Iphone 15 Plus Vs Samsung S23 Fe Which Has The Better Zoom Camera

When it comes to smartphone photography, zoom capability is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity. Whether you're capturing wildlife from a distance, snapping candid shots at a concert, or trying to preserve fine details in architecture, a strong zoom camera can make all the difference. Two popular mid-to-high-tier smartphones, the iPhone 15 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, offer compelling camera systems, but they take different approaches to zoom. Understanding these differences is key to choosing the right device for your photography needs.

The iPhone 15 Plus builds on Apple’s consistent focus on computational photography and sensor optimization, while the S23 FE leverages Samsung’s hardware diversity with multiple rear sensors. But when it comes to zoom—especially beyond standard wide-angle shots—how do they really stack up?

Understanding Zoom: Optical vs Digital vs Computational

Before diving into specific models, it’s important to clarify what “zoom” actually means on modern smartphones. Unlike traditional cameras with mechanical zoom lenses, smartphones use a combination of physical optics and software processing.

• Optical Zoom: Uses actual lens movement to magnify an image without losing quality. True optical zoom is rare in smartphones; most devices rely on fixed telephoto lenses that provide a single magnification level (e.g., 2x or 3x).
• Digital Zoom: Crops and enlarges part of the image sensor output. This often leads to loss of detail and increased noise, especially at higher magnifications.
• Computational Zoom: Combines AI upscaling, multi-frame processing, and sensor data from multiple lenses to simulate higher-quality zoomed images. Both Apple and Samsung use this heavily.

In practice, neither the iPhone 15 Plus nor the S23 FE features a periscope-style telephoto lens (which enables high optical zoom like 5x or 10x), so their zoom capabilities are limited compared to flagship models like the iPhone 15 Pro Max or Galaxy S23 Ultra. However, both still aim to deliver usable zoom performance through smart engineering.

Tip: For best zoom results, keep your hands steady or use a small tripod. Even slight movement can degrade image quality at higher zoom levels.

Camera Hardware Comparison

To assess zoom performance accurately, we need to look under the hood at the camera setups of both phones.

	iPhone 15 Plus	Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Main Sensor	48MP, f/1.6, 26mm, sensor-shift OIS	50MP, f/1.8, 24mm, OIS
Ultra-Wide Sensor	12MP, f/2.4, 120° FoV	12MP, f/2.2, 123° FoV
Telephoto Sensor	None – relies on digital zoom from main sensor	10MP, f/2.4, 70mm, 3x optical zoom, OIS
Zoom Range (Apple/Samsung Claim)	2x optical (digital crop from main sensor), up to 15x digital	3x optical, up to 30x digital (Space Zoom)
Portrait Mode Zoom	Supports 2x portrait framing via software	Uses telephoto lens for natural 3x portrait shots

The most significant difference lies in the presence of a dedicated telephoto lens on the S23 FE. With a 10MP sensor offering true 3x optical zoom, Samsung gains a clear hardware advantage. The iPhone 15 Plus, lacking a separate telephoto lens, uses its high-resolution 48MP main sensor to digitally crop into images and simulate 2x optical-quality zoom—a technique Apple calls “sensor cropping.” While effective, it doesn’t match real optical zoom in consistency.

“Dedicated telephoto sensors still outperform cropped digital zoom in edge clarity and light retention, especially in mixed lighting.” — David Lin, Mobile Imaging Analyst at DXOMARK

Real-World Zoom Performance: Daylight vs Low Light

In daylight conditions, both phones produce respectable zoomed photos, but their approaches lead to different outcomes.

The S23 FE’s 3x optical lens captures sharper details at medium range. For example, photographing a person across a park or reading signs from a distance benefits from the physical magnification. There’s minimal processing artifacting because the image is optically enlarged before any software enhancement.

The iPhone 15 Plus compensates with superior computational photography. Using machine learning and Deep Fusion, it enhances textures and manages noise even when digitally zooming beyond 3x. At 2x zoom, thanks to its 48MP sensor cropping down to 12MP, the iPhone delivers near-optical quality. However, once you go beyond 3x, image degradation becomes noticeable faster than on the S23 FE.

In low-light environments, the gap widens slightly. The S23 FE’s telephoto lens has a narrower aperture (f/2.4) than the main sensor, so it lets in less light. Still, having a stabilized optical path gives it an edge over the iPhone’s fully digital approach. Meanwhile, the iPhone relies heavily on Night mode stacking across frames, which works well up to 2x but struggles past 5x due to motion blur and noise accumulation.

Mini Case Study: Concert Photography Test

A music enthusiast attended a local indie concert in a dimly lit venue. Using both the iPhone 15 Plus and S23 FE from the back of the room (~15 feet from stage), they attempted to capture close-ups of the lead singer.

• iPhone 15 Plus: Used 3x digital zoom. The initial shot looked promising with good color balance, but upon closer inspection, facial details were slightly smeared. Noise was visible in darker areas of the jacket. The phone took nearly two seconds to process the image using Night mode.
• S23 FE: Switched directly to 3x optical zoom. The result had crisper outlines around the face and instrument. Less post-processing was needed, resulting in a more natural-looking photo with accurate skin tones and reduced grain.

In this scenario, the S23 FE delivered a more reliable zoom experience under challenging conditions, despite both phones applying heavy software tuning.

Software Features and User Experience

Beyond hardware, software plays a major role in how usable the zoom feature feels day-to-day.

iOS offers a smooth, intuitive zoom slider in the Camera app, ranging from 0.5x (ultra-wide) to 15x. As you move past 2x, the interface turns yellow to indicate digital zoom, subtly warning users about potential quality loss. Quick double-tapping the “1x” button jumps to 2x, making it easy to frame portraits or tighter shots rapidly. Video zoom is also stable, with excellent electronic stabilization helping reduce shake during movement.

Samsung’s implementation includes a longer zoom range (up to 30x), though anything beyond 10x is largely unusable except in ideal lighting. The S23 FE supports Single Take mode, which captures multiple zoom levels in one press—useful for ensuring you don’t miss a moment. It also integrates AI-powered enhancements like AI Eraser (to remove photobombers) and improved HDR processing, which helps maintain dynamic range when zooming into bright scenes.

Tip: On the S23 FE, lock focus by long-pressing the subject before zooming to prevent refocusing delays and maintain clarity.

Checklist: Getting the Best Zoom Photos on Either Phone

1. Ensure the lens is clean—smudges hurt zoom clarity more than wide shots.
2. Use the lowest effective zoom level to retain maximum detail.
3. Hold the phone steady or brace against a surface when zoomed in.
4. Tap to focus and wait for confirmation before capturing.
5. Shoot in well-lit environments whenever possible.
6. Enable Grid Lines in settings to help compose balanced zoomed shots.
7. Avoid zooming beyond 10x unless absolutely necessary (results are typically poor).

Video Zoom Capabilities

For vloggers and content creators, zoom performance isn’t just about stills—it matters in video too.

The iPhone 15 Plus supports 4K Dolby Vision HDR recording at up to 60fps. Its cinematic mode now extends to 4K, and seamless transitions between ultra-wide and main cameras improve framing flexibility. Digital zoom during video is impressively smooth, aided by advanced sensor-shift stabilization. However, optical zoom is not available since there’s no telephoto lens—so all zooming is digital, even if starting from the 48MP sensor.

The S23 FE records up to 4K at 30fps and supports Super Steady mode, which stabilizes footage effectively—even when walking. When recording at 3x, it uses the actual telephoto lens, preserving optical quality throughout the clip. This makes it better suited for situations where you want to film someone from a moderate distance without stepping closer.

If you frequently record interviews, performances, or distant action, the S23 FE’s ability to maintain optical zoom in video gives it a functional advantage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the iPhone 15 Plus do true optical zoom?

No, the iPhone 15 Plus does not have a dedicated telephoto lens. Its “2x optical zoom” is achieved by cropping the center portion of the 48MP main sensor to produce a 12MP image. While this yields high-quality results comparable to optical zoom in good light, it is technically digital zoom with optical-level output.

Is 30x zoom on the S23 FE useful?

Only in very specific scenarios. The 30x “Space Zoom” is highly dependent on perfect lighting and absolute stability. In most real-world cases, anything above 10x appears pixelated and soft. It can be fun for novelty shots (like the moon or distant buildings), but don’t expect publishable quality.

Which phone should I choose for zoom photography?

If zoom is a top priority, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is the better choice due to its dedicated 3x optical telephoto lens. The iPhone 15 Plus excels in overall image consistency and color science but cannot match the S23 FE’s medium-range zoom precision. However, if you value ecosystem integration, video quality, and natural skin tones, the iPhone remains a strong all-around option.

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice Based on Your Needs

The battle between the iPhone 15 Plus and Samsung S23 FE in zoom performance ultimately comes down to priorities. The S23 FE holds a tangible advantage with its dedicated 3x optical telephoto lens, delivering sharper, more reliable results—especially in daylight and moderate low-light conditions. Its ability to switch seamlessly between lenses gives photographers greater creative control.

The iPhone 15 Plus counters with industry-leading computational photography, excellent color accuracy, and robust video stabilization. While it lacks optical zoom hardware, its intelligent use of the 48MP sensor ensures competitive 2x zoom quality and smoother transitions across focal lengths. However, once you exceed 3x, the limitations become apparent.

If capturing distant subjects with clarity is essential—whether for travel, events, or casual photography—the S23 FE earns the edge. But if you prefer a balanced camera system with superior processing, ecosystem synergy, and excellent everyday usability, the iPhone 15 Plus remains a compelling pick.

🚀 Ready to test these zoom features yourself? Try taking side-by-side photos at 3x zoom in your neighborhood or at your next outdoor event. Compare the results—you might be surprised by how much hardware still matters in the age of AI.