Camera Comparison: iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Pixel 8 Pro

[CapitalIdea]

I prefer the iPhone photos for the most part, but that is because I am familiar with many of these places and have seen them with my own eyes. Things that “look dark” are actually representative of the dingy concrete of the Empire State Building for example. The taxi photo is tougher, because it really depends on if the car was recently washed, but the pixel seems closer to what the natural color is on a sunny day.

 

[jz0309]

Which images do you prefer? iPhone 15 Pro Max or Pixel 8 Pro?

we are looking at compressed images (.jpg) that were computationally "enhanced" on a website that further compresses said .jpp. so I for one cannot tell which one is "better" as I have not been at the location.
To me, both are capable smartphone cameras.

 

[zweigand]

They all look good. I think the consensus here is that people tend to prefer brighter photos. Google's pipeline shoots out brighter overall photos most of the time.

 

[klasma]

They’re both just smartphone snapshots. Either one is fine.

Yes, and by that same measure you also don’t really need the Pro.

 

[hoodafoo]

Always the bridesmaid never the bride, I wonder if iPhone can ever catch up to Pixel's camera

 

[Mark.g4]

iPhone do better shots (imho):

1) black on Pixel 8 are grey: take a look at the top of the car.
2) shadows on Pixel 8 are too bright: take a look at clouds in the sky.
3) pixel have less contrast: take a look at indoor shot.

 

[Fuzzball84]

There is so much processing at so many levels… this is the state of cameras on phones now…

It can be a good thing most of the time. But for die hard photographers… a purpose DSLR is the only way to go…

 

[Jensend]

Don't know if it's the settings, but the black point seems elevated on all the Pixel shots, leaving them looking washed out from a lack of contrast. It's hard to believe it would look like that by default. And the iPhone shots look a little too dark and contrasty, although I'd prefer that in most cases if I had to choose.

The Pixel has a separate shadow exposure slider in its camera app. I do wish you could tweak the default setting, though. Or, even better, maybe store all the data that's captured so you can decide in post.

 

[surfzen21]

Comparing pictures side by side without actually being there in person doesn't work. No one knows what those scenes actually look like to an objective naked eye.

The best I can say is that the pics of NY look more accurate on the iPhone than the pixel. Pixel seems to add a lot of blue that probably isn't there if you were viewing the sky in person.

Secondly, I have a few of those snake plants with the yellow border and the iPhone 15 is way more accurate in terms of color temp and saturation. I decided to put one of my plants on my desk to compare. The iPhone accurately reflects the true color of the yellow where as the pixel is dull and washed out. But my plants are healthy. I suppose if that plant is unhealthy then the pixel is more accurate.

 

[dynAdZ]

If you like a bit more Pixel-like colors, set your photographic style to Vibrant. I really enjoy Vibrant or High Contrast, depending on the scenery.

 

[roeiz]

i think all the 15's photos look much more accurate.. no??
i total win

 

[contacos]

Pixel looks much better to me in those examples and I can’t even tell the difference between my iPhone 11, 12 Pro Max and 15 Plus besides the zoom levels 😅

 

[LoveToMacRumors]

Pixel 8 pro better in most cases

 

[HiRez]

the fact that Samsung zoom is just way better

It depends what you're shooting. If you need a 10X focal length in good light, the Samsung zoom is better. If you want a 5X focal length and/or are shooting in lower light, the 15 Pro Max is going to be better. Remember the Samsung 10X is a much darker lens (ie. much smaller maximum aperture).

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Idk where you guys are seeing the better detail on the 15. The dark colors lose so much clarity on 15 compared to the Pixel.

 

[masotime]

This is one weird article. It talks about night shots, portraits at 5x, video and magic eraser, all interspersed with random images that are completely irrelevant to the talking points.

Why not show night shots, zoom portraits, videos and the magic eraser in action instead of these random photos?

 

[jsw]

I've had a decent run of having the latest or near-latest iPhones and Pixels for a while now, and after shooting lots of photos with each, it's always come down to the iPhone is better at these and the Pixel is better at those, but "these" and "those" switch around a lot as generations go by. A generation or two ago, the Pixel just plain out obliterated the iPhone at in-motion night shots (example: monorail at night at Walt Disney World), and the same-gen iPhone blew away the Pixel for most day shots. I look forward to the 8 Pro arriving shortly so I can compare with the 15 Pro Max and figure out - again - which phone to use when. The images in this article suggest to me that there will be definite times to use each.

But, as many have said, they're all - meaning any flagship - good enough for most people, most of the time, and they all can mess up at times. I'm enjoying the overall improvement over the years, but I've also been disappointed in just how much post-processing occurs by default. It leads too often to zoomed-in images having a watercolor look. I see that in the 15 Pro Max. I'm sure I'll see it in the 8 Pro.

 

[witchcult]

Damn, Pixel looks better to me. Also the magic editor options look pretty crazy.

 

[ctklein]

I'm clearly in the minority of people who really are struggling to fully like or get excited about the magic editor features these phones keep pushing. Like, when your picture is so edited to remove things and move subjects around and all that, its not even a real photo anymore? Nothing about it is real so you're saving a memory of something that didn't even exist/happen. Idk. Maybe in time I will grow to like it or welcome it but right now it doesn't elicit the excitement everyone else has.

 

[xgman]

At first glance I thought a win for pixel. Then looking closer again I thought, mostly a win for the iphone for a variety of reasons. However, clearly the iphone tends towards over saturation of colors which gets old fast.

 

[CarAnalogy]

It depends what you're shooting. If you need a 10X focal length in good light, the Samsung zoom is better. If you want a 5X focal length and/or are shooting in lower light, the 15 Pro Max is going to be better. Remember the Samsung 10X is a much darker lens (ie. much smaller maximum aperture).

Which kind of makes sense because you’re not going to be trying to shoot something very far away in dim light, can’t see it anyway.

I will say it looks closer this year and 5x seems to be best on the iPhone. And of course if you actually want video the iPhone is basically the only option, far better than the competition.

 

[s4d1k]

I have had an iPhone since 2007 but I must admit the Pixel pictures look better. It’s all about software post processing at this point, google won this game round.

 

[capamac]

I own a Nikon D3. It's a 2007 camera and it's gonna be 20 years before a smartphone can match it.

 

[Mity]

I always hate these kind of A/B samples because we weren't at the actual location so we can't tell what the lighting and colors were actually like. But they do provide enough info tell if something is generally "off." In this respect, I find the Pixel's pics look more natural looking - I prefer the Pixel.

 

[newton4000]

Sorry - this is a remarkably poorly done comparison. Glad he likes what he likes. Is this just a random guy? - there are better, more professional comparisons out there.