iPhone 17e vs Galaxy A57 camera: 6 real photos side by side
In our six daylight photos the iPhone 17e gave warmer pictures with more contrast and deeper greens, while the Galaxy A57 looked cooler and flatter, with blue-grey leaves. The 17e saved 24 MP files and the A57 12 MP, so the 17e's centre crops hold more fine detail.
24 October 2026, Palmengarten, Frankfurt am Main, sunny with clouds, between 14:28 and 15:27. Each scene was shot with all 11 of our test phones within a few minutes, each on the same tripod, each on its default auto camera settings. The main camera at 1x, the roses at 2x. Location data removed, people blurred, no other edits. How we test · Compare these two in the Camera Lab
What the photo files show
| iPhone 17e | Samsung Galaxy A57 | |
|---|---|---|
| Saved file at 1x | 5712 × 4284 (24.5 MP) | 4000 × 3000 (12 MP) |
| Main lens (35 mm equivalent) | 26 mm | 23 mm |
| 2x photo | 52 mm equivalent, 4032 × 3024 (12.2 MP) | 46 mm equivalent, digital zoom 2x, 4000 × 3000 (12 MP) |
| Software in the files | 27.0.1 | A576BXXU6BZIE |
| Rear cameras used here | Main camera only (the 17e has one) | Main camera only |
Read from the original photo files. A bigger file is not automatically a better photo: it means more pixels to crop into.
Fountain and pond
Bright sky, moving water and autumn trees in one wide view.
Centre crop
What we see: The A57 frame is a little wider (23 mm against 26 mm). The 17e makes the water and trees darker and richer; the A57 keeps the stone wall and shadows lighter.
Taken 14:38:26 (iPhone 17e) and 14:34:03 (Samsung Galaxy A57).
Red sculpture
A strong red in sun and shade, against grass.
Centre crop
What we see: Both phones keep the sculpture a clean, strong red. The 17e grass is warmer and more yellow-green, the A57 grass cooler. In the centre crop the 17e shows crisper folds in the metal.
Taken 14:49:19 (iPhone 17e) and 14:48:42 (Samsung Galaxy A57).
Statue under ivy
White stone in shade with bright sky behind it.
Centre crop
What we see: Both keep detail in the white statue. The A57 ivy looks bluer and the stone path lighter; the 17e has more contrast between sun and shade.
Taken 14:55:58 (iPhone 17e) and 14:56:25 (Samsung Galaxy A57).
Roses at 2x
Every phone set to its 2x zoom.
Centre crop
What we see: The clearest colour difference of the day: the A57 renders the rose leaves blue-grey, the 17e keeps them green. The roses look a similar red.
Taken 15:03:42 (iPhone 17e) and 15:02:01 (Samsung Galaxy A57).
Bench and asters
Bright white paint next to purple flowers and deep shade.
Centre crop
What we see: Neither phone blows out the white bench. The 17e trees are darker and more contrasty; the A57 lifts the shadows under the trees.
Taken 15:12:27 (iPhone 17e) and 15:15:28 (Samsung Galaxy A57).
Pansy bed
Hundreds of small flowers: fine detail and many colours.
Centre crop
What we see: Framing differs a little here. The 17e purples and the red tree behind the bed look deeper; the A57 colours are paler.
Taken 15:26:20 (iPhone 17e) and 15:24:23 (Samsung Galaxy A57).
What this comparison does not show
- Night, indoor and portrait photos: not shot yet.
- Ultra-wide and telephoto lenses beyond 2x, and video.
- Other light: this is one sunny afternoon. Colours can change in cloud or at dusk.
- Other copies of the same phone: we have one of each.
More from the Camera Lab
- All 11 phones, all 6 scenes
- iPhone 18 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S26
- iPhone 14 Pro vs iPhone 17e
- iPhone 17e vs Google Pixel 10a
- Samsung Galaxy A57 vs Google Pixel 10a
- Samsung Galaxy A57 vs Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G
- Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10a
- iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17e
- Nothing Phone (4a) Pro vs Google Pixel 10a
- How we test
- Our Apple guides
- Our Samsung guides