Camera Comparison: iPhone XS Max vs. iPhone X

[Vanilla35]

Honestly I don't really like the pictures from the Xs. It doesn't look like an upgraded camera, it simply looks like a camera with different color profile preferences. I give it credit for being better in low light, but other than that I like all the iPhone X pictures better.

 

[DNichter]

You came from a X or a previous model?
I take a lot of pics with my 8+ and I'm glad they didn't put a best camera on the bigger model as this time I'm going for the Xs.
The only downside is that the telephoto lens didn't get the new sensor, as far as I know is the same one as the one of iPhone X. Upgrading from an 8+ I'll only get the OIS on the telephoto lens, that's good but having the better sensor would have been great. I take most pics with the wide lens, but I sometimes use the 2x not for portrait but just for capturing a distant subject. I'll be able to get improved pics thanks to smart HDR but the new sensor is great in low light conditions so I'll better stick with 1x in those scenario.

I am coming from an X, definitely see an improvement. Read the picture portion of the Daring Fireball review for more info on the camera system.

 

[whichweather]

We have a great thread with lots of sample images on the iPhone forum, including some comparison to the X and other models.

The thing I really came away with in my tests was the detail the Xs is able to pull out of what is normally blown out (highlights) with the X.

As a photographer, I wanted to jump in and say that the image from the X has a stronger impact on me. However, the main reason for this is the greater amount of contrast in the image as my eye travels from the curve of the path to the light green leaves. While the Xs certainly captures more detail in the highlights and shadows alike, the processing of the smart HDR gives a flat, non-appealing aesthetic in this case...

It would be fantastic if the RAW sensor data were merged into a single RAW file in order to allow manual processing. *THAT* would be the best of all worlds!

 

[wigby]

No, I am not upgrading for a camera. Nice try.

Juts noticed the comment below yours illustrates a great dichotomy between iPhone users the days.

"Maybe, but I don't really care about anything but the camera improvements in those iPhones nowadays."

Personally, I fall on either side during some release cycles compared to others but I'm still waiting for a major improvement in video which hasn't changed in many years.

 

[recoil80]

I am coming from an X, definitely see an improvement. Read the picture portion of the Daring Fireball review for more info on the camera system.

I read it and even other reviewers agree on the fact that the camera improvements are huge.
My main reason to upgrade is getting the edge-to-edge design, but a better camera is also important to me.

 

[chrono1081]

Smart HDR could not be given via software update to the X? Annoying. Apple holding back features like usual.

Smart HDR likely relies on the new Bionic chip as well as the capture of additional image data (possible by the faster chip). It isn't something that could be pushed via software at all.

 

[Nextup12]

Honestly I don't really like the pictures from the Xs. It doesn't look like an upgraded camera, it simply looks like a camera with different color profile preferences. I give it credit for being better in low light, but other than that I like all the iPhone X pictures better.

You are well within your right you say you prefer the X camera but your reasoning is flat out wrong. The camera's performance is increased due it's ability to actually show details in shadows and not blow out over-exposed areas, and in some cases, do it in the one photo - this is something the X clearly cannot do. That is the key difference. The colour profile in areas where this is not required is not very different at all.

The Xs does not replace a digital camera, but it's an incredibly handy upgrade to be able to use it in more situations than you could with previous iPhones and to me that is a massive upgrade - and that's what I want from a phone camera.

 

[dwsolberg]

My vision must be off. The X samples look much better to me. More contrast, especially in the clouds and faces. XS looks filtered without contrast.

Yes, agreed. The XS definitely prevents blown highlights, but the pictures also don’t pop as much. The X pictures draw my eye a lot more.

 

[fathergll]

Like most things the camera advancements are becoming smaller as the years go by which is to be expected as tech matures. It was those initial iPhone releases where we saw huge leaps. The reality is you need to skip a few generations of iPhones now before you can really see improvements and if you have a proper camera then none of the photos are that impressive regardless. Its a great camera in the sense that you always have it but the photos are still highly lacking in IQ if you have shot with a full frame or aps-c camera from even 10 years ago or more.

 

[Nextup12]

Its a great camera in the sense that you always have it but the photos are still highly lacking in IQ if you have shot with a full frame or aps-c camera from even 10 years ago or more.

This is very true. I didn't even spend that much on my proper camera and the image quality is far superior to any phone on the market - and will probably continue to do so for another 10 years.

However, the bolded is why I am very happy with the camera upgrade on the Xs. The image quality is still not able to compete with a real camera, but to be able to get a good photo with a phone you always have on you - and in more situations than previous iPhones have been able to do - is simply awesome.

 

[DNichter]

I read it and even other reviewers agree on the fact that the camera improvements are huge.
My main reason to upgrade is getting the edge-to-edge design, but a better camera is also important to me.

Yea if you are coming from anything pre X, it should be a nice upgrade all around. The new design and gestures make for a very nice experience. The X series is my favorite iPhone so far.

 

[cocky jeremy]

HDR is software, i should not have to upgrade for that.
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Low light should be better of course because of the hardware, but HDR could have been updated on the X as well. Just my opinion.

You should when that software upgrade works with newer hardware.

 

[MEJHarrison]

To all those saying "shoot in RAW" or "A few seconds setup would get you a better shot" or "A little post-processing can achieve that", you're missing the point. It's not that the X has a crappy camera that can't do those things. It's about letting those who don't know what they're doing and never heard of a RAW file also get nice shots. It's about pointing and shooting and still getting a decent photo. Not everyone knows what they're doing with the camera and still wants good photos. There's not always time to setup the proper conditions for a good photo and you want something that can take great photos under less than ideal conditions. If you have photography skills, this camera won't make them obsolete. It just brings the rest of us closer to your level.

 

[steve62388]

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.

And of the 700 million+ iPhone users how many do you think are interested in doing this? It’s great Apple are improving picture quality for the point and click brigade, the incredibly vast majority of their users.

 

[MacLoveMacHate]

The hand of the first kid is at the same depth of field as his facial features, though it's blurred as if much further away. The edge selecting of objects has been impressive, but simply recognizing the eyes, then face and blurring everything else is not "smart".

 

[ppdix]

First of all... What a cute baby!
Second, I love the new camera. It has such better quality over the X but I did notice the HDR being a little too flat.
Also, if you notice in the baby with the hoodie photo, the face looks more orange and flat, without any definition. That happens when the highlights are turned down and they become part of the mid tones, therefore losing separation and detail. I noticed right away on Portrait mode photos I took of some friends. The faces look s little like a mask, without much contrast.
I really like the DOF option after the photo was taken. As I mentioned on a previous forum comment, an App called FOCOS, did it before Apple, but Apple's implementation is much better and accurate...
Still, Portrait mode has some trouble with baseball caps, for example. The visor gets blurred out.
Otherwise, I am very happy and excited about the new camera. It is a great improvement. Hopefully next year, we will get a triple camera 20MP setup.
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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.

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I agree about shooting raw but then after taking the photo, LR has to process and upload the photo. Then it has to be edited and saved. I don't mind that if I have time to spare, but the instant gratification and processing of Apple's Camera is just too fast and good to miss.

 

[steve62388]

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).

Except that’s not really true is it?

Cross referencing their phones here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Products_of_Xiaomi#Mi_Series with Android release dates here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(operating_system)#Platform_usage shows the vast majority didn’t get supported for anywhere near 3 years of updates, let alone 5 years.

 

[ppdix]

My vision must be off. The X samples look much better to me. More contrast, especially in the clouds and faces. XS looks filtered without contrast.

your vision is fine. there is less contrast on the Smart HDR images.
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Who cares if it's the smallest 'S' upgrade, or the largest 'S' upgrade ever?

The Xs/Xs Max are better phones than the X in almost every way, except for price. That justifies their existence.

The iPhone X, 8/8+, 7/7+, 6S/6S+ etc. will continue to work just as well today as they did last month before the keynote. You do not have to upgrade your iPhone every year.

the X with all these upgrades would have cost as much as the XS... so the price is right

 

[Vanilla35]

You are well within your right you say you prefer the X camera but your reasoning is flat out wrong. The camera's performance is increased due it's ability to actually show details in shadows and not blow out over-exposed areas, and in some cases, do it in the one photo - this is something the X clearly cannot do. That is the key difference. The colour profile in areas where this is not required is not very different at all.

The Xs does not replace a digital camera, but it's an incredibly handy upgrade to be able to use it in more situations than you could with previous iPhones and to me that is a massive upgrade - and that's what I want from a phone camera.

That certainly makes sense, and is a worthy reason to upgrade for reasons where you'll want to pull detail from shadows in sticky/difficult backgrounds.

It is however not extremely relevant for my very basic uses; taking pictures of objects on the street, pictures of pets, pictures of friends in direct sunlight, standard scenery shots, etc.

I could see this making photos taken at dusk, between 6pm-8pm (depending on the time of year) less noisy, better represented, etc - but other than that like I said, I prefer the X pictures to my eye. I didn't zoom in to look a the details, but without pixel peeping, per say, the X photos look better to my eye. I also prefer the Pixel pictures to the iPhone's right now as well.
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your vision is fine. there is less contrast on the Smart HDR images.
[doublepost=1537974769][/doublepost]
the X with all these upgrades would have cost as much as the XS... so the price is right

That might explain why I generally like the Pixel photos over iPhone for the last couple generation, because I know it has high contrast in comparison.

 

[Woodcrest64]

Has anyone actually tested the Xs/ Xs Max against the X camera when the X has HDR enabled? I'm curious. I know it the Xs is better than the X, but it interesting to see the comparison of the X when you force enable HDR on it.

 

[MarkB786]

This always cracks me up. Funny how every photo on the new phone is so great and amazing compared to the half-gen before. Why do iPhone X photos suddenly look like crap?

 

[mdelvecchio]

No, I am not upgrading for a camera. Nice try.

Who says you’re supposed to? Most normal people don’t upgrade annually. Yet the iterative improvements continuing is a good thing.

 

[MEJHarrison]

Has anyone actually tested the Xs/ Xs Max against the X camera when the X has HDR enabled? I'm curious. I know it the Xs is better than the X, but it interesting to see the comparison of the X when you force enable HDR on it.

Yes. Find the thread over in the iPhone forums talking about the camera. There are tons of photos there that show what you're looking for.

 

[recoil80]

To all those saying "shoot in RAW" or "A few seconds setup would get you a better shot" or "A little post-processing can achieve that", you're missing the point. It's not that the X has a crappy camera that can't do those things. It's about letting those who don't know what they're doing and never heard of a RAW file also get nice shots. It's about pointing and shooting and still getting a decent photo. Not everyone knows what they're doing with the camera and still wants good photos. There's not always time to setup the proper conditions for a good photo and you want something that can take great photos under less than ideal conditions. If you have photography skills, this camera won't make them obsolete. It just brings the rest of us closer to your level.

And Xs has a better sensor too, so even if you don't want smart HDR (by the way, is it possible to disable it?) can benefit from the new camera in low light.

 

[dwsolberg]

This always cracks me up. Funny how every photo on the new phone is so great and amazing compared to the half-gen before. Why do iPhone X photos suddenly look like crap?

Personally, I like the X photos more in most cases. I'm hoping Apple provides a way to tone down the HDR so the mid-tones don't take over quite so much. It will be handy in those shots with the sun in the background, though.