The snappy-happy winter season is here and people can’t get enough of their cameras. But with a great number of popular releases this year who is the definite camera king is the question on everyone’s mind.
Don’t worry we are going to make the choice easier for you. This time round instead of rounding up all the competitors we are only going to look at the most anticipated and coveted phones of the year, Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max and Google’s Pixel 8 Pro.
There are so many questions to consider. Which phone nails photos in low light and night? Are there cool camera features, apps, and shooting modes that set them apart? Which one is friendlier on the wallet? Which one provides the best overall daily experience? And, of course, selfie addicts – which one’s got the better front camera? But lastly and most importantly, which one is the clear winner of the two?
In this piece, we’ll provide you with a complete roundup of these powerhouses in terms of specs, performance, and unique features while answering all the questions that have been bothering you for quite some time (We can tell). Read on, to find out more.
Why These Two Phones?
The competition was tough but no one could deny that these two flagships are miles ahead of the Samsung S23 Ultra and other popular flagships in terms of sensors, image processing, and features. For a third competitor, we would have to wait and see whether the Samsung S24 Ultra (releasing next month) can compete with these beasts but for now, no tech guru and enthusiast can deny that these are the two best camera phones available in the market.
Specifications
Google has made pretty big upgrades to the Pixel 8 Pro to compete with the flagships and it would not be wrong to say that it is miles ahead of its predecessor.
For the Pixel 8 Pro, the main sensor is a 50MP classy monster with an f/1.7 aperture and a 25mm lens and the telephoto camera is a 48MP giant with an f/2.8 aperture and 5x optical zoom. However, the star of the show is the 48MP ultrawide sensor that comes with an f/2.0 aperture and a 126-degree field of view (FoV).
Apple has also made considerable improvements in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. But like always they might not look as impressive on paper as they are in real-world experience. The biggest disappointment is they are still not a generational leap above their predecessors. If Apple wanted, they could obliterate the competition in no time, but then again how will they sell the next iPhone?
For the 15 Pro Max, the main sensor is a 48MP powerhouse with f/1.8 aperture and a 24mm lens. The telephoto sensor is a 12MP class act with f/2.8 aperture and 3x optical zoom, and the ultrawide camera is a 12MP mediocrity with f/2.2 with a 120-degree FoV. The best new rendition this year is the TrueDepth selfie camera is 12MP with f/1.9, which is truly in a league of its own.
Pixel 8 Pro Vs. iPhone 15 Pro
Features, Apps, Shooting Modes, and Image Quality
Both phones are very close in terms of user-friendliness, reliability, and performance. The main party starts where the native apps add a distinctive flavor to the mix.
For instance, this time around Google has completely changed the name of the game. Gone are the days of those chunky and ugly-looking professional cameras. Now, you can simply do it all and more from the palm of your hand. It is one of those phones that fully justifies the “Pro” moniker.
Google has introduced a new “Pro” mode in the latest release that gives access to a wide variety of manual shooting parameters. From shutter speed and white balance to ISO and focus peaking for manual focusing, the user can adjust the frame as per his liking. The best part is with each new update this feature is only going to improve and who knows we might get a “Pro” mode for video as well.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max on the other hand has no such pro features that let you customize or play with the camera but they do have a feature where you can sharpen up the frames via exposure compensation option. The iPhone also has the additional advantage of automatic portrait recognition that detects living beings on its own. Besides this sadly, the iPhone has nothing much to offer in terms of new features.
Wait! The road does end here as Pixel offers additional interesting features such as Action Pan and Long Exposure for creative blur effects. It has a selectable night mode to capture low-light images and uses AI wizardry for editing. Furthermore, the Magic Editor and Best Take editing tools are far superior to their Samsung and Xiaomi competitors. Now, what more can we say? No brand can compete with such a featured-packed camera without introducing some generational leaps in their lineup.
Lastly, for a secure and reliable overall camera and cloud storage experience, we would advise you to sign up for a secure internet connection to protect your precious memories and collateral at all times. You never know when an attacker can gain unauthorized access to your data.
For this purpose, we suggest looking for a secure and dependable internet provider such as Xfinity in your area as it is your best bet to avoid such inconvenient incursions. With its double-layered in-built advanced security features all attacks and threats will be instantly neutralized. For more information, you can contact the Xfinity customer service team to sign up for the plan of your choice today.
Dollars and Sense
Let’s talk budget: Which one’s friendlier to your wallet?
Remember, it’s not just the upfront cost but the long-term value. So, with the latest changes in Google updates for the Pixel series and its relatively lower price, it is clearly the better option.
Daily Life with These Phones
I have used both phones simultaneously for more than a month now and it would be safe to say that while enjoy the overall iPhone experience more; the Pixel takes the edge in terms of picture quality, image processing, zoom, and low light imaging.
Contrarily, the iPhone has a better portrait mode and it is the only time when its yellowish hue makes you look more natural and not like a zombie, which unfortunately is the case with the Pixel 8 Pro. Likewise, the iPhone is a much better option for selfies and videos due to the additional “ProRes” option.
Final Verdict
This brings us to the final verdict and most of you already know it.
(Drum Sound) (Bada Bing Bong) (More Drum Sound)
And the winner of this year’s camera wars is undeniably the Pixel 8 Pro.
References:
https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/google-pixel-8-pro-vs-iphone-15-pro-camera-comparison
https://mashable.com/article/iphone-15-pro-max-vs-pixel-8-pro-camera
https://amateurphotographer.com/round-ups/camera_round_ups/google-pixel-8-pro-vs-iphone-15-pro-max-cameras-compared/ https://www.tomsguide.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s24-ultra
