Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Ties iPhone 8 Plus in DxO Labs Camera Test

[Mirice99]

It's a lot easier to make 5 million Galaxy Note's than 100 million iPhone X's.

Yeah because 100 million iPhone x's will be readily available any time soon....

 

[_Refurbished_]

The score is tied, but the pictures look COMPLETELY different. Great scoring system .

Scores need to differentiated between different types of shots to have any merit.

 

[JM]

Nailed it.

I just created a new filter: Faux 3D w/ almost angel aura

Gimme a job, Samsung. Every photo taken by everyone across the world can send me their pictures and I will add bokeh effect professionally and promptly with great satisfaction.

 

[rafark]

I hate the noise iOS devices cameras take. I've always envied Samsung's sharpness and colors in pictures. But I hate android so I'd rather have the noisy iPhone pics.

I really wonder, though, after so many years why hasn't apple drastically improved the iPhone camera. Yes, it's better each year but at its core it still has that noise and dull colors that worsen the image quality considerably. I would have thought theyd have by now a close to professional quality due to the importance of the iPhone in apple's revenue and to the fact that the camera is widely used by iPhone users.

 

[belvdr]

I fully agree, while in the first picture the girl's face looks brighter with the Note, the background (leaves and grass) is far better with the iPhone picture. The second picture does not even need any comment: day and night! Really, how can this source claim that the iPhone has more artifacts, color fringing and noise, while the girl's face is hardly visible with the x8? What a load of BS, this dude must be blind or something.

It looks like the pictures were captured at different times too, so lighting may have changed too that caused the cameras to react differently. All in all, it seems like a poorly configured test, so I'd take these results with a large bag of salt, regardless of which pictures one prefers.

 

[mazz0]

That girl clearly doesn't like having her picture taken. Odd choice of model really!

 

[adamjackson]

The wave of Apple Bloggers all coming out preemptively against DxO Labs has my spidey-sense going off. Did Apple know this was going to happen and prepped the media that they don't think DxO is representative to the quality of photography to get ahead of the Note 8 tying with it? I'm an Apple Fanboy but I'm surprised no one in the Apple world exclaimed how amazing this was this time around and one-week later, the Note 8 ties.

Macworld on the news the iPhone 8 Plus was the best ever:

The big picture: While DxO scores don’t mean a whole lot in the long run, they’re an excellent measure of how much smartphone photography is improving. Both the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus saw noticeable jumps over the iPhone 7, so it’s clear that Apple has devoted a ton of resources into making the iPhone the best camera around. And if the Google Pixel 2 edges it out, iPhone X will probably be even better.​

Daring Fireball:

Particularly with their “overall” score, DXO is pretending to assign an objective scientific-looking measurement to something that is inherently subjective. It’s *********, but everyone in the media falls for it. I said it was ********* last year when they named a Pixel their “highest rated ever”, and I say it’s ******** now when they said that about an iPhone.
​

When I read a few different bloggers saying the same thing I thought, "there must be a phone coming out that beats the iPhone so everyone is trying to keep this score down-played for now.

Gruber added:

Go read Austin Mann’s review of the iPhone 8 Plus camera (also linked to here at DF earlier today) — that’s how you review and measure the quality of a camera.​

A camera's performance is based on emotion, feeling, overall experience, not stats.

I guess? I remember the same thing when Apple was trying to convince us the G3 was better than Intel's Pentium 3/4. I guess it's better despite the numbers being less on certain tests (like photoshop filters) but most people make buying choices based on numbers and stats, not emotion.

 

[69Mustang]

It looks like the pictures were captured at different times too, so lighting may have changed too that caused the cameras to react differently. All in all, it seems like a poorly configured test, so I'd take these results with a large bag of salt, regardless of which pictures one prefers.

No it doesn't. Look at the shadows on the fence. They're basically the same. How the pics look is subjective, but we don't need to make up details to support our narrative.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Digitial Zoom? DxOMark just lost all credibility with me.

 

[flat five]

For

For what? Selfie Photo? That’s the only better lens added on iPhone X over iPhone 8. Too bad DxO don’t really publish their review on selfie camera.

nah.. the X rear telephoto lens specs faster than the 8plus.. (larger aperture)
theoretically at least, leading to sharper images in lower light..
..or more natural/pronounced bokeh in long lens photos.

but point being, the X and 8+ don't share the same rear camera(s)

 

[Mirice99]

Apparently, I have lying eyes. The Iphone pictures have far more detail and less blurriness than the android. the source has zero credibility in my opinion.

Any source that picks anything other than Apple has zero credibility.

 

[needsomecoffee]

What the heck... Opened the two pics with the woman+tree, and zoomed in on her face. The iPhone image has some pretty big issues. Apple seriously needs to dial back its software processing. The iPhone8 seems better than the 7 (which was very bad re: smearing). Still significant problems if this sample photo is what Apple is doing. Also the noise in the woman/sky is shockingly bad for Apple. Again, what the heck are they doing?

 

[belvdr]

No it doesn't. Look at the shadows on the fence. They're basically the same. How the pics look is subjective, but we don't need to make up details to support our narrative.

Look at something that can change more easily, like the girl's mouth and eyebrows in the first photo and the placement of the girl's left hand in the second photo. Seconds or minutes could have passed between the photos. It would be better if the cameras took the photos at or near the same time.

 

[SeminalSage]

DxO desperately trying to seem relevant.

Some news for you:
Your scores suck.
Nobody cares.

Wasn't this the company that Google quoted last year as saying the Pixel had a better camera than the iPhone. And then everyone started taking real world pictures....

 

[Blaze4G]

I really don't get how this is even possible. I don't have an 8 (waiting for the X), but I've been looking at samples and watching videos of comparisons and the differences between the images the two cameras produce are like night and day. The Note 8's camera is just woefully inaccurate. The simulated bokeh effect is laughable. The colors are so far off from real life it isn't even funny.

Like, this isn't something like processors or ram where you need to rely on measurements. Eyes can clearly see the difference between the images. When an image is taken using an $50,000 8k Red camera setup, then with an iPhone 8....and the colors all match. Then you show the same image taken with a Note 8 and the colors are super vibrant while somehow also being blurry upon zooming in, there's no question.

Can you link me to those reviews that say the note 8 are super vibrant vs the iphone 8? Every review I have watched the new iphone 8 is more vibrant and over saturated (which I like). But what you stated is not true.

 

[69Mustang]

Look at something that can change more easily, like the girl's mouth and eyebrows in the first photo and the placement of the girl's left hand in the second photo. Seconds or minutes could have passed between the photos. It would be better if the cameras took the photos at or near the same time.

Seconds or minutes? You're reaching. Also it's pretty obvious the photos were taken at or near the same time, if at slightly different angles. The triangular highlight of light on the model's chest would be significantly different if the shots were shot at different times.

 

[Pilgrim1099]

Yeah because 100 million iPhone x's will be readily available any time soon....

Keep smoking. 100 million iPhone X will NOT be available by November 3rd. The ones that wanted it badly in a long line will get screwed out big time by those who pre ordered in time or illegal bots to shop for them ( which should be illegal ). It'll be like the Super Nintendo Classic sold out everywhere, nowhere to be seen, only to trickle here and there in stock over time.

Either way, the scores here don't mean anything. Anyone who uses scores to prove their iPhone 8 or X is better then the competition is an INSECURE child, unwilling to wake up to the matrix of lies spewed forth by Tim Cook.

 

[belvdr]

Seconds or minutes? You're reaching. Also it's pretty obvious the photos were taken at or near the same time, if at slightly different angles. The triangular highlight of light on the model's chest would be significantly different if the shots were shot at different times.

A properly configured test would have practically eliminated these items (angles, movement, etc). I'm simply saying this test has more issues than desired for a camera review. If you're willing to accept this review, that's fine. I don't feel that way.

 

[SirRahikkala]

Amazing how fast Samsung can rip off iPhone features (fake bokeh). I seriously doubt it will take them 2.5 years to reverse engineer the facial recognition technology. They must have a department of theft.

HTC One M8 had that fake bokeh already 3 years ago. So who rips who?

 

[barkomatic]

iPhone is a million miles ahead of everything and everyone when it comes to photography. If you want to shoot the best quality photos on a smartphone, you'll choose iPhone everytime.

Well, according to them the current iPhones aren't a "million miles ahead" but in general are on par. I'm guessing the iPhone X will most likely score a little better, but when you consider the price of that phone that's to be expected.

According to the article:

"DxO says it has analyzed the image and video quality of over 10,000 cameras, lenses, and mobile phones, and its tests are generally respected within the industry."

I bet when the iPhone X tests come back as the current best you'll be gushing all over the review. I don't understand this need to support Apple in the same way one would a family member or friend. Samsung and Apple are in to make money and they don't even know or care who you are.

 

[69Mustang]

A properly configured test would have practically eliminated these items (angles, movement, etc). I'm simply saying this test has more issues than desired for a camera review. If you're willing to accept this review, that's fine. I don't feel that way.

Sounds as if your entire argument is based on that one photo comparison. Wouldn't it be more prudent to read the actual review before coming to a conclusion regarding whether or not it was a proper test? I mean, you've gone from shot at different times to angles/movement and created a narrative that ignores the rest of the testing.
I actually read the review. Seemed fair especially since they review all phones the same way.

 

[The Game 161]

Both take amazing photos. Got to imagine the x will be even better

 

[840quadra]

Look at something that can change more easily, like the girl's mouth and eyebrows in the first photo and the placement of the girl's left hand in the second photo. Seconds or minutes could have passed between the photos. It would be better if the cameras took the photos at or near the same time.

It is a living human, as opposed to a wax figure. I see both your and @69Mustang’s points as being valid though.

Personally I give some leeway for models changing head positions and such, so long as the photo is intended to show skin tone detail and color balance as opposed to making them the primary test for image detail / exposure / shadow tests. You can use inanimate objects for those types of shots.

But it appears DXO posted these as separate reviews, not a combined comparison review. TBH the portrait zoom shots they posted look more like an afterthought, than it is a valid comparison test. But, I feel their photographic tests are weak compared to what DPReview, and other reputable photography sites do.

 

[meaning-matters]

Second picture comparison is plain wrong: Compared to iPhone, the Note captured less light -> faster shutter speed or lower ISO -> less noise.

You must compare the exact same exposure level.

Don't these guys understand how camera systems works???

 

[JM]

Nailed it.

I just created a new filter: Faux 3D w/ almost angel aura

Gimme a job, Samsung. Every photo taken by everyone across the world can send me their pictures and I will add bokeh effect professionally and promptly with great satisfaction.

This one was a little more difficult around the leaves and stems and hand, but I really think I nailed this one too. Samsung really should call me.