Smartphone vs. Gimbal Camera: A Shocking Image Quality Showdown

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the DJI Osmo Pocket 3. Two very different devices that both pack a surprising punch when it comes to their cameras. Initially, putting them head-to-head left me genuinely impressed by how closely their image quality seemed to align. It wasn't until I pushed them into more demanding lighting situations that the nuances really started to emerge. Take, for instance, a shot I captured of a female country singer. On one camera, the background logo was completely lost, just a bright, overexposed blob. Yet, on the other, the restaurant's name was clearly legible. Pause the video there, and you'll also notice the purple fringing around her hairline on one, a telltale sign of a smaller sensor struggling with a backlit subject in low light. And the skin tones? Noticeably different, with one rendering a much more pleasing result. 

Interestingly, the gap in image quality seemed to narrow in certain scenarios. When I filmed a statue against a setting sun, the distinction between the two became far less apparent. The same held true when the same country singer was well-lit from the front. In these situations, the differences were subtle, primarily noticeable in the skin tone rendition. However, an intriguing shift occurred when I switched the Galaxy S25 Ultra to 8K. Suddenly, the skin tones took a leap forward, becoming much more comparable to those produced by the Osmo Pocket 3.

Both cameras also proved their mettle in low light conditions, especially when I deliberately underexposed by a couple of stops. While one edged out the other in a particular low-light shot, overall, both delivered commendable results. The same held true for a branding shot I took in an uncontrolled indoor environment, suggesting that either camera would be a viable option in such settings.

The real divergence, however, became evident when I switched both cameras to their log profiles. After applying my color grades – and I've even created film-like LUTs for both, with links in the description – the Samsung's footage retained a more neutral character, while the Osmo Pocket 3 leaned towards a more distinctly filmic aesthetic. This push and pull between the two cameras is what makes this comparison so fascinating. It's worth emphasizing that this isn't a sponsored video; I purchased both devices myself to provide a genuine, real-world comparison. To that end, I've included free project files in the description so you can download footage from both cameras and experiment in your own editing suite. Throughout this exploration, we'll be diving into their performance in various conditions, from nighttime shooting to analyzing their out-of-camera colors, dynamic range, and stabilization capabilities. So, let's get into the nitty-gritty of what these cameras can do.

Also here you can find the FREE PROJECT FILES for both cameras so you can dive in and explore for yourself. If you're still on the fence after you read this blog, you can take my free "Which Camera Should I Buy?" quiz.

I also made a YOUTUBE VIDEO on this comparison so you can watch it after you read this blog. 

Image Quality

Let's dive deeper into the image quality, starting with their LOG profiles. I pitted Samsung's LOG against DJI's D-LOG M, applying my custom Fuji-inspired LUTs to see how they handled color grading. The Samsung's footage definitely has a pop, but it appears to have less color information to work with compared to the Osmo Pocket 3, resulting in a less saturated but still quite usable, filmic look. The Osmo Pocket 3, on the other hand, seems to extract that nostalgic film vibe more effectively, often with a vintage feel, which I attribute to its larger sensor. This difference becomes apparent across various shots and LUTs. For instance, applying a "Nostalgic Neg" LUT yields distinct looks on each camera. However, with LUTs like "Classic Chrome," I consistently found the Osmo Pocket 3's colors more appealing, again likely due to its sensor advantage. Even in a simple street scene, the Pocket 3 seems to capture richer saturation information. While you could achieve a filmic look with the Samsung's LOG footage, side-by-side with the Osmo Pocket 3, its limitations become more noticeable

Moving on to skin tones, I conducted tests in various lighting setups. In a front-lit scenario, the Samsung's skin tones appeared more saturated but held onto midtone detail better, while the Pocket 3 showed a tendency towards overexposure – hence my usual recommendation to underexpose slightly with the Pocket 3 when filming skin. Interestingly, both cameras were exposed identically in this test. Revisiting the initial backlit shot with the country singer, the larger sensor of the Pocket 3 not only preserved the background detail but also rendered more realistic skin tones, albeit with some purple fringing on her hair, which was prominent on the Samsung's footage. However, when the S25 Ultra was switched to 8K, the skin tone performance improved significantly, becoming much closer to the Osmo Pocket 3. In fact, the overall color science started to align more closely, with white balance being the primary remaining difference. This suggests a potential for using both as A and B cameras, but with the Samsung ideally in 8K for better color matching.

Testing the exposure for highlights, I was impressed with both cameras, though I particularly liked the halation effect from the Osmo Pocket 3's lens. Examining their standard color profiles straight out of camera revealed minimal differences, with the Samsung exhibiting slightly more saturation. A color checker analysis confirmed this subtle difference, with the bottom gray patch appearing slightly lighter on the Osmo Pocket 3. When both were switched to their log profiles and pointed at the color checker, the S25 Ultra's image looked more washed out, though its true log nature remains a question. Indoors, for a branding shot, the Osmo Pocket 3 captured more detail, particularly on surfaces, though the overall difference wasn't huge.

In low-light conditions indoors, the Samsung's footage appeared quite saturated, with warm, orangish-yellow hues on the walls. The Osmo Pocket 3, however, produced a more neutral, and in my opinion, more realistic tone. Comparing shots of wooden shelves further illustrated this, with the Samsung rendering warmer, more saturated, but brighter tones, while the Osmo Pocket 3 had a cooler, albeit slightly darker, look. Their low-light LOG capabilities were both impressive, though the Osmo Pocket 3 appeared brighter and more saturated after LUT application. Outdoors at night, the Pocket 3 seemed to hold onto color in the shadows better, providing more detail and a more appealing image overall. In a fountain shot, the Samsung created a dreamier, more blurred water effect, while the Pocket 3 captured significantly more detail.

For vlogging in normal lighting, the Samsung produced very saturated skin tones and background colors in 4K 24fps, while the Osmo Pocket 3 looked more realistic. In a backlit vlog scenario, the S25 Ultra struggled with flashing trees, whereas the Pocket 3 handled it much better. However, in a front-lit vlog shot, the Samsung no longer flashed, but the sky was overexposed, while the Pocket 3 retained better exposure. This trend continued in a backlit city scene, with the S25 Ultra showing blown-out skies compared to the Pocket 3's better handling of the exposure. Interestingly, for another backlit shot, both cameras produced remarkably similar results, though I slightly preferred the Samsung's bluer sky 

Comparing background blur, both cameras produced a realistic, almost mirrorless-like bokeh, with no clear preference for either. Regarding saturation, the S25 Ultra consistently saturated the image in-camera, unlike the more neutral Pocket 3. In shots with neon lights, the color renditions were quite different, and the Pocket 3 retained more shadow detail. The same applied to dynamic range, with the Osmo Pocket 3 preserving more highlight detail. Examining wide-angle shots revealed the Samsung tending to muddy the image, while the Pocket 3 retained more detail.

Features and Functionality 

Both cameras offer smooth, gimbal-like stabilization. However, analyzing closely, the S25 Ultra seemed to compensate better for up-and-down movement. In terms of tracking, the Osmo Pocket 3's ability to lock onto a subject on the display gave it an edge over the S25 Ultra's more manual tracking. In a landscape shot with identical exposure, the S25 Ultra produced a noticeably darker image. For driving shots with the sun overhead, the Samsung appeared more vibrant, but from a different angle, the Pocket 3 captured more roof detail and contrast. In vertical shots, I preferred the Samsung's sky color, but the Pocket 3's cloud exposure was better. The sun's reflection on a roof was also significantly more saturated on the Samsung. However, in a golden hour brick shot, the Samsung provided a more appealingly lit result compared to the Pocket 3's more neutral look. For an architectural shot, the differences were minimal.

Testing green screen performance, the Pocket 3's green appeared better from a keying perspective, though both cameras keyed out flawlessly. For macro shots, the Pocket 3 captured significantly more detail. In product shots, I preferred the Samsung's more realistic blur, though both results were pleasing.

Usability and Design

Both cameras are highly portable, though the Pocket 3's gimbal head requires more care. The Pocket 3 also requires an additional microSD card purchase. The Samsung's display is larger and more touch-responsive. Both have similar external ports and buttons. However, the Pocket 3 offers a wider range of settings and creative shooting options. In terms of framerates, the Pocket 3 offers more versatility, shooting up to 4K 120fps, while the Samsung maxes out at 4K 60fps, with an 8K 30fps option.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 present a compelling choice for content creators, each with distinct strengths. The Osmo Pocket 3 consistently demonstrates superior image quality, particularly in challenging lighting and its ability to capture a more cinematic look, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers the undeniable convenience of an all-in-one smartphone with impressive stabilization and improved color in 8K. The decision ultimately hinges on prioritizing dedicated image capture prowess versus the versatility and portability of a smartphone, with personal shooting style and specific needs guiding the final selection between these two capable devices.