3 Minutes
A camera brawl broke out online before Samsung even took the stage.
YouTuber Sahil Karoul got hold of a pre-release Galaxy S26 Ultra and ran a side-by-side photo test against the Vivo X300 Pro, comparing 1x and 10x (12MP) zoom shots. The timing is notable: Samsung is set to unveil the S26 series at Unpacked tomorrow, but a few early units have already sparked debate among camera enthusiasts.
Vivo’s flagships have been the yardstick for mobile photography lately. In the 10x shots the difference is obvious at a glance. The X300 Pro leans into richer, more saturated colors and shows noticeably less noise. Fine lines on buildings and architectural detail hold up better on Vivo’s output, giving images a crisper, more textured feel.
 |  |
The Galaxy S26 Ultra takes a different path. Its 10x frames show a distinct processing choice—less punch, but a more restrained palette. You can see what Samsung prioritized: a cleaner tonal balance over the hyper-saturated look. It’s not strictly worse. Just different.
Switch to 1x and the contest tightens. Both phones deliver flagship-grade images that look great on first inspection. The S26 Ultra tends to produce brighter photos and teases out more detail in shadowed areas. In some of the close-range shots, Samsung even edges ahead on micro-detail capture.
 |  |
That said, we don’t have the full camera settings for either handset, so it’s premature to crown a winner. Vivo offers multiple color modes, letting you toggle between vivid and accurate renditions, which explains some of the variance you’re seeing. Lab tests and RAW comparisons will paint the fuller picture.
Early samples suggest Samsung didn’t play it safe, but Vivo still holds the advantage for long-range detail and punchy color.
Which output appeals to you more — Vivo’s aggressive, detail-forward 10x or Samsung’s brighter, shadow-rich 1x images? Drop your take below and stay tuned for a full breakdown once reviewers get their hands on retail units.
Leave a Comment