Camera Comparison: iPhone XS Max vs. iPhone X

[Romeo_Nightfall]

That's like saying the Pixel 1 should be able to do what the Pixel 2 can, even though it lacks the Pixel core processor. Apple added extra cores, and an overall more modern framework to their processors to essentially do the same thing.

I am sure it may have worked on the X, but it likely would have been much slower with less "keepers".

Come On ... The X is one year old ... before one year it was apple greatest product ever. This foto comparison shows only how inferior apple worked on the X. The X has every power in the world for the Xs features.

You people really scare me, when I read all this unfiltered praise for a product, which is just one year away from its predecessor and they just adjusted the lightning a bit.

The sign is on one foto dark on the other light brown - both shot with an iphone - if such things happen you should question if apple is still sane. I mean we had cameras years ago which could take more color truth fotos

 

[Karllake]

What a weird thing to post. There are a lot of other advancements in the XS vs. the X. Not really sure what the point of your post is...
[doublepost=1537917816][/doublepost]

No, it couldn't. Smart HDR greatly depends on the HARDWARE updates Apple made to the Neural Engine in the A12 chip. How is this Apple holding back features?

Completely agree, I’m upgrading from an 8+ to a Xmax mainly for the screen, knowing I also get a better camera is a bonus and nice to know, the video specifically states the difference isn’t enough to upgrade alone

And on smart HRD I’d add that the sensors are larger which helps low light, smart HRD will incorporate this part of the image as well as the neural engine processing.

 

[mevans7]

I like the X sample pictures better than the Xs pictures.

 

[YaBe]

No, it couldn't. Smart HDR greatly depends on the HARDWARE updates Apple made to the Neural Engine in the A12 chip. How is this Apple holding back features?

Just like bokeh needed 2 lenses.... and couldn't work without the "new HW"...oh wait.

I like the X sample pictures better than the Xs pictures.

I was thinking almost the same, there is a tie, some are better here, some there, definetly does not show a huge advantage like they thought they would I guess.

 

[noraa]

Well, given that Pixel 2 uses a more
Complex alogitythm than the XS to do HDR, iPhone X should have been able to do it to some level as it is faster computationally than Pixel 2.
[doublepost=1537922687][/doublepost]Also, note that there is a certain amount of confirmation bias in these reviews because the reviewers unconsciously select photos where the difference is the most pronounced. As someone said, if iPhone X photos were that bad consistently, it would have been a huge fiasco last year. In reality, apart from low light photography, the difference is minor.

Even in the world of professional photography, you have to zoom in a few hundred percent or look at complex shots to identify generational improvements in hardware.

Just like bokeh needed 2 lenses.... and couldn't work without the "new HW"...oh wait.

I was thinking almost the same, there is a tie, some are better here, some there, definetly does not show a huge advantage like they thought they would I guess.

Well, prior to the A12 neural engine it did require the dual lenses to get depth information...now it can utilize the power of the A12 instead.

I guess I'm not understanding the argument here. Apple provided something with the iPhone X, those who bought the X new exactly what they were getting and where not over promised anything. In addition, Apple never promised that it would suddenly get better with software updates. The X is still providing exactly what you paid for, it's camera didn't suddenly get worse because of the XS, it's just as good as it's always been.

 

[recognize]

Good resoulation. Because of good camera.

 

[Ramchi]

What a weird thing to post. There are a lot of other advancements in the XS vs. the X. Not really sure what the point of your post is...
[doublepost=1537917816][/doublepost]

No, it couldn't. Smart HDR greatly depends on the HARDWARE updates Apple made to the Neural Engine in the A12 chip. How is this Apple holding back features?

Network and display issues can be fixed using Software but camera features cannot be implemented in Software ? Wierd! Neural Engine only talks about smart features like augmented reality, scene detection, improved faceid (in terms of quckly recognizing unique the facial features) ...also, A11 vs A12 there is not much difference in terms of processing speed, it can easily be implemented as software upgrade but obviously Apple will make owners of X to look bad !

 

[YaBe]

I like the X sample pictures better than the Xs pictures.

Well, prior to the A12 neural engine it did require the dual lenses to get depth information...now it can utilize the power of the A12 instead.

I guess I'm not understanding the argument here. Apple provided something with the iPhone X, those who bought the X new exactly what they were getting and where not over promised anything. In addition, Apple never promised that it would suddenly get better with software updates. The X is still providing exactly what you paid for, it's camera didn't suddenly get worse because of the XS, it's just as good as it's always been.

Just saying the HW requirements is silly, as android proved you can have Bokeh with 1 lense without the A12 chip .

It's Apple's way to tell you that for that feature you need to buy the uneccessary new phone, while instead they are holdin it via software.

I could care less, I use anAndroid Phone, because I was tired of planned obsolescence.

 

[acorntoy]

Let’s all be just a little more sensible here. . .

The XS camera is better yes, but the difference is NOT night and Day!

The XS is a smidgen faster than the iPhone X. And I do mean a smidgen.

Anything the XS can do the iPhone X can still the same thing.

Some in this post are still acting as though the XS isn’t the smallest “S” upgrade EVER.

If Google can make the Pixel 2 have the best camera in the game with 1 lens then there is absolutely 0 reason that Apple couldn’t have done the same thing. I realize that a lot in this Forum believe that Apple can do no wrong. I know that’s there are people who believe Apple did a great job with these iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. These new iPhones have a few more features then what the iPhone X had last year ... none of which that couldn’t have already been added to the original X.

I mean we’re talking about these new phones like it’s a full model upgrade when they’re not. Yes Apple improved portrait photos. Is that not something that couldn’t have already been done through a software update? Yes it is. I know if Google can do it then Apple can as well. We all know that Apple is about getting the extra “buck.” Otherwise they WOULD NOT be one of the richest companies in the world.

I’m as big of an Apple fan as the next person, but some in “Apple Forum Land” are acting as though they threw everything into this “S” upgrade when it has been clear that they did not. I went on launch and bought the XS Max (in gold nonetheless since that was one of the few things Apple gave us) and I’ll be honest I compared it over the weekend with my iPhone X and iPhone 8 and I honestly for the first time in a while came away unimpressed. I did end up returning and staying on my X and 8 for the year.

All I’m saying is that it’s hard to compare the XS and XS Max to the iPhone X because it’s unimpressive. Just like the photos that were taking for this “comparison” there’s not truly enough difference to warrant me spending another $1149 on a new phone this year.

Some does wanna act as though as soon as Apple releases a new phone it immediately makes the previous flagship “trash” and to be honest that’s the furthest thing from the truth.

In all honesty the device that interests me the most this year is the XR, but there’s a reason Apple discontinued the X instead of selling it cheaper. It’s the same reason they discontinued the 5 when the 5C and 5S were released.

You obviously weren’t here when the 4S came out. People were expecting radical teardrop shaped wonderphones the leaks that looked like the 4 were instantly dismissed as Apple releasing false info so they could upend the world again, it wasn’t going to be the 4S, no it was going to be so amazing Apple would just call it the 5! It would finally have a big screen to match those of the Android competition! Then after all the hype and excitement.... A5 and a camera upgrade, and Siri (... which finally kinda works years later). S years are always just kinda meh, but they always seem to last the longest and have the least amount of quality issues.

The A5 was a beast in its day, and the A9 is still a highly capable chip.

 

[noraa]

Network and display issues can be fixed using Software but camera features cannot be implemented in Software ? Wierd! Neural Engine only talks about smart features like augmented reality, scene detection, improved faceid (in terms of quckly recognizing unique the facial features) ...also, A11 vs A12 there is not much difference in terms of processing speed, it can easily be implemented as software upgrade but obviously Apple will make owners of X to look bad !

Oh my goodness, getting tired of explaining this...
1.) When it comes to raw CPU speed the A12 is only marginally better than the A11
2.) The A series is an entire system on a chip - meaning it is more than just a CPU
3.) The A11 and A12 consist of - the CPU, the GPU, the Neural Engine and the ISP
4.) The GPU in the A12 is 50% than that fun the A11
5.) The Neural Engine in the A12 is SIGNIFICANTLY more powerful than the one in the A11 - 5 Trillion operations/sec vs. 600 Billion operations/sec (over an 8 fold increase).
6.) The A12 includes a new ISP vs. the A11 (though Apple didn't go into specifics about the differences).

Furthermore, the Neural Engine is all about machine learning - which can be used for everything, including the camera.

And finally, the camera in the X didn't suddenly become bad. It's still a great camera. The one in the XS is just better. In fact, it would be really weird if it wasn't better.
[doublepost=1537944733][/doublepost]

Just saying the HW requirements is silly, as android proved you can have Bokeh with 1 lense without the A12 chip .

It's Apple's way to tell you that for that feature you need to buy the uneccessary new phone, while instead they are holdin it via software.

I could care less, I use anAndroid Phone, because I was tired of planned obsolescence.

If you look at the other bokeh effects on Android phones, most aren't great. The only really good one is in the Pixel and Pixel 2 - both of which have dedicated ISPs to handle those things.

And based on your last sentence, you're just trolling. How many Android phones receive timely updates? How many receive support for at least 5 years? And you talk about Apple planned obsolescences...

 

[hvfsl]

That's like saying the Pixel 1 should be able to do what the Pixel 2 can, even though it lacks the Pixel core processor. Apple added extra cores, and an overall more modern framework to their processors to essentially do the same thing.

I am sure it may have worked on the X, but it likely would have been much slower with less "keepers".

The Pixel 1 doesn't have DPAF on the sensor which Google uses to do things like its portrait mode, so there is a real reason for differences. Although the Pixel2 camera app can be run on other phones to get a lot of the same features as the Pixel2.

So I suspect many of the camera features will run on older hardware (although it will probably drain battery life faster because a lot of those features will have to run on the CPU/GPU rather the the imaging chip).

But of course Apple have to give people a reason to get a new phone. So I always knew Apple would do this when buying my X. At least you have the 3rd part camera app makers who are starting to implement some of the things the Xs can do.

 

[noraa]

The Pixel 1 doesn't have DPAF on the sensor which Google uses to do things like its portrait mode, so there is a real reason for differences. Although the Pixel2 camera app can be run on other phones to get a lot of the same features as the Pixel2.

So I suspect many of the camera features will run on older hardware (although it will probably drain battery life faster because a lot of those features will have to run on the CPU/GPU rather the the imaging chip).

But of course Apple have to give people a reason to get a new phone. So I always knew Apple would do this when buying my X. At least you have the 3rd part camera app makers who are starting to implement some of the things the Xs can do.

And the iPhone X doesn't have the 32% larger sensor that the iPhone XS has, or the advanced ISP that's in the XS, or the advanced Neural Engine...

Seriously, people, stop trying to say this is all just software. It's not. It's a combination of the two. This really isn't complicated to understand.

 

[freezelighter]

Who needs Smart HDR if there is RAW?
Try to shoot in RAW and you will see what is really possible with Highlights/Shadows etc.
No need to buy iPhone XS, just download Lightroom CC and Focos for your iPhone X and be happy.
iPhone X samples below.

 

[YaBe]

And based on your last sentence, you're just trolling. How many Android phones receive timely updates? How many receive support for at least 5 years? And you talk about Apple planned obsolescences...

Not trolling at all, I use a Xiaomi wich gets regular updates (and with the dev a weekly one), and they support very well their old phones (3 to 5 years depending on the phone, wich is not bad at all).

Also Android works quite differently, you do not need an OS update to update the browser, or any system Apps, unlike Apple.

You have a distorted view of Android, and calling a troll someone wich "thinks different" is funny , I don't care abaout how many vendors do this or that, I pick the one that does what I think is right for me (for now it is Xiaomi, tomorrow we will see, and it might be Apple again if they fit my needs).

Android grew up a lot (get out of Steve's famous reality distortion field), I used to use iPhone only, they were great, nowadays the difference if you pick the right vendor is not that big (and no Android if not perfect, but neither is iOS).

I am not talking bad about the phone per se, but it is very funny to see what people put up with with Apple, just because "Apple said that", guess what? Apple is a business, it will say anything to make their wheel spin, like saying that they do not slow down phone on purpose, and then get cought doing it.

Open your eyes, try different things and decide what is best for you, based on your needs, not a company says (any company that is).

If thinking outside of the box (and out of the crowd) is trolling, then yes I am a HUGE troll, but better being a troll than a lemmings, you know, the one Apple was so against in 1984?

 

[run1976]

As a travel blogger, i use an iphone as my main travel camera. Although an “s” year update, the improvements with the smart HDR, the DOF control, and bigger pixels on the sensor all add up to a worthy upgrade. But i am still gonna hold off until next year.

I’d love to see a true depth sensor added to the back cameras for even better DOF control.

If you make a living travel blogging I suggest spending the money on a real camera. If a mirrorless is too heavy for your purposes, get a Sony Rx100 variant. The iq difference between X and XS are miniscule compared to the difference between any iPhone (or Smartphone) and a dedicated camera. A Fuji X100F will produce so much better photos at the same price as the iPhone XS it is almost criminal to buy one just for the camera.

 

[noraa]

Not trolling at all, I use a Xiaomi wich gets regular updates (and with the dev a weekly one), and they support very well their od phones.

You have a distorted view of Android, and calling a troll someone wich "thinks different" is funny

Androd grew up a lot, I used to use iPhone only, they were great, nowadays the difference if you pick the right vendor is not that big.

I am not talking bad about the phone per se, but it is very funny to see what people put up with with Apple, just because "Apple said that", guess what? Apple is a business, it will say anything to make their wheel spin, like saying that they do not slow down phone on purpose, and then get cought doing it.

Open your eyes, try different thing and decide what is best for you, based on your needs, not because a company said so.

If thinking out of the box (and out of the crowd) is trolling, then yes I am a HUGE troll, but better being a troll than a lemmings, you know, the one Apple was so against in 1984?

Funny you bring up Xiaomi as the only phone that can currently run Android Pie is the Mi Mix 2S, and it can only run a beta of Pie. The rest of the phones won't receive support until at least later this year, most not until next year, and even more won't receive support at all - like the Redmi 5 which only came out last Dec and is still actively being sold.

You can fault Apple for a LOT of things, but planned obsolescences is not one of them. In fact, one of the major "features" of iOS 12 was to make it run better on older hardware, which was very much accomplished (https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/09/ios-12-thoroughly-reviewed/5/#h7).

Android has certainly grown up, and the Android OS in and of itself is quite good in a lot of ways, but Android long term support still leaves a lot to be desired. Even Google only supports its Pixel line for 3 years. The iPhone 5S came out 5 years ago and works with iOS 12 - effectively giving it at least 6 years of support (and maybe more if iOS 13 runs on it).

I called you a troll not because you "think different" (hell, if anything, I could say you think like most people, since Android has a much higher market share than iOS) but because you went out of your way to post something on an iPhone specific forum attempting to dismiss the iPhone as nothing great, and then immediately say you don't even use them anymore...so honestly you don't have a damn clue and thus, are trolling.

 

[YaBe]

Funny you bring up Xiaomi as the only phone that can currently run Android Pie is the Mi Mix 2S, and it can only run a beta of Pie. The rest of the phones won't receive support until at least later this year, most not until next year, and even more won't receive support at all - like the Redmi 5 which only came out last Dec and is still actively being sold.

You can fault Apple for a LOT of things, but planned obsolescences is not one of them. In fact, one of the major "features" of iOS 12 was to make it run better on older hardware, which was very much accomplished (https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/09/ios-12-thoroughly-reviewed/5/#h7).

Android has certainly grown up, and the Android OS in and of itself is quite good in a lot of ways, but Android long term support still leaves a lot to be desired. Even Google only supports its Pixel line for 3 years. The iPhone 5S came out 5 years ago and works with iOS 12 - effectively giving it at least 6 years of iOS support (and maybe more if iOS 13 runs on it).

I called you a troll not because you "think different" (hell, if anything, I could say you think like most people, since Android has a much higher market share than iOS) but because you went out of your way to post something on an iPhone specific forum attempting to dismiss the iPhone as nothing great, and then immediately say you don't even use them anymore...so honestly you don't have a damn clue and thus, are trolling.

I am sorry but you are wrong again, I am not dissing the phone, but the way feature are held back and the lame excuses given for that, and yes iOS 12 makes things faster, but most likely because they have been cought slowing down on purpose they year before, but that we will never know (or we do and do not want to admit ).

Android pie? I could care less, on Xiaomi the features are done with MIUI, Miui 10 has 99% of what Android Pie will bring, and it runs with the current security patch, so again, you should at least try to know what you are talking about (when my Mi Mix went from Android 7 to 8 you could not see anything different as Android 8 features and security were already on MIUI 9 based on Android 7, and the same will be with Android Pie as MIUI 10 already has its features now that is based on Android 8) .

But I understand I am talking to a rock, where I live we say that there's no worse deaf than the one who doesn't want to hear.

But enought, let's not derail this thread, we can agree to disagree (just don't believe everything you are being fed with.).

 

[chfilm]

I like the quality of these latest videos, macrumors must’ve bought a new light setup or something, but they definitely look more pro

 

[noraa]

I am sorry but you are wrong again, I am not dissing the phone, but the way feature are held back and the lame excuses given for that, and yes iOS 12 makes things faster, but most likely because they have been cought slowing down on purpose they year before, but that we will never know (or we do and do not want to admit ).

Android pie? I could care less, on Xiaomi the features are done with MIUI, Miui 10 has 99% of what Android Pie will bring, and it runs with the current security patch, so again, you should at least try to know what you are talking about (when my Mi Mix went from Android 7 to 8 you could not see anything different as Android 8 features and security were already on MIUI 9 based on Android 7, and the same will be with Android Pie as MIUI 10 already has its features now that is based on Android 8) .

But I understand I am talking to a rock, where I live we say that there's no worse deaf than the one who doesn't want to hear.

But enought, let's not derail this thread, we can agree to disagree.

Oy. What features are being held back again? Care to enlighten me (and if you say the new camera capabilities in the XS are purposely being held back from the X, I might just scream).

And I very much know what I'm talking about when it comes to Android - I don't live under a rock (and am certainly not a rock, as you so kindly stated). MIUI is a skin over Android, as is Samsung's TouchWiz, as is LG UX, and HTC Sense, and Huawei's EMUI...I could go on but you get the point. An Android skin can only go so far. It certainly can introduce features not available in stock Android, and it can close up some security holes that are UI driven. But when it comes to deep hooks in the system, especially from a security standpoint, a skin can only go so far.

It's great that Xiaomi has created their own ecosystem with MIUI, but the fact still remains they are running on Android - and without the newest version of Android, certain features and security issues will remain.

There is a saying where I come from - in one ear and out the other. That's you.

 

[gmarm]

That's a really impressive difference!

And to think that last year everybody was getting crazy about the iPhone X camera and how good it was. It looks like a toy compared to the photos of the XS now.

Kudos to Apple for this one.

 

[MacBH928]

Why every year they release a camera and everyone is claiming its the best ever, and the best ever camera of last year is no longer good.

My rule of thumb is if you can't tell the difference right away between the two its not worth it. No need for the CSI stuff

 

[noraa]

Why every year they release a camera and everyone is claiming its the best ever, and the best ever camera of last year is no longer good.

My rule of thumb is if you can't tell the difference right away between the two its not worth it. No need for the CSI stuff

Yes, this! Just because the camera in the XS is better than in the X, doesn't mean the X camera is no longer good. The vast majority of people won't notice, or won't care.

But, for those that do notice, and do care, it's nice to see Apple continuing to make improvements to the camera.

 

[mrklaw]

The depth slider is definitely something that can be done in software on the X and Apple has artificially held it back from the X - you have been able to do it for ages with third party apps.

The rest is more hardware limited to the new phones.

I do wonder how much the focus pixels and new ISP allow for depth detection without needing the extra data from the second camera. I guess we'll find out when the Xr comes out. Of course more source data should allow for better results but if you can get comparable results it'd make the Xr attractive to me.

 

[Smartass]

The only change in those pictures is exposure. I'm quite sure you could take same pictures with the X, if you only put in 3seconds of extra work handling the exposure.

 

[where is it]

Both sets of photos look very average. Galaxy S9 photos are much higher quality / colour depth.
iPhone photos look far too contrasty with loss of detail.