Comparing the best is always difficult – and the cameras in the flagships from Apple and Google cannot be called anything other than the best.
The first difference is immediately noticeable.The iPhone X was equipped with a dual camera (28mm f/1.8 wide-angle lens and 52mm f/2.4 telephoto lens, both with optical stabilization). At the same time, the Pixel 2 XL has only one main camera module (27mm, f/1.8), also with support for optical image stabilization.
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Regardless of the characteristics, it is amazing,How close is the quality of shooting on a smartphone to a DSLR? We have already compared the iPhone X camera with the Panasonic GH5 – However, back then we were talking about 4K video. As for photography, thanks to special computer algorithms (smart/auto HDR), the pictures are much higher quality than you would expect from such a small module. In both smartphones under review, auto HDR is enabled by default. In practice, this means that the camera takes multiple photos at once when you press the capture key. The processor then combines them in such a way as to produce one image in the best quality.
However, not the names of the technologies used are important,and the final result. So let's compare the photographs taken with both cameras to look at the advantages and disadvantages of a smartphone when shooting in different conditions.
Important: Everything described applies to JPEG versionsphotographs, since standard camera applications were used for the purity of the experiment. In addition, the size of the photos has been reduced (as much as possible without losing quality) so that the photos in the article load faster. Neither the iPhone X nor the Pixel 2 XL support RAW shooting through their default camera apps. Both devices, however, have third-party apps like Adobe Lightroom Mobile that let you take RAW photos.
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Exposition. White balance. Colors
The iPhone has higher exposure and natural colors during daylight photography, while the Pixel photo is usually underexposed, with warm white color and serious problems shooting the sky.
There is an easy way to understand what the photo wasmade on iPhone: just look at the exposure. iPhone always overexposed photos, which makes them look brighter and brighter. As a result, there is a slight loss of highlight (really small), but at the same time, objects in the shadow are visible much better. In most cases, this effect looks great, but sometimes the excess exposure is too noticeable and this can ruin the impression of the photo.
Hereinafter: iPhone X on the left, Pixel 2 XL on the right
On the Google Pixel 2 XL, on the other hand,the exposure is noticeably darker. At the same time, it is difficult to distinguish anything in the shadows, although the highlight always turns out correct. So which camera shoots better during the day? None, in fact – both have their drawbacks. But given that, in general, lighter photos on the iPhone X look more pleasing to the eye, we’ll give it preference – with a minimum margin.
However, there is one exception: night shooting. Pretty funny, but at night the Pixel 2 XL produces much brighter images, while the iPhone X has a clear lack of exposure.
As for white balance, on the iPhonewhite almost always looks “correct”. It doesn't give off blue or yellow – just a regular, properly balanced white. In the Pixel 2 XL, on the other hand, the white is noticeably “toned”: it fades into a yellow or sometimes even greenish tint. And this is the rule for Pixel rather than the exception.
People have a fairly clear connection betweenthe perception of color and brightness, so our brain often believes that a brighter picture has more vibrant colors. This is just the case of iPhone cameras: the colors on them look even more vibrant due to the increased brightness.
Examples of incorrect sky color rendering on Pixel 2 XL
As for the Pixel, the colors on it are oftenacquire a yellowish tint. Another strange feature of the smartphone from Google – it consistently fails to display the color of the sky correctly. The shade always turns out to be too gray. It's strange and unnatural. Most likely, the problem lies with the HDR+ algorithm.
Dynamic range
Pixel– A clear winner with a stunning range of brightness
When it comes to dynamic range,smartphone camera capabilities are usually seriously limited by the small size of the modules themselves. Apple and Google tried to get around this limitation in the same way: automatic HDR, which we mentioned at the beginning of this article. The technology allows you to compose one photo with a range of brightness that cannot be achieved without HDR from several photos with different exposures. All this happens in a split second in the processor, so that the user does not see all these manipulations.
However, the iPhone X takes HDR photos faster, atwhile the Pixel 2 XL screen may display a processing progress bar for a couple of seconds. However, at the same time, HDR+ on the Google Pixel is more powerful and produces a wider range. The iPhone X, of course, also has a good indicator, but the highlight is often limited, while the Pixel retains both shadows and highlights. Check out these close-ups of the two photos above:
Sharpness and detail
Draw: both produce equally sharp and detailed shots
Both cameras take 12-megapixel photos with a 4:3 aspect ratio. In general, their level of detail is almost the same – but minimal differences can still be detected.
A fairly common problem with many modern cameras.smartphones (yes, Samsung and LG, we are talking about your devices) – This is an artificial excess of sharpness. This is usually easy to notice by enlarging the photo: a glowing outline is visible around the edges of objects. The easiest way to see this is if you take a photo with a lot of small details – for example, photograph tree branches. There is no such sin observed with these two smartphones in particular – although if you really want to, you can still find a slight increase in sharpness on the iPhone X. For example – enlarged fragments from the photo above:
Daytime detail and sharpness on both smartphonesalmost the same. Sharpness is essentially one of the functions of exposure: if it is brighter and lighter, then there is less noise in the photo – and therefore, higher readability of details and image sharpness. This is why a less bright photo usually looks less sharp as well. Overall, the iPhone X and Pixel 2 XL are both devoid of all these problems, so it’s not possible to choose a winner here.
Speed and ease of use
Camera applications on both iPhone and Pixel launch quickly, and the focus speed is also amazing.
At the same time, the ability to quickly launch is implementedThe Pixel is more convenient: just double-click the power key on the right side to start the camera application. This works even if the smartphone screen is locked. In the iPhone, on the other hand, you have to turn on the screen first, and then either swipe left or press the small camera icon strongly, which is less convenient.
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Although the iPhone spends more timetake a photo in HDR, photo processing takes less time. At the same time, on the Pixel 2 XL, shooting in HDR is faster, but if you want to immediately see the photo taken, most likely you will have to wait a second or two until the image is passed through the algorithm.
In addition, if you shoot in portrait mode,On the Pixel 2 XL, you won’t be able to see the background blur before you take the photo. On the iPhone, this is displayed immediately in the viewfinder, which is much more convenient and logical.
Flash quality
iPhone X (exactly like the iPhone 8) receivedspecial Slow Sync function that takes photos taken with the flash to a new level. What it is? Essentially, it provides slow flash sync, giving photos more light. Normal flash only highlights the subject, leaving the background in shadow. Slow Sync Flash, in turn, saves more light in the background, while the subject does not look too illuminated, as is often the case with a conventional flash.
An example of how Slow Sync in iPhone X “pull” background colors
The Pixel 2 XL does not have such a function, so the flash in it is no different from other devices.
Portrait mode
iPhone highlights face and makes colors more pleasing, while Pixel has problems with colors
Portrait mode became a trend even after the releaseThe iPhone 7 Plus was essentially blurring the background so that the subject looked even sharper. This effect is called bokeh, and previously it was only possible to achieve it using DSLR cameras. Portrait Mode in smartphones is implemented largely through software, while in DSLRs it is created by the lens. This mode is available in both smartphones under consideration.
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iPhone X uses a dedicated lens for this(52 mm, f/2.4), which allows you to achieve a more pleasant, “flat” images, while wide-angle lenses distort proportions, making, for example, the nose appear larger than it actually is. Of course, few people will like this. Let's compare the results of Portrait Mode on both devices:
From the photos above, it is noticeable that in the iPhone colorsslightly shifted to green, but the mode performs the main task: the face is correctly highlighted, while the background is well and evenly blurred. The image is a little lacking in detail, but overall looks great.
Although the Pixel 2 XL technically produced sharperimage, he failed to convey the colors of the sunset. However, the colors of the photo are generally quite muted, and the face is underexposed. In addition, a significant part of the image – the one with three branches on top – turned out to be clear, although it should have been blurred along with the rest of the background.
Another small, but still important one when shootingportraits detail – the second iPhone camera module made the proportions closer to reality. At the same time, the wide-angle lens on the Pixel made the nose look unnaturally large. If the photo had been taken from a closer distance, it would have been even more noticeable.
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Front-camera
Pixel provides much sharper detail, but in places it looks redundant, and skin color is sometimes transmitted incorrectly. The iPhone image is softer, but the colors are more vibrant.
Google Pixel 2 X uses 8 megapixelfront camera, while the iPhone X – 7 megapixel TrueDepth. However, both cameras share one feature: they are capable of blurring the background in the style of Portrait Mode.
When you compare selfies taken with thesesmartphones, one thing immediately stands out: the Pixel 2 XL produces much sharper, more detailed photos with excellent dynamic range. The difference is truly colossal. However – and for selfies this is fundamentally important – The Pixel doesn't always accurately capture skin tone, and exposure is often too low. As for sharpness, it is perhaps too much. To be more precise, it feels like the sharpening effect, which works well in the main camera, was added to the front camera. The result is not the most pleasant looking: overly enlarged, as if swollen eyes and accentuated bags under the eyes.
The iPhone, on the other hand, does much lessThe photos are clear, the image is soft and almost blurry with a lack of detail in the shadows. However, this camera often allows you to better “see” the face and highlights it correctly, while on the Pixel the face is often underexposed and does not stand out in the image. Also note that the first couple of photos were taken as the sun was setting, and the iPhone photo is less detailed, but the colors are closer to the real thing – with a soft golden tone on the face and correct exposure, while selfies on the Pixel look dark, underexposed and skin tone is almost completely lost.
View photos
The same photo looks different on two smartphones
We take photos with our smartphones, and mostpeople also view them on mobile devices – it doesn’t matter whether it’s about social networks or showing a friend a photo of your dog on your phone.
Viewing photos is directly related to the quality of the display and correct color calibration.
iPhone X has an advantage on this point:Its OLED display has nicely balanced color reproduction, and iOS supports the DCI-P3 color space with a wide dynamic range and a greater number of shades. Thanks to this, you can see exactly the deep shades that the camera produces.
The Pixel 2 XL's display is a bit disappointing.As soon as you turn it a little, a sickly bluish tint appears across the entire screen. Even if you look at the screen strictly perpendicularly, the colors still lack brightness and look dull. And while Android 8.0 Oreo supports wide color spaces, they're not available in built-in Google Photos, so it doesn't offer any benefit.
Disclaimer: the images at this point were processed in such a way as to reflect the actual color rendering of the devices as much as possible.
Conclusion
So, it's time to say which of the twocameras are better. However, no matter how much we would like to give you an answer, there is no way to objectively say that one of them is superior to the other. These are two amazing cameras, and in some environments the iPhone X does better. Similarly, the Pixel 2 XL has its advantages.
Speaking from a subjective point of view, then,as an amateur photographer, I would prefer the iPhone X in most situations. For the most part, I take pictures of people and prefer daylight, where the iPhone usually gives the right white balance, color reproduction and exposure, so you don’t have to pull it in the editor later. Finally, on the display of this smartphone, the photos taken look simply amazing, which is also an important factor. However, the Pixel 2 XL is better for evening shooting without a flash.
Which of these cameras do you like best? Share your opinion in the comments!