Samsung finally did it. LOG video on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. And not just in Pro mode—you can record LOG video even in the standard video mode. That’s already a win over something like the vivo X200 Pro, where you have to dig into Pro video mode. The iPhone? Well, Apple has had ProRes LOG for a while now.
When it comes to compression, Apple’s ProRes LOG is the least compressed, meaning it holds the most information. That gives you more flexibility in post, more room to push shadows, recover highlights, and tweak colors. Samsung and vivo, on the other hand, use their own LOG profiles, and they’re a bit more compressed. Not bad, but noticeable if you pixel-peep.
First Impressions
Right off the bat, Samsung’s LOG footage looked a little oversharpened. That’s not ideal for a LOG format, but thankfully, it can be adjusted. If you record in Pro mode, there’s less sharpening applied than in the standard video mode. So if you want the cleanest, most flexible footage, Pro mode is the way to go.
Dynamic range is where things get interesting. The iPhone and vivo X200 Pro hold a slight edge over Samsung. Highlights roll off smoother, shadows retain more detail, and overall, the footage looks a tad more natural.
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But it’s not a night and day difference. The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s LOG mode still delivers impressive results, especially when you grade it properly (I’m no expert, but I have seen others do really well).
Speaking of which—Samsung gives you two LUTs for quick color correction:
- 1D LUT
- 3D LUT
Samsung’s LOG is very accessible
You can even correct color directly in the Gallery app by swiping up and tapping “Correct color.” That’s a level of convenience Apple and vivo don’t offer. However, this doesn’t always work for every shot. If you’re serious about grading, you’ll still want to use desktop software. Also, you don’t have to jump into Pro video mode to be able to use Samsung LOG; you can even record LOG in the regular video mode and seamlessly switch between lenses too.
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8K LOG Video
Samsung loves boasting numbers. The S25 Ultra lets you shoot 8K30 LOG video—probably the highest-resolution LOG footage on any smartphone. That’s insane. You also get 4K30 and 4K60 LOG, so you have options.
But… do you really need 8K LOG? If you zoom in a lot or crop heavily, yes. But for most people, 4K LOG is already more than enough.
As for low-light LOG footage? Yeah… no. All three phones struggle here because of their tiny sensors. That’s expected. But in daylight, studio lighting, or even evening shots, LOG video looks fantastic on all three.
Should You Use LOG?
If you’re asking why you should shoot in LOG when you can just correct colors in Samsung’s Gallery app, the answer is simple: dynamic range. Recording in LOG preserves more details in highlights and shadows. If you shoot in regular video mode, the camera bakes in the colors and contrast.
Samsung finally delivered LOG video, and while it’s not perfect, it’s a huge step forward. The iPhone still offers more flexibility with ProRes LOG, but the S25 Ultra’s 8K LOG option and built-in color correction make it one of the most accessible LOG video setups on a phone.
So if you’re serious about video, record in LOG, learn to grade, and thank yourself later.
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