aiqbench analysis
Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra retains its status as a top-tier Android camera phone by delivering superior performance in specific areas that surprised the reviewer, despite facing stiff competition from Vivo's three-sensor X300 Ultra. The comparison highlights a nuanced trade-off between Vivo's versatile 35mm optical default and Samsung's established 23mm focal length, suggesting that the "best" choice depends heavily on user shooting habits rather than raw sensor count alone.
I compared the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra camera to the Vivo X300 Ultra - and it was surprisingly close
I expected the Vivo X300 Ultra to wipe the floor with Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra, but that wasn't quite the case.
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is one of the best phones you can buy right now. However, outside the US, it is facing tough competition from Chinese ultra phones, the latest being Vivo's X300 Ultra. It takes on the Samsung phone with a camera system that's packed with not one or two, but three massive sensors. I was curious how it'd compare to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, so I took the two phones on a photowalk. While I expected Vivo to perform better, Samsung surprised me in a few areas. Before I dive into the results from both devices, here's an overview of how their specs…
Excerpt shown under the publisher's RSS terms · 116 words · full text and figures are on the publisher's site
Related coverage
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Z Fold 7: How the first 'Ultra' foldable compares to last year's model
ZDNet · Jul 25, 2026
I tried Samsung's new wide Galaxy Z Fold 8, and it's my favorite product of Unpacked 2026
ZDNet · Jul 22, 2026
Samsung’s Z Fold 8 Ultra is more of the same, but better than ever
The Verge · Aug 7, 2026
I’m stoked about iPhone 18 Pro’s variable aperture, but it’s missing one key camera feature
ZDNet · Sep 9, 2026