In a surprising turn of events that challenges the long-held belief that higher price tags guarantee better performance, a budget-friendly mid-ranger has outperformed the industry’s most expensive hardware. A recent selfie video blind test reveal: the Samsung Galaxy A37 wins a decisive victory, beating out three “Ultra” class flagships to claim the top spot for video quality.
The experiment was designed to strip away brand loyalty and spec-sheet bias. Five smartphones, specifically chosen because their front-facing cameras had shown promise during initial reviews, were put head-to-head. Participants voted on the visual quality of the videos across multiple platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, as well as a dedicated homepage poll. The results were stark: the most affordable device in the group was overwhelmingly preferred by the users.
The Galaxy A37, which carries a street price of under €300, didn’t just win; it dominated. It secured the most positive votes by a wide margin and, perhaps more tellingly, received the fewest “worst quality” votes. This puts it in a rare position, effectively acting as a “flagship killer” in the specific realm of 4K selfie recording—a title rarely, if ever, associated with the Galaxy A-series.
The paradox of processing power
On paper, the Galaxy A37 should not have won. It utilizes a modest 12MP sensor with a 1/3.2” size and is powered by the Exynos 1480 chipset. In contrast, several of its competitors boasted 50MP sensors and the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processors. However, the results suggest that raw hardware is secondary to the maturity of image processing.
The A37 is the fourth device to utilize the Exynos 1480 since the chip’s debut in the Galaxy A55 in 2024. This timeline suggests that Samsung has had significant time to refine and polish the image processing algorithms for this specific hardware pairing. Interestingly, the Galaxy A57—which features the same front-facing camera but a newer Exynos 1680 chipset—took the #2 spot. This indicates that the brand-new processing pipeline of the A57 may not yet be as finely tuned as the established A37 system.
| Device | Front Sensor | Chipset | Blind Test Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy A37 | 12MP (1/3.2”) | Exynos 1480 | 1st |
| Samsung Galaxy A57 | 12MP (1/3.2”) | Exynos 1680 | 2nd |
| Oppo Find X9 Ultra | 50MP (1/2.75”) | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | 3rd |
| vivo X300 Ultra | 50MP (1/2.76”) | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | 4th |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | 12MP (ISOCELL 3LU) | New Chipset | 5th |
When flagships falter
The most jarring result of the test was the performance of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. Despite being the most expensive device in the lineup, it received almost no positive votes and was singled out by many as having the worst video quality of the five. The failure is particularly puzzling given that the S26 Ultra possesses Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF), a significant hardware advantage over the fixed-focus lenses found in the A37 and A57.
The S26 Ultra utilizes the 12MP ISOCELL 3LU (S5K3LU) sensor, a component that has been a staple in the S23, S24, and S25 series. While the sensor is a known quantity, the shift to a new chipset likely required a complete overhaul of the image processing. The blind test suggests that this rework has not yet reached the level of optimization seen in the mid-range A-series, leaving a €2,000 flagship trailing behind a budget device.
Other high-end contenders also struggled with consistency. The Oppo Find X9 Ultra secured third place, but its video processing was described as a “love-it-or-hate-it” experience. Despite its 50MP sensor and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 power, the processing appeared unrefined. The vivo X300 Ultra, sharing nearly identical hardware with the Oppo, fared even worse, garnering more negative votes than positive ones.
What this means for consumers
This outcome highlights a critical shift in how we should evaluate smartphone cameras. For years, the industry has focused on “megapixel wars” and the raw power of the latest SoC (System on a Chip). However, this test proves that the software layer—the image signal processor (ISP) and the tuning algorithms—is where the actual visual quality is decided. A well-tuned 12MP sensor can easily outperform a poorly tuned 50MP sensor.
For the average user, this means that mid-range devices are no longer just “good enough”—they can be objectively superior in specific use cases. The success of the Galaxy A37 suggests that Samsung’s investment in the Galaxy A-series ecosystem has created a reliable, optimized experience that currently exceeds the “bleeding edge” attempts of the Ultra flagships.
The next critical checkpoint for this hardware cycle will be the upcoming software update patches for the S26 Ultra and the Snapdragon-based flagships. It remains to be seen if Samsung and its competitors can bridge this quality gap through firmware optimizations to bring their premium hardware in line with the A37’s performance.
Do you prioritize raw specs or real-world test results when choosing a new phone? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
