Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Vivo X300 Ultra: camera test results

I took the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Vivo X300 Ultra on a photowalk to compare their camera systems. Vivo’s setup packs three large sensors and this year its main camera uses a 35mm-equivalent focal length, while Samsung’s main sensor sits at a 23mm equivalent; you can set the Vivo to use 35mm as the default.

For everyday shooting at 1.2x–1.5x I preferred the Vivo: its bigger sensor gave more depth and a natural bokeh, and its 1x images showed stronger contrast and facial detail. Samsung’s 1x shots sometimes looked oversharpened or slightly overexposed, and I missed the wider 23mm framing in scenes where the background composition mattered.

In low light Samsung delivered richer saturation and contrast, especially on signs, though Vivo’s filters can push its look to be punchier. Telephoto portraits tended to favor Vivo for natural bokeh and retained beard detail, while Samsung handled highlights and sunset portraits more comfortably.

samsung s26, vivo x300, camera test, photowalk, 35mm, 23mm, bokeh, low light, telephoto, facial detail