I took over 200 photos with the Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Pixel 8 Pro — here's the winner
I didn’t think I was going to like the Pixel 8 Pro when I first got my hands on it, but it’s been my daily driver for nearly 6 months for good reason. That’s astounding for me because it’s one of the longest Google phones I’ve ever used, and it was good enough to take me away from the Galaxy S23 Ultra. But now that the Galaxy S24 Ultra is its replacement, I was curious if it could reel me back into using a Samsung again.
That’s why I decided to do an in-depth camera shootout between Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Pixel 8 Pro, to really determine which is the worthier phone on our best camera phones list. I religiously rely on my smartphones as backup cameras to my mirrorless cameras on professional shoots, so I want to see which one would come out on top with this one.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Pixel 8 Pro: The cameras
What makes this one tough is that they have a lot in common with one another — like their optical telephoto lenses. The Pixel 8 Pro comes with a 50MP main camera, 48MP ultrawide camera, 48MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, and 10.5MP selfie. In my Pixel 8 Pro review, I detailed how its generative AI features work really well in stuff Best Take and Magic Editor — but it sort of fails with Magic Audio Eraser on the video side.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is no slouch with its arsenal: a 200MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto, 50MP 5x telephoto, and 12MP selfie cameras. It also injects life into how I edit photos and videos with Galaxy AI features such as Instant Slow-Mo, Generative Edit, and more. I will admit that I like the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s camera interface better because it comes complete with a manual video mode, which I don’t get with the Pixel 8 Pro.
For this Galaxy S24 Ultra versus Pixel 8 Pro camera shootout, I want to see how they compare in key areas such as dynamic range, low-light performance, and how well they capture selfies. Frankly, I’ve been spoiled by what the Pixel 8 Pro delivers with its camera performance, so the Galaxy S24 Ultra will really need to step it up if it has any chance of taking me away from Google’s phones.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs.Pixel 8 Pro: main camera
After taking countless photos, I can say with confidence that the Galaxy S24 Ultra has the better main camera. The shot above of the figurine nestled in a shaded spot in between two buildings is proof that not only is the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s shot brighter and more vibrant, but it also shows how it perfectly balances out the exposure with its excellent dynamic range. Although, I would say that detail capture is nearly identical with both devices.
Winner: Galaxy S24 Ultra
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs.Pixel 8 Pro: Ultra wide
I’m going to give the Galaxy S24 Ultra the win in the ultra wide department, even though the Pixel 8 Pro technically has the wider 125.5-degree field of view — versus the S24 Ultra’s narrower 120-degree one. That’s because I like how the S24 Ultra delivers the better dynamic range performance, which boosts the shadows and draws out a little more detail. You can see it in the archways of the New York Public Library above when you zoom in, with more definition in the words etched into the building and the ornate details in the arch.
Winner: Galaxy S24 Ultra
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs.Pixel 8 Pro: Macro
In another closely contested category, I’m giving the macro photography win to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, even though it’s very close. Macro mode is automatically engaged whenever I get the camera super close to my subject, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra pulls in a little more detail that I need in a macro shot. Colors are represented nicely with pair, but it ultimately comes down to the slightly better detailed capture of the S24 Ultra — which you can see in the other flower closeups below.
Winner: Galaxy S24 Ultra
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs.Pixel 8 Pro: Color Reproduction
Judging solely on the colors they’re able to produce, I like the warmer hues that the Pixel 8 Pro casts in the shot of all these beverages on display at the grocery store. The S24 Ultra isn’t bad either here, but the colors are just a smidge subdued — just look at the yellow label on the drinks near the middle of the shot to see what I mean.
Winner: Pixel 8 Pro
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs.Pixel 8 Pro: Dynamic range
In just about every high-contrast scene, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is more capable at capturing the colors and details. Take the photos near Times Square above, where you have a shaded area competing against the stronger light source in the foreground. The S24 Ultra does nicely to even out the exposure between the shadows and highlights, but it tends to subdue the colors in the process — which I can make out with the green boards in the building being constructed near the middle.
Winner: Galaxy S24 Ultra
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs.Pixel 8 Pro: Panoramic
When it comes to capturing panoramic photos, I recommend the Galaxy S24 Ultra because of the option to switch between the 1x main camera and 0.6x wide angle one. You’re stuck with the 1x main camera on the Pixel 8 Pro, so it won’t have anywhere as close to a wider view of view. Even when I rely on the 0.6x wide angle camera of the S24 Ultra, it still pulls in better details than what the Pixel 8 Pro captures with its 1x camera.
Winner: Galaxy S24 Ultra
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs.Pixel 8 Pro: 5x telephoto zoom
Things get really interesting when I switch to their 5x optical zoom cameras. In almost every 5x zoom shot I captured, I’m always leaning to the Pixel 8 Pro more because of how it produces the brighter image. You can see it in the image of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse above, but also with the set of images below — particularly with the Empire State Building. Detail capture is a smidge better with the S24 Ultra, but it’s hardly noticeable.
Winner: Pixel 8 Pro
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs.Pixel 8 Pro: 30x telephoto zoom
When I push these flagship phones beyond 5x zoom, that’s when the image processing of the Galaxy S24 Ultra takes over and delivers the cleaner photo. The same closeup shot of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse shows more of the texture of the white paint job with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, plus the overall sharpness it produces makes the Pixel 8 Pro’s image soft by comparison.
Winner: Galaxy S24 Ultra
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs.Pixel 8 Pro: Selfie
For the selfie shot, I opted to take one with the bright sun behind me to see how these camera phones handle the strong contrast in light. Both handsets have two zoom options, so I shot my selfies using the wider ones. I like how the Pixel 8 Pro keeps a stronger contrast, whereas the S24 Ultra looks washed out. In the other set of selfies below with the sun hitting my face, I’d say they deliver nearly the same results.
Winner: Pixel 8 Pro
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs.Pixel 8 Pro: Portrait mode
I will say that I like how the S24 Ultra offers more zoom options with portrait mode, including a 1x zoom. With the Pixel 8 Pro, its minimum zoom is 1.5x, so if you need to cover a wider view, you’ll need to take a few steps back to reach the same 1x coverage of the S24 Ultra. Beyond that, however, I prefer how the Pixel 8 Pro produces more realistic skin tones. There’s this greenish hue with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but it still manages to isolate the focus on my face as well as the Pixel 8 Pro.
Winner: Pixel 8 Pro
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs.Pixel 8 Pro: Low light
My detached garage is my go-to snapshot to determine a camera’s low light performance. Samsung has consistently proven it’s the one to beat in this area, but this time it’s a shocking change. I actually like the Pixel 8 Pro’s photo better, mainly for how it casts a bright image with the more true-to-life colors. The white sidings of my garage look normal with the Pixel 8 Pro, but they’re oddly greenish with the Galaxy S24 Ultra. When I look into other areas of the photo, I can make out a little more detail again with the Pixel 8 Pro.
Winner: Pixel 8 Pro
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs.Pixel 8 Pro: High-contrast low light
Despite setting the exposure and focus on the tree, the S24 Ultra produces the brighter image, but at the expense of the highlights. The string lights are simply too overpowering in the shot, almost washed out. While it’s nowhere as bright, the Pixel 8 Pro does the opposite by keeping those bright spots a little subdued — making for the more realistic photo under low light.
Winner: Pixel 8 Pro
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs.Pixel 8 Pro: verdict
I really wasn’t expecting the Pixel 8 Pro to win as many categories as it did in this shootout, but I’m astounded that it turns out to be an even draw. Honestly, I thought it would be a one-sided win for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but I wasw surprised by how the Pixel 8 Pro holds up in the zoom department. Sure, Samsung’s enhancing the images better beyond 5x zoom with its image processing techniques, but I don’t think it’s enough to steer me away from the Pixel 8 Pro.
Both phones obviously have their pros and cons, but this is the first time in a long time when there’s not much of a gap in the camera department between a Pixel and Galaxy. Last year’s S23 Ultra was a much more imposing camera phone over the Pixel 7 Pro, so I’m pleasantly surprised that the same divide isn’t present this time.
Neither phone has everything I want in a camera phone, but I’ll gladly hold onto the Pixel 8 Pro for now.
