The Galaxy S25 has new digital camera filters, however are they higher than Apple’s Photographic Types?

When Samsung introduced that its Galaxy S25 collection can be mild on digital camera {hardware} modifications, I wasn’t positive the best way to really feel. No, there was nothing unsuitable with the cameras on the Galaxy S24 collection, nevertheless it’s at all times harder to get excited a couple of cellphone when you recognize it’s going to really feel loads like its predecessor. Nonetheless, simply because Samsung didn’t overhaul its trio (or quartet on the Galaxy S25 Extremely) of highly effective sensors doesn’t imply it saved issues the identical.

As an alternative of refreshing its {hardware}, it took an extended have a look at the Galaxy S25’s digital camera software program and devised a brand new wrinkle to tackle Apple: digital camera filters. Sure, what’s outdated is new once more — you possibly can lastly relive the times of early Instagram when all you needed to do was slap a heavy filter on a picture and watch the likes roll in. There’s extra to it, however the actual query is how Samsung’s digital camera filters examine to Apple’s Photographic Types. And, on that entrance, I’ve some ideas.

Earlier than we get to how Samsung’s newest software program wrinkle compares to its primary rival, we must always in all probability dig into what precisely its digital camera filters add to the equation. The thought of placing a filter in your smartphone digital camera earlier than you snap a photograph is nothing new — individuals have been grabbing pictures in black and white or sepia tones for so long as I can bear in mind. With the Galaxy S25 collection, although, the numerous change comes from the truth that you possibly can alter these filters to create a mode all your personal.

When you select one of many ten pre-built filters, you possibly can then faucet on its elements — energy, colour temperature, saturation, and movie grain (synthetic ISO) — to lift or decrease its depth. Then, while you’ve discovered a mixture you want, it can save you it and seize the world round you. For probably the most half, this course of makes them really feel extra like a riff on Fujifilm’s movie simulations, which is excessive reward given my love for cameras just like the X100V.

Nonetheless, yet another wrinkle to Samsung’s digital camera filters makes them much more sensible than Fujifilm’s fleshed-out resolution: You possibly can generate them from present photos. That’s proper, it’s Galaxy AI to the rescue. Basically, how this works is that almost all of Samsung’s filters reside to the correct of its default colour profile. You possibly can rapidly swipe by way of them and modify the coloring as described above.

Nonetheless, should you look to the left, you’ll see a filter with a small plus image on it and Galaxy AI-like swirling colours. Swipe over to it, and the Galaxy S25’s digital camera app will open a miniature model of your digital camera roll from which you’ll select a picture for the bottom of your new filter. As soon as you discover one you want, you possibly can go proper again by way of the method of tweaking the grain, temperature, and saturation, as outlined above, then rename it and put it aside for future use.

Additionally, if you wish to return and swap your digital camera filter or modify it on an present picture later, you are able to do so in Samsung’s Gallery app.

Though I’m joyful to name Samsung’s digital camera filters a bit extra versatile than Apple’s Photographic Types and agree that they’re simpler to customise, it’s robust to inform whether or not they’re actually higher. And no, I’m not simply saying that as a result of I’m secretly an Apple fanboy uninterested in Samsung’s profile leaning punchy. As an alternative, I really feel so torn about whether or not or not Samsung’s digital camera filters are higher than Apple’s Photographic Types as a result of I usually can’t inform them aside.

At present, Samsung’s default filters embody names like Breeze, Pulse, Crystal, Shiver, Chill, Glow, Amber, Sunbeam, Shade, and Shadow. Though the names trace on the heat of the picture you may count on, I’m operating into the truth that so a lot of them fall proper in the midst of the temperature scale. Breeze, Pulse, and Crystal are virtually equivalent throughout the temperature, distinction, and saturation ranges to the purpose the place I’m unsure when to make use of every one over one other.

With Apple, although, there’s much less doubt about what every of its Photographic Types is for. It selected names like Vibrant, Pure, Luminous, Dramatic, and Quiet, that are far more efficient at conveying the temper you need your picture to go on moderately than merely counting on a temperature. You don’t get as a lot management over the finer elements of every filter, solely controlling the Tone, Shade, and Palette, however I admire that Apple’s Photographic Types really feel extra distinct proper off the bat.

To see what I imply, try a number of fast samples from each the iPhone 16 Professional and Galaxy S25 Ultra, every taken round my neighborhood in Baltimore:

So, with six scenes and a handful of filters and Photographic Types, one factor is evident — Apple and Samsung have completely different concepts about modifying pictures. Maybe the clearest distinction between the 2 is the one picture with a correct head-to-head comparability: the image taken in the midst of the road. As a result of each Samsung and Apple have Amber choices, you possibly can see simply how massive of a distinction there may be between the 2. I feel Apple’s result’s brighter and extra amber-tinted, giving it considerably extra heat than Samsung’s filter.

And but, I desire a few of Samsung’s different outcomes to these from the iPhone 16 Professional. Apple’s Dramatic fashion is probably a bit too dramatic within the instances of each the cannon and the very cold-tinted Christmas timber, whereas Samsung’s Crystal filter provides only a little bit of punch to the hotter colours left over from the vacations. Selecting between Apple’s Cozy profile and Samsung’s Sunbeam filter may be the hardest of the group, although, as I desire the film-like look of the iPhone 16 Professional however can’t argue with the colour accuracy that Samsung achieved.

In the end, should you dig into my digital camera samples as both a Samsung fanboy or an Apple diehard, you’ll in all probability have a transparent favourite. As a photographer, I’m keen to offer either side a bit of credit score, however I’ll in all probability lean towards Apple’s Photographic Types after I need a genuinely distinct final result.