Galactic resolution or extensive pixels? Who for the time being makes the one real camera phone? We attach our contenders the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Google Pixel 7 Official, Xiaomi 13 Official and the Apple iPhone 14 Official Max to the take a look at to resolve the one real camera phone of the 365 days.
One in all basically the most inspiring criteria when buying a recent high-stop smartphone is positively the built-in camera. High-resolution camera lenses beget long modified into same earlier in Android telephones – and now in Apple devices, too. So this begs the quiz: Who has implemented the one real application algorithms?
The highly advanced pixel binning procedure, which mathematically enlarges the dimensions of a pixel and permits more mild and image recordsdata, is utilized by every single some of the telephones in our take a look at. Basically the most inaccurate case of this would possibly well furthermore be considered within the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, which makes consume of its 200-megapixel sensor ISOCELL HP2 to fuse as much as 16 particular person pixels into one extensive superpixel. The Google Pixel 7 Official, Xiaomi 13 Official and Apple iPhone 14 Official Max are procedure more conservative within the subject. Compared with the Samsung flagship, these devices consume grand bigger native pixels – the Korean manufacturer makes consume of very small 0.6-micrometre imaging models – but then only 4 pixels are blended into one optimized superpixel (4-in-1 binning).
We beget summarized the particular person camera modules’ specs within the next desk:
| Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | Google Pixel 7 Official | Xiaomi 13 Official | Apple iPhone 14 Official Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digicam setup: Assist | 200 MPix (f/1.7, OIS) | 50 MPix (f/1.85, 1/1.31″, OIS) | 50 MPix (f/1.9, 23mm, 1“, OIS) | Forty eight MPix (f/1.78, 1/1.28″, IOS) |
| Telephoto lens(es) | 10 MPix (f/2.4, 69 mm, OIS, 3x optical) + 10 MPix (f/4.9, 11°, 230 mm, OIS, 10x optical) | Forty eight MPix ( f/3.5, 1/2″, OIS, 5x optical) | 50 MPix (f/2.0, 75mm, OIS, 3,2x optical) | 12 MPix (f/1.78, 3x optical) |
| Ultra extensive attitude | 12 MPix (f/2.2, 13 mm, 120°) | 12 MPix (f/2.2, 115°) | 50 MPix (f/2.2, 14mm, 115°) | 12 MPix (f/2.8, 120°) |
| Digicam setup: Front | 12 MPix (f/2.2, 25 mm) | 10.8 MPix (f/2.2) | 32 MPix (f/2.0) | 12 MPix (f/1.9) |
| System model | S918BXXU1AWBD | TQ1A.221205.011 | 14.0.12 | 16.3 |
With your complete cameras on this take a look at, we beget made determined to make consume of them to their stout “intelligence” – i.e. with HDR and AI algorithms activated – to squeeze basically the most optimized result out of each phone mechanically. The photos don’t portray the resolution of each camera, instead, they are processed to 12 MP (Apple iPhone 14 Official Max), 12,5 MP (Google Pixel 7 Official, Xiaomi 13 Official, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra) or 50 MP photos (Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra). In the Xiaomi phone’s camera application, the Leica mode “vivid” modified into once chosen. To greater differentiate between the different telephones’ image small print, we beget saved the image file for every corresponding portray. To perceive this, click on “stout resolution”.
Please expose: This camera comparison fully specializes in pictures. An extra take a look at to compare the video quality of the telephones is coming quickly.
Speedy the many approaches taken by the different manufacturers grew to modified into barely noticeable in our take a look at. Google and namely Apple over-sharpened their photos seriously, whereas the Leica application on the Xiaomi softened photos a minute. Interestingly ample, the Xiaomi 13 Official managed to show lots more element in its photos despite its tender level of interest, that you can perceive within the inexperienced feather on the plant image – even supposing this customarily ended up looking out rather synthetic. The Chinese manufacturer’s Leica phone did very properly on the window portray, however, some areas were a minute overexposed. The iPhone 14 Official Max did nearly as properly in our take a look at photos – namely when it came to HDR optimization, the Apple application did a in actuality honest true job. The Pixel 7 Official did barely lots worse than the two beforehand talked about telephones. The Google phone’s photos were seriously lacking intimately and sharpness. Alternatively, it did a astronomical job of calibrating colours in its photos. Compared with our reference photos, the Galaxy S23 Ultra performed disappointingly badly. The consume of the 12.5-MP-binning mode, there modified into once a determined lack of sharpness in its photos.
Alternatively, the Korean manufacturer serene has one other trick up its sleeve – the novel 50-MP mode, which, care for its competitors, only combines 4 pixels collectively. To retain a undeniable stage of equity, we also included this mode in our take a look at – which left heaps of impressions. On this mode, the Galaxy S23 Ultra showed seriously greater image utter material and depth of field when in comparison with its competitors, however, we found it to be lacking some application optimizations. Especially the HDR effects labored seriously greater the consume of the 12.5-MP mode and the lights modified into once anything but ultimate the consume of the 50-MP mode.
Image Comparability
Clutch a scene and navigate inner the principle image. One click on changes the location on touchscreens. One click on on the zoomed-in image opens the new in a brand novel window. The first image exhibits the scaled portray of the take a look at application.
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Image Comparability
Clutch a scene and navigate inner the principle image. One click on changes the location on touchscreens. One click on on the zoomed-in image opens the new in a brand novel window. The first image exhibits the scaled portray of the take a look at application.
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In darker stipulations, Galaxy S23 Ultra users must potentially chorus from taking a 50-MP portray. Here, the typical 16-in-1 binning showed determined advantages. Despite the indisputable truth that there modified into once minute mild, we were lacking no element within the photos when in comparison with the Xiaomi 13 Official and iPhone 14 Official Max and the dynamics within the photos were also very inspiring. The Pixel 7 Official also performed very properly in our boulevard photos, but we found the white steadiness to be a ways too frigid. The Apple phone also struggled to plan shut the atmosphere of the boulevard scene with the yellow boulevard lights – the same goes for the plant image, which the iMobile phone 14 Official showed as purple rather then orange.
In defective lights stipulations, the Apple smartphone’s take a look at portray surely captured the one real vibe – at the same time, we would perceive a form of exposure considerations within the lighter parts of the portray. Even so, you would possibly perhaps well perchance perhaps serene identify the yell of the cobblestones properly. The Xiaomi 13 Official’s apartment portray lacked sharpness and coloration accuracy. The Galaxy S23 Ultra and Pixel 7 Official performed properly pondering the darkish stipulations.
Image Comparability
Clutch a scene and navigate inner the principle image. One click on changes the location on touchscreens. One click on on the zoomed-in image opens the new in a brand novel window. The first image exhibits the scaled portray of the take a look at application.
click on to load photos
Image Comparability
Clutch a scene and navigate inner the principle image. One click on changes the location on touchscreens. One click on on the zoomed-in image opens the new in a brand novel window. The first image exhibits the scaled portray of the take a look at application.
click on to load photos
Taking a take a study the extensive-attitude photos, the Galaxy S23 Ultra greatly surprised with its grand decrease sharpness ranges when in comparison with its competitors – this is correctly one thing that Samsung deserve to give a elevate to on, even supposing the Galaxy S13 Ultra did already show some yell when in comparison to the Galaxy S22 Ultra. We found that the Xiaomi 13 Official and the iPhone 14 Official Max did seriously greater than the most up-to-date Samsung flagship. The Pixel 7 Official also showed good sharpness for an extremely-extensive-attitude camera, however, the colors were now no longer constantly entirely elegant. In darker stipulations, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra edged in direction of the camera elite, but the colors within the boulevard portray weren’t barely trustworthy. Our licensed contender here modified into once the Xiaomi 13 Official – it managed to accurately plan shut mild and colour stipulations. Compared with its competitors’ lightened photos, the Xiaomi phone relied on heavy difference, which looked astronomical. Alternatively, the iPhone 14 Official also performed properly on this quandary – though some lens flare modified into once visible shut to the boulevard lights.
Image Comparability
Clutch a scene and navigate inner the principle image. One click on changes the location on touchscreens. One click on on the zoomed-in image opens the new in a brand novel window. The first image exhibits the scaled portray of the take a look at application.
DwellingAvenueWindowLow mild – boulevardLow mild – plant
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Rather than extensive-attitude photos, our take a look at telephones’ extremely-extensive-attitude cameras would possibly well furthermore also be used to purchase macro shots – or at the least nearly about all of them can. Xiaomi procedure this in a barely various formula with the assist of a telelens which makes consume of their in-apartment liquid lens rating – incorporating a team of swimming lenses. The lens is smash up into two groups that would furthermore be moved internally to compose a level of interest fluctuate between 10 cm and a theoretically limitless distance. This works properly ample in day to day consume, but the objects deserve to be positioned seriously extra a ways off from the camera when in comparison with the many telephones. In our take a look at, this left some of the objects in our photos a minute blurry, as the manufacturer would no longer roar what distance is optimal for this feature.
If we needed to take a winner for this category, it would surely be the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which stood out thanks to its honest true ranges of sharpness and element.
Image Comparability
Clutch a scene and navigate inner the principle image. One click on changes the location on touchscreens. One click on on the zoomed-in image opens the new in a brand novel window. The first image exhibits the scaled portray of the take a look at application.
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To take a look at the telelenses, we picked a subject which modified into once inner look and a subject which modified into once a ways-off – each in sunlight hours. The Xiaomi 13 Official modified into once the one real phone to yield obvious outcomes for the in model. Here, the Xiaomi phone’s liquid lens rating gave it a determined serve. This phone, alongside with the iPhone 14 Official Max, managed to retain astronomical sharpness ranges at 3x and 5x zoom within the portray exhibiting the apartment. The same goes for coloration accuracy. The Pixel 7 Official also did barely properly, even when the photos were a minute softer in level of interest and the colors were a minute too frigid. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra showed some considerations with its level of interest, however it managed to ticket with its 10x zoom, the place the photos were interesting and detailed. The Pixel 7 Official modified into once ready to retain up with Samsung when it came to greater zoom ranges, but the Xiaomi 13 Official clearly did the worst.
When it came to image stabilization, Google and Samsung came out on top. Compared with the iPhone 14 Official and the Xiaomi 13 Official, the Pixel 7 Official and the Galaxy S23 Ultra also showed astronomical ranges of stabilization.
Image Comparability
Clutch a scene and navigate inner the principle image. One click on changes the location on touchscreens. One click on on the zoomed-in image opens the new in a brand novel window. The first image exhibits the scaled portray of the take a look at application.
3x-Zoom5x-Zoom3x-Zoom5x-Zoom10x-Zoom
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Image Comparability
Clutch a scene and navigate inner the principle image. One click on changes the location on touchscreens. One click on on the zoomed-in image opens the new in a brand novel window. The first image exhibits the scaled portray of the take a look at application.
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In our eyes, the one real selfie phone comes from Copertino. The iPhone 14 Official Max, with its front camera with autofocus, showed a honest true looking out stage of sharpness and stored heaps of facial building. Alternatively, the novel 12-MP front camera of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, also with autofocus, did no longer path a ways at the serve of the Apple phone – thanks to its astronomical low-mild capabilities. Photography taken on the Pixel 7 Official showed heaps of difference – but issues care for beard and hair textures were more smoothed out when in comparison with the iPhone 14 Official Max. The Xiaomi 13 Official had the worst front camera when in comparison. Here, it struggled with lights, which modified into once customarily now no longer very elegant when taking portrait photos and we’d perceive a form of image errors, too.
Image Comparability
Clutch a scene and navigate inner the principle image. One click on changes the location on touchscreens. One click on on the zoomed-in image opens the new in a brand novel window. The first image exhibits the scaled portray of the take a look at application.
Photo modePortrait modePhoto mode
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In all issues camera application, Samsung surely steals the show. Whereas you happen to space heaps of importance on settings alternatives, you would possibly perhaps well be elated with the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Rather than a talented mode for pictures, the Samsung flagship also offers a dedicated camera assistant, moreover a talented mode for taking photos in RAW mode. If fact be told, every phone in our take a look at is ready to purchase photos in RAW mode.
The Xiaomi 13 Official functions a further skilled mode, which permits you to configure many heaps of settings to fit your particular person needs. Compared, the Google Pixel 7 Official and the iPhone 14 Official Max offer a ways less freedom when it involves their camera application. But even so, you can serene customize a few various settings of their camera apps.
Whereas you happen to purchase an complete bunch photos alongside with your smartphone, you are determined to beget a astronomical time with any of our take a look at subjects. Per chance you would possibly perhaps stop up for one or two camera updates ahead of buying the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – because, because it stands, it will now no longer barely retain up with the rest of the telephones. Alternatively, the Samsung phone proves to be barely the sleeping extensive with its novel 50-MP mode and it definitely exhibits astronomical capacity. One ingredient would compose determined to reshuffle the pack: if a application replace is launched in future which improves HDR feature and lights to be as honest true as they are when the consume of “common” pixel binning. The sweet space, which Youtube influencers claim the 50-MP mode to be, has below no conditions barely been reached but. Not lower than in decrease lights stipulations, the 12.5-MP mode is serene for the time being the greater replace.
In the long scurry, this would possibly well furthermore be very inspiring to perceive which camera notion will bring the one real finally ends up within the extinguish.
We were in actuality impressed by the Leica cameras on the Xiaomi 13 Official, surprisingly also at decrease ranges of zoom – which is supposed to be a defining feature of the right flagship phone on this sequence. Especially the Sony IMX989’s 1-dash major camera is lag to ticket with its photos – excluding a few considerations with image sharpness. Alternatively, the Xiaomi phone surely is now no longer the one real within the marketplace when it involves selfie cameras, even supposing this phone serene delivers decent image quality.
The Apple iPhone 14 Official Max is a astronomical allrounder. Its major camera – namely when taking into narrative its coloration accuracy – would possibly well now no longer be the one real, but rather than that it exhibits very few weaknesses. Especially its selfie camera outperforms the rest of the telephones we examined.
The cheapest phone on this selection in a mode also offers the one real tag-to-camera-quality ratio. The Pixel 7 Official‘s extremely-extensive-attitude camera has a honest true looking out stage of sharpness, a astronomical zoom of as much as 5x and a legitimate major camera. In cases of 200-MP and 1-dash cameras, the latter must in actuality be as much as this level within the novel Pixel generation. Alternatively, since Google don’t feature within the high-stop fluctuate of the smartphone commerce, you can surely forgive one or two deficits.
Have not found the trustworthy smartphone for you? But you are serene looking out out for a legitimate phone camera? Then you surely must purchase a study at our only smartphone camera checklist – here you would possibly perhaps well perchance perhaps accumulate a most frequently as much as this level checklist of the ten only camera telephones from our reviews.
The Pixel 7 Official would possibly well furthermore be purchased straight from the Google Retailer for $899, moreover from various major retailers care for Amazon.
the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra starts at $1199.ninety nine For the model with the smallest storage and would possibly well furthermore be purchased from Samsung or on Amazon.
The Xiaomi 13 Official is for the time being now no longer accessible to plan shut within the US.
The iPhone 14 Official Max in all its coloration and storage variants would possibly well furthermore be sold straight from Apple for $1099 or on Amazon.
I even beget constantly been very passionately drawn to cell technologies, namely smartphones. Being a tech fanatic formula the half-life of my devices isn’t precisely long, and being the most up-to-date hardware is now no longer ample to suffice as the manufacturer and working system play a minor role – basically the most inspiring facet for me is that the applying is roar-of-the-artwork. After posting for Mobi Test I joined Notebookcheck in 2016, the place I even had been pursuing my enthusiasm for technology by reviewing the most up-to-date smartphone, tablet, and accessory traits.
Translator: Daisy Dickson – Translator – 4 articles printed on Notebookcheck since 2023
In the muse from Scotland, I grew up and lived in Germany till I completed my highschool skills ahead of appealing serve to Scotland to complete my college reviews. Rising up bilingual led me to gain a shut relationship with the English and German languages, frequently working within the fields of instructing and translation. Most of my childhood modified into once shaped by playing around on novel consoles, computers and objects and getting to grips with the novel craze of the web and smartphones. This passion has stayed with me properly into maturity. On the present time, I are dwelling in Glasgow and work as a freelance translator and digital media coordinator. I even had been translating for Notebookcheck since early 2023.
Marcus Herbrich, 2023-03- 9 (Update: 2023-03-10)
