When Google released their single camera Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, I thought there was no way the single rear camera could compare to the iPhone X’s cameras. Apple was bringing two cameras to the party, for better depth detection and scene detail than the single sensor solution Google’s using could ever muster, right?
While it’s still true that the iPhone X beats the Pixel 2 with faux depth of field, Google’s phone still beats the iPhone X camera in sharpness. The Pixel 2 also performs better in low light, and produces photos that have a more authentic color representation (though not as warm or as pleasant to look at as Apple’s).
The iPhone XS vs the iPhone X, respectively. Note the difference in sharpness. Photo: James Bareham/TheVerge
But then Apple introduced the iPhone XS. The telephoto camera hasn’t changed much, but the wide angle has. It now features a larger sensor, with larger and deeper pixels. This allows the main camera to capture far more light than it did on the iPhone X. Furthermore, Apple improved the automatic HDR and other processing photos go through before they’re shown to the user. Apple drastically improved their camera in the iPhone XS.
Yet, in some (but not all) ways it’s still not as good as the camera in the Pixel 2. Meanwhile, Google is revealing the Pixel 3 next month at an event in NYC. Is Apple doomed to fall behind?
In This Article:
iPhone XS vs Pixel 2: Camera Specs
The iPhone XS has a dramatically improved camera over the iPhone X. It features a larger sensor with deeper pixels, enabling it to gather more light than the iPhone X could. Photos are so much sharper, even in low light, that you’ll wonder how you ever thought the iPhone X was up to snuff. But in a spec-for-spec showdown, how does it compare to the Google Pixel 2? Let’s take a look.
Light green marks a clear winner, while a darker green marks a winner with no applicable content from one of the other competitors.
It seems clear, Apple has the best specs. Dual cameras, optical zoom, 4k 60fps, larger sensor, better flash, and even better audio recording. Clearly, the iPhone XS crushes the iPhone X and Google Pixel 2, right?
Well, according to reviewers, not exactly.
Where Apple Wins
iPhone X, left. Pixel 2, right. Note the clear background for the iPhone, but blur in beard.
The iPhone is better able to produce sharpness across the range of the photo. It also makes photos feel warmer, more true to life feeling. The HDR mode is clearly able to capture more images to use for sharpness, as the photo above shows with the neon sign in the back. You can easily read the sign in the iPhone XS photo, but the Pixel 2 photo lacks that detail entirely, the text is completely washed out. The iPhone also has more realistic colors and tones, giving the photo warmth without over saturating the photo. The Google Pixel almost makes his subject look orange, and as most people know, humans aren’t orange.
Where Google Wins
Left: iPhone XS. Right: Pixel 2. Note the drink and background detail differences. Photos: James Bareham/The Verge
In the above photo, you can get the perfect idea of how these two phones differ. On the left, there’s the iPhone. You can see far more detail in the background, but the foreground, the drink, appears flat. It is missing texture. It’s also grainy due to the low light. More detail was captured, but the processing made it seem flatter, and somehow unrealistic.
On the right, you can see where Google excels. The glass appears warm, with no loss of detail. You can see that the drinks and leaves in the background are missing some detail, but this is to be expected for items in the background of a photo. Overall, the Pixel 2 photo just looks better, richer, and more realistic. Here, Google’s details in the subject of a photo really shine.
The DxOMark Effect
Ratings mean very little.
Thanks to DxOMark, it seems like there’s a definitive ranking for smartphones. A final score that says “Yes, this is the best smartphone camera.” Sitting at the top of DxOMark’s mobile rankings right now is the Huawei P20 Pro, with a whopping score of 109. Below it sits the HTC U11 with a score of 103. Further down, the Google Pixel 2 comes in at 98, and the iPhone X is at 97. DxOMark hasn’t ranked the iPhone XS yet.
So there you have it, that’s the list of best cameras, right? Not exactly. Photos are still highly subjective, even with the rigorous testing DxOMark performs. Furthermore, companies rely on automatic post-processing software to improve their photos. After using DxOMark’s software to test their phones before launch, they tweak their algorithms to match what DxOMark is looking for. It means they’ll get a better score, but doesn’t guarantee a better photograph. For example, I find the flatness and blurriness of Faces with the Huawei P20 Pro utterly unacceptable.
iPhone X photo on the right, Huawei P20 Pro on the left. Click to zoom.
It’s clear that the iPhone produces far sharper photos than the Huawei P20 Pro. But this didn’t go into DxOMark’s consideration. Sharpness is important for cropping, printing out photos, or capturing fine details. It gives your photos a look of quality. Sharpness is irreplaceable to photographers, but not to DxOMark’s rankings. As a result, DxOMark rated the Huawei phone extremely well.
DxOMark is far from a definitive guide. In fact, if it teaches us anything, it’s that there is no one “best camera.” The person reviewing a camera is almost as important as the camera itself.
Did Apple Fall Behind?
In these photos, the iPhone takes the cupcake! But the iPhone doesn’t win in all settings. Photo: Mark Spoonauer/tom’s guide
When it comes to sharpness and a real sensation of depth, the answer is, for the most part, yes. DxOMark may not value sharpness, users do. Photos taken with the iPhone XS often aren’t as sharp as those taken with the Google Pixel 2. While Apple may beat Google when it comes to lighting, its new Smart HDR, bokeh, and general sharpness across the range of the photo, it loses some of that sharpness in the subject of the photo. As a result, Apple’s photos feel flat, while Google’s, despite being cooler in color, appear more dimensional.
Which is the best? That’s up to you to decide. I think that the lack of subject sharpness isn’t a dealbreaker for the iPhone XS, that, along with its benefits and greater overall sharpness, it’s just barely edges out Google’s phone from last year. If Google improves their HDR and bokeh effects with the Google Pixel 3 next month, Apple will once again fall far behind.
My Own Review
iPhone XS Left, iPhone X Right. Huge improvement!
As of yesterday, I’m the proud owner of an iPhone XS. As such, I can review it myself. I’ll be able to compare it to the iPhone X, to see if it has improved enough to give Google a run for its money, as well as take sample shots with a Google Pixel 2. However, even if the iPhone XS is close to the Pixel 2 in quality, we can’t forget that the Pixel 3 comes out next month. We also cannot ignore the results of other reviewers. Apple is clearly coming from behind. Will Google once again pass Apple, or has Apple advanced enough to stay in the fight for another year?
Sources:
- Apple
- GSM Arena (iPhone X, Google Pixel 2 XL, and iPhone XS, 09/23/2018).
- Nilay Patel, The Verge
- Vlad Savov, The Verge
- Ben Schoon, 9to5 Google
- Mark Spoonauer, tom’s guide