Android color styles differ across flagships

Three color paths emerge as Android flagships test different scenes and lighting.

Android camera color styles differ across flagships

Android Authority tested four current flagships—the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Pixel 9 Pro XL, OnePlus 13, and Xiaomi 15 Ultra—to compare how each phone handles color. Across landscapes, exposure and detail were similar, but the color choices varied. The Pixel 9 Pro XL and OnePlus 13 were the most conservative with greens and blues, Samsung tended to boost vibrancy, and Xiaomi leaned toward higher saturation with deeper shadows in some shots. These patterns held across standard photos and bright flower scenes, showing how each brand builds a signature look while keeping basic image quality steady.

In HDR and low light, the phones again showed different strategies. Pixel aimed for consistent exposure, while OnePlus varied scene by scene. Xiaomi emphasized contrast and mood, and Samsung moved between conservative and bold depending on the shot. Zoomed images highlighted the difficulty of keeping color consistent across lenses, with Samsung often delivering the most saturated ultrawide. Overall, there is no winner, just a spectrum of approaches that suit different tastes and uses.

The test underscores a broader industry trend: color science is moving from loud, uniform enhancements toward refined palettes that suit the moment. This shift is driven by better scene detection and smarter processing, which can add color where it helps and tone it down when it does not. For buyers, that means more look options from a single device rather than a single, default color profile.

Brand partnerships, especially with photography names, are shaping this evolution. Chinese brands are making strong gains by blending realism with a touch of artistry, while established players in the US maintain a more cautious tone. The result is a market where color becomes a personal preference as much as a technical spec. As cameras become midwives of mood, the moment you choose a phone may say as much about your taste as your budget or the camera system you claim to trust.

Highlights

Color will keep shaping how we remember a moment, long after the photo is taken.