2 Minutes
Fifteen years after the original Galaxy S launched with a 5MP shooter, Samsung's smartphone cameras have transformed dramatically. From modest stills and 720p video to multi-lens systems with 200MP sensors and 8K recording, the evolution reflects advances in sensors, optics and computational photography.
From 5MP and 720p to 200MP and 8K
The first Galaxy S shipped with a 5-megapixel camera capable of 720p video. Fast-forward to the latest Galaxy S25 Ultra, which packs a 200MP main sensor and can record 8K video (4,320p vertical resolution). In practical terms, still-image resolution has increased roughly 40× while video pixel counts are about 36× higher — a dramatic leap in capture detail.
More lenses, more flexibility
One of the clearest shifts since 2010 is the rise of multi-camera arrays. Where early phones relied on a single rear module, modern flagships like the S25 Ultra include four rear cameras: a 200MP primary sensor, a new 50MP ultra-wide, a 50MP 5x/111mm periscope telephoto and a 10MP 3x/67mm mid-telephoto. The extra optics extend focal range, improve low-light performance and enable features such as lossless zoom and specialized wide-angle framing.
Beyond raw megapixels, advances in on-device processing and AI-driven image pipelines have been crucial. Computational photography stitches multiple exposures, suppresses noise and enhances dynamic range, so a higher megapixel count often works in tandem with smarter software rather than as a standalone improvement.
Conclusion
Samsung's camera journey in the Galaxy S lineup shows how hardware and software co-evolve: bigger sensors and more lenses provide the data, while computational techniques extract usable, high-quality images and video. The infographic tracking these changes highlights milestones from the original Galaxy S to today — a useful snapshot of where smartphone photography has been and where it may head next.
Source: gsmarena
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