It's not quite the best mobile camera on the market. That's what DxOMark tells us. The popular camera evaluation platform has already given its assessment to the Samsung Galaxy S8It doesn't quite reach the level of the Google Pixel, although it comes close. It's on par with the... Galaxy Edge S7.
Samsung Galaxy S8 camera
After the Samsung Galaxy S8's camera was improved compared to its predecessor, we believed it would boast the best camera on the market. However, its score has actually matched that of the Galaxy S7 Edge, meaning the smartphone doesn't have a better camera than last year's model. Even so, it's a great cameraLet's keep in mind that the mobile with best camera It's the Google Pixel and the score obtained is 89. The score of the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is only one point less, the same as that of the Samsung Galaxy S8, remaining at 88 points.
To understand why it performs so well, it's worth looking at the actual technical specifications and how that translates to photos. Both models have a rear sensor of 12 SM with lens f / 1.7, equivalent distance 26 mm, 1,4 µm pixel y OIS optical stabilization with Dual Pixel phase detection autofocus. In the Galaxy S8, the leap forward is in the multi-frame processing and in a new generation sensor (latest generation IMX333/ISOCELL versus IMX260/S5K2L1), which translates into less noise and more stable texture in complex scenes.
Where there is a direct hardware change is in the front camera: the S8 goes to 8 SM to autofocus, lens 25 mm and wide opening, compared to the 5 SM from the S7 Edge (22mm without AF). This improvement is noticeable in selfies with multiple planes (face in the foreground and background), as the autofocus achieves better sharpness and reduces errors in backlit situations.
- Videographer: both record 4K 30 fps with OIS and HDR for photo/video; the combined stabilization is firmer on the S8 thanks to the processing.
- Sensor and size: S8 round 1 / 2.55 " and S7 Edge 1 / 2.5 "The figures are very close, so the perceived jump comes from software and ISPs.
- Focus: Dual Pixel on both, with greater consistency on the S8 when tracking subjects indoors.
In daytime scenes, the Galaxy S8 delivers a slightly more vibrant color. balancedwith less aggressive saturation and better-managed microcontrast. When enlarged, the contours retain more detail. fine detailespecially in organic textures (leaves, hair). In low light, the S8 reduces chromatic noise one stop earlier and maintains exposure y white balance More stable between shots. The S8's HDR also prioritizes highlights without "washing out" the shadows, while the S7 Edge can compress contrast more in very bright skies.
Beyond the sensor, the chipset itself helps. The Galaxy S8 incorporates a ISP next-generation (on equivalent Snapdragon 835/Exynos platforms) that accelerates the focus, reduces artifacts by noise and improves color accuracy at high ISO settings. This is particularly relevant when shooting indoors under mixed or tungsten lighting, where there is less color cast and better uniformity of skin tones.
It is curious, however, that the five phones with the best cameras on the market do not have a dual camera, but rather a standard camera, unlike models such as the Huawei P9This would contrast sharply with the new Samsung Galaxy Note 8, which is expected to feature a dual camera. In reality, a dual camera doesn't necessarily mean a decrease in camera quality. After all, a second camera doesn't eliminate the first, which can be of the same quality. However, the fact remains that the phone's price shouldn't increase significantly; it's necessary to... balance the cost of both cameras, which ultimately results in a lower quality image in many cases. It's true that we're still not talking about poor quality cameras. But let's not forget that the phones with the best cameras on the market, Google Pixel, Galaxy S8, HTC 10 and Galaxy S7 Edge, they have a single camera and not a dual camera.
In real-world use, the S8 experience is more "automatic": it recognizes scenes, chains together multiple shots, and combines the best information from each to deliver sharpness y Dynamic range superior settings with a single press. If you prefer to control parameters, both offer a professional mode with ISO, shutter speed, and white balance controls, but the S8 responds with slightly more elasticity when exposure is forced.
If you already have an S7 Edge, the camera improvement in the S8 isn't huge, but you will notice clear benefits in selfies, a interior and in scenes with strong contrast. For those coming from previous generations, the S8 feels like a complete evolution in photo and video without sacrificing performance, and features a faster and more reliable camera app.
