The battle of Samsung’s titans is here — the Galaxy S20 Ultra vs the latest powerhouse, the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Both phones come packed with impressive camera tech. But today, we’re focusing on one cool feature: the 10x zoom lens!
We’re going on a fun side-by-side journey to see just how far Samsung has come. If you love taking photos of faraway things — birds, buildings, or even the moon — this test is for you!
Table of Contents
What is 10x Zoom?
It means the phone brings an object 10 times closer than with no zoom. It’s like using binoculars with your camera. You can snap distant details and still get a clear shot. At least, that’s the idea…
But how well does it work in real life? Let’s break it down.
Meet the Cameras
First, let’s look at the heroes of this zoom showdown.
- Galaxy S20 Ultra: Came out in 2020. It was the first Samsung with 100x Space Zoom. But its 10x zoom? It was actually hybrid — a mix of optical and digital zoom. So, not the purest.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: The latest beast. Released in 2025 (you guessed it). It has better hardware and a real 10x optical lens. That means it zooms without losing detail.
Let’s see how each performs in a real-world test.
The Zoom Test: Daylight Performance
First, we went outside on a sunny day. We found a clock tower about 300 feet away. Perfect target!
At 1x, both phones looked pretty similar.
But at 10x… wow.
- S20 Ultra: The image looked decent. But zoom in a bit more, and things start to blur. The numbers on the clock are a bit mushy. Not terrible, but not clear either.
- S25 Ultra: Crystal. Clear. You can see the clock hands. Even the small ticks behind the numbers! It’s like you’re standing right in front of it.
Winner: S25 Ultra by miles. The dedicated zoom lens makes a big difference.
The Zoom Test: Low Light Challenge
Next stop — a night market! Colorful lights, lots of movement, and tricky lighting. Not the easiest setting.
Again, we used the 10x zoom to focus on a neon sign from a distance.
- S20 Ultra: The sign is there… but it’s fuzzy. There’s noise (those little color dots) all over the image. Not ideal.
- S25 Ultra: So much better! The edges are sharp, and the glow from the neon doesn’t overpower the rest. It balances everything out really well.
Winner: Again, S25 Ultra. It handles night zoom like a champ.
Face Zoom: The Secret Selfie Sniper
Ever tried zooming in on someone far away for a portrait-style pic? We did!
Our buddy stood at the end of the park while we tested each phone.
- S20 Ultra: Face details were okay. But it had some blur. Also, the background looked too soft — like everything melted together.
- S25 Ultra: Total improvement. The face was sharp, and the background blur (bokeh!) looked natural. Almost like a shot from a DSLR.
Winner: You know the drill… S25 Ultra demolishes this round.
The Moon Test 🌕
We all love the moon shot. Every time there’s a full moon, people take out their Ultras to try their luck.
So we did that too.
- S20 Ultra: You can tell it’s the moon. It’s white and round, but not very interesting. The craters are sort of there, but mostly blur.
- S25 Ultra: Whoa. You can see the texture of the moon’s surface. It looks like a sci-fi wallpaper. Seriously good detail!
Winner: S25 Ultra rocks it. Perfect for moon lovers.
Why Is S25 Ultra So Much Better?
Let’s break down the upgrades.
- Real 10x Optical Zoom: It’s not just software magic — it’s a real lens doing the work.
- Better Sensor: The chip inside is smarter and faster. So it processes images cleaner and quicker.
- AI Zoom Processing: It uses AI to reduce noise, enhance clarity, and even stabilize handheld shots.
In short, it’s not just a lens — it’s a smarter system overall.
Zooming While Moving (AKA: The Squirrel Test 🐿️)
We tried chasing a squirrel from a distance (don’t worry, no squirrels were harmed). This was an action-meets-zoom test.
- S20 Ultra: Blur city. Hard to focus. The photo took too long to snap. Result? A fuzzy squirrel on the run.
- S25 Ultra: Quick focus. Almost instant capture. The squirrel’s tail was sharp, even mid-leap!
Winner: No contest. The S25 Ultra zoom tracks moving things way better.
Battery and Zoom Use
Zooming takes power. So we checked how much battery each used in 30 minutes of photo testing.
- S20 Ultra: Lost about 18%.
- S25 Ultra: Lost just 12%.
Better zoom and better power use? Nice.
Final Thoughts: Which Should You Choose?
Let’s sum it all up in simple terms:
- Light Zoom: S25 Ultra shines brighter.
- Night Zoom: S25 Ultra wins again.
- Face Zoom: S25 Ultra looks pro.
- Moon Zoom: S25 Ultra goes galactic.
- Fast Shots: S25 Ultra is lightning fast.
Basically, if you love photography and especially love zooming in to find hidden detail, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the new king.
S20 Ultra was great for its time. But time moves on. And tech gets better. The S25 Ultra isn’t just an upgrade — it’s a leap forward.
So, ready to take your zoom game to the next level? The S25 Ultra is calling you. 📸
