iPhone XR XR Takes Better Pictures than XS Max?

[LarryJoe33]

I have the Max and bought three "budget" XR's for the kiddos. I swear their pictures come out better. More vibrant and colorful. We have taken the same shots and the difference is re-markedly noticeable.

Anyone else find this? Kind of sucks to have paid $500+ more and not have better photos.

 

[Steve121178]

Isn't it the same 12-megapixel f/1.8 camera that's in the Xs, obviously minus the secondary telephoto lens....?

 

[LarryJoe33]

Yeah, that's why it bugs the crap out of me.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Yes the Xr is the true king.

 

[LarryJoe33]

Yes the Xr is the true king.

That's helpful.....

 

[willmtaylor]

That's helpful.....

Almost as helpful as a post griping about photo comparisons without photos to compare?

 

[LarryJoe33]

Almost as helpful as a post griping about photo comparisons without photos to compare?

I was waiting for that. I wasn't "griping", but I don't think a general query to the community about experience or observations for people with both phones in the household without pictures falls into the same category as "the XR is king". Interesting that you defend that post, thanks for your comment.

 

[willmtaylor]

I was waiting for that. I wasn't "griping", but I don't think a general query to the community about experience or observations without pictures falls into the same category as "the XR is king". Interesting that you defend that post, thanks for your comment.

Not defending as much as chuckling at the irony.

I think there have already been several threads comparing camera of the 2 phones (as well as many journalists’ comparisons).

All the best.

 

[LarryJoe33]

Not defending as much as chuckling at the irony.

I think there have already been several threads comparing camera of the 2 phones (as well as many journalists’ comparisons).

All the best.

Same to you, enjoy the XR.

 

[willmtaylor]

Same to you, enjoy the XR.

I sport a 7.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

Please post comparison pictures for everyone to judge.

 

[AlexJoda]

Yeah, that's why it bugs the crap out of me.

Don't you grant your kids a good camera?

 

[I7guy]

Sure definitely would like to see additional comparison pictures comparing the two phones’ cameras.

 

[bigjnyc]

have you looked at the photos on a computer or different screen? maybe you have true tone turned on with your Max? or your brightness is down.... My wife has an XR and I have the Max, while photo quality is extremely close I have to give the edge to the XS Max especially in low light settings.

 

[jagolden]

As stated, without pics for comparison it’s not a supportable statement.
It is the same camera except not dual lense.

There are just too many variables to say the exact same picture was takenwith both phones without using a studio set-up for a true comparison, especially focus/exposure point and dubious hand-held for "same photo" statement.

The comparisons have been out there since the XR launch. Seen them and yes there’s definitely a noticeable difference and it’s not in the Xr’s favor.

The Xr is a great phone but can’t beat the dual lense phones. I feel most people just need to justify their purchasing decisions. Should have returned Max if they fealt that strongly.
[doublepost=1547819009][/doublepost]

have you looked at the photos on a computer or different screen? maybe you have true tone turned on with your Max? or your brightness is down.... My wife has an XR and I have the Max, while photo quality is extremely close I have to give the edge to the XS Max especially in low light settings.

This especially. The low-light photos are very good on the Xs Max.

 

[LarryJoe33]

I really don’t feel that strongly. I’m not looking to justify the Max or switch to the R. At then end of the day, I always get the best phone available on launch day. The kids get the cheaper one also on launch day.

It was just a general observation. I’m not that OCD that I’m going to post comparison pictures. It’s fine, just wondering if there anything to it with regard to my eye ball test. I do use True Tone. Maybe it’s just a display thing. It’s also a matter of preference. I do gravitate towards the bright cartoon look. Such as on my TV. I max it out. I like it better. Watching movies sure ain’t the way the producer intended it. No cinema mode here.

 

[burgman]

Wi

Please post comparison pictures for everyone to judge.

With all of the variables like screens, OS, devices , website coding etc posting photos for comparison is a waste of time.

 

[LarryJoe33]

Wi

With all of the variables like screens, OS, devices , website coding etc posting photos for comparison is a waste of time.

Exactly.

I am kind of sorry I asked. I certainly wasn't making a statement, I was more thinking maybe there was an issue with my phone? My girlfriend has the X and her daughter has the R and she is always remarking that the R seems to take better photos then the X. Low light is definitely better on the XS Max, but sometimes out door pictures on the R as compared to the X or XS Max seem more vibrant. Maybe its just the screen of the R.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Exactly.

I am kind of sorry I asked. I certainly wasn't making a statement, I was more thinking maybe there was an issue with my phone? My girlfriend has the X and her daughter has the R and she is always remarking that the R seems to take better photos then the X. Low light is definitely better on the XS Max, but sometimes out door pictures on the R as compared to the X or XS Max seem more vibrant. Maybe its just the screen of the R.

Well the R has a better sensor than the X on the main camera so that’s very likely and the R has smart HDR which the X doesn’t have.

 

[LarryJoe33]

Well the R has a better sensor than the X on the main camera so that’s very likely and the R has smart HDR which the X doesn’t have.

Of course, I forgot about that, so this makes sense.
[doublepost=1547824456][/doublepost](Thank you @Weaselboy for stepping in and getting this back on track, I appreciate the support)

 

[nviz22]

The Pixel 3 is cheaper and has better photos than my iPhone XS Max, but my response is a simple shrug. OS Software and software skins are more important than camera performance.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

To me the XS Max takes better pictures, but it is pretty close. The XS is noticeably better in low light though. But yeah, the Xr has a very good camera.

 

[agente46]

The Xr, Xs, and Xs Max wide angle camera are all identical. They use the same lens, sensor, and software. There shouldn't be a difference. There are too many variations in the software that auto exposes the photo to determine that one is better than the other. Some pictures from the Xr can look better than the Max and vice versa depending on how the software calculates the development of the image at each given time.

So, no, I don't think the Xr is better or worse than the Xs/Max when the same wide angle lens is used.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

Wi

With all of the variables like screens, OS, devices , website coding etc posting photos for comparison is a waste of time.

I can compare them on my screen and then judge for myself which I find better.

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

This has been mentioned, but I do agree that in order to make a true assessment, photos taken of the same subject in identical conditions would need to then be viewed on the same screen in order to ascertain if one is better than the other. If not, it is an apple's to orange's thing because OLED will render how a picture looks differently than LCD. And if even the slightest settings are tweaked between the two different devices being used to view the pics, that factors in as well.

If you are concerned that you potentially have a faulty Max, you could try and find someone else with a Max, verify you both have settings set the same, and perform a test. But I don't think you are remotely concerned enough to go through that based on what you have said.