Even earlier than the Galaxy S26 Extremely was formally introduced, Samsung was teasing the spectacular digicam capabilities of its new telephones — together with a clip displaying the zooming efficiency. I used to be genuinely simply as impressed as everybody who watched the clip, however then once more, Samsung has owned the zooming sport for a very long time now.
Nevertheless, issues modified in a dramatic means final fall when the Pixel 10 Professional XL confirmed off the AI-assisted enhancements of its new Professional Res Zoom characteristic. It prompts when the zoom degree exceeds 30x, which principally applies upscaling sorcery to attract extra element and definition from the shot — and the outcomes I captured shocked me.
With the Galaxy S26 Extremely, Samsung can be tapping AI for assist, particularly to stabilize the view at 100x zoom and improve readability. In my 200-photo shootout between the Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. iPhone 17 Professional Max, I confirmed how this leads to Samsung’s cellphone producing sharper zoom images.
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For this Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. Pixel 10 Professional XL 100x telephoto digicam shootout, I’m going to point out you an identical photographs captured by each telephones at 100x zoom to inform you which is the telephoto king.
100x telephoto shootout: What that you must know
(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information / John Velasco)
In terms of the {hardware}, my take a look at focuses squarely on the outcomes captured by each telephones at 100x. This implies I’m evaluating the efficiency between the 50MP telephoto shooter of the Galaxy S26 Extremely and the 48MP telephoto sensor on the Pixel 10 Professional XL. They’re similar to each other, together with how they each supply 5x optical zoom.
Moreover, I’m utilizing simply the Professional Res Zoom photographs from the Pixel 10 Professional XL — and never the originals. Whereas the Pixel supplies two images (the earlier than and after), the Galaxy S26 Extremely solely produces a single picture that’s been processed by the cellphone. That means, you possibly can decide for your self how AI can rework a picture.
I believe it is also value mentioning how a lot AI injects particulars with Professional Res Zoom, which does straddle the road of what is actual or not. One of the best ways to explain it’s that it is analyzing the scene and reconstructing it with particulars, sharpening, and extra.
In the event you’re questioning what sort of vary I am protecting on this shootout, then try the 1x and 100x images beneath from the Galaxy S26 Extremely to get an thought.
Picture 1 of two
1x zoom(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information / John Velasco)100x zoom(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information / John Velasco)
Picture 1: Perched fowl
As anticipated, the Pixel 10 Professional XL simply wins this shot due to how Professional Res Zoom provides texture and element to the sparrow perched on the fence by way of AI. It appears to be like like an precise picture in comparison with the Galaxy S26 Extremely’s painterly look. I’m particularly drawn to the person feathers and recognizing of the sparrow, together with the wooden grain of the fence.
Winner: Pixel 10 Professional XL
What to learn subsequent
Picture 2: Flower close-up
One other excellent instance of the Pixel 10 Professional XL working its magic is that this close-up of a pink flower. Once more, it’s a night-and-day distinction: the Pixel 10 Professional XL produces clearly outlined edges that separate every petal, whereas the Galaxy S26 Extremely’s shot is a textbook instance of the pitfalls of utmost digital zoom.
Winner: Pixel 10 Professional XL
Picture 3: Picket fence
The outcomes are a lot the identical with this telephoto shot of a fence. Google’s Professional Res Zoom cleans up the softness discovered within the Galaxy S26 Extremely’s snapshot, making use of further sharpening and definition to really intensify the wooden grain textures.
Winner: Pixel 10 Professional XL
Picture 4: Budding tree
That is simply probably the most dramatic glow up of the bunch. Wanting on the Galaxy S26 Extremely’s shot, it’s exhausting to inform what’s even being captured. Whereas it’s clearly one thing on a department, it’s not possible to establish with out the Pixel 10 Professional XL’s model for context.
Professional Res Zoom transforms an unrecognizable smudge into a pointy, colourful picture of a small bud sprouting from a tree. I’m additionally significantly impressed by how precisely the AI renders the pure colours right here.
Winner: Pixel 10 Professional XL
Picture 5: Effective print
In a surprising upset, Professional Res Zoom fails to boost the advantageous print on this warning label captured from throughout the room. Whereas it completely cleans up the shot and makes it look extra in focus, I’m shocked the AI doesn’t try to proofread what it produced. As an alternative, it botches lots of the phrases — whereas the Galaxy S26 Extremely stays extra correct, regardless of the picture showing a lot softer.
Winner: Galaxy S26 Extremely
Picture 6: Brush head
For this subsequent shot, I wished to see how every cellphone handles a close-up to disclose finer textures. Not surprisingly, the Pixel 10 Professional XL higher resolves the person brush strands. Along with having considerably extra definition, I actually like how Professional Res Zoom sharpens the picture to enhance its perceived sharpness.
Winner: Pixel 10 Professional XL
Picture 7: Storefront signal
For my remaining comparability, I captured a Sherwin-Williams retailer signal from an important distance. Even at 100x, each telephones clearly establish the title of the storefront, however there are some notable variations.
I like how the Pixel 10 Professional XL provides considerably extra definition to only about every little thing within the shot, together with the sunshine pole and the bushes within the background. Nevertheless, I’m baffled by the way it fumbles the “No Turns” signal. I’d assume the AI could be good sufficient to acknowledge the textual content based mostly on context clues, but it surely fails to take action.
In the meantime, the Galaxy S26 Extremely continues to look significantly softer at 100x zoom — however at the least it will get the phrases proper.
Winner: Pixel 10 Professional XL
Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. Pixel 10 Professional XL 100x telephoto shootout: Verdict
(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information / John Velasco)
I hate to confess it, however the best way AI improves the standard of 100x zoom images is unbelievable. The Pixel 10 Professional XL undoubtedly advantages from Professional Res Zoom’s AI-enhancing skills, cleansing up the shot to offer considerably extra sharpness and definition. It’s not excellent, although, as I’ve proven the way it sometimes struggles with textual content.
Previously, I’d chorus from capturing at 100x because of the inevitable loss in high quality — however I don’t thoughts just a little assist from AI when it really works this effectively. Regardless of being outdone on this 100x zoom shootout, you possibly can’t write off the Galaxy S26 Extremely simply but.
In the event you take Professional Res Zoom out of the equation, an apples-to-apples comparability of the unique photographs would possibly shock you. In that state of affairs, it turns into a a lot nearer race, so decide for your self beneath.
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Galaxy S26 Extremely(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information / John Velasco)Pixel 10 Professional XL(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information / John Velasco)Galaxy S26 Extremely(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information / John Velasco)Pixel 10 Professional XL(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information / John Velasco)Galaxy S26 Extremely(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information / John Velasco)Pixel 10 Professional XL(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information / John Velasco)Galaxy S26 Extremely(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information / John Velasco)Pixel 10 Professional XL(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information / John Velasco)Galaxy S26 Extremely(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information / John Velasco)Pixel 10 Professional XL(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information / John Velasco)Galaxy S26 Extremely(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information / John Velasco)Pixel 10 Professional XL(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information / John Velasco)Galaxy S26 Extremely(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information / John Velasco)Pixel 10 Professional XL(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information / John Velasco)
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