If you want a better camera in your pocket, the festive season is a good time to upgrade. Amazon’s Great Indian Festival starts on October 8th, with early deals already live, and two camera flagships stand out for anyone who takes photography seriously: the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro. In this article, we compare the best camera phone deals you can grab this festive season, and look at which of the two gives you more camera for your money. Other camera flagships, including the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Google’s Pixel 11 Pro, are also on sale; this comparison focuses on the S25 Ultra and the iPhone 17 Pro.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra will be available for as low as ₹84,999 for 12GB + 256GB, down from its ₹1,29,999 launch price, while the iPhone 17 Pro costs ₹1,34,900 for the 256GB model in India. That is a substantial gap. The short version is that the Galaxy S25 Ultra wins on main camera resolution, zoom, AI editing, screen size and price, while the iPhone 17 Pro is ahead for professional video and selfies. If you want the most versatile camera for your money, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is one of the best phones for photography you can buy this season.
The cameras and hardware at a glance
The two phones take different approaches. Samsung uses four rear cameras, each with its own resolution and job, led by a 200MP main sensor. Apple uses three 48MP Fusion cameras, so every rear lens shoots at the same resolution. Here is how they compare on paper.
| Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G | iPhone 17 Pro |
Price in India (256GB) | ₹84,999 (12GB + 256GB) | ₹1,34,900 (Apple India) |
Main camera | 200MP, 2x optical-quality zoom | 48MP Pro Fusion, 24mm, f/1.78 |
Ultrawide | 50MP | 48MP, 13mm, 120° field of view |
Telephoto | 10MP 3x and 50MP 5x | 48MP 4x (100mm) |
Zoom | 10x optical quality, up to 100x Space Zoom | 8x optical quality, up to 40x digital |
Front camera | 12MP | 18MP Center Stage |
Video | Up to 8K at 30fps, Log video, 10-bit HDR | 4K Dolby Vision up to 120fps, ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2 |
Display | 6.9-inch QHD+, 2,600 nits | 6.3-inch, 3,000 nits (outdoor) |
Rated video playback | Up to 31 hours | Up to 31 hours |
Weight | 218g | 204g |
Built-in stylus | S Pen | No |
Main camera: more detail from the Galaxy’s 200MP sensor
The S25 Ultra’s 200MP main camera is the biggest difference between these phones. It has more than four times the resolution of the iPhone’s 48MP main camera, which gives you more room to crop into a photo and still keep detail. That helps when you want to reframe a shot later or print it large. Samsung says the main camera also gives 2x optical-quality zoom, and its AI-powered ProVisual Engine processes every shot, with an Object-aware Engine that recognises subjects and the light around them.
Apple’s 48MP Pro Fusion main camera is very capable too. It has second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilisation, along with Apple’s Night mode, Deep Fusion and Smart HDR 5 processing. If detail and freedom to crop matter most, though, the Galaxy has the edge. The ultrawide cameras are closer, with 50MP on the Galaxy and 48MP on the iPhone, which also uses its ultrawide for 48MP macro photos.
Zoom: the clearest win for the Galaxy
Zoom is where Samsung camera phones like the S25 Ultra pull well ahead. The Galaxy has two telephoto lenses: a 10MP camera with 3x optical zoom and a 50MP camera with 5x optical zoom, which Samsung says delivers 10x optical-quality zoom. Beyond that, Space Zoom reaches up to 100x. The iPhone 17 Pro has a single telephoto, a 48MP camera at 4x, and Apple quotes up to 8x optical-quality zoom and up to 40x digital zoom.
On paper, that gives the Galaxy more fixed zoom steps, at 3x, 5x and 10x, and far more reach. It matters at concerts, wildlife parks, sports grounds and school events, where you cannot simply walk closer to the subject. Apple’s 4x lens suits portraits well, and Apple says its telephoto sensor is 56 per cent larger than the previous generation’s. For distant subjects, however, the Galaxy is the better tool.
Video: the iPhone 17 Pro’s strongest area
Video is where Apple leads. The iPhone 17 Pro records 4K Dolby Vision video at up to 120fps, and Apple says the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are the first smartphones to support ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2 and genlock, which keeps video in sync across several cameras. Dual Capture also lets you record from the front and rear cameras at the same time. For professional editors and filmmakers, that is a strong set of tools.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is still a serious video camera. It records 8K video at 30fps, which the iPhone does not offer, along with Log video for colour grading and improved 10-bit HDR. Samsung’s Nightography reduces noise in low-light video, and Audio Eraser can remove wind, crowd and other background noise from a clip after you shoot it. For everyday video the S25 Ultra has everything most people need, but dedicated videographers will prefer the iPhone.
Selfies: Apple’s Center Stage camera
The iPhone 17 Pro also has the better front camera on paper. Its 18MP Center Stage camera uses Apple’s first square front sensor, which gives a wider field of view, against a 12MP selfie camera on the Galaxy. If you take a lot of selfies or group shots with the front camera, that counts in Apple’s favour.
AI editing: more tools on the Galaxy
Editing is where Galaxy AI earns its place. Audio Eraser separates sounds such as voices, music, wind, nature and crowd noise, so you can turn down what you do not want. Photo Assist edits photos with AI, including Generative Edit, which moves, resizes or removes objects and fills the space they leave behind, and with the One UI 8.5 update you can keep editing without saving each version. Drawing Assist turns sketches, text or image prompts into images, Custom Filters create personalised filters, and ProScaler uses AI to enhance image resolution. If you prefer full control, Expert RAW lets you shoot like a professional photographer and edit later.
Apple offers Clean Up for removing unwanted objects, its latest Photographic Styles, including a new Bright style, and Audio Mix for adjusting how voices sound in a video. These are useful, but Samsung gives you a wider set of editing tools on the phone itself.
Viewing and editing: a bigger canvas with an S Pen
A good camera phone also needs a good screen to frame and edit on. The S25 Ultra’s 6.9-inch QHD+ display is much larger than the iPhone 17 Pro’s 6.3-inch panel, and the built-in S Pen makes precise edits easier, from selecting an object to fixing a small detail. Apple’s screen is brighter, at 3,000 nits outdoors against 2,600 nits on the Galaxy, and both phones use glass designed to reduce reflections. For editing on the go, the Galaxy’s larger screen and S Pen make the bigger difference.
Price: the festive deal that tips the balance
At the deal price of ₹84,999, the Galaxy S25 Ultra costs substantially less than the iPhone 17 Pro. For that money you get a higher-resolution main camera, a second telephoto lens, 100x Space Zoom, 8K video and an S Pen. Both phones are rated for up to 31 hours of video playback, and Samsung promises seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates for the S25 Ultra. It is also a proven seller: According to Counterpoint data for January 2025 to February 2026, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the best-selling premium smartphone in India above ₹90,000. That makes it one of the best camera phones in India at this price.
The Great Indian Festival can bring the price down further. The Galaxy S25 Ultra 12GB + 256GB will be available for as low as ₹84,999 during the sale. Amazon says SBI credit and debit card holders get a 10 per cent instant discount, including on EMI transactions, and Amazon Pay ICICI Bank credit card holders get 5 per cent unlimited cashback as Prime members, or 3 per cent otherwise. Offers can change during the sale, so check the final price on the payment page before you pay.
Galaxy S25 Ultra or Galaxy S26 Ultra: which suits photographers?
Samsung launched the Galaxy S26 Ultra in February 2026 at ₹1,39,999 for the 256GB model, and its wider camera apertures produce clearer photos in low light. If you shoot mostly at night, indoors or at events with poor lighting, that is the newer phone’s most relevant upgrade for photography. The S25 Ultra already covers the essentials most photographers need: a 200MP main camera, 3x and 5x telephotos, 100x Space Zoom, Expert RAW, Log video and Samsung’s AI editing tools. With the deal price, Galaxy S25 Ultra looks like a much better buy for anyone who values zoom reach and editing over low-light gains.
Before you buy
Before buying, weigh three things. First, think about what you photograph most. If it is mostly people, places and food, both phones will serve you well, but if you often shoot distant subjects, the Galaxy’s two telephoto lenses and 100x Space Zoom make a real difference. Second, consider how seriously you take video. If you edit footage professionally or work with several cameras at once, the iPhone’s support for ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2 and genlock is hard to match. Third, look at the total cost. The Galaxy’s lower price could pay for a tripod, a gimbal or extra cloud storage for your photos, and the iPhone is also the lighter of the two, at 204g against 218g.
Verdict: the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the better camera phone deal
Both phones are excellent camera phones, but they suit different people. The Galaxy S25 Ultra wins on main camera detail, zoom, AI editing, screen size and price, and it costs substantially less at deal price. Its 200MP main camera, two telephoto lenses and 100x Space Zoom make it the more versatile camera, and Galaxy AI tools such as Audio Eraser and Photo Assist let you finish your shots on the phone. For most buyers choosing between these two, it is the better camera phone deal this festive season.
However, keep in mind that the iPhone 17 Pro is the better choice for professional video, with ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2 and genlock, and its 18MP front camera has a higher resolution for selfies. The best phone camera is the one that suits how you shoot. If you mostly take photos, zoom in often and want the most camera for your money, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the one to buy.
Frequently asked questions
Which has better zoom, the Galaxy S25 Ultra or iPhone 17 Pro?
The Galaxy S25 Ultra. It has two telephoto lenses, a 10MP 3x and a 50MP 5x, with 10x optical-quality zoom and Space Zoom up to 100x. The iPhone 17 Pro has a single 48MP 4x telephoto, with up to 8x optical-quality zoom and 40x digital zoom. For concerts, wildlife and sport, where you cannot get closer to the subject, the Galaxy reaches further.
Is the iPhone 17 Pro better than the Galaxy S25 Ultra for video?
Yes, for professional work. Apple says the iPhone 17 Pro supports ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2 and genlock, and it records 4K Dolby Vision at up to 120fps. The Galaxy S25 Ultra records 8K at 30fps, offers Log video and 10-bit HDR, and adds Audio Eraser for cleaning up sound, which covers most everyday and social video needs.
Which takes better selfies, the Galaxy S25 Ultra or iPhone 17 Pro?
The iPhone 17 Pro has the stronger selfie hardware on paper. Its 18MP Center Stage front camera uses a square sensor for a wider field of view, against a 12MP front camera on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. If selfies, group shots and video calls matter most, the iPhone has the edge; for rear-camera photography, the Galaxy leads.
Should photographers buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra or the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
Buy the S26 Ultra if low-light photography is your priority, as Samsung says its wider apertures capture clearer photos in dim light. Otherwise, the S25 Ultra already covers the essentials, with a 200MP main camera, 3x and 5x telephotos and 100x Space Zoom, and you will have to pay a much lower price.
What AI photo editing tools does the Galaxy S25 Ultra have?
The Galaxy S25 Ultra includes Photo Assist with Generative Edit for moving, resizing or removing objects, Audio Eraser for cutting background noise from video, ProScaler for enhancing image resolution, Drawing Assist and Custom Filters. With One UI 8.5, you can keep editing in Photo Assist without saving each version. Apple’s equivalent tools include Clean Up and Photographic Styles.
