iPhone 17 Pro vs Pixel 10 Pro Camera Comparison: Which Takes Better Photos?

[MacRumors]

A month before Apple introduced the iPhone 17 lineup, Google debuted its new Pixel 10 smartphone line. Since both companies have brand new flagship devices, we thought we'd do a comparison to see which one has the better camera technology.

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With Apple adopting a camera "plateau" instead of a camera bump, the camera setup for the two smartphones looks more similar than ever before. Google has used a pill-shaped multi-lens horizontal camera bar for several years now, and now Apple uses a design that's not too far off. The iPhone 17 Pro's camera bump is wider, more square shaped, and it still has all three lenses on the left side, while Google's bar has rounded corners and lenses positioned in a row.

The iPhone 17 Pro has a trio of 48-megapixel lenses, including Wide, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto. The Pixel 10 Pro also has three lenses, offering a 50-megapixel Wide lens, a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide lens, and a 48-megapixel Telephoto lens. The camera systems are so similar and are high quality enough that choosing which one is better mostly comes down to personal taste.

Google seems to be doing more post processing, a tactic that makes some images sharper and more detailed, but that can also look unnatural. Colors on the Pixel 10 Pro are more saturated and vibrant in some cases, while the iPhone can look more natural. In other images, the iPhone offers more detail, including with the Telephoto lens.

Apple has been ahead on video for years now, and the iPhone 17 Pro still beats the Pixel 10 Pro. Apple has ProRes RAW, Cinematic mode, and other pro-level features that Google doesn't match. Google has improved video taking capabilities, though, and the Pixel 10 Pro does a good job with day-to-day captures.

The iPhone's new 18-megapixel front-facing camera has a useful feature that rotates into landscape so you can fit more in a selfie shot, which is a useful addition that sets it apart.

When it comes to AI-based camera features, Google is far ahead of Apple. The Pixel 10 Pro has a Gemini-based Camera Coach for getting the best shots, plus Google Photos supports voice-based edits. You can add yourself or other people into shots, boost your video quality, take 100x shots enhanced by AI, and access a better Magic Eraser tool for erasing unwanted objects in images. The iPhone 17 Pro may get some of these capabilities when Apple's improved version of Siri comes out, but right now, Apple can't match Google's AI capabilities.

The Pixel 10 Pro is priced starting at $999, while the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099, but the Pixel 10 Pro's $999 price point is for 128GB of storage. The equivalent 256GB model is $1,099, so the devices are essentially the same price.

Do you prefer the Pixel 10 Pro or the iPhone 17 Pro photos and videos? Let us know in the comments below.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Pro vs Pixel 10 Pro Camera Comparison: Which Takes Better Photos?

 

[ghostface147]

Whichever works for you. They both take really good pics, but a pro would use an actual camera.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

The pixel

 

[AAPLbuyback]

“Personal preference” is the summary.

 

[jz0309]

What are we comparing? Heic? Jpg? Raw? In either case, any image on the web is compressed and therefore losing quality.
And, not being at the "scene of the crime", how would we know what looks better? We think what "appears" better but that is highly subjective...
And, having to watch a video to "judge" photo quality is - questionable at best

 

[jz0309]

The pixel

So 2 min after this article was posted you already watched the 12 min video?
Impressive, but certainly not objective.

 

[Hank001]

Awkward video. Article states it's a comparison of camera's, yet the video starts with a comparison of the phones. Then there's an ad. Well, full stop; didn't bother with the rest of the video, as people get paid after 3 min 0 sec.

 

[Ctrlos]

There is no slick Halide equivalent for Android, so you’re beholden to the OEM camera app which in the case of Google could easily get borked and/or removed by a software update. This is the same Google that removed their remarkable 3x3 panorama stitch mode. All the manual apps I tried for Android worked well enough but they weren’t particularly well designed.

 

[Bigbuddy1]

There is no slick Halide equivalent for Android, so you’re beholden to the OEM camera app which in the case of Google could easily get borked and/or removed by a software update. This is the same Google that removed their remarkable 3x3 panorama stitch mode. All the manual apps I tried for Android worked well enough but they weren’t particularly well designed.

It’s not about 3rd party apps
The pixel has & will always take better pictures than the iPhone because of google photos that’s why the pixel’s video is not as good as the iPhones because google has been able to use people’s photos for years so its giving them a consistent head start over the iPhone

 

[Bigbuddy1]

So 2 min after this article was posted you already watched the 12 min video?
Impressive, but certainly not objective.

It’s very simple the pixel will always take better pictures than the iPhone because google has been able to use every one’s photos that has ever been uploaded to google photos. That is why the pixel’s video is not as good as the iPhones

 

[jz0309]

It’s very simple the pixel will always take better pictures than the iPhone because google has been able to use every one’s photos that has ever been uploaded to google photos. That is why the pixel’s video is not as good as the iPhones

By that logic, a brand new google account/user will get worse photos than a 10 year old account? Think again

 

[NightFox]

By that logic, a brand new google account/user will get worse photos than a 10 year old account? Think again

I think you’re misunderstanding how it works. Google uses aggregated data from everyone’s photos to refine its on-device image processing algorithms.

 

[Theryesider]

On the whole thought the pixel shaded it, no pun intended.

 

[jz0309]

I think you’re misunderstanding how it works. Google uses aggregated data from everyone’s photos to refine its on-device image processing algorithms.

But that does not mean that the pixel takes better photos, just post processing algorithm is different, not necessarily better, just different

 

[iMac The Knife]

"Better photos" will always be subjective. I am just happy that the flagship smartphones of today take pretty amazing photos across the board. I'm not even a photo person, but it's nice to have crystal clear photos.

 

[surfsofa]

It’s subjective, of course, but Pixel photos look more true to life in my experience. iPhone is a little too warm and pink, but good enough for a carry everywhere camera.

My eSIM is in an iPhone, but I carry a pixel (along with real cameras) when going on a shoot.

 

[Bigbuddy1]

By that logic, a brand new google account/user will get worse photos than a 10 year old account? Think again

I know it’s difficult but let’s break it down for you like this
Everyone that has used google photos has uploaded their photos onto google’s servers then google has then took them images & used it to consistently to improve their photography software
That is why the pixel’s take better photos than the iPhone and not video
Because google has used everyone’s images for 10 years plus.

 

[Ctrlos]

It’s not about 3rd party apps
The pixel has & will always take better pictures than the iPhone because of google photos that’s why the pixel’s video is not as good as the iPhones because google has been able to use people’s photos for years so its giving them a consistent head start over the iPhone

I’ve found them to be fairly level. It’s all personal preference really. I recently borrowed a Sony A7iii with a 200mm lens for a shoot and now every phone picture I take looks like ass in comparison!

 

[roncron]

FWIW, I don’t care which phone takes better photos as long iPhone owners and Android owners are each happy with their phone’s pictures.

The 17 Pro and Pixel 10 are multipurpose devices that do an amazing number of things really well.

But like others said, folks who are serious about photography are going to carry a real camera.

 

[Markwebbvt]

I own both but I always lean towards the Pixel for photos, especially now with the 10Pro and its zoom. However, Apple still rules video! Have you ever tried to "scrub" a video on a Pixel or any Android? It's impossible except on a Samsung device which does a great job. Yes, iPhone videos can be scrubbed easily, smoothly and efficiently.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

So 2 min after this article was posted you already watched the 12 min video?
Impressive, but certainly not objective.

I've watched a few videos on this very topic this week.

 

[Mousse]

Just go to DxOmark and see their conclusion. Spoiler: iPhone 17 ranks 3rd, Pixel 10 ranks 5th. Phone cameras are all the same to me, while the pictures they take are good enough for websites, they don't cut it for print jobs.

 

[boswald]

Honestly, at this point I can't even tell the difference between them anymore.

 

[Hank001]

Honestly, at this point I can't even tell the difference between them anymore.

Who can, without seeing any photo's to compare in the article?

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Just go to DxOmark and see their conclusion. Spoiler: iPhone 17 ranks 3rd, Pixel 10 ranks 5th. Phone cameras are all the same to me, while the pictures they take are good enough for websites, they don't cut it for print jobs.

1.dxo mark aren't respected in the industry

2. It's because of the video score otherwise stills are lower ranked iirc . Heck, the iPhone even scored better than vivo x200 ultra which is complete ********