S25 camera sensors are bad for low light

[Randi003]

So I finally understand that the problem with the cameras in these phones resides in the sensors they used. The samsung sensors are inferior to the Sony sensors in low light situations, and the difference is highly noticeable.

S25 GN3

A55 IMX905 

S25

A55 

S25 

A55 

  

S25 

A55 

With that being said, I will return my S25. I wish reviewers would talk about the sensor discrepancy just as much as the Exynos and Snapdragon differences. I think we focus too much on software related issues and we fail to see that the hardware is where the actual problem is. Truly disappointed in this series as they feel very underwhelming. Even the A series outperforms it in terms of color accuracy, noise and clarity. I am tired of the yellowish image photos, the purple noise and all other video and photo related issues that require a "fix in the next update". For the amount of money they ask for these phones, I find that what they offer is unacceptable for flagship standards. 

[BandOfBrothers]

Hello 👋 @Randi003 

It's a shame you feel the need to return your phone. 

Personally I'm very happy with mine and the camera. 

A person can send feedback via the Samsung Members App too. 

If i can be of any further help please don't hesitate to ask  😎 

[jonno1607]

I had to use pro mode for night shots.Yet these phones are supposed to enhance night scenes but they don't.
I am a professional photographer checking auto scenes from s25 camera the grain plus black shadows plus lack of detail shows up pretty badly.Pro mode means i can set levels to help negate the problem.
To get reasonable qualty pro and RAW just to get close enough to iphone 16 wheras our s25's are meant to have same quality on auto.

[Joeeye]

Curious how much zoom magnification was used in these shots. I'm assuming these aren't the fullscreen versions?

[jonno1607]

I noticed in clear daylight images are just about good enough for social media.Zoom mode one can be better off walking closer or you will lose a lot of detail using 3x.3X not very good neither is digital zoom in all honesty.
That being said,I will only use the camera for quick snaps to social media,I will advise 8k will eat up memory very fast,4k not as good as my drones,taking snap shots from DJI drone then same from S25.Drone beats it without effort.I think the target for s25 would be single hand small easy to use and carry,throw in AI.Even make phone calls.
At the price point in uk £750 area,it certainly is not worth the money.Anyway yes I have mine on monthly credit buy,intrest free tbat took the sting away a little.
In all a slight upgrade to my s23 and I do mean very slight.
I was going to sell s23 not now though.

[DoraSmith24]

Can any of the alternative photo apps or a photo editor like light room fill in the missing light, especially if the photo was saved in RAW?

I'm choosing between S25 ultra and pixel 9 pro, need sharp images that you can actually see - which evidently neither phone does out of the box.   S25 ultra can't photograph anything in low light, not indoors, and not wildlife in the woods, like where else would you find it, and pixel 9 pro can't do sharp clear or even presentable images at a distance or in macro.

And do I gather that the nonresponsive and demeaning first answer above was Samsung's official reaction to the entire matter?  Not good.   Insulting treatment from Apple is why I'm not getting another iphone.  Respect your customers if you want to have them.

I take it the first reply above was from Samsung?  Definitely a strike against the S25 ultra.   Respect your customers if you want to have them.   It's not enough to merely refuse to upgrade your phones to the standard of Chinese phones, while using your boy Trump to prevent us from buying from China, you demean us to our face!

You know, I think I'm just going to take another look at how I might get, and use, one of those Chinese phones.  I am heartily sick of this!  Demeaning treatment from Apple is the determining reason why I won't get another iphone.   If no phone available to me does decent photography, I can just buy a regular cell phone.  And I hardly have to get it from Samsung!