I tested 100x zoom on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Pixel 10 Pro, and Razr Fold - here's who won

Three smartphones were tested for long-range zoom photography using 100x super-resolution shots. A Grand Canyon river shot showed the Motorola Razr Fold producing a crisp image, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra produced a blurry, splotchy result. The Motorola image remained strong on the phone screen but became somewhat pixelated when viewed at a 100% crop. The Samsung result appeared consistently worse, suggesting a recurring pattern. To confirm, additional tests were done at Six Flags using distant subjects. When possible, a close-range reference was captured with Meta Oakley HSTN glasses. The Pixel 10 Pro displayed a sparkle animation during processing when the photo was opened immediately after capture.

"A couple of weeks ago, I was in the midst of reviewing the Motorola Razr Fold while on a press trip to the Grand Canyon. The Razr Fold has a Super Res Zoom feature that will take a 100x photo and clean it up pretty convincingly. So, I saw a river in the distance and pulled out the Razr Fold to grab a shot. Also: Google Pixel vs. Samsung Galaxy: I've tested both brands extensively, and there's a clear winner Then, I remembered I had the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra in my pocket. Samsung is like the OG of super res zoom, so I decided to grab the same shot. The only problem is that the Samsung shot looked really bad, while the Motorola -- the folding Motorola -- came out crispy. Here are the two, side by side."

"The Samsung sample is blurry and splotchy. The Razr Fold sample looks great on the small screen of the phone, but it gets a bit pixelated when you blow it up to a 100% crop. This is a theme you will notice over time."

"Just for funsies, I added in another phone maker that also boasts super resolution zoom capabilities -- the Pixel 10 Pro. I headed off to my local Six Flags amusement park here in Chicago and found some of the furthest shots I could find. For comparison purposes, when possible, after shooting various objects at 100x zoom, I then grabbed a sample with my Meta Oakley HSTN glasses from as close as I could get to show you how close each phone got."

"One interesting thing I noted was that when you take a super-zoom photo with the Pixel and open the photo right away, it has a little sparkle animation it plays over the photo to indicate that it's processing. You"

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