Single-Lens Google Pixel 2 Camera Takes Top Spot From iPhone 8 Plus in DxO Labs Tests

[ackmondual]

Honestly, all 3 phones produce amazing photos and videos. I love this competition; it forces Apple to keep innovating and breaking new grounds in the phones' photography segment.

98, 94, 94, 92, 90, 90.... I'm not familiar with the DxO scoring system. However, sounds close enough to a percentage system? Given that assumption, one should probably go for the phone they'll as far as other factors go, also taking into consideration any unique camera features (such as panorama, etc.)

 

[AppLearnStay]

"The new Google Pixel 2 has bumped the iPhone 8 Plus and Galaxy Note 8 off the number one spot to become the top-performing smartphone camera in DxO Labs' mobile photography tests. "

Dxomark score has two sub-categories: photo and video

Pixel2 (photo) 99 (video) 96
iPhone 8 (photo) 96 (video) 89
Note 8 (photo) 100 (video) 84

Now, I'm guessing these phones are using more or less the same Sony camera's. wonder what the difference is here.

software.. every digital camera, dslr, phone camera do computational photography. apple does it in software too

 

[ani4ani]

I apologise, but I havent read any of the reviews, but do they compare focus times and things like video quality etc. While of course the outcome is very important, ease and speed of use would weigh heavily in my priorities, though in truth, and probably wrongly, I have never used a smartphone camera seriously

 

[840quadra]

I think it is pointless to compare today's smartphone cameras to P&S cameras that no one buys or uses anymore. We are not going back to carrying a separate inexpensive P&S... those days are over.

As for more expensive digital cameras, prosumer or SLR, I think anyone who cared enough already knows you can get better results with them.

But in my opinion the quality of smartphone cameras has already surpassed the needs of most buyers, who will use them to post Instagram and Facebook photos, at a fraction of the quality the phone can produce.



Mike

Funny thing is, I am now walking around with a P&S camera smaller than my iPhone 5s {L/W not depth}, all due to the fact that I can still be reached on my AW3. I am a singular use case, but find that the quality of this little canon to be quite good, and it has actual optical zoom. I know it is a small use case, but there are others in AW3 threads doing similar, or, looking into small pocketable cameras for this use.

 

[0lf]

you’re getting 1/2 stop between 2.8 to 2.4 on the X plus OIS which probably translates to another 1/2 stop. At a full stop twice as much light is making it to the sensor. It will be considerably better at taking portrait photos indoors and the zoom will be usable indoors.

It should not be one full stop better than the 8(plus) at low light tele as the 8(plus) relies on the WA sensor in low light. The improvement should be closer to 2/3 stop.

But yeah, it will definitely make a difference from 8

 

[wigby]

Honestly, all 3 phones produce amazing photos and videos. I love this competition; it forces Apple to keep innovating and breaking new grounds in the phones' photography segment.

Agreed. If only it didn't force Apple haters/lovers and annoying pixel peepers to argue over every single new phone release.

 

[christo747]

Blimey, you don't sound pretentious at all.

Hey, it's nothing special. I can't repair cars but there are a lot of fantastic people that can! Everyone has different skills.

 

[bobob]

Dxo got a unit already? So they’re not being bribed into giving a good score at all.

They’re corrupt it’s pretty known at this point.

I'm guessing they're not so much corrupt, as click-whores like most websites nowadays. Watch every flagship's camera set a new record high score until DxO gets up to 199%.

 

[840quadra]

It should not be one full stop better than the 8(plus) at low light tele as the 8(plus) relies on the WA sensor in low light. The improvement should be closer to 2/3 stop.

But yeah, it will definitely make a difference from 8

It also will not be cropping the WA sensor to produce a zoomed image, which in itself will be a markedly nice improvement.

 

[TrueBlou]

I’ve never really grasped the concept of why we (I say we, I don’t use social media outside of work, I leave that nonsense to the wife) have to see endless photos of different pouts or what someone is eating. Really a plate of food? ffs.

Though I am considering sticking one of mine on Facebook or somewhere, only because I got a photo of a caterpillar I’ve never seen before when I was hillwalking and I’m curious as to what it is. I don’t think I object to the sharing of knowledge via social media, that seems like a decent use for it.

Ok, yes I’m quoting myself but it’s just to save some explaining. And yes it’s not quite on topic, though it does involve a photo.

So, to hell with social media, I know there are some exceptionality well read people on these forums. You know who you are

As I’m still in the process of teaching myself more of the wonders of nature, I’m hoping there’s someone here who can answer my question better and more reliably than bloody social media.

Can anyone tell me what kind of caterpillar this is?

 

[Vanilla35]

Look at the detail around this lady’s head.

Neither identifies her hair or what should and shouldn’t be in focus perfectly, but I know which I prefer.

The one on the left (4CD1B) looks much much better, also more natural blur. Is that the iPhone? Or the Pixel?

 

[TrueBlou]

lol. Enjoy your Pixel spyware handset. Hard to believe intelligent people valuing privacy would sign up for a Google device that data mines your personal information. Android users aren't customers, they're the product (some would say suckers).

It’s a two way street and it should also be noted that Google don’t sell your information, they just use it to drive targeted advertising to generate their revenue.

But if you’re prepared to allow Google that access to your information, some of which you can opt out of, in return you get rewarded for your generosity. You get oodles of free storage, access to some good software, rather intelligent AI and so on.

If it wasn’t for Google getting their hands on people's information, their devices would cost more, you’d have to buy some of their software and so on.

It’s a system that works for millions of people who don’t mind Google scanning their info, or just don’t care either way because they’re getting free stuff.
It’s no different to Facebook. If anyone uses Facebook they can’t argue about Google’s access to information. It’s the exact same system.

I’m not incidentally, I value my privacy even though I’ve nothing to hide. Which is one of the reasons I buy Apple devices. But really at the end of the day, people make a choice with Google. It’s their choice to make and no-one can chastise them for it.

 

[hugo7]

Assuming the score is a percentage (e.g. 98/100), I refuse to accept a 98 for a camera phone which generates this

https://cdn.dxomark.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ref2_Bokeh-Outdoor_GooglePixel2.jpg

(That background!)

I don't care whether it's a Samsung Note, iPhone or Pixel, any camera phone generating a result as bad as the above doesn't deserve above 90 (and I'm guessing 'consistency' doesn't figure in the score metric).

 

[WinterWolf90]

Funny thing is, I am now walking around with a P&S camera smaller than my iPhone 5s {L/W not depth}, all due to the fact that I can still be reached on my AW3. I am a singular use case, but find that the quality of this little canon to be quite good, and it has actual optical zoom. I know it is a small use case, but there are others in AW3 threads doing similar, or, looking into small pocketable cameras for this use.

I agree, there are still uses for a P&S. I went to the virgin islands recently and forgot about my P&S camera from 2011 that I bought for when I went on vacation. It's waterproof and it took amazing pictures for something that old. It was only 10.2 megapixels, but still has zoom and some other features a phone doesn't have. Yes I realize you can buy waterproof things for the iPhone, but still don't want to risk that.

 

[TrueBlou]

Funny thing is, I am now walking around with a P&S camera smaller than my iPhone 5s {L/W not depth}, all due to the fact that I can still be reached on my AW3. I am a singular use case, but find that the quality of this little canon to be quite good, and it has actual optical zoom. I know it is a small use case, but there are others in AW3 threads doing similar, or, looking into small pocketable cameras for this use.

I agree there’s definitely still a market for them. Whenever I went anywhere of note, or even that I thought could produce something remotely interesting to shoot, I was never without my little Sony. Until the wife broke it.

But I’ll be buying another sometime soon I think. They all have their merits. iPhone, or whatever, has the convenience factor of always being with me and it can take amazing photos.
My little p&s for better zoom and generally better quality. And my big Panasonic for when I’m in a proper shooting mood and want to slap on a variety of lenses and filters to get the shot I want.

Phones have a long way to go before they can replace an actual camera for people more “into” taking photos.

 

[xitongzou]

A lot of Apple fanboys kept saying that they don't trust DxOMark or whatever.. but DxO tested the iPhone in their tests too and the Pixel craps all over it.. don't get jealous guys... unless you think there's a conspiracy with Google and DxO, just admit the Pixel camera is better.

 

[roeiz]

Assuming the score is a percentage (e.g. 98/100), I refuse to accept a 98 for a camera phone which generates this

https://cdn.dxomark.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ref2_Bokeh-Outdoor_GooglePixel2.jpg

(That background!)

I don't care whether it's a Samsung Note, iPhone or Pixel, any camera phone generating a result as bad as the above doesn't deserve above 90 (and I'm guessing 'consistency' doesn't figure in the score metric).

yea that's what i thought too. beyond me why they used this picture as it is obviously the worst portrait blur EVER.

 

[TrueBlou]

A lot of Apple fanboys kept saying that they don't trust DxOMark or whatever.. but DxO tested the iPhone in their tests too and the Pixel craps all over it.. don't get jealous guys... unless you think there's a conspiracy with Google and DxO, just admit the Pixel camera is better.

Well the thing is, for some of us, well lets just say me. There's only one standard by which I judge any camera and that's my own eyes.

Photography, as with many things, is a hugely subjective medium. Which is why it's easy to go to a gallery (what? we all go to gallery's don't we?) and prefer one artists work over another. A lot of it has to do with composition, lighting, focus, exposure, subject and on and on and on.

I'm not going to say the Pixel 2 is worse than the iPhone, but nor will I say the iPhone is better than the Pixel 2. I'll make that decision when I have tried them both for myself. And it will be a decision for me and me only, which is the only decision that should matter to anyone, not what some random person on the internet tells you is good.

If you don't care too much about photography, then sure, use these subjective measurements as a guide to make your decisions. In truth you probably wont notice a massive difference between them if you're not viewing them enlarged or editing them on a big screen.

 

[Kramolev]

The new Google Pixel 2 has bumped the iPhone 8 Plus and Galaxy Note 8 off the number one spot to become the top-performing smartphone camera in DxO Labs' mobile photography tests.

Just a day after Samsung's latest device matched Apple's largest iPhone 8 handset with an overall DxOMark score of 94, Google's newly launched Pixel 2 has now beaten both dual-lens devices with a score of 98, despite its rear-mounted single-camera design.

The reviewers praised the Pixel 2 for excellent video performance, scene reproduction, color rendering, and fast and accurate autofocus, highlighting in particular its "amazing" ability to render detail in both the bright and dark areas of difficult scenes.

One weak spot for the Pixel 2 was said to be exposure in very low light images, which show increased noise in high dynamic range scenes, although excellent exposure and highlight preservation is still in evidence.

Despite performing very well for a single camera phone, the Pixel 2 couldn't outscore the zoom capability of the dual-lens Apple iPhone 8 Plus. The Pixel 2 also sometimes displayed aliasing and moiré artifacts in medium- and long-range zooms.

The reviewers concluded that for just about any photo or video use case, the Pixel 2 recommends itself as the phone camera with the best image quality, with the exception of zoom and bokeh (including Depth and Portrait) that dual-camera smartphones such as the Apple iPhone 8 Plus and Galaxy Note 8 can provide. The Google handset was especially recommended for videographers, since it achieved the highest video score (96) for any device tested by DxO Labs.

The reviewers signed off by noting that their scoring system has "plenty of headroom" to go beyond 100, so we'll have to wait and see if Apple's iPhone X can break that ceiling when it's released next month.

You can read the full DxOMark Pixel 2 camera review and view all of the full-resolution images here. Do you agree with DxO Labs' assessment? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Article Link: Single-Lens Google Pixel 2 Camera Takes Top Spot From iPhone 8 Plus in DxO Labs Tests

[doublepost=1507229322][/doublepost]Wait, I thought Apple had a 2.5 year lead in camera technology?

 

[Meandmunch]

That is the immense power of Googles software engineering capabilities on display.

 

[CrudDud]

I've cherished DXOmark but with the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 review that received the very same score as the iPhone 8, yet had nothing like the ecstatic tone as in the iPhone review, and now Google showing their DXOmark top score already in the presentation before it's been launched, I'm starting to doubt they are uncompromised from being paid.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8:
- Headline: "The best smartphone for zoom". (??? introducing doubt for everything else)
- Conclusion Headline: "Top ranking... for now". (introducing doubt again)
- Conclusion: "When all the tests are verified, the scores calculated, and the perceptual analyses discussed, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 comes out as an outstanding choice for the smartphone photography enthusiast." "The Note 8 breaks new ground as the first smartphone to achieve 100 points for its photo sub-score. With new devices on the horizon from several of the key innovators for smartphone photography, will the Note 8 be able to hold onto its top spot? Time will tell."

Apple iPhone 8 Plus:
- Headline: "The best smartphone we've ever tested".
- Conclusion Headline: "The best smartphone we've ever tested". (yes, repeated, as if a tagline)
- Conclusion: "Overall, the Apple iPhone 8 Plus is an excellent choice for the needs of nearly every smartphone photographer. It features outstanding image quality, zoom for those needing to get closer to their subjects, and an industry-leading Portrait mode for artistic efforts. It is at the top of our scoring charts in nearly every category — and in particular, its advanced software allows it to do an amazing job of capturing high-dynamic range scenes and images in which it can recognize faces."

The Note 8 review is introducing doubts on whether it will hold its ground against forthcoming competitors, despite sharing score with the best smartphone they had ever tested, where that other review doesn't even bring up that other excellent smartphones exists and will come in the conclusion that many skip to.

And now the Google Pixel 2 used already in the presentation by Google, before it is even launched. That is, Google has handed out review hardware to DXOmark even before launch, they have seen it received a top score so that it can be boasted about in the presentation.

Of course, it is possible that Google was just plain lucky to happen to get a measly 4% higher score than the iPhone 8 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 8, and that they would have had to change the presentation in the last minute if it wouldn't have been, but given the vastly different tone in the Samsung vs Apple reviews sharing exact same score I'm not so sure anymore.

I think it's worth noting that the Samsung review was written by Paul Carroll, while the iPhone and Pixel reviews were both written by David Cardinal. Perhaps David Cardinal is simply more enthusiastic and excitable.

 

[TonnyM]

Assuming the score is a percentage (e.g. 98/100), I refuse to accept a 98 for a camera phone which generates this

https://cdn.dxomark.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ref2_Bokeh-Outdoor_GooglePixel2.jpg

(That background!)

I don't care whether it's a Samsung Note, iPhone or Pixel, any camera phone generating a result as bad as the above doesn't deserve above 90 (and I'm guessing 'consistency' doesn't figure in the score metric).

You haven’t heard ? Google uses machine learning to provide such an incredible Bokeh effect, they clearly don’t need two cameras for that .

 

[TrueBlou]

You haven’t heard ? Google uses machine learning to provide such an incredible Bokeh effect, they clearly don’t need two cameras for that .

They might very well have made an excellent camera harnessing the power of machine learning. But that image is most definitely not the example I would choose to brand it incredible. There are better images to chose from surely?

 

[flofixer]

Assuming the score is a percentage (e.g. 98/100), I refuse to accept a 98 for a camera phone which generates this

https://cdn.dxomark.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ref2_Bokeh-Outdoor_GooglePixel2.jpg

(That background!)

I don't care whether it's a Samsung Note, iPhone or Pixel, any camera phone generating a result as bad as the above doesn't deserve above 90 (and I'm guessing 'consistency' doesn't figure in the score metric).

Couldn't agree more. That's an absolutely terrible image. Also if you look at the picture of the trees comparing the Pixel 2 to the HTC U11 you can clearly see that the Pixel 2 is awful in capturing images in the shadows. The HTC did a far better job

 

[petsounds]

A lot of Apple fanboys kept saying that they don't trust DxOMark or whatever.. but DxO tested the iPhone in their tests too and the Pixel craps all over it.. don't get jealous guys... unless you think there's a conspiracy with Google and DxO, just admit the Pixel camera is better.

Whether the scores are bought or not, the scores are meaningless. They're arbitrary numbers assigned by people comparing photos. There's nothing scientific about it. And what are they going to do once they reach 100? Go to 102, 105, 112? They have to keep saying "the new best" so people will click on their site.

I'm satisfied to look at the photos and make my own decision about what's better.