Smartphone astrophotography has evolved from a niche experiment into a genuinely viable way to capture the night sky. With powerful sensors, computational photography, and clever stabilisation, today’s flagship phones promise results that were once the preserve of DSLRs and dedicated astrophotography cameras. Two of the most capable models are Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra. Both boast state-of-the-art imaging systems — but how do they really stack up when pointed at the stars? Building on our previous review of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, we go head to head with these two devices to find out which is best for astrophotography in 2025.
Overview
iPhone 17 Pro Max: Prioritises detail retention and natural colour, with excellent consistency across all its cameras. Performs especially well in low-light astrophotography.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Excels in zoom capabilities and high-resolution 8K video, making it a strong option for Moon, planet, and timelapse imaging.
Low Light: iPhone delivers cleaner, more accurate night sky images, while Samsung’s boosted vibrancy makes skies appear more dramatic, if less faithful.
Video and Time-lapse: Samsung’s 8K recording provides unmatched flexibility, whereas Apple’s 4K cap is limiting but more colour consistent.
Style vs Accuracy: Samsung is punchy and eye-catching; Apple is restrained but technically closer to reality.
Build and Design: Shooting the Sky by Hand
Both the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra are substantial devices, with large bodies to accommodate bigger sensors and advanced stabilisation systems. For astrophotography, this added heft can be a benefit: more stable handheld shooting and less risk of micro-shake in long exposures.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Apple’s sensor-shift stabilisation system is particularly helpful for quick star shots without a tripod. It reduces micro-blur and keeps stars sharp, even in slightly longer exposures. The phone also introduces a clever camera rotation trick, allowing users to record in landscape orientation while holding the phone upright. While this isn’t critical for astrophotography, it adds flexibility for night-sky vlogging or behind-the-scenes shooting.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: The larger form factor pairs well with compact smartphone tripods or clamps, especially when taking advantage of its extended zoom. Samsung’s brighter display also makes it easier to frame the Milky Way or foreground landscapes in the field.
Although for making the very most out of your smartphone for astrophotography you should mount your device on a tripod.
Recommended Tripod – Lamicall Flexible Tripod – £20
For astrophotography on the go, a lightweight yet stable tripod is essential, and the Lamicall Flexible Tripod delivers. Its bendable legs allow for quick adaptation to uneven surfaces, making it a versatile choice for securing your phone while capturing the night sky. It also includes a bluetooth remote shutter remote, perfect for capturing images without introducing vibration when touching the screen!
The 360° rotating head ensures smooth positioning, so you can frame any target with ease. I personally found the grip solid, even when angling my phone upwards for high-angle shots. It’s small enough to fit in a backpack, making it ideal for spontaneous astrophotography sessions. It’s full metal aluminium construction is a bonus for stability and light weighted capabilities combined.
This isn’t a replacement for a full-size tripod, but if you’re after a flexible, ultra-portable solution for capturing the night sky with your smartphone, this tripod is fantastic. I’ve been using this tripod for the last year and even if I don’t have an intention of shooting with my smartphone it’s easy enough to throw into my backpack and have just in case!
The Lamicall Flexible Tripod is available on Amazon for under £20 and keep an eye out for discount coupons when adding to basket.
Low-Light Performance: Stars, Skies, and the Milky Way
Astrophotography thrives in low light, so this is where the differences between the two phones become most apparent.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Apple has doubled down on natural detail. Night shots reveal more authentic star colours and textures, with less aggressive noise reduction. In testing, the iPhone consistently produced sharper star points and more accurate colours across different lenses. In astrophotography terms, this means Milky Way cores look cleaner, star clusters remain distinct, and faint nebulosity is captured with restraint rather than overemphasis.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Samsung takes a more aggressive approach, boosting contrast and vibrancy. This often makes Milky Way images look immediately more impressive, with bolder skies and brighter stars. However, this comes at a cost: some faint detail is “invented” through software sharpening, and colours may drift from reality, with star fields appearing cooler or over-saturated. In long-exposure night modes, Samsung also introduces more visible grain in shadowed areas.
For astrophotographers seeking realism, the iPhone holds the edge. For those wanting visually striking, Instagram-ready results straight from the phone, Samsung has its appeal.
Zoom and Planetary Photography
Zoom capability is one of the clearest areas of difference.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: With a 5× optical telephoto camera (50 MP), the S25 Ultra is the stronger performer for planetary and lunar imaging. At 100× digital zoom, it resolves craters on the Moon with surprising clarity. This reach also makes it useful for star clusters or terrestrial night scenes. The trade-off is over sharpening, which can exaggerate halos around bright stars or planetary edges.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Apple’s 4× telephoto (48 MP) is slightly less capable at long reach but performs better in low light. At night, Samsung’s processing tends to introduce noise when zooming, while the iPhone maintains a cleaner, more natural result.
For Moon and planetary photography, Samsung has the advantage. For deep-sky star fields and lower-light zoom, Apple often produces more consistent images.
Video and Time-lapse
Astrophotography isn’t just about still images — many enthusiasts create timelapses of star trails, meteor showers, or the Milky Way rising. Here the difference is significant.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Offers 8K video recording, a major advantage for astrophotography timelapse. This high resolution allows wide-field recordings to be cropped into tighter compositions without losing detail. For star trail projects, this flexibility is invaluable.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Limited to 4K video, which remains sharp but restricts post-processing options. On the plus side, Apple’s colour consistency and smoother tone mapping produce more accurate timelapse sequences, with less need for correction in editing.
If your astrophotography workflow includes video or timelapse, Samsung provides more creative headroom. For pure accuracy and ease of use, the iPhone still performs very well.
Computational Photography: Processing the Night
Both Apple and Samsung lean heavily on computational photography, using multiple exposures and AI-driven stacking to simulate long-exposure astrophotography.
- Apple’s approach: Subtle and restrained. Stars remain closer to their true brightness, and colours are more faithful to reality. This makes the iPhone a reliable choice for those who later stack or process their images in dedicated astrophotography software.
- Samsung’s approach: More aggressive. The S25 Ultra brightens stars and deepens blacks, producing high-impact images straight from the phone. For casual shooters, this is often preferable. For purists, it risks clipping star colours and losing faint nebulosity.
Night Portraits and Foreground Work
Many astrophotographers include foreground elements — trees, landscapes, or people — alongside the night sky.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Retains excellent detail in portrait shots, even at night. Colours stay consistent, and edge detection for subjects is remarkably DSLR-like, with smooth background separation.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Produces more dramatic results with vibrant colours, but struggles with noise and colour accuracy in darker conditions.
For nightscapes that combine people or landscapes with the sky, Apple’s steadier hand with detail and colour makes it the more reliable tool.
Final Thoughts: Which Should You Choose?
Both the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra are incredibly capable astrophotography tools, each with strengths that cater to different shooting styles.
- Choose the iPhone 17 Pro Max if:
- You want natural-looking Milky Way and star field images.
- You value consistent detail and colour accuracy.
- You often combine people or landscapes with the night sky.
- Choose the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if:
- You’re focused on planetary or lunar astrophotography.
- You plan to create 8K timelapse projects.
- You prefer vibrant, eye-catching sky images straight from the phone.
In many ways, this comes down to style vs accuracy. The iPhone produces technically superior results for purists, while Samsung offers dramatic images that wow at first glance. Either phone is capable of producing stunning astrophotography — the choice depends on whether you prioritise realism or impact.
