Samsung’s S series phones have long been among the best camera phones, and the Samsung Galaxy S25 is no exception; in our review, we described it as having “an impressive array of cameras that take excellent photos”.
Not only does the S25 have a 50MP wide camera, 10MP telephoto, and 12MP Ultra Wide sensor, but it also has a whole host of software tools to bring out the best in your photos.
Does that mean it can replace your mirrorless camera? As with most things in life, it depends – but there’s certainly an argument to be made on both sides.
Here’s why it’s not as silly a notion as it was just a few years ago.
The case for mirrorless
No matter how far mobile phones come, it’s highly unlikely they’ll ever be able to offer the large sensor size that you’ll find on a dedicated camera.
That means that what a mirrorless camera lacks in portability, it makes up for in the detail it captures, particularly in low-light situations. What’s more, you can swap lenses to achieve different results, for instance changing a telephoto for a wide-angle or macro.
Plus, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 can capture in RAW format, maintaining quality at the cost of file space, mirrorless cameras can store even more information in a single RAW file, opening up much wider post-processing options.
Other advantages used to include bokeh effects – for that dreamy blurred background – and adjustable depth of field, but the Pro Mode on Samsung’s latest phone has caught up there with a variety of options.
The case for the Samsung Galaxy S25
So what advantages does Samsung’s latest phone have? For one, it’s much more portable, and can be carried in your pocket. When that perfect moment for a group selfie appears, will you have your mirrorless camera on your person? Possibly not, but you’re sure to have your phone within reach. In fact, with more and more professional movies being shot on phones, the gap is closing at a rapid rate, meaning the Samsung Galaxy S25 could be the phone for your latest group shot, or cinematic masterstroke.
As far as versatility goes, new lenses for a mirrorless cam can be very pricey, whereas the S25 already comes with multiple lenses for different use cases. It’s much more affordable than buying a whole mirrorless system.
After the fact, the Samsung Galaxy S25 also has a whole host of AI editing tools to get the most out of your shots, whether you’re an accomplished pro or a novice shutterbug. These include the Photo Assist1 editing tools, such as Generative Edit2, which lets you move or remove people or objects from a shot with ease.
Using Generative Edit makes tweaking your photos simple because you can move subjects and objects around, safe in the knowledge that generative AI can fill in the gaps convincingly. You can also use Galaxy AI Scene Optimizer to instantly set the correct settings, such as white balance, brightness, and contrast for your current location and conditions – the kind of thing that has a steep learning curve for mirrorless newcomers.
Elsewhere, you can zoom in without reducing the level of detail thanks to machine learning via Galaxy AI Zoom with Super Resolution And, after you’ve taken a picture, you’ll get helpful edit suggestions that account for cropping, lighting, shadows, and more. You can even create instantaneous slow-motion videos without needing to capture at a lower video speed, using Galaxy AI Instant Slow-mo3.
Finally, while mirrorless cams are likely to take much better shots at night compared to the vast majority of smartphones, Samsung’s secret weapon is its AI-based Nightography4 feature.
This takes multiple images and blends them together, without the user needing to lift a finger, in order to improve the level of detail captured in more challenging lighting conditions.
The verdict
If you’re a professional photographer, you’ll likely still want to keep your mirrorless camera handy for the sheer amount of detail it can capture.
For the vast majority of users, though, the Samsung Galaxy S25 will be all the camera you need, delivering superb photos without the size, cost, and learning curve of a ‘proper’ camera.
Its camera is already a great foundation, but the easy-to-use AI-based features like Generative Edit5, Scene Optimizer, and Edit Suggestion6 make for the best version of every shot you capture.
In fact, even if you have a mirrorless camera, it’s worth having a Samsung Galaxy S25 in your lineup for a much more versatile option when it comes to photo and video.
One last thing. If you have somehow missed the buzz throughout the internet tech sphere, Samsung has recently launched its latest foldable wonder – the Galaxy Z Fold7.
With major hardware upgrades, such as a 200MP camera sensor, an impossibly svelte 4.2mm thin unfolded chassis, and stunning (2184 x 1968) 8” main display, there’s a lot to get excited about.
Visit the Samsung website to find out more specs and details.
- 1Requires network connection and Samsung account login. A visible watermark is overlaid on the saved image to indicate it was generated by Galaxy AI. Accuracy of output not guaranteed.
- 2Samsung account login is required. Requires network connection.
- 3Samsung account login is required. Available on Samsung Video Player and Samsung Gallery. May not be available on certain video file types. Accuracy of results not guaranteed.
- 4Results may vary depending on light condition, subject and/or shooting conditions.
- 5Generative Edit :Samsung account login is required. Requires network connection.
- 6Edit Suggestion is compatible with JPG, PNG, GIF and MP4 formats. Edit results and quality may vary depending on the photography or filming condition.