The camera on the Galaxy S25 Edge may seem perplexing at first glance, especially if you’re contemplating making a purchase. Featuring a 200-megapixel main camera sourced from the Galaxy S25 Ultra, it lacks a telephoto lens like its sibling, the Galaxy S25 Plus, which can make it feel like an awkward compromise.
After hearing potential buyers’ concerns, I set out to test the camera’s zoom capabilities extensively. Could the S25 Edge’s camera still impress without a telephoto? I was determined to find out whether this sleek smartphone could deliver on versatility.
Camera Specifications: What’s Inside?
The S25 Edge comes equipped with a 200MP main camera and a 12MP wide-angle camera. While it may lack a dedicated telephoto lens, Samsung promotes a 2x “optical quality” zoom. This feature utilizes the full resolution of the main camera, which technically crops the image at the sensor level, avoiding the pixel enhancement often associated with 4x or 10x digital zooms.
Despite Samsung’s confidence, the term “optical quality” still raises eyebrows among avid photography enthusiasts. Many users feel that without a true telephoto lens, they are making a trade-off that compromises the overall capability of a $1,100 (approximately €1,030) phone.
It’s worth noting that the absence of a telephoto lens likely stems from design limitations; Samsung needed to reduce the size of the 200MP camera module by 18% to fit it into the phone’s compact body. However, whether this design choice affects photo quality is worth investigating.
Testing the Zoom Features
I took the S25 Edge out for a week-long test to specifically explore its 2x optical quality zoom feature. While this zoom level is less flexible than a 3x telephoto option, it still offers a fresh perspective. Zooming in can help frame shots creatively, add depth, and focus on crucial details often lost at standard 1x zoom.
During my shoot with a Hyundai Kona Electric, the 2x zoom captured impressive details. The shot highlighted accurate white balance and enough depth to make the car stand out beautifully. Even when cropping the image further, the photo remained almost noise-free, despite some occasional haloing under specific lighting conditions.
This haloing effect, however, did not detract significantly from the photos. The close-up shot of the dashboard demonstrated exceptional detail with sharp text, while the close-up of the car’s front light maintained incredible clarity. Samsung’s advancements in camera technology are evident, and addressing these minor flaws through software updates can improve overall performance.
How Does the Camera Handle Smaller Subjects?
With spring in the air, I ventured outside to test the camera’s capabilities with small subjects like bees. As they fluttered around blossoms, I was curious about how the S25 Edge’s camera would perform without a dedicated telephoto feature.
Captured images displayed a sharp focus on the flowers, even managing to freeze a bee in motion. Expect some motion blur in these scenarios, but considering that the shots were taken handheld in auto mode, the results were commendably impressive.
What about the 3x zoom mode? While Samsung hasn’t labeled this as an optical quality zoom, the outcome was surprisingly good. When testing with a bee, I found that the digital zoom delivered excellent detail, vibrant colors, and effective depth of field that exceeded my expectations.
Final Thoughts on the Galaxy S25 Edge’s Camera
This exploration of the Galaxy S25 Edge camera challenges initial assumptions regarding its capabilities. While the absence of a true telephoto lens may seem like a drawback, the alternatives offered have proven satisfactory in practical use. The 2x zoom effectively captures pertinent details, while the 3x digital zoom performs admirably in typical shooting contexts.
Don’t let the camera setup deter you from considering this innovative phone. The Galaxy S25 Edge stands out with its remarkable portability and user-friendly design, even if it has only two cameras on the back. If you have been around the block with your camera phone choices, the S25 Edge merits a closer look and might just surprise you.
If you’re curious about more details, tips, and insights into the Galaxy S25 series and similar technology, keep exploring related content at Moyens I/O.