Superzoom Shootout: Mi 11 Ultra vs Samsung S21 Ultra vs Vivo X60 Pro+

When it involves flagship smartphone cameras, I feel we have reached a great baseline the place irrespective of which flagship you employ, you may anticipate high-quality images. There’ll all the time be slight variations in the best way every telephone handles issues like white steadiness or shadows, and lighting will all the time play a component in picture high quality, however general, none of the present crop of flagships will go away you upset. This applies to their major cameras and can also be true to an extent with the ultra-wide cameras. However, the telephoto cameras in at present’s flagships aren’t all the identical, and that is going to be the main target of at present’s check.

While most flagships at present include at the least one telephoto digital camera, solely a handful characteristic a periscope-style zoom lens which permits them to attain unimaginable ranges of magnification. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is presently the among the best examples of an excellent superzoom smartphone, with its means to zoom as much as 100X.

However, latest additions such because the Mi 11 Ultra and the Vivo X60 Pro+ additionally boast of spectacular zoom capabilities at a lot decrease costs, which acquired us pondering — can they beat, or at the least come near beating, the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s zoom efficiency?

Let’s rapidly go over the specs of all of the telephoto cameras in our comparability. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, as you may already know, has two 10-megapixel telephoto cameras. The first one gives 3X optical zoom, whereas the second has a periscope lens and gives 10X optical zoom. The latter lens is what lets it obtain a dizzying 100X digital zoom. The Mi 11 Ultra has solely the one periscope-style telephoto digital camera able to 5X optical zoom and a loopy 120X digital zoom.

Vivo’s flagship X60 Pro+ additionally has two telephoto cameras. The first is a 32-megapixel digital camera with a 2X optical zoom lens, which Vivo calls a portrait lens. The second 8-megapixel periscope digital camera has a 5X optical zoom, and it will possibly go all the best way to 60X. This might not be as headline-grabbing as the utmost zoom on the opposite two telephones, however we’ll let the pictures do the speaking.

Going purely by specs, the Vivo X60 Pro+ has the widest aperture amongst all of the periscope cameras, which technically, ought to assist it seize higher low-light images. Time to see what’s what.

Daylight check (10X zoom)

We start the check at 10X magnification. I’ve ensured that every one three telephones are utilizing their telephoto cameras and should not digitally zooming in utilizing their principal cameras, which does occur at decrease zoom ranges at instances.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra will get some extent for capturing essentially the most pure colors

Looking at our first curated scene of the figurine, particulars are nice throughout all three telephones however the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra produces essentially the most natural-looking colors, carefully adopted by the Mi 11 Ultra. The colors within the Vivo X60 Pro+ pattern are a bit too heat and should not true to the scene.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and Mi 11 Ultra tie for first place on this shot

In the second batch taken open air, the S21 Ultra and Mi 11 Ultra tie for first place as each produce wonderful particulars on our topic, good background separation, and good colors. The picture from the X60 Pro+ is vivid however it does lack element.

Daylight check (20X zoom)

At 20X magnification, the Samsung and Xiaomi telephones proceed to nail deal with our topic, however the Galaxy S21 Ultra takes a transparent lead. The particulars are moderately impeccable for this zoom degree and the flowers and leaves are simply identifiable. Details start to blur within the shot from the Mi 11 Ultra, however it’s nonetheless considerably usable. The Vivo X60 Pro+ is unable to breed good particulars, and even the textures on the constructing behind our topic seems unnatural upon nearer inspection.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a transparent lead on this shot, in comparison with the others

The Vivo X60 Pro+ manages to wrangle some extent on this shot at 20X zoom

Our second topic is a automobile, which must be rather less difficult for these cameras as we climb greater up the zoom ranges. The Vivo X60 Pro+ has one of the best uncovered picture of the three, which earns it some extent. It does oversharpen the picture a bit, however so long as you do not enlarge it additional, it does provide one of the best particulars within the shadows.

Daylight check (40X zoom)

We now soar to 40X magnification. Looking at our flower topic, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra continues to supply one of the best particulars, colors, and background separation. The Mi 11 Ultra does a commendable job however is unable to resolve the textures on the flowers or leaves. The Vivo X60 Pro+ fails to seize good particulars and our topic seems like a mushy blob of colors.

Xiaomi and Vivo actually battle at this zoom degree, however Samsung continues to ship comparatively higher outcomes

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and Mi 11 Ultra earn some extent every for producing good photos

The Vivo does a bit higher with the automotive tyre once more, however even right here, the image on the automotive’s wheel is barely recognisable and the feel of the tiles is washed out. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has one of the best image, however the Mi 11 Ultra does a barely higher job with the small print within the shadows, which additionally earns it some extent.

Daylight check (60X zoom)

The Vivo X60 Pro+ maxes out at 60X magnification, however as you may see, the result’s something however pleasing. The Mi 11 Ultra captures a barely higher picture however we’ve got handy it to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra as soon as once more for managing to take essentially the most usable shot. In our second batch at 60X zoom, the X60 Pro+ does redeem itself considerably, however it’s nonetheless no match for the Galaxy S21 Ultra, which produces one of the best textures and colors. The picture shot on the Mi11 Ultra shouldn’t be dangerous, however it does look a bit hazy.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra manages good texture particulars, even at this magnification

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra as soon as once more earns itself some extent for having essentially the most lifelike picture 

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and Mi 11 Ultra can zoom in even additional – as much as 100X on the Samsung and as much as 120X on the Xiaomi – however at these ranges, picture high quality shouldn’t be nice and I did not discover this functionality very helpful.

While the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is a robust participant, the Mi 11 Ultra trades blows with it at decrease zoom ranges

So far, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a good-looking lead with a complete of seven factors, adopted by the Mi 11 Ultra with three factors, and the Vivo X60 Pro+ with one level. Now, it is time to see how these telephoto cameras fare in low mild. Most smartphones are likely to depend on their principal cameras in low mild, since these often have bigger sensors and wider apertures in comparison with the telephoto cameras. However at instances, these telephones will swap to the telephoto cameras in case your topic is effectively lit or there’s sufficient ambient mild. Most of them even allow you to use Night mode as much as a sure magnification degree for higher outcomes.

Low-light check (10X)

We begin off at 10X as soon as once more, with a easy sufficient topic that is effectively lit. The Vivo X60 Pro+ produces the cleanest picture with little to no noise. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra did not use its 10X optical zoom digital camera, oddly, and as a substitute digitally zoomed in by way of its 3X telephoto digital camera. The finish consequence shouldn’t be a great-looking picture. The Mi 11 Ultra takes the final spot right here, with the grainiest picture.

The Vivo X60 Pro+ takes the lead in our first low-light pattern at 10X zoom 

Surprisingly, it is the Mi 11 Ultra that produces the cleanest picture on this indoor shot

Switching to a extra managed indoor surroundings, it is the Mi 11 Ultra that produces the cleanest picture despite the fact that it utterly ignores the lamp when figuring out publicity. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra does use its periscope digital camera right here and it does one of the best job of metering the lamp, however general, particulars are weaker. The Vivo X60 Pro+ tends to smoothen textures in an effort to cut back noise.

Low-light check (20X)

Samsung makes a robust comeback at 20X magnification, producing the cleanest picture with one of the best particulars of this batch. The Vivo X60 Pro+ additionally produces a noise-free picture however the particulars are very poor. The Mi 11 extremely captures a really grainy picture at this zoom degree.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra fights again with one of the best picture on this set

The Mi 11 Ultra earns some extent on this pattern shot 

Switching to our figurine topic, it is the Mi 11 Ultra that exposes the scene one of the best, carefully adopted by the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Low-light check (40X)

At 40X, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra continues to have one of the best picture, though at this level, particulars start to take a giant hit. Still, the picture shouldn’t be as grainy as that of the Mi 11 Ultra or distorted as what the Vivo X60 Pro+ captured. Looking at our indoor check topic, the Galaxy S21 Ultra has the cleanest and most well-exposed picture of the three but once more.

Details start to take a significant hit at this zoom degree, however the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra captures essentially the most usable shot

Even indoors, particulars aren’t nice however the shot taken with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is extra pleasing that the remaining 

Low-light check (60X)

60X is unquestionably not a zoom degree that is really useful at night time, but when it’s important to use it then the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra delivers one of the best outcomes amongst these three telephones, on this state of affairs. The Vivo X50 Pro+ nonetheless manages noise very effectively however textures look a bit garbled. The Mi 11 Ultra produces a reasonably unusable picture at this zoom degree.

(*11*)

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra produces a considerably extra acceptable picture than the opposite telephones

Samsung’s higher post-processing at excessive zoom ranges provides you a comparatively acceptable picture

Looking at our figurine, all three images are fairly poor but when I needed to decide one, then the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has essentially the most salvageable results of the three.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the costliest of the three by far, however it additionally has one of the best telephoto cameras general

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, the Mi 11 Ultra, and the Vivo X60 Pro+ all produce superb telephoto photos so long as you are capturing at their native magnification ranges or at the least near them. However, while you begin going past their consolation zones, you will start to see the distinction between a great zoom system and a very nice one. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra continues to be the telephone to beat in relation to zoom efficiency, scoring a grand complete of 11 factors in our comparability, and rightfully so, contemplating it prices a cool Rs. 36,000 greater than Xiaomi’s and Vivo’s choices. Xiaomi takes the second spot with a complete of 5 factors, adopted by Vivo with two factors. 

Between the Mi 11 Ultra and the Vivo X60 Pro+, I feel Xiaomi gives extra dependable and constant zoom efficiency. However, should you’re searching for the very best, then the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra remains to be king of the hill.