iPhone XS Max ranks fourth in DxOMark selfie camera rankings

DxOMark on Tuesday published its first-ever test rankings for smartphone selfie cameras, putting Apple's top-end phone, the iPhone XS Max, in just fourth place.

The XS Max "produces some of the best still image and video quality" under bright lighting, but does worse than rivals under dim conditions with bad noise and texture, DxO said. The product achieved an overall score of 82, barely avoiding a tie with Samsung's Galaxy S9 Plus.

Surpassing the Max were the Google Pixel 3 and Samsung Galaxy Note9, tied with 92, and the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 at 84. DxO observed that while the Pixel 3 shows superior focus technology, the Note9 generates better color and exposure results.

Most phone makers tend to deemphasize their front-facing cameras, working on the assumption that people shoot far more photos with rear-facing modules. That's in evidence with the XS Max, which for instance has twin 12-megapixel sensors on the rear — one for wide-angle shots, the other for telephoto — but a single 7-megapixel sensor on the front.

The XS and XS Max share the same camera technology, the only major differences between the phones being their screen size and resolution.

DxO has yet to rank the iPhone XR. It did however test 2017's iPhone X, assigning it a score of 71, below some other older smartphones such as the Pixel 2 and Galaxy S8.

Apple has long used photo and video quality as selling points, but improvements by Google and Samsung have made it harder to differentiate itself.

20 Comments

SpamSandwich 19 Years · 32917 comments

About 5 years ago

I still cannot accept “selfie” as a word. It’s for morons and children. “Self-portrait,” sure.

normang 17 Years · 118 comments

If I recall, DXO has not been overly friendly to Apple in regards to Camera scores, so I take this with a grain of salt.

knowitall 11 Years · 1648 comments

Why not take a self photo with the rear camera, works every time using a timer or just feel lucky trying.

AppleExposed 6 Years · 1805 comments

normang said:

If I recall, DXO has not been overly friendly to Apple in regards to Camera scores, so I take this with a grain of salt.

It's never been a reliable source. They were nobody until Google said they were.

There's also suspicion that DXO and Google had a contract behind the scenes.

gatorguy 13 Years · 24627 comments

AppleExposed said:

normang said:

If I recall, DXO has not been overly friendly to Apple in regards to Camera scores, so I take this with a grain of salt.

It's never been a reliable source. They were nobody until Google said they were.

There's also suspicion that DXO and Google had a contract behind the scenes.

What?? Never reliable until Google said they were? Do you FUD much or just taking advantage of a slow day.
Heck DxO's rankings of iPhone cameras have been promoted for years by the Apple faithful, and most readers here trusted that ranking. I didn't but I understand how it's done. Questions about it didn't start seriously here until a Google Pixel took top marks. Then suddenly they were "untrustworthy"?

Nothing has changed at DxO whether it's an iPhone on top when they said the iPhone 8 had the "best smartphone camera ev'a" a couple years ago, or a Pixel last year "setting a new record for smartphone camera quality!".

They've worked with manufacturers for over 15 years to improve and tune their cameras for best performance, using DxO's "secret recipe". Their first commercial product rolled out in 2003, DxO analyzer and since then they built on it to grow what was a pretty successful business with a good rep (they've now split into different companies), providing both software and consulting services to camera providers. Rankings are just a public display, a promotional benefit for clients.

They've almost certainly provided consulting and software services to Apple too, just as they have nearly every camera maker whose products have been included in their rankings. That's how Apple got on top in several rankings IMO. It takes more than just good design and engineering. Companies that don't use their services won't get the best test results because their camera's won't be tuned to perform best under DxO's test procedures. DxO for their part would say those procedures are the best way to test, and 100% valid. Their software just makes it easier for OEM's to get to the sweet spot.

There are no professional camera guys that I know who accept DxO rankings at face value. They make for a good guide, and the tests do sort good gear from bad gear, but whether you're one, two or three in the pecking order doesn't matter. If you want to promote you have a great camera DxO and their software solution is a good way to start.

When an iPhone is on top many Apple fans will promote it with "see I told ya so, we're number one!" and when they're not it's because DxO must'a been paid off. Nothing has changed year to year. It's still the same DxO selling camera/lens development and tuning software to make it happen no matter who they award "Best" to.