Vivo Just Set The Telephoto Standard — Can The S24 Ultra Keep Up?
The launch of the Galaxy S24 series is just a few days away and with it the S24 Ultra, Samsung's 2024 flagship. It definitely has Samsung's best camera, and it should. The Google Pixel 8 Pro's main competition lies in this segment.
At least that's the story in America. Buyers around the world always have a few additional options for the best Chinese smartphones, and the Vivo X100 Pro, launched in December, paved the way for this generation of smartphone photography. The only question now is whether Samsung has something that can compete with Vivo's unique offerings, especially when it comes to telephoto lenses.
If you don't know Vivo, it is one of the leading manufacturers in the Chinese and Asian markets, with some expansion in Europe. The company has earned its reputation primarily through the impressive photographic performance of its flagship X-series phones, thanks in part to its long-standing partnership with lens manufacturer Zeiss.
And the X100 Pro is no different. It features a triple rear camera system, with each of the three sensors having a resolution of 50 megapixels.
I spent most of December visiting my partner's family in Macau and China and I couldn't be happier to have the X100 Pro with me on the trip. Whether I was photographing fluorescent casino signs in Macau, frozen mountain views in northern China, or endless food shots, wherever I went, Vivo delivered the goods every time.
Unsurprisingly, the main camera is impressive, as it's powered by Sony's famous 1-inch IMX989 sensor, which can capture more light than smaller sensors. The ultra-wide-angle camera is also impressive, as it matches the main camera in terms of pixel count and uses a relatively large f/2.0 aperture.
Both do an excellent job with low-light photography, particularly when it comes to dynamic range, capturing highlights without blurring or blurring while preserving details in the dark. Each will compete against models like the Pixel 8 Pro or the S23 Ultra. But that's not what's special about the X100 Pro - or Samsung's closest flagship competitor.
Most phones still have a lot going for them, including a large format, S Pen support and a versatile camera. But since releasing the original S20 Ultra four years ago, Samsung has put a little more emphasis on these phones' zoom capabilities, starting with its impressive - if unreliable - 100x "Space Zoom" feature.
There are reports that the same thing will happen this year. While the S24 Ultra's main and ultra-wide-angle lenses are the same as the 2023 version, the company is reportedly upgrading the telephoto lenses, increasing their magnification to 3x and 5x. The latter may seem like a step down from the S23 Ultra's 10x periscope, but it offers a much higher resolution of 50MP and could be a significant upgrade with a larger aperture and wider sensor.
However, it's unclear whether that will be enough to make Samsung's flagship phone the best ever. Oppo made headlines this week by announcing its research results
With a 4.3x zoom equivalent to a focal length of 100mm, the X100 Pro's single telephoto lens is between the 3x and 10x zoom of the S23 Ultra. However, it is capable of digital zoom up to Samsung's claimed 100x level, and more importantly, it looks good at every level.
This is partly due to improved stabilization technology, which makes shots more stable and detailed, especially in low light conditions where most close-up shots present problems. Capture the sharp edges of neon signs in these night shots at 4.3x magnification, where you can see every detail of every light and see the details of the building's dark exterior, but the night sky itself remains pitch black. .
Even better, the zoom lens can change its focus point while producing beautiful bokeh. This means it can do double duty as a macro tool. However, when taking photos, you can choose exactly where you want the focus to be and use the options slider in the main interface to choose whether to blur the background or foreground. This allows you to adjust the focus manually.
A good example of this is these two photos taken in the same location with a 4.3x telephoto lens, but the focus selection on both panels is consistent. Especially in the second image, the background is still blurry even though the background pot is the focal point - it's not just about adjusting the focus from a distance, it's about setting exactly the depth of field you want and blurring everything before and after. .
Make no mistake, this is not a perfect camera. In the photos above you can see that changing the focus immediately affects the brightness and sometimes the sensor fails. Sometimes photos appear too dark and warm, especially in indoor lighting - these yellow tones are sometimes enhanced.
I hate that this is the best zoom lens I've ever used on a phone. It's so good that I zoom in on the main sensor and rely on this lens instead of just using a regular camera. This is unknown, unheard of. No other phone has a telephoto lens that matches the first shot, let alone better.
All three lenses are powered by the Vivo V3 chip, which works in tandem with the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chipset for image processing. That Dimensity chip might be the phone's biggest problem - it could be responsible for spotty battery life across the board - but if the to be beaten
We'll have to wait a week to find out what Samsung brings with the S24 Ultra, but Vivo has upped the ante and its sister company Oppo isn't far behind. If Samsung doesn't want to get out, it has to do what it can.
