AppleInsider Staff
Comparing the iPhone XS Max's camera to the shooter on Google's Pixel 3 XL is a bit unfair, given the iPhone has a telephoto lens and costs $200 more. The iPhone XR has a single lens camera, just like the Pixel 3 XL, and it's actually $150 cheaper than Google's flagship, but will that work in the Pixel 3 XL's favor?
The Blind Test
There's been a lot of talk claiming the Pixel 3's camera is the best in the business, though our earlier test against the iPhone XS Max suggested otherwise. The change in cameras from two to one in the iPhone XR gives another opportunity for Google to claw its imaging credentials back when put against Apple's latest iPhone.
In this blind A-B test, there are 15 images shot with each phone. If you want to play along, make a note of which images you prefer from each pair. The devices are identified below the gallery, so be careful if you don't want to spoil the surprise.
For all of the photographs in the blind test, image A was from the iPhone XR, while image B was taken on the Pixel 3 XL.
A Closer Look
While image preferences are largely subjective and can differ between people, in my case I found I like the Google Pixel 3 XL photographs better overall. Here's why.
In this first photo, the iPhone just lacks contrast and looks a little bit too warm. The story's exactly the same in this photo. As for this one, the Pixel completely bombed the white balance, making it unrealistically blue.
One interesting thing is that the Pixel automatically crops in 2x while taking portrait photos, which also adds more blur and makes the background look more compressed.
Here, the Pixel is still too blue, and prefer the blur edging more on the iPhone.
In this one, the iPhone looks a lot more natural, but the Pixel did better job at bringing the shadows up.
In this coffee shop, the white balance is better on the iPhone, but the Pixel 3 XL produced sharper detail.
Here, the Pixel 3 messed up the white balance, but in the opposite direction. It's now way too orange.
In this shot where we zoomed in as close as we could, the Pixel got closer and looked more detailed, despite the aggressive noise reduction.
In this one, we actually framed the shot the same by getting closer on the iPhone XR, since you can't zoom in with a portrait photo, and it really showed the difference in compression. Because of this, the Pixel looks better.
In this selfie photo, the iPhone XR looks better because the face and background are brighter and the colors really pop.
Here, the iPhone's photo just looks really dull, which is honestly what it looked like in real life, but the Pixel 3's photo is more pleasing to the eye.
Zooming in, the Pixel could get closer and you can see more detail on the sign as well. Definitely a win for Google's flagship here.
Now testing dynamic range, the Pixel actually blows out the brightest part of the sky, and I myself am darker than I am on the iPhone. The roof itself is way too blue on the pixel, so that's a win for the iPhone.
This photo basically illustrates the fact that you can't take portrait photos of objects on the iPhone XR, which is really unfortunate because of how great the blur looks on the Pixel.
And finally, we see the same thing here. The Pixel's photo just looks so much better with the blur.
In conclusion, the iPhone did a much better job with white balance accuracy, but it wasn't enough to beat the Pixel 3 XL because that phone crops in 2x for portrait mode photos. The cropping makes the background look less compressed because you have to stand farther away.
You can't zoom in before taking a portrait photo on iPhone XR, though you can crop in in post. Not everyone is willing to do that, however.
The Pixel 3 XL is also able to take portrait photos of objects, making those shots look so much better.
Not only that, but the iPhone's photos lack contrast, making the Pixel's photos look more detailed.
Overall, we've got to give the win to the Pixel 3 XL.
If you want the best in photo quality, the iPhone XS Max performed better than the Pixel 3 XL in our photo and video tests. The extra telephoto lens not only improves blur edging, but adds compression to portrait photos and improves zoom quality.
Deals on the iPhone XR and Google Pixel 3 XL
If you haven't already ordered Apple's iPhone XR, wireless carriers are incentivizing the purchase. Want to get your hands on a new device asap? eBay sellers are also shipping units now.
Carrier deals:
- AT&T Wireless: Buy one iPhone XR, get a second $700 off when you add a line.
- Verizon Wireless: Buy an iPhone XR and get a save up to $300 with a qualifying trade.
- Sprint: Get the 64GB iPhone XR for $0 per month with eligible trade-in and Sprint Flex lease.
- T-Mobile: Save up to $390 on the iPhone XR with an eligible iPhone trade.
Those interested in purchasing the Google Pixel 3 XL can save up to $300 with an eligible trade at Verizon Wireless.
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36 Comments
How come all the photos, except the one with the guy and his dark jacket, are all three feet nearer when taken with the Google phone? Hardly a fair like-for-like comparision, the shots are different. All the images looked good, some better than others. 50-50 with me, but it's great that we have such tech in small packages.
There's not much in this at all. Considering the P3 is supposed to be head and shoulders ahead as the best camera I thought it was only really better on about 60% of the shots. I'm pleasantly surprised at the results from the XR which I expected to be totally outclassed.
Firstly, thanks for a fun article.
My scoring was 7 to the iPhone and 4 to the Pixel, with a draw on the car park photo (I actually thought they were both pretty poor but the article suggests that's what the conditions were).
I was left wanting to be sure if the girl in the coat swapped coats and, presuming not, was the coat black or blue? The iPhone looks black (though the colour picker reports RGB as 85/85/102 which has a blue cast) whilst the Pixel gets 45/48/107 which is a definite blue. I presume that the Pixel blew the colour balance to an extent that I'd find the photo to be faulty; the subject might or might not like the pale look of her skin tone but, in isolation, I would have seen that as a 'style' (but she's not going to be happy if that's a new black coat!).
I think it's a split. I preferred the XR photos in certain cases where you gave the win to the Pixel, so I think it's fairly subjective.