producing more flattering and softer selfies, while the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is more accurate with much harsher colours.
Sony Xperia 1 IV vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: Verdict
The best phone camera will depend on you and what you need. To sum it up in one sentence: the Sony Xperia 1 IV is better for post-capture editing and photography enthusiasts, while the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra does all the work for you and thus produces much better shots. more friendly with social networks.
The Sony Xperia 1 IV can produce incredibly detailed and sharp images, but for the best results you’ll need to play around a lot with the settings – this isn’t a fast camera. It will be best suited to those who have the time to compose their shots well and want full control over the results.
On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has one of the most advanced smartphone cameras ever. It relies heavily on AI to enhance image appearance, meaning you’ll always get professional-looking photos. For those who are not familiar with manual camera settings, this is definitely the best option.
You can buy both phones now: the Sony Xperia 1 IV starts at $1,600 in the US and £1,300 in the UK, while the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra will set you back $1,300/£1,150.
To see the best deals on them on the web right now, take a look at the widgets below.
