AppleInsider has already run a number of tests on Google's new Pixel 3 XL to compare it with Apple's iPhone XS Max, and so far the XS Max has better performance while the Pixel 3 XL has better audio reproduction. Now it's time to compare the cameras, and see which flagship smartphone can take the best photos. Before we start the comparison, let's talk about the cameras. The XS Max has dual 12-megapixel cameras on the back while the Pixel 3 has only a single 12.2-megapixel sensor. Interestingly the roles are reversed on the front-end, with dual 8-megapixel cameras on the Pixel 3 and a single 7MP camera on the XS Max. Thanks to the dual-camera arrangement out front, the Pixel 3 can shoot wider selfies. The iPhone XS Max has a new Smart HDR feature that brought huge improvements in HDR compared to the iPhone X. Google showed off some really impressive low-light HDR photos in its Pixel 3 unveiling, which should give Apple a bit of a challenge. Detail Comparison Let's start off the comparison with some photographs comparing detail. In this first scene, both photos look very detailed and it's hard to notice any differences, except that the sky and some leaves in front of it are blown out on the Pixel 3, but on the XS Max the leaves aren't blown out and you can see some blue in the sky. The story is the same for this photo, except that the Pixel 3 seems a bit too blue compared to real life. Cropping in, the XS Max seems to be slightly more detailed. Pixel 3 XL (left), iPhone XS Max (right) photo detail test Since the XS Max has a telephoto lens, it has a huge advantage for zoom shots. You can zoom in much further on the XS Max, and there's a huge difference in detail as well. Just look at how soft the bark and pine needles are on that tree with the Pixel. Pixel 3 XL (left), iPhone XS Max (right) wide vs telephoto zoom In this scene, we like how the XS Max exposed the image brighter overall, and it seems as if the Pixel added in too much contrast. If we crop in, we can see that the detail is actually very similar, but the added contrast makes the Pixel look more detailed. Here, the XS Max did a much better job at white balance, with the Pixel being too blue. If we crop in really close, we can barely tell that the Pixel 3 has a tiny bit more detailed than the XS Max. In this scene, we also like how the XS Max's image is better exposed. The Pixel's photo just looks dark in comparison. Pixel 3 XL (left), iPhone XS Max (right) testing exposure on trees The XS Max isn't blowing out as much of the sky in this macro shot, but it is lacking contrast overall, making the image look really flat. On the other hand, the Pixel has a lot of contrast, maybe too much, making it start to look a bit too dark. We decided to test out the selfie cameras to see how wide the Pixel 3's dual-camera wide mode is, and it certainly lives up to the name. We think this is actually a really great feature since a lot of people love taking group selfies. While testing, we spotted a rabbit and decided to zoom in as close as we could with both phones. The XS Max can zoom in a lot closer, and because of that, it's a little bit less detailed, but it's definitely nice to get a closer look. Pixel 3 XL (left), iPhone XS Max (right) at maximum zoom Macro Shots and Lens Differences Now let's look at some close-up macro shots to compare detail. Starting with this shot of a rock, we notice a huge difference in white balance. Just like before, the Pixel is shooting too blue. The XS Max is definitely more accurate, but it's slightly too warm as well. As for detail, you can decide for yourself, but we think the XS Max is a bit more detailed. 11 In this macro shot, the XS Max is definitely lacking contrast, making it look a bit dull and less detailed. We definitely prefer the Pixel's image here. Here, we're seeing the same white balance differences. The Pixel is way too blue and the XS Max is a bit too warm, but still more accurate to real life. Both look pretty similar in terms of detail. Now the XS Max also has the telephoto lens, allowing you to get really close to the subject, I mean really close. You just can't get this type of shot with the Pixel 3. Pixel 3 XL (left), iPhone XS Max (right) wide macro photo detail Not only that, but the telephoto is great for photos of cars. Here's a shot of a truck with the Pixel 3. Because of the wide angle lens, the truck is obviously distorted. Pixel 3 XL wide lens shot of a truck Now here's a shot with the telephoto lens on the XS Max. The truck looks true to life and nothing is distorted. You can also see a lot less of the background as well, making it look nicer. iPhone XS Max telephoto lens shot of the same truck It has the same effect for portrait photos of people. With the Pixel 3's wide lens, the face is distorted, but the proportions of the face are far more accurate on the XS Max. Dynamic Range Compared Now let's move onto dynamic range, starting out with a very difficult situation. As you can see, the XS Max is the clear winner. Not only is the sky less blown out, but the face is much brighter as well. If we crop in, we can see just how dark the Pixel exposes the face. Pixel 3 XL (left), iPhone XS Max (right) showing dynamic range differences We see the same exact results in this portrait photo, but you can definitely tell that the XS Max is lacking some contrast. Now for a portrait selfie, the Pixel 3 XL actually does quite well in terms of dynamic range, but it's got a little bit too much contrast, crushing the detail in the hair and under the eyes, but the XS Max could honestly use a little bit more contrast. We see the same exact thing here in this portrait selfie, except that the XS Max does a better job with dealing with flaring. In terms of white balance, the Pixel 3 actually was more accurate here. Pixel 3 XL (left), iPhone XS Max (right) self portrait dynamic range under sunlight Now here's a wide shot of a waterfall. Both do great for dynamic range, but we love the exposure of the XS Max, as it's brighter and just looks better overall. Not only that but the the white balance is more accurate. The waterfall has a noticeable blue tint on the Pixel 3. Pixel 3 XL (left), iPhone XS Max (right) dynamic range of a waterfall scene We noticed the exact same differences in this photo, except that the Pixel 3 had way too much contrast, making it look really dark. Not only that but if look at the sky near the sun, it's less blown out on the XS Max. In this scene, there is a massive difference in dynamic range. The sky is way less blown out, and there's much more detail in the shadows as well. Interestingly, there's quite a bit of noise on the Pixel 3's image. The only issue with the XS Max is the extreme lack of contrast, making it look flat. Pixel 3 XL (left), iPhone XS Max (right) dynamic range, with a person as the subject Finally, let's see if that impressive dynamic range translates to panorama photos as well. Here's the shot on the Pixel 3. The sky is blown out and I look quite a bit dark. Pixel 3 XL panorama shot to test dynamic range Now on the XS Max, you can see almost all of the detail in the sky, and I look a lot better exposed. Not only that, but there's much more detail compared to the Pixel 3. Dynamic range test for a panorama on the iPhone XS Max Portrait Photo Comparison Moving on to Portrait photos, we tested a very harshly lit scene, and the XS Max actually did a great job of bringing up the shadows for a properly exposed face. The Pixel had a lot of contrast, yet again. Pixel 3 XL (left), iPhone XS Max (right) portrait shot with bright sunlight on the face In this shot, both phones do a great job at blur edging, but the Pixel's white balance is way too blue, as you can see in the waterfall. We see the exact same issue in this shot, but both phones do great with blur edging. Pixel 3 XL (left), iPhone XS Max (right) portrait shots at default blur Now the XS Max gets a feature that isn't available on the Pixel: depth control. You can easily adjust the depth from F16 to a F1.4, adding in a lot of extra blur. Adjusting the Portrait Depth Control on the iPhone XS Max Here's the same image at F2.8, and now at F1.4. As you can see, there's a lot of extra blur, but it makes any issues with blur edging more visible, such as around the ear. In this extreme portrait mode test, the Pixel 3 does a much better job compared to the XS Max, which missed huge chunks out of the center. Pixel 3 XL (left), iPhone XS Max (right) extreme portrait test using pine needles Low Light Photo Comparison Finally, transitioning into low light, the iPhone XS Max wasn't able to take a portrait photo without using flash, because the telephoto lens has an F2.4 aperture compared to F1.7 on the Pixel 3's wide lens, which lets in more light. Using the flash, the Pixel 3 XL tops the XS Max in basically every single way. It seems like the XS Max was trying not to blow out the bulb in the background, but it looks much worse. Pixel 3 XL (left), iPhone XS Max (right) low light portrait photo with flash Taking a photo with the wide lenses, the Pixel 3 again looks much better than the XS Max, which looks really dark and flat. We like how the Pixel 3 is able to bring out the colors. In this wide shot, the XS Max does a better job at exposing the face, but it blows out a little bit more of the bricks above the lamp. The white balance on the XS Max is more accurate as well. Pixel 3 XL (left), iPhone XS Max (right) low light photo Now with flash, the XS Max completely ruins this photo by flashing way too bright for the conditions. The Pixel actually limited the brightness of the flash to get an incredibly good overall exposure for the whole photo. On the front-end, we're seeing the exact opposite results. The Pixel 3 flashed way too bright and it looks very blue, whereas the XS Max does a great job here. Pixel 3 XL (left), iPhone XS Max (right) low light selfie with flash Now heading outside and zooming in at a nearby building, we can easily tell that the Pixel's photo is better. The XS Max just lacks contrast and it's very noisy. For our final shot, we can see that the XS Max again lacks contrast and just looks a bit flat. The Pixel 3 is able to bring out the colors and the added contrast makes it look more detailed. Pixel 3 XL (left), iPhone XS Max (right) low light sunrise Pixel 3 XL vs XS Max: Which phone takes better photos? After looking at all of those photos, let's discuss what we noticed. First off, the added telephoto lens on the XS Max is really nice for a number of situations, like photos of people, cars and times when you need to zoom in. Rear-facing cameras of the iPhone XS Max (left), Pixel 3 XL (right)<doc-sep>2018 brought us three new iPhones: The iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR. Even though each of these devices is now over 2 years old, they all remain desirable smartphones, and are a great option for anyone who wants a powerful iPhone without having to spend a small fortune. Although confusing at first, the differences between the three are clear once you examine them closely, so let’s put Apple’s three still-desirable phones up against each other to see which one is the recommended buy. If you’re the indecisive type and are looking for our reviews, check out our iPhone XS review, iPhone XS Max review, and iPhone XR review. Specs iPhone XS iPhone XS Max iPhone XR Size 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7mm (5.65 x 2.79 x 0.30 inches) 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm (6.20 x 3.05 x 0.30 inches) 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 inches) Weight 177 grams (6.24 ounces) 208 grams (7.34 ounces) 194 grams (6.84 ounces) Screen size 5.8-inch Super Retina HD OLED True Tone display 6.5-inch Super Retina HD OLED True Tone display 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD True Tone display Screen resolution 2436 x 1125 pixels (458 pixels per inch) 2688 x 1242 pixels (458 pixels per inch) 1792 x 828 pixels (326 pixels per inch) Operating system iOS 14 iOS 14 iOS 14 Storage space 64GB, 256GB, 512GB 64GB, 256GB, 512GB 64GB, 128GB, 256GB MicroSD card slot No No No Tap-to-pay services Apple Pay Apple Pay Apple Pay Processor Apple A12 Bionic Apple A12 Bionic Apple A12 Bionic RAM 4GB 4GB 3GB Camera Dual 12MP (with dual OIS) rear, 7MP TrueDepth front camera Dual 12MP (with dual OIS) rear, 7MP TrueDepth front camera 12MP (with dual OIS) rear, 7MP TrueDepth front camera Video 4K at 24, 30, or 60 fps. 1080p at 30, or 60 fps. OIS. 4K at 24, 30, or 60 fps. 1080p at 30, or 60 fps. OIS. 4K at 24, 30, or 60 fps. 1080p at 30, or 60 fps. OIS. Bluetooth version Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth 5.0 Ports Lightning connector Lightning connector Lightning connector Fingerprint sensor No No No Water resistance IP68 IP68 IP67 Battery 2,658mAh Fast charge capable (Additional charger needed) Qi wireless charging 3,174mAh Fast charge capable (Additional charger needed) Qi wireless charging 2,942mAh Fast charge capable (Additional charger needed) Qi wireless charging App marketplace Apple App Store Apple App Store Apple App Store Network support T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint Colors Silver, space gray, gold Silver, space gray, gold White, black, blue, yellow, coral, (Product) Red Price $1,000+ $1,100+ $750+ Review score 4.5 out of 5 stars 4 out of 5 stars 4.5 out of 5 stars Performance, battery life, and charging If you’re expecting to split the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR on performance, it’s not going to happen. All three models use the same A12 Bionic processor, and the iPhone XS versions have the same internal storage options of 64GB, 256GB, or 512GB. The iPhone XR comes with either 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB. There is a slight difference in the RAM — both the XS and XS Max have 4GB, while the XR makes do with 3GB. That means the more expensive iPhones should be a touch better at juggling multiple apps and games, but you’ll have to be a heavy multitasker to benefit and we don’t expect much of a noticeable difference. If you’re upgrading from an older iPhone, then you should know the A12 Bionic was and still is a powerhouse. It was the first mobile processor built using a 7nm process to go on sale (sorry, Huawei), and contains six cores which split the workload depending on power requirements, and was claimed to be 15 percent faster than the previous generation while using 40 percent less energy. You won’t be left wanting more power using any of these iPhone models, despite their age. There’s not one clear winner in the battery department either, as Apple’s quoted use times vary. Let’s look at talk time first. The iPhone XS should last for 20 hours, the iPhone XS Max for 25 hours, as should the iPhone XR. Our review of the iPhone XR found that it actually outlasts even the XS Max by a touch, making it seriously good value for money. All three have wireless charging using the Qi standard, and fast charging, too, provided you buy Apple’s fast charger. Only a standard slow charger comes in the box. With the fast charger, a flat battery will zip to 50-percent capacity in 30 minutes. While none of these phones will last much longer than a day, or a day and a half if you’re careful, the iPhone XR comes out with the best results. There isn’t enough difference here to pick a winner, so we’re calling this category a tie. Winner: Tie Design and durability Here’s where the differences between the three start to show. The 5.8-inch 2017 iPhone X, and therefore the iPhone XS, is considered to be just about the right size for most hands — big or small. However, if you have been used to an iPhone Plus model, it may seem a little small, and if you’re coming from an even larger Android phone, it’ll feel positively cramped at first. The iPhone XS Max is much bigger, and we note in our review it’s ideal for watching video and playing games. However, if you’ve got small hands, you may want to hold one before buying just to make sure. It’s also heavy at 208 grams, compared to the 177-gram iPhone XS. The two XS phones look the same, with a glass body, an IP68 water-resistance rating, a metal chassis, a notch above the screen, and a dual-lens vertically mounted camera on the back. It’s only the size that separates them. The iPhone XR fits in the middle. It’s 194 grams, has an IP67 water-resistance rating, a colorful glass back, and slightly thicker bezels around the screen. The notch stays though. None of the phones have a headphone jack or a fingerprint sensor. Apple’s Face ID is used on all three. Which wins? The iPhone XS is the best mix here, although if you’ve used the iPhone X and felt it was too small, the XS Max is the same deal just bigger. While the iPhone XR is impressive, and we love the new colors, it doesn’t quite match the class of the XS and XS Max. Winner: iPhone XS Display The iPhone XS is the smallest of the three with a 5.8-inch Super Retina HD OLED panel with a 2436 x 1125-pixel resolution. The iPhone XS Max has a whopping 6.5-inch version of the same panel, this time with a 2688 x 1242-pixel resolution. The iPhone XR sits in-between with a 6.1-inch screen, but here it’s an LCD panel Apple calls a Liquid Retina HD display. The resolution is 1792 x 828 pixels, which we consider a little low for a modern smartphone. The contrast level is also different on the iPhone XR due to the use of LCD rather than OLED. The iPhone XR also misses out on the 3D Touch feature, and although it does use a shortcut system that uses haptic feedback, it won’t be quite the same as the full version on the XS models. That said, iOS 14 killed off 3D Touch, so this is no longer really an issue. While Apple says the LCD on the iPhone XR is one of the very best, and we call it “excellent” in our review; rarely do LCD panels surpass OLED panels when it comes to the viewing experience, whether it’s navigating the operating system or watching videos. The contrast, black levels, and bright colors will make the iPhone XS and XS Max the ones to go for if viewing pleasure is high on your list of requirements. We’ll choose an OLED screen over an LCD each time, especially with the higher resolution. The only decision then is about the size. Winners: iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max Camera The dual-lens camera on the iPhone XS and XS Max is exactly the same. Whichever you choose, you get a dual 12-megapixel f/1.8 aperture wide-angle, and f/2.4 aperture telephoto lenses, which provide a 2x optical zoom and portrait mode bokeh shots. Apple has improved the bokeh mode and the HDR feature on the iPhone XS models over the previous versions. Video can be shot in 4K at up to 60 fps. Around the front is a 7-megapixel, f/2.2 aperture TrueDepth camera for selfies, complete with portrait mode, and support for creating Animoji and Memoji. It also includes the necessary hardware for Face ID. The iPhone XR has the same front camera, but a single-lens 12-megapixel camera on the back, with an f/1.8 aperture and no optical zoom. It does have a software-driven portrait mode though, and optical image stabilization, plus the new Smart HDR feature. Think of the iPhone XR like the iPhone 8 as it compares to the old iPhone 8 Plus. Still a good camera; but keen photographers will lust after the dual-lens iPhone XS models. That being said, we do think its Portrait Mode is better in low light over the iPhone XS. Winners: iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max Software and updates All three new iPhone models use iOS 14, and will be eligible for a free upgrade to future versions for several more years. Because all three use the same processor, we doubt there will be much difference in performance, although the bigger the screen the more suited it will be for gaming. Winner: Tie Special features There are no real surprises in this department. All three iPhones have the same TrueDepth camera for FaceID and Animoji fun. In addition to the extra camera lens, the XS and XS Max have more Portrait Lighting options on the rear camera — five over the three on the XR. Winners: iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max Price Here’s where things really change. The cheapest of these iPhones is the iPhone XR, which started at $750, with the 256GB model going for $900. The iPhone XS is the next up and starts at $1,000, while the 512GB version costs $1,350. The iPhone XS Max is the most expensive at $1,100, but you could spend $1,450 if you splash out on the 512GB version. You can likely find all three models online for cheaper than their official retail prices. Overall winner: Apple iPhone XS Which is the best iPhone? Easily the iPhone XS. Which one should you buy? The iPhone XR. It’s cheaper, has all the key features from the XS and XS Max, though the LCD screen isn’t as nice and there’s no dual-lens camera. The Portrait Mode is still excellent, and we think it’s all the phone most people need. If the price isn’t a concern, then go for the iPhone XS. iPhone XR: iPhone XS: Editors' Recommendations<doc-sep>
In this installment of AppleInsider's iPhone XS Max versus Google Pixel 3 XL comparison series, we take an in-depth look at video recording capabilities, from overall image quality to value-added features like stabilization and autofocus. Both the iPhone XS Max and Pixel 3 XL have optical image stabilization on their rear-cameras, but we noticed something interesting with the Pixel 3. With digital video stabilization enabled, it crops in around 25 percent, meaning a good portion of the sensor is not being used. Capturing 16:9 video on a 12.2MP sensor in a 4:3 pixel arrangement should use just over 8.3MP, which basically matches 4K resolution perfectly. If that same sensor is being cropped 25 percent, the camera could be shooting as little as 2.8K resolution and upscaling it to 4K; it's not shooting true 4K like the iPhone XS Max. Even though the Pixel 3 XL has the same Snapdragon 845 processor as the Galaxy Note 9, OnePlus 6 and other phones, it can't shoot in 4K at 60 frames per second like those handsets. We are not sure why Google chose to exclude this feature, but our benchmark performance comparison showed the Pixel 3's processor is clocked slower than competing Snapdragon smartphones. Comparing 4K 30p on the Pixel 3 to 4K 60p on the XS Max, there's a lack of contrast on the Pixel, making the XS Max look more detailed. If you look at the waterfall below, you can tell the white balance is way too blue, just as we saw in our photo comparison. Comparing iPhone XS Max and Pixel 3 XL video quality. We tested audio quality using the front-facing camera and found the XS Max was loud, clear and the device capably reduced the noise of the waterfall. The Pixel 3 XL sounded tinny, quiet and overwhelmed by the noise of the waterfall. The iPhone XS Max is also able to record 1080p selfie video at 60 frames per second compared to only 30fps on the Pixel 3. Next up, we tested the autofocus by panning the camera between the waterfall and a face. One thing we instantly noticed is that the Pixel 3 XL's footage had a very noticeable jello effect when changing directions. Many digital cameras use what is called a rolling shutter to capture images, a process that significantly alleviates hardware and processing requirements. The byproduct, however, is the introduction of image artifacts like skewing and the aforementioned jello effect. While examining the footage frame by frame, the Pixel 3 XL was first to catch focus on the face three times, while the XS Max was first three times as well. In each instance, both phones found focus within a couple of frames, so they're basically identical in terms of autofocus speed. We then tested rear-facing stabilization in 4K at 30 frames per second. Even with the 25 percent crop on the Pixel 3 XL, the iPhone XS Max still had noticeably better stabilization, so that's a double win for the iPhone. iPhone XS Max and Pixel 3 XL video at 4K 30fps. The Pixel 3 XL allows users to enable or disable front-side stabilization. The XS Max has no toggle for turning off stabilization, it just works all the time. With video stabilization enabled on both devices, we saw the XS Max outperform, with the background shifting noticeably less than on the Pixel 3. Not only that, but the Pixel 3 XL focused on the background shortly after starting the clip and it never regained focus on the face. The XS Max was perfectly sharp and in focus the entire time. iPhone XS Max and Pixel 3 XL selfie stabilization. We then tested detail and HDR while standing still. With the Pixel 3 XL now in focus, we were able to see noticeably more detail on the iPhone XS Max. In terms of HDR, both did similarly well, except slightly more of the trees in the background were blown out on the iPhone. Testing HDR on the rear-facing cameras, the XS Max was able to bring up the shadows in the trees and bring out more color than on the Pixel 3 XL. When shifting from the sky to the waterfall, the XS Max transitioned the exposure better than the Pixel, which kept the scene a bit underexposed. iPhone XS Max and Pixel 3 XL HDR comparison. We also tested macro video quality on a leaf and the Pixel lacked contrast, making it look a lot less detailed than the XS Max.