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Google Pixel 3 XL vs. iPhone XS Max: Which Camera Reigns Supreme?

XS seems to take "full frame" while Pixel 3 is cropping the photo.

Overall both seems to take great photos.

Pixel 3 wide front selfie lens is quite nice, but dual back camera of iPhone is winning with its depth capability beyond what Pixel can do.

I am curious about the actual original file of the photo, whether Pixel is already squeezing the dynamic range, but I knew with XS, the HDR file can still be pushed darker or brighter in post to get even better looking photo
 
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zakarhino said:
I don't think anybody could seriously tell me that there isn't a huge quality difference in these two photos below.

XS Max:
PNMJbd7.jpg

Pixel 3:
gAHT6Ei.jpg
Click to expand...

The XS photo isn't in focus. take two photos equally in focus and then compare. I can take a photo with a $2000 dslr kit that looks worse, if not properly in focus.
 
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Does the Pixel do wide color DCI-P3 gamut? Because I always find that to be one of my favorite things about my iPhone 8 camera.
 
They're both pretty darn great. If I had any of those phones, I'd be more than satisfied with the pictures.

We've come to a point with cameras on modern smartphones being good enough that they should please the majority of folks.
 
 
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These download links may be full res pictures, but too compressed in quality (less than 1MB per picture) to be able to judge the quality. 12 Mp jpegs should be 4-8 MB (fine-superfine). Ideally provide us with the raw's.
 
If you look closely, the Pixel is applying this kind of shittу HDR to almost all of the photos. Some not so visible.
zwfZPbi.jpg

*not take on a Pixel but for reference lol
 
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zakarhino said:
I don't think anybody could seriously tell me that there isn't a huge quality difference in these two photos below.

XS Max:
PNMJbd7.jpg

Pixel 3:
gAHT6Ei.jpg
Click to expand...

As far as portrait mode goes, that's a big difference, clearly. But we have to remember that portrait mode on iPhone is using the telephoto lens to frame the shot. Since that telephoto lens has a f/2.4 aperture it is getting significantly less light than the Pixel 3's single lens solution is. That's not meant to be an excuse for the iPhone--it's clearly a win for the Pixel--just something to consider. Is the difference that stark when not using portrait mode?
 
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Trying really hard to not be biased, I think in general I prefer the XS Max shots. Particularly the outdoors daytime ones. Also the pictures with the photographer in them all seemed better on the iPhone. I thought there was a rumor that the iPhone was touching them up, but the Pixel ones look really look like someone has physically applied makeup on his face. He looks much better and more natural in the iPhone pics IMHO.

The night-time photos I'd say I think I do like the Pixel a bit better. Ditto on the portrait mode. But of course with the iPhone you get the "live" focusing trick as a tradeoff.
 
I think it's really funny how we always get one of these two scenarios that play out like clockwork:

1. If the iPhone has a "better" camera, then people on Apple fan-sites say something like "Man! This is incredible! I'm so glad I subscribe the world's obvious best so that I don't have to put up with [random thing I wouldn't notice anyway]!!" while people on Google fan-sites say "It's so close, it doesn't matter, people."

2. If the Google phone has a "better" camera, then it's flipped and people on Apple fan-sites say "It's so close, it doesn't matter, people" while people on Google fan-sites say "Man! This is incredible! I'm so glad I subscribe the world's obvious best so that I don't have to put up with [random thing I wouldn't notice anyway]!!"

Right now, it looks like we're in a #2 situation.
 
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zakarhino said:
I don't think anybody could seriously tell me that there isn't a huge quality difference in these two photos below.

XS Max:
PNMJbd7.jpg

Pixel 3:
gAHT6Ei.jpg
Click to expand...
From those 2 pictures, the Pixel is better...but I've seen the iPhone take better indoor pictures than your example too. The kid is doing something different in each picture, so they weren't shot at exactly the same time. Maybe the iPhone just isn't as good of a picture and you could have improved the shot?

There are examples in the MR article that the iPhone XS is clearly better, at least to me.

No one is going to take you seriously if you say stuff like the iPhone XS is taking pictures like a phone from 2010.

I think the Pixel 3 and iPhone XS are both top quality smartphone cameras.
 
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Truth is for daily, common usage, is Pixel's camera and Galaxy's camera are better than any iPhone camera. Just point and shoot and you have important differences between an iPhone X / Xs vs Pixel and Galaxy. I guess if you the prepare the light and scenario iPhone gets closer but for common use, Galaxy and Pixel is the way to go.
 
Glad to see they are so closely matched. Means fewer fanboys on the youtube comment sections lol (also nice to see that Apple closed the camera gap this generation). Loving my XS camera.
 
Would love to see this comparison with a high end medium format camera. Would be easier to see which smartphone is reproducing colors more accurately.
 
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zakarhino said:
I don't think anybody could seriously tell me that there isn't a huge quality difference in these two photos below.

XS Max:
PNMJbd7.jpg

Pixel 3:
gAHT6Ei.jpg
Click to expand...

I don't know what you are trying to point out? The non-sharp hair in the top versus the sharpness of the hair on the bottom? The focus point is in two different places on these shots. The Xs max is focused on the arm/spoon, whereas the Pixel 3 is focused on the middle of the hair.

The lighting and/or color balance is horrible on both shots
 
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gavroche said:
The XS photo isn't in focus. take two photos equally in focus and then compare. I can take a photo with a $2000 dslr kit that looks worse, if not properly in focus.
Click to expand...
Kind of the point. If you're just holding it and one comes out to be in focus more than the other doesn't that say something about how well the focus works on the pixel 3? I went through all the photos and the pixel 3 to me looks like the better camera.
 
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Coby1man said:
Would love to see this comparison with a high end medium format camera. Would be easier to see which smartphone is reproducing colors more accurately.
Click to expand...
I have the iPhone 10Xs Max and a Nikon D800e, though the 10xs Max is good, not in the same league as the D800e in all regards.
 
WannaGoMac said:
The kids head moved, so the light likely hit the hair a bit differently between the two shots.
Also the images seem to be different aspect ratios?
Click to expand...
I agree. Notice that the background in the Pixel photo is more blurry compared to the iPhone. Definitely much better detail in the background in the Max photo.
 
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