iPhone XS Max Ranks 'Among the Best' in DxOMark’s Selfie Camera Test, but Loses Points for Low-Light Performance

[341328]

wow... the difference in color balance.

 

[mikeheenan]

I just wish they would fix the "beautification" filter for video. some video I shot at a concert not too long ago turned out pretty awful.

 

[fumi2014]

These tests are pointless. If you're happy with your shots (on whatever device) then that's all that matters.

 

[citysnaps]

These tests are pointless. If you're happy with your shots (on whatever device) then that's all that matters.

Absolutely. The differences are mice nuts.

And...the strength of a photo has little to do with gear and so much to do with the person making the photograph.

 

[Eagle1337]

Looks like the dude from "Sons of Anarchy"

 

[recoil80]

While I don't care about DxOmarks ratings I agree on the fact that low light pictures need to be improved.
I'm really happy about my Xs pictures in sunlight, but I often find indoor shots disappointing. One of my cousins bought a Huawei during BF and when we met for Christmas we shot a bunch of pictures together, both outdoor and indoor. His phone was just better in really low light, it produced warmer pictures, maybe too warm, but at least you could see some details. In good light we had similar results, I liked my Xs pics more and he agreed. As for video shooting the iPhone was better in our opinion.
If they managed to improve low light pictures I'd be super happy, finger crossed for this year and next year's iPhone!

 

[n-evo]

Taking the a selfie in low-light conditions with my iPhone XS will frequently result in a fuzzy picture unless I keep the phone really still. This used to be less of an issue with my iPhone 7 and X.

 

[Funky_Alphonzo]

Maybe just me, but between the included test photos, the Google Pixel 2 looks a little better. Seems like the person in the foreground is separated a little more precisely from the background.

Also, it looks like the 'bokeh' in the XS photo is more like a layered blur, like it has a gaussian blur layer at reduced opacity over a focused layer.

The cut out on the Google Pixel is clearly visible around the arms... looks like bad photoshop to me ;-)

 

[Suttree]

Oh, how embarrassing for Apple. Their $1,500 phone can't even blur the fence next to the guy. Such a great phone, blurring only HALF of the scenery. Truly visionary, truly different. Look at how the Pixel blurs EVERYTHING other than the subject. THAT is astounding. But, hey, much like these test photos, the iPhone is only half of what the Pixel is.

 

[MonkeyDavid]

I thought the same thing at first, but after really looking at it, I'd say the iPhone is doing a better job.

It's an interesting shot for this test with that wall there. If the angle was changed and the wall was just directly behind him and he was standing a distance away from it, I think the Pixel would look the best. But because the iPhone has taken the depth into account in this shot, I think the iPhone picture is better.

Agreed. The blurred foreground looks terrible. It makes him look like a flat cutout in a blurred scene.

 

[I7guy]

Oh, how embarrassing for Apple. Their $1,500 phone can't even blur the fence next to the guy. Such a great phone, blurring only HALF of the scenery. Truly visionary, truly different. Look at how the Pixel blurs EVERYTHING other than the subject. THAT is astounding. But, hey, much like these test photos, the iPhone is only half of what the Pixel is.

And how embarrassing for google with all of its AI and ML prowess the color is terrible. So half the price half the color?

 

[The Game 161]

Oh, how embarrassing for Apple. Their $1,500 phone can't even blur the fence next to the guy. Such a great phone, blurring only HALF of the scenery. Truly visionary, truly different. Look at how the Pixel blurs EVERYTHING other than the subject. THAT is astounding. But, hey, much like these test photos, the iPhone is only half of what the Pixel is.

Lol camera is the only thing that’s great about the pixel.

iPhone has it beat in most other areas

 

[chucker23n1]

Maybe just me, but between the included test photos, the Google Pixel 2 looks a little better. Seems like the person in the foreground is separated a little more precisely from the background.

This is a tough one.

I think the Pixel gets the skin color more right, but I haven't seen the dude in person, so that may not actually be so.

As for foreground separation, though: yes, the Pixel separates the person more nicely, but from a purist perspective, you could argue it isn't really doing the (synthetic approximation of the) job right. You may intend for bokeh to intend subjects, but what bokeh really does is limit the depth of field, and in that regard, the iPhone is more correct. The (front parts of) the wall aren't in the distance at all, but the Pixel thinks they are (because it doesn't have actual physical depth detection, unlike the iPhone's dual lenses).
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Oh, how embarrassing for Apple. Their $1,500 phone can't even blur the fence next to the guy.

A case can be made that the fence shouldn't be blurred, because it's at the same focal length. A DSLR wouldn't have blurred it either.

(A different case can be made that a "portrait mode" should focus the person, and only the person.)