Samsung's problem

Samsung is misplacing its 200MP camera. Photo: Bloomberg .

For many years, Samsung has made the 200-megapixel (MP) camera a symbol of power for the Galaxy S Ultra series. However, in real-world use, many tech experts believe the company is falling into the trap of prioritizing specifications over optimizing the user experience.

Specifically, the 200MP sensor is impressive, but it seems to be misplaced within the company's camera system. In theory, a high-resolution sensor should offer better digital zoom capabilities. This is a viable solution for mid-range phones that lack dedicated telephoto lenses.

However, with a high-end device like the Galaxy S24 Ultra or S25 Ultra, which already comes equipped with 3x zoom lenses, maintaining a 200MP resolution on the main camera inadvertently creates unnecessary overlap.

The biggest problem lies in the discrepancy between the lenses. While the main camera boasts impressive specifications, the secondary lenses, especially the 3x telephoto camera, still use outdated 10MP sensors from previous generations. This creates a noticeable drop in image quality when users switch between zoom levels.

Chinese competitors like Vivo have gotten ahead of Samsung by equipping the X300 Pro with a 200MP telephoto camera. Photo: AndroidAuthority.

"It would make much more sense for Samsung to put the 200MP sensor on the telephoto lens and use a 50MP sensor with larger pixel size for the main camera," commented Robert Triggs, editor at Android Authority .

Using a 50MP sensor with large pixels will significantly improve low-light photography capabilities. More importantly, it solves the problem of processing speed.

A 200 MP image file requires significant system resources to process. This is the reason for shutter lag – an inherent weakness that often causes Samsung users to miss fast-moving moments.

Conversely, if Samsung were to put 200 MP on a telephoto lens, it could create a breakthrough in zoom capabilities. The high resolution would allow users to crop images while maintaining incredible detail at high zoom levels. This is a strategy that Chinese competitors are successfully employing to surpass Samsung in in-depth image quality reviews.

Of course, this change is not simple. Putting a large sensor into a periscope lens structure will make the camera module thicker. However, for users in the Ultra segment, a slightly thicker body in exchange for superior image quality and instant shooting speed is a completely worthwhile trade-off.

Samsung is on the verge of change. To maintain its leading position, it needs to break free from its reliance on marketing numbers and focus on practical improvements. Restructuring the camera system, prioritizing a balance between lenses and response speed, will be key to making the Ultra series truly the king of mobile photography.