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

[jtmarine73]

I don't think anybody could seriously tell me that there isn't a huge quality difference in these two photos below.

XS Max:

Pixel 3:

EDIT: Not my pictures FYI, I took them from the Imgur album linked in the original article.

I have to admit... I looked at every picture and there was only one that I found the XS to be better than the Pixel 3.

 

[geoff5093]

I have to admit... I looked at every picture and there was only one that I found the XS to be better than the Pixel 3.

You obviously didn't look at how much more detailed and in focus the Pixel 3 photo is.

 

[notabadname]

I don't think anybody could seriously tell me that there isn't a huge quality difference in these two photos below.

XS Max:

Pixel 3:

EDIT: Not my pictures FYI, I took them from the Imgur album linked in the original article.

The focal point is not the same. Choosing which picture is better here is not choosing a measure of the capability of the camera, but of the photographer. Focus is totally soft on hair and face of 1st image. Not a well controlled comparison. Appears to be shot with some bias. It could be ISO options, mild motion blur when image was captured. But seriously, my iPhone 6 would’ve captured more detail in the hair than that.

 

[KevinN206]

I agree. The Verge are very very biased towards Google, or really anything outside of Apple. It's pretty obvious in all of their reviews, they are almost bummed that they have to grade out Apple products well.

This is a joke right? The Verge is so biased against Apple that the best 2018 smartphone from them is the iPhone X. Can you point to me where they "are almost bummed that they have to grade out Apple products well"?

Apple
iPhone 4S = 8.6/10
iPhone 5 = No rating
iPhone 5S = 8.8/10
iPhone 6 = 9/10
iPhone 6S = 9/10
iPhone 7 = 9/10
iPhone 8 = 8/10
iPhone X = 9/10
iPhone XS = 8.5/10

Google
Nexus 4 = 8.3/10
Nexus 5 = 8.3/10
Nexus 5X = 8.3/10
Nexus 6 = 8.6/10
Nexus 6P = 8.8/10
Pixel 1 = 9/10
Pixel 2 = 8/10 XL & 8.5/10 non-XL
Pixel 3 = 8.5

Samsung Galaxy S
Galaxy S4 = 8/10
Galaxy S5 = 7.8/10
Galaxy S6 = 8.8/10
Galaxy S7 = 8.8/10
Galaxy S8 = No rating
Galaxy S9 = 8.5/10

Samsung Galaxy Note
Note 4 = 8.6/10
Note 5 = No rating
Note 7 = No rating (video review & explosion)
Note 8 = 8.5/10
Note 9 = 8.5/10

LG
V10 = 8.1/10
V20 = No rating
V30 = 7/10
V40 = 8/10

 

[christarp]

You obviously didn't look at how much more detailed and in focus the Pixel 3 photo is.

I think he was saying out of all of them there was only 1 where he thought the xs did better than the pixel 3, not necessarily that it was better in that photo.

 

[WhiteHawk]

I don't think anybody could seriously tell me that there isn't a huge quality difference in these two photos below.

XS Max:

Pixel 3:

EDIT: Not my pictures FYI, I took them from the Imgur album linked in the original article.

Ones out of focus and the other is in focus, look at the background.

 

[ROGmaster]

Ones out of focus and the other is in focus, look at the background.

Yeah look at the background to see what? That both images are taken in portrait mode?
I don't understand why it's so hard for so many people to accept that in that situation, Pixel's image is simply better and why they try to come with all kind of weird excuses.

 

[freezelighter]

As a
"All terrible." hahahah.

JPEG vs RAW on iPhone X.

100% crops.

Nothing edited.

Same result on every smartphone I've tested.

 

[GPDawes]

What monitors or devices are people viewing these on. HDR supported? Wide colour gamut? difficult to tell IMHO

 

[DNichter]

This is a joke right? The Verge is so biased against Apple that the best 2018 smartphone from them is the iPhone X. Can you point to me where they "are almost bummed that they have to grade out Apple products well"?

Apple
iPhone 4S = 8.6/10
iPhone 5 = No rating
iPhone 5S = 8.8/10
iPhone 6 = 9/10
iPhone 6S = 9/10
iPhone 7 = 9/10
iPhone 8 = 8/10
iPhone X = 9/10
iPhone XS = 8.5/10

Google
Nexus 4 = 8.3/10
Nexus 5 = 8.3/10
Nexus 5X = 8.3/10
Nexus 6 = 8.6/10
Nexus 6P = 8.8/10
Pixel 1 = 9/10
Pixel 2 = 8/10 XL & 8.5/10 non-XL
Pixel 3 = 8.5

Samsung Galaxy S
Galaxy S4 = 8/10
Galaxy S5 = 7.8/10
Galaxy S6 = 8.8/10
Galaxy S7 = 8.8/10
Galaxy S8 = No rating
Galaxy S9 = 8.5/10

Samsung Galaxy Note
Note 4 = 8.6/10
Note 5 = No rating
Note 7 = No rating (video review & explosion)
Note 8 = 8.5/10
Note 9 = 8.5/10

LG
V10 = 8.1/10
V20 = No rating
V30 = 7/10
V40 = 8/10

Nope, no joke. I wasn't speaking to the actual ratings, but more towards the video reviews that they do. Also, I am not sure if you are agreeing or disagreeing with me on them being anti Apple.

 

[gavroche]

Pixel 3 blows away the XS Max. Not even close in those pics of the kid. Props to Google’s team responsible for image processing. They’re showing you don’t need 2 cameras.

Here's a photo I took of my daughters. Focus is on the closest. Notice her hair is sharp, the other two not. You have to choose where to set focus.

 

[Brien]

I'm like 60% positive Apple adds a wide angle lens to the front of next year's iPhone.

 

[mi7chy]

When iPhone is more natural = good

When non-iPhones is more natural = bad

As for the Pixel 3, prefer the front groupie camera and wouldn't mind they remove the front selfie camera.

 

[mi7chy]

Good insight into the engineering behind Pixel 3's camera features.

 

[Abazigal]

Pixel 3 blows away the XS Max. Not even close in those pics of the kid. Props to Google’s team responsible for image processing. They’re showing you don’t need 2 cameras.

So what...? The iPhone is completely worthless now that the pixel supposedly takes photos that are of a little better quality? That’s how far the goal posts have shifted? That’s the hill the critics want to die on this year?

This is the whole argument I don’t understand. Even if you are able to show that the pixel phone takes better photos by some objective metric, that still doesn’t mean the iPhone camera sucks. Both are excellent cameras capable of taking great photos, and you are fine using either one really.

For the same reason that if you scored 99 in a test while I scored 98, did your results really “blow me away”

Most people will not be able to tell the difference unless you put both side by side and comb through everything with a magnifying glass, much less when you share them via messaging or social media.

Not to mention - I can’t help but notice that for any pixel review, the bulk of the review invariably focuses on the camera quality, and the rest is evidently an afterthought. Is that really all the phone is good for? Taking photos?

Seriously?!?

 

[GuruZac]

So what...? The iPhone is completely worthless now that the pixel supposedly takes photos that are of a little better quality? That’s how far the goal posts have shifted? That’s the hill the critics want to die on this year?

This is the whole argument I don’t understand. Even if you are able to show that the pixel phone takes better photos by some objective metric, that still doesn’t mean the iPhone camera sucks. Both are excellent cameras capable of taking great photos, and you are fine using either one really.

For the same reason that if you scored 99 in a test while I scored 98, did your results really “blow me away”

Most people will not be able to tell the difference unless you put both side by side and comb through everything with a magnifying glass, much less when you share them via messaging or social media.

Not to mention - I can’t help but notice that for any pixel review, the bulk of the review invariably focuses on the camera quality, and the rest is evidently an afterthought. Is that really all the phone is good for? Taking photos?

Seriously?!?

Why so offended? It’s ok that the iPhone isn’t the best at something. Really, it’s ok. The iPhone is an entire package, and as a package, it’s the best IMO, but strictly speaking about the camera, the iPhone camera is not as good as the Pixel 3. The iPhone camera is great nonetheless. You need to relax. We’re talking about a smartphone.

 

[I7guy]

Why so offended? It’s ok that the iPhone isn’t the best at something. Really, it’s ok. The iPhone is an entire package, and as a package, it’s the best IMO, but strictly speaking about the camera, the iPhone camera is not as good as the Pixel 3. The iPhone camera is great nonetheless. You need to relax. We’re talking about a smartphone.

Seems like the back camera photos and videos the iPhone wins. Selfies, pixel wins until Apple straightens out the computational aspect.

As far as the condescending tone of this post in response to a reasonably cogent post...

 

[smoking monkey]

Why so offended? It’s ok that the iPhone isn’t the best at something. Really, it’s ok. The iPhone is an entire package, and as a package, it’s the best IMO, but strictly speaking about the camera, the iPhone camera is not as good as the Pixel 3. The iPhone camera is great nonetheless. You need to relax. We’re talking about a smartphone.

Judging purely but the two videos posted in this talkback, you can't come to that conclusion that the pixel is better. In fact I think it's the opposite when you look at the camera as a whole. They are good at entirely different things.

If you want video and audio then you are much better off with an iphone.
If you want an excellent front facing camera then get the Pixel. In these two categories the race isn't close.
But the last category, the back camera, it's much closer, but the it goes to Apple judging on the photos and reviews shown.

 

[Unimpossible]

Here's a photo I took of my daughters. Focus is on the closest. Notice her hair is sharp, the other two not. You have to choose where to set focus.

Is not just about focus, though. It also about smoothing, portrait mode, and low light performance.

 

[gavroche]

Is not just about focus, though. It also about smoothing, portrait mode, and low light performance.

My specific point was to respond to someone who posted one single photo from the Xs... and said look... hair is not sharp at all... as though the camera is not capable of taking sharp photos. And that simply isn't the case.
The issues you mentioned relate to the new smart HDR... and how it combines what it perceives as the best parts of of the photo from multiple photos taken. It's a fair debate. But if it concerns or bothers you, smart HDR is an option that you can toggle off in settings. You don't have to use it if you don't want to.

 

[Tech198]

1st, 2nd,4th, 7th & 8th: iPhone XS Max
3rd, 5th & 6th : Google Pixel 3 XL

iPhone XS Supreme !!

 

[iMEric984]

I own the XS Max and the camera is great. I love it. I think the Pixel takes great pictures, but not as good as the new iPhones. To me what the pixel HDR does is add contrast and sharpness to make the image look better. It looks nice sometimes, but colors can look very un-natural.

iPhone has better video quality and better sound recording too.

I like to look at photo reviews but everyone’s idea of camera reviews is this. Selfies, selfie portraits, a
couple daylight shots, then night shots. Zone of tech does really through detailed photo reviews on YouTube. Shoutout to him!
[doublepost=1540095254][/doublepost]

Why so offended? It’s ok that the iPhone isn’t the best at something. Really, it’s ok. The iPhone is an entire package, and as a package, it’s the best IMO, but strictly speaking about the camera, the iPhone camera is not as good as the Pixel 3. The iPhone camera is great nonetheless. You need to relax. We’re talking about a smartphone.

The pixel is good at stills. But that’s it. Video recording, 4K options, HDR, panorama, slow mo and the best sound recording out is on the iPhone. The iPhone XS is more of a package. I’d say that with it being better than google in the mentioned categories, this makes it better. No?
[doublepost=1540095535][/doublepost]

Did Apple make a statement on this? Will it be corrected?

Most people are pointing it out to be the Smart HDR. I’m sure they can fix it with software.
[doublepost=1540096036][/doublepost]

You also compared it to a 2010 camera...totally ridiculous and it makes you lose credibility. We can sit here and argue, but what’s the point. You already own one and have decided the indoor camera shots are bad. I’m sure someone could post some awesome indoor shots too.

Not a photographer. But here’s some.

 

[smoking monkey]

I look at those photos and it’s night and day compared to my 6s+. It’s not even close. I really want a max but until this reception problem is resolved I can’t spend 150,000¥ on something I will use for 3 years that has possible hardware flaw. I may get an XR to tide me over until next year when they work out the kinks.

 

[iMEric984]

I look at those photos and it’s night and day compared to my 6s+. It’s not even close. I really want a max but until this reception problem is resolved I can’t spend 150,000¥ on something I will use for 3 years that has possible hardware flaw. I may get an XR to tide me over until next year when they work out the kinks.

I had a 7 Plus before I got my Max and I thought that camera was good. It still is, but when you look at side by side images it’s like wow. What a difference

 

[The Game 161]

I look at those photos and it’s night and day compared to my 6s+. It’s not even close. I really want a max but until this reception problem is resolved I can’t spend 150,000¥ on something I will use for 3 years that has possible hardware flaw. I may get an XR to tide me over until next year when they work out the kinks.

Most have had no issues with that...it’s only a small amount who have suffered with reception issues