Latest news with #cameras
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Auckland gets full fleet of parking enforcement vehicles
Auckland Region 4:36 pm today Auckland motorists who park without paying may want to think twice about chancing their arm now the city has full fleet of parking enforcement vehicles that can catch you out in a split second. The cars, which have advanced plate recognition cameras, digitally "chalk" the wheels of vehicles and assess whether they're parked illegally or not. Reporter Finn Blackwell went for a ride with an enforcement officer as they digitally marked cars on the most ticketed street in town.
The Verge
4 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
Gibraltar Sea is out, Deep Forest is in.
Motorola is bringing the Edge 60 phone it launched in the UK last month to the US, but we'll have to make do with a less exciting color treatment. Sold as the Motorla Edge 2025 in the US, it'll cost $549.99 and comes with full water resistance, three 50-megapixel cameras, and a 3x optical zoom, and a 6.7-inch display. The reserved, dark green 'forest' color option isn't as eye-catching as some of Motorola's other recent finishes, but at least there's a faux-leather back.
CNET
6 days ago
- CNET
Best Home Security Cameras Without Subscriptions in 2025: No Fee Safety
Does the camera have the ability to listen to audio and initiate a two-way conversation using the app? Does the camera have night vision that can cover the space you have in mind? Is the app easy to understand, control and use to change settings? Does the camera work with your existing home security system or your preferred voice assistant? Can video be stored without fees? Is it local storage under your control or cloud storage? Do you have to purchase your own storage device? Can you shared stored video? Is the resolution high enough to make out all important details and faces? Is the field of view wide enough to capture a whole room or yard, or are there pan/tilt features for large spaces? CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review products and services. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. For all the safety, handy alerts and AI smarts that today's home security cameras bring to the table, they also come with a common downside: Many require a monthly subscription for professional monitoring, more helpful alerts or cloud storage. If you're strapped for cash, a monthly subscription added on top of everything else can feel too much. That's why we created this particular guide. After spending over 200 hours testing all kinds of security cameras for different parts of your home, our experts here at CNET have found both indoor and outdoor cam options that'll provide top-notch security without your wallet taking a monthly hit. After all, Netflix costs enough already. Best Memorial Day Deals CNET's team of shopping experts have explored thousands of deals on everything from mattresses and TVs to everyday essentials and outdoor fun so you can shop the best Memorial Day deals in one place. See now What's the best subscription-free home security camera? This Tapo cam can fit nearly anywhere and includes local storage options. TP-Link/Amazon After our testing, we chose the Tapo C120 Indoor/Outdoor Cam as our top choice for a one-time purchase thanks to its higher resolution and immense versatility, combined with a very affordable price. Our list also includes pan/tilt cameras, floodlight cams, models with extra-high resolution and other important features. None of them require the $3 to $10 monthly subscriptions to enable important features like AI object recognition or video storage. You may have to buy a microSD card, but you'll never have to worry about ongoing fees and get extra data security as a bonus After you're done, consider checking out our lists of the best cheap home security cameras and best wireless cams, too. What we updated Spring 2025: We substituted the Lorex indoor camera with Aqara's G3 camera hub, a welcome addition that can expand into a small security system if you want to add more. Lorex fans can still find an excellent option in our Lorex floodlight cam recommendation. Lorex is a popular choice for buyers who want to stay off the cloud and away from subscriptions. Lorex/Amazon Best home security cameras without subscriptions Photo Gallery 1/1 Best overall home security camera with no subscription TP-Link Tapo C120 Indoor/Outdoor Cam Pros 2K resolution Frequently found below $30 Indoor and outdoor support Motion zone setting Color night vision Google and Alexa compatibility Cons You'll have to pay for a sizable microSD card, too Why I like it: I've chosen the versatile C120 indoor/outdoor cam as the best pick for buyers who want a little of everything -- with a fairly low initial cost, too. Tapo's blend of subscription-free features (there is a Tapo plan, but it's far from necessary) offers person recognition and onboard video storage with the purchase of a microSD card. Another advantage of the C120 is its 2K resolution, higher than many of TP-Link's budget models, along with a magnetic base that makes placement easy regardless of indoor or outdoor use, although you will need to find a safe outlet to use. It also comes with color night vision and compatibility with both Alexa and Google Home/Assistant. TP-Link's app also allows for a couple of neat tricks, including digital boundary lines that act as motion zones and customizable siren/light alarms. Who is this for? Buyers who want a highly versatile camera that doesn't require fees to enable important features. Who shouldn't buy it: Those who want a more compact design or a simpler app to use. ... Show more Get it now $25 at Amazon $25 at B&H Specs & Configurations Video storage options Local via microSD card (not included) or cloud storage with subscription Resolution 2K Motion detection Motion, people, pets, vehicles Smart home support Amazon Alexa, Google Home/Assistant Weather resistance IP66 Add to compare Photo Gallery 1/1 Best outdoor security camera with no subscription Reolink Argus Track Cam Pros Wireless design with included solar panel 4K resolution Zoom and tracking Good object recognition Color night vision Cons Setup requires some extra work with the solar panel Again, a new microSD card will add to the cost Why I like it: Reolink's Argus Track is designed for highly efficient outdoor use. It combines a 4K cam that can easily spot details across the yard with a solar panel you can set up to keep the battery charged on this wireless model. It's also got pan/tilt features that can track movement, color night vision and onboard storage with a microSD card slot. Those powerful features don't require subscriptions, making this one of the best options for a no-fee outdoor camera that can detect people, vehicles and animals. While the wireless design does make it easy to place, you may have to do more work finding the right installation spot for both the cam and its solar panel, which benefits from a sunny destination. Who is this for? People who want a top-line outdoor camera they can put anywhere with a solar panel to make battery management much easier. Who shouldn't buy it: Those who don't want to place and install an extra solar panel, or who are looking to spend under $100. ... Show more Get it now $119 at Amazon (with coupon) Specs & Configurations Video storage options Local with microSD card (not included) Resolution 4K Motion detection Motion, people, vehicles, animals Smart home support Amazon Alexa, Google Home/Assistant Weather resistance IP65 Add to compare Photo Gallery 1/1 Best indoor security camera with no subscription Aqara Camera Hub G3 Pros 2K resolution with pan/tilt capabilities Great free object and sound recognition Swift setup Broad compatibility with Google, Alexa, and Apple HomeKit Cons No included microSD card Many features won't get used without adding more senors Why I like it: I found Aqara's hub to offer smooth performance, a very clear app view of its 2K camera (1080p continuous recording), and pan/tilt functions to cover an entire room. You also get person detection and noise detection for free, and video storage via the microSD slot. Setup proved very straightforward, too, and there's even some Apple Home compatibility along with Google and Alexa (hopefully more as the Matter standard embraces security cameras more fully). This camera also has a hidden benefit with its "hub" status. It can connect to other Aqara security sensors to transform into a mini security system if you want, without needing any additional hubs, allowing for better whole-room protection and interesting home routines. That makes features like its customizable siren even more useful. Who is this for? Those looking for a crystal clear indoor pan/tilt camera that doesn't demand fees for extras like object recognition, plus the opportunity to expand into other security sensors in the future. Who shouldn't buy it: People who don't care about other home security compatibility, or who don't need a lot of AI identification features. ... Show more Get it now $90 at Amazon Specs & Configurations Video storage options Local with microSD card (not included) Resolution 2K Motion detection Motion, people, pets, subscription adds facial detection and gesture detection Smart home support Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, some Apply HomeKit functionality Weather resistance N/A Add to compare Photo Gallery 1/1 Best video quality security camera with no subscription Eufy Indoor Cam S350 Pros Dual-cam design with 4K imaging Pan/tilt/zoom People/pet detection and tracking Local storage options for microSD card or hub Cons Upgrades require adding a hub Wired only Eufy's app is janky Why I like it: Eufy's pan/tilt/zoom dual-cam model can see anywhere and, with the right vantage point, it can cover multiple doors or areas in a home, all at an excellent 4K resolution for the wide-angle lens and 2K resolution for the telephoto lens. It also has 32-foot night vision and the ability to recognize people or pets and quietly follow them -- and it's surprisingly small for these features. It offers support for both Amazon Alexa and Google Home/Assistant, but no Apple HomeKit at this time (some Eufy cams do offer Apple support, including the budget pan/tilt 2K model). Nothing significant is locked behind ongoing fees in this cam unless you really want cloud storage. The camera comes with a slot for a microSD card (purchase the size of your choice) to add local storage. You also have the option of adding a HomeBase S380 hub if you prefer more storage, better AI capabilities and other useful features, still without any necessary subscription. The one downside to Eufy's cam is that the Eufy app is a little janky, but that's a minor trade-off for many people. Who is this for? Those looking for an extra-high-resolution pan/tilt indoor camera that doesn't require fees to enable AI and storage. Who shouldn't buy it: People who need an outdoor camera, or who hate clunkier apps. ... Show more Get it now $140 at Amazon $140 at The Home Depot $140 at B&H Photo-Video Specs & Configurations Video storage option Local with microSD card or Eufy HomeBase Resolution 4K and 2K dual cams Motion detection Motion, people, pets Smart home support Apple HomeKit/Home/Siri Weather resistance N/A Add to compare Photo Gallery 1/1 Best local storage home security camera with no subscription Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Floodlight Security Camera Pros Customizable floodlights 2K resolution with HDR Color night vision Lorex includes a storage card with purchase Cons Expensive at around $250 Lorex's included microSD cards may be too small for active cams Why I like it: If you're looking to invest in a higher-end outdoor cam and don't mind spending extra for a full suite of features when you know no subscriptions will be coming your way, Lorex has an excellent floodlight camera for looking over a large outdoor space. It offers 2K resolution, color night vision, two-way audio and an included 32GB microSD card. That's a fairly complete package, even without the free person, vehicle and animal protection that's also included -- or the support for Alexa and Google Assistant. But the biggest feature of this cam is the two LED floodlights. I like Lorex's floodlight approach more than most: You can adjust the angles and set specific brightness and color temperature levels, as well as how easily they are activated. That's a level of customization that is comparatively rare in home security lighting. Who is this for? People who want a customizable floodlight camera that doesn't come with monthly subscription requirements, buyers who don't want to buy an extra microSD card -- but don't mind paying more for a powerful camera. Who shouldn't buy it: People who want to save money, or who already have plenty of outdoor lighting. ... Show more Get it now $250 at Amazon $250 at Lorex Specs & Configurations Video storage options Local via microSD card (included) Resolution 2K Motion detection Motion, people, vehicles, animals Smart home support Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant Weather resistance IP65 Add to compare Photo Gallery 1/1 Best battery-powered home security camera with no subscription Blink Outdoor 4 with Sync Module 2 8.25 /10 SCORE Pros Compact and wireless Great app controls Long battery life rated for two years Subscription is optional with a purchased hub Cons Requires a hub and flash drive for no-fee video storage No person detection without a subscription Why I like it: Blink does offer a subscription plan with video recording and storage, but we're adding it as an effective option because of the Sync Module 2 -- this compact, square hub connects to the Blink Outdoor 4 and allows you to plug in a USB flash drive and use it for local storage. That largely removes the need for any subscription. You still get Blink's motion-activated alerts and incredibly easy-to-use app, so subscription fees become very optional. Otherwise, the Blink Outdoor 4 is a common recommendation of ours because of its long two-year battery life and easy wireless setup (my batteries have lasted well over a year by now). You will miss out on outdoor person detection, which is locked behind the subscription, but otherwise this cam deserves consideration if you don't mind purchasing a hub to work with. Who is this for? People who want an all-purpose wireless outdoor camera with batteries that last for years, preferably with a spare USB drive handy for storage. Who shouldn't buy it: Those who can't stand managing extra hubs, or are looking for indoor cams. ... Show more Get it now $50 at Amazon $50 at Best Buy $50 at Target Specs & Configurations Video storage options Local via Sync Module 2 hub Resolution 1080p/HD Motion detection Motion (Person only available with subscription) Smart home support Amazon Alexa Weather resistance IP65 Score Breakdown Performance 8 Usability 9 Features 8 Design 8 Learn more Blink Outdoor 4 with Sync Module 2 review Add to compare Best home security cameras without subscriptions compared Best security cams without subscriptions Eufy Indoor Cam S350 Aqara Indoor Camera Hub G3 Reolink Argus Track Cam TP-Link Tapo C120 Indoor/Outdoor Cam Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Floodlight Security Camera Blink Outdoor 4 with Sync Module 2 Price $100 $85.00 $210 $40 $250 $65 Resolution 4K/2K 2K 4K 2K 2K 1080p/HD Field of view 360 degrees with pan/tilt 360-degree pan Nearly 360 degrees with pan/tilt 120 degrees 122 degrees 143 degrees Power source Wired Wired Battery with solar Wired Wired Battery Motion detection Motion, people, pets Yes with person, noise, gesture and (paid) face detection Motion, people, vehicles, animals Motion, people, pet vehicle Motion, people, vehicle, animal Motion only with no subscription Night Vision 32-foot night vision Yes Color night vision Color night vision Color night vision Yes Audio Two-way audio Two-way audio Two-way audio Two-way audio Two-way audio Two-way audio Storage options Local with microSD card or Eufy HomeBase Local microSD storage (card not included) or paid cloud subscription Local with microSD card Local via microSD card or cloud storage with subscription Local via microSD card (included) Local via Sync Module 2 Hub Voice assistant Apple HomeKit/Home/Siri Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Siri (for some features) Amazon Alexa, Google Home/Assistant Amazon Alexa, Google Home/Assistant Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant Amazon Alexa Review score N/A N/A (but soon) N/A N/A N/A N/A Other home security cams without subscriptions that we've tested Lorex's pan/tilt camera makes for an excellent nanny cam in the right position. Lorex/Amazon TP-Link Tapo C210: This is one of our favorite affordable cameras at the moment, but we prefer cameras with slightly better specs that also come with local storage, including more advanced Tapo models. Blink Mini 2: The Blink Mini 2 has a surprising amount of features for its small size and affordable price (plus outdoor compatibility), but it's a little too short range and the required Sync Module 2 for local storage greatly increases the price. Google Nest Indoor/Outdoor cam: Nest doesn't have any local storage options, and the 3 hours of video storage means you need to act quickly, so it's a complicated compromise for those who want to avoid subscriptions altogether. We went with simpler, local storage approaches for this list, but still recommend this camera for Nest fans. Google Nest Doorbell: The Nest Doorbell is an excellent device that greatly benefits from Google AI and Nest's high-quality construction. However, it doesn't have any local storage, so you'll have to stick to that 3-hour limit. Lorex 2K Indoor Pan/Tilt Camera: This Lorex cam is an excellent local storage alternative, but ultimately we chose the floodlight model for its great outdoor usability. TP-Link Tapo C310: The C310 makes a fine outdoor camera ready for a microSD card, but we found Tapo's indoor/outdoor camera a little more useful for the average person. Factors to consider when buying a home security camera Blink's person detection works well enough, but it's a subscription-only feature. Tyler Lacoma/CNET Video quality and view We always pay attention to resolution and field of view for home security cameras. Checking detail, up close and at a distance, is very important for live views and the quality of recorded video. It's important to pay attention not only to resolution numbers and how wide the field of view is, but whether a brand locks higher resolutions behind a subscription (some do). Video storage Video storage refers to how easily video can be recorded and shared, typically either in the cloud or locally through an attached hub/hard drive. Cloud storage is almost always locked behind a subscription, except in rare cases like Google Nest and some others. Local storage is generally a better way to avoid subscriptions and still get this important quality-of-life feature. Chris Monroe/CNET Smart home integration Smart home support for voice assistants (Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant) or platforms like Google Home or Apple Home aren't often locked behind subscriptions: What you see in the specs is what you get. That can be limited to a single platform (Amazon likes to keep its devices focused on Alexa for now) or spread out between several platforms. If you already use a voice assistant or a full smart home security system, look for a camera that's compatible with it. Object detection accuracy Object detection, like recognizing packages or human-shaped beings approaching, is another feature often locked behind a subscription. Some cameras offer free object detection. Eufy uses human detection for many of its cams, TP-Link Tapo cams offer some free detection and several Lorex cams provide package and people detection. Eufy's cam settings, once found, provide many different ways to customize the camera. Screenshot by Tyler Lacoma/CNET App usability High-quality secure cams come with apps that are intuitive with settings that are easy to manage. It's also a big bonus if they don't have constant pop-ups telling you to sign up for a subscription. Night vision We always take a close look at night vision and its distance to make sure that it's working properly and offers plenty of utility for capturing images on the other side of your yard or room. Two-way audio Two-way audio features help scare away intruders, talk to strangers or tell the kids to get inside for dinner. They're always free, but we take a close look at their quality and range, too. Tapo's solar bundle is ready for all kinds of weather. Tapo Installation requirements Security cameras typically have wall and/or shelf mounts depending on how you'd like to place them. Sometimes you have to order a wall or shelf mount separately, so have a good idea of how you want to place the camera first. Many wall mounts require you to drill the mount in, but some do come with adhesive mounts, which need to be placed on a smooth, clean surface or they will fail. A drill and screwdriver is usually all you need for a screw-in mount. Weather resistance If your camera is going to be outdoors at all, you should look for a cam that has IP ratings, preferably IP65 or higher. That indicates dust and water resistance that is sufficient for outdoor use in most cases. If it gets very hot or very cold where you live, check the operating temperature range too, before you buy. How we test security cameras Aqara's camera provides a highly customizable, expandable indoors security option. Tyler Lacoma/CNET Our experts follow a complete testing process that examines how all the features on a home security camera function. We walk through these features with a number of visual and audio experiments to see how cams match their claims -- and the capability of comparative models. There's a lot that goes into this process, and you can catch plenty more details over at our guide on how we test. Setup and installation While we have a lot experience setting up cameras, we still pay close attention at this stage and consider if the average users would have trouble setting up the cam, connecting it, mounting it on a wall and similar steps. We look for clear instructions, multiple mounting options and designs that are easy to understand and manually adjust. This is also a great time to insert our own microSD cards and check out local storage management, since we won't be using cloud storage with these no-subscription cameras. Image quality Our tests include live view and recording examinations of image quality compared to the stated resolution and similar resolutions from other cameras. This is also where we examine the lens and field of view, any pan/tilt features and how well the night vision functions work in dark rooms or yards, usually out to about 30 feet or more. Tapo's app showing the ability to disable notifications. Screenshot by Tyler Lacoma/CNET Sensor and AI testing Today's cameras come with motion and sound detection and object recognition for a variety of things, usually people and animals. We run scenarios that test out these sensors to see what alerts we get, how accurate they are and if there's any frustrating latency or delays. App UI and settings As we use the apps and adjust settings for the features I mentioned above, we also look for an intuitive app design that's easy to learn and gets you where you want quickly with snappy menus. Cluttered apps, confusing menus and apps with lots of advertisements get lower scores. Security cameras benefit from adjustable lights. Lorex Lights, cams and action Most security cameras have two-way audio, and many have spotlights or floodlights. We test these features in real time, adjust brightness and volume, and see how they perform. That's especially important when testing audio in outdoor weather, for example. The best home security cam placement and installation Eufy's solar panel makes a great pairing with this open-range security cam. Eufy Placing a home security camera is one of the hardest decisions today's DIY cameras require. Every home is different, so you'll need to customize the location to get the best angle to capture a room or yard. Sometimes central locations are best for pan/tilt cameras or a high shelf for an overview. For installation, we like the stability of a screw-in mount or the versatility of a horizontal surface. For more, take a look at our guide on the best spots to install home security cameras.
Android Authority
24-05-2025
- Android Authority
Samsung's obsession with megapixels is hurting its flagship phones
There are oh, so many strange things about the new Galaxy S25 Edge. Yes, it's thin, and yes, it's made from a durable mix of titanium and top-tier Gorilla Glass, but once you get past that, I am simply confused. It has a small battery that's not silicon-carbon, slow charging with no magnetic ring for Qi2 accessories (shocker), and, wait for it, only two cameras. That's one fewer camera than the standard Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus carry, and half the number of the top-tier Galaxy S25 Ultra. The last time we saw a non-folding Galaxy device with only two rear cameras was back on the Galaxy S10e. Yet Samsung's all-new, razor-thin flagship packs three times the megapixels of its more affordable siblings. Its two sensors combine for a remarkable 212 total megapixels, which would be enough resolution to put almost any triple-camera device on our list of the best Android camera phones (provided the software was just as good, of course). On the dual-camera Galaxy S25 Edge, however, the balance is off. There are so many megapixels packed into its primary sensor that everything else feels like an afterthought, and that's not good enough for a phone that costs this much. Here's why. Is this method? Or just madness? Ryan Haines / Android Authority Before I start complaining, let me get one thing clear: The Galaxy S25 Edge's 200MP primary camera is good — excellent, even. Its 12MP ultrawide camera is, well, solid at best and serviceable at the absolute worst. We've seen both of these cameras before, the former on the top-tier Galaxy S25 Ultra, and the latter on the more approachable Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus. That combination is both the good news and the bad news. On the bright side, we already knew Samsung's 200MP primary camera was very good. It turned in impressively sharp shots during my review of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, even when binned down to a more manageable 12MP by default. It also handled my optical crop needs brilliantly, which is good since I punch in to 2x almost by default — sorry, fans of the wide focal length. However, the primary camera on the Galaxy S25 Ultra was only one piece of a well-rounded setup. It knew when to hand off responsibility to Samsung's pair of telephoto sensors, lending a hand with extra detail as needed but ultimately stepping back for much of the zoom work. The Galaxy S25 Edge's cameras are equal parts Ultra and Plus... but not as reliable as either. Samsung also made a fairly large (for Samsung) fuss about bringing an all-new, amped-up ultrawide camera to its Galaxy S25 Ultra. It ditched the previous 12MP sensor that we'd all gotten used to for a super-sharp 50MP version with the same lovable 120-degree field of view. Naturally, this seemed like the new direction for Samsung's most premium flagships. That's not the case on the Galaxy S25 Edge. Despite costing nearly as much as the Galaxy S25 Ultra and only having two cameras, Samsung decided that its lower-resolution 12MP ultrawide sensor was good enough. And, at the end of the day, maybe it is. Perhaps the fact that its 50MP ultrawide sensor bins to 12MP by default ultimately steered Samsung this way. However, I can't help but feel disappointed by the Galaxy S25 Edge's startling lack of flexibility. Despite having a whopping 212 megapixels at its disposal, the phone can only swing from 0.6x (ultrawide) to 10x zoom before calling it a day. That's less range than the smaller Galaxy S25 duo with its triple-camera setup, and it just matches the Galaxy Z Flip 6, which achieves the same max zoom despite carrying a 50MP primary sensor. Then, as if to make life more confusing, Samsung offered some reasoning behind its decision during our initial Galaxy S25 Edge briefing. It declared that users spend most of their time between 0.6x zoom and 5x zoom, so it decided to focus on that range. It decided that a massive primary camera backed by AI processing was a more effective way to do so than to stick with the flexible trio that worked brilliantly, thicker camera bump or not. So, with a strict zoom limit in mind, Samsung gave us two cameras and called it a day. More megapixels doesn't have to mean better zoom Ryan Haines / Android Authority Of course, to further illustrate my point — or maybe prove myself wrong — I decided to have a little zoom test. I grabbed my shiny new Galaxy S25 Edge, its closest in-house rival, the Galaxy S25 Plus, a similarly priced dual-camera phone in the Motorola Razr Ultra, and the best two-camera option that Apple makes in the iPhone 16. Then, I found a simple little garden scene that I walk past every single day, and I let each camera do its thing. Here's how my quick test shook out: Ultrawide Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus Motorola Razr Ultra Apple iPhone 16 The ultrawide angle is, to my eye, the Galaxy S25 Edge's greatest weakness. It doesn't deliver a terrible shot, but it doesn't stand out as especially good, either — it's just kind of okay. Of course, I largely expected this to be the case, as it's working with the same sensor as its Galaxy S25 Plus sibling, so it makes perfect sense for the two shots to come out almost identical. However, Motorola's 50MP ultrawide sensor smokes the pair of them. If you zoom in on the Razr Ultra's result, you'll notice heaps more detail, whether in the bricks, the green of the plants, or all the way back to the bench that we'll get closer to in just a second. Motorola's Pantone-certified colors are also even punchier than Samsung's — not something I ever thought I'd say. Unfortunately, the cool color profile of the iPhone 16 makes its result look a bit dead by comparison, even if its details are fine. Apple could probably stand to bring a higher resolution ultrawide sensor to its base iPhones, but that's a debate for a different day. 1x Zoom Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus Motorola Razr Ultra Apple iPhone 16 Jumping to 1x zoom, the default view, the Galaxy S25 Edge looks much more competitive thanks to its massive primary sensor. There's plenty of detail throughout the plants, and you can pick out a few birds on the hanging poster to the left. It still lands roughly in the middle regarding color profile, with the ice-cold iPhone on one end and Motorola's Pantone partnership on the other. That said, I think the Razr Ultra offers a slightly sharper look at the bird poster to the left side despite its lower 50MP resolution. 2x Zoom Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus Motorola Razr Ultra Apple iPhone 16 At 2x zoom, the 200MP primary sensor really comes into its own. To my eye, its central crop simply holds onto much more resolution than the Galaxy S25 Plus's 50MP camera can match before it switches to the telephoto for longer distances. The Razr Ultra packs decently sharp foreground details, too, especially if you zoom in on the plants to the left, though I can't help but feel like it makes the bench and chair in the background look a bit too artificially processed. The central crop from Apple's 48MP primary camera is also by far the softest of this set, with plants losing details left and right, and the arbor above the bench turning into a mix of pinks and greens when you get close. 4x Zoom Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus Motorola Razr Ultra Apple iPhone 16 At 4x zoom, something like no-man's-land for these cameras, the Razr Ultra's warm profile starts to do a lot of heavy lifting. Although it's beginning to lose a bit of sharpness, the vibrant greens and the strings of lights trick the eye into thinking it's a better photo than Samsung's relatively flat colors. This time, the Galaxy S25 Edge and Galaxy S25 Plus show different strengths. The more expensive flagship looks better for its contrast — look at the fine lines on the leaves to the left — while the triple-camera version shines with better details through the wall of ivy at the back. Both Samsung devices also present a more natural look at the bench, since Motorola's processing has oversharpened it too much. 10x Zoom Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus Motorola Razr Ultra Apple iPhone 16 Last but not least, we have 10x zoom — the Galaxy S25 Edge's upper limit. While I might not like that this is where Samsung's $1,100 flagship calls it quits, I think it once again offers the best detail of the bunch. Both of Samsung's images look the most color-accurate, while the Edge shows sharper details in the brick walkway and better contrast in the bushes behind the bench. Something about the Razr Ultra's finished product looks a bit too dark, like it's pumped up the saturation once again. Finally, the iPhone 16 offers, well, just not a very good shot, being a bit too bright and soft from top to bottom. The problem here is that this is where my zoom comparison stops. Despite having a $1,100 phone in my hand with a 200MP primary camera, Samsung has no interest in letting its combination of sensor cropping and digital zoom go beyond a perfectly average length. I could have kept going up to 30x zoom with the Galaxy S25 Plus and the Razr Ultra, seeing what a 3x telephoto sensor and Motorola's 50MP primary camera can do, but the Galaxy S25 Edge said no. I guess this is Samsung quitting while it's ahead… ish Ryan Haines / Android Authority I won't lie — I thought I would get to this point and feel vindicated in thinking that Samsung had made a terrible decision for its Galaxy S25 Edge cameras that would keep me from calling it one of the best Samsung phones around. That's still the case, but it's not nearly as cut and dry as I might have expected. Even though I'm thoroughly disappointed that the Galaxy S25 Edge won't zoom past 10x, I simply can't argue with the fact that it's sharp across every focal length that it does cover. I'd happily post any of the sample shots I showed off above, and that's not something I can say about all of the other devices, at least, certainly not the iPhone 16. From that perspective, I get it. I understand why Samsung let 200MP and a little digital zoom do all of its heavy lifting. I can even admit that if the Edge went past 10x zoom, I'd probably be less inclined to post the shots I captured because they're not usually very impressive. However, I still don't like spending this much money on a relatively inflexible camera. Even though Samsung is right, and most people will spend their time between 0.6x and 5x zoom, that's not an exclusive rule. There will be times, like at a concert or while birdwatching, when 15x, 20x, or even 30x zoom is a must-have, and this $1,100 phone will let them down. When it does, those users will look at their friends with Pixel 9 Pros, iPhone 16 Pros, or even Samsung's own Galaxy S25, and be a little envious of the money they saved and the camera flexibility they earned.
CTV News
23-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Windsor Port Authority installs new cameras to strengthen waterway security
A photo of new cameras installed along the Windsor Port Authority to strengthen waterway security between Canada and the United States. May 2025. (Photo courtesy of Axis Communications)
