The two greatest Android telephones of the second couldn’t be extra completely different. They’re so completely different, actually, that there’s practically $1,000 between them: The Google Pixel 4a prices simply $349, and the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra will set you again a whopping $1,300. But whereas it’s loopy to check issues like efficiency, design, or battery life between telephones so completely different in worth, the digital camera is one other story.
The Pixel 4a’s pictures chops are extra high-end than its price ticket would counsel. It has the identical principal digital camera because the $899 Pixel 4 XL, in addition to the identical digital camera app options, together with Night Sight and Live HDR+. And as a result of it’s a Google cellphone, we all know the processing is off-the-charts superior. But can it stand as much as a cellphone that prices practically 4 occasions as a lot? Let’s discover out.
Pixel 4a vs Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: Bright gentle
In good lighting, each of those telephones carry out extremely effectively. As you possibly can see within the photographs under, each cameras had been capable of seize spectacular element and shade, with the Note 20 Ultra amping up the saturation only a bit greater than the 4a. The Pixel 4a captures a bit extra leaf element even in locations the place the background is blurred, or the lighting is a contact on the darkish aspect.
The Samsung Note 20 Ultra, left, has extremely quick and exact autofocus, which works effectively when your topic stands out.
The readability and element on the stigma are very spectacular within the Note 20’s photographs. That’s aided partly by the Note 20 Ultra’s new laser autofocus, which locks in on its topic in a short time and isn’t fooled by refined actions attributable to the wind. For higher or worse, you’re going to get Samsung’s typical oversaturation as you possibly can see in many of the photographs right here, however that’s largely subjective. I want duller, extra real looking photographs however many individuals just like the vibrancy Samsung’s manufacturing provides to photographs.
Michael Simon/IDGThe Note 20 Ultra’s laser autofocus, left, works towards it on this very inexperienced photograph, because it struggled to lock onto the sharp thorns.
However, I discovered that it tends to focus so effectively, the encircling scene was in a continuing state of blur even once I wasn’t utilizing Live Focus. It’s best to see within the photos of the thorns above. Where the Pixel 4 zeroed in on the thorns and stored a number of the element on the encircling leaves, the Note 20 Ultra had a more durable time distinguishing amongst all of the inexperienced. And within the photograph under, you possibly can already see blurriness across the leaves of the flower, the place the Pixel 4a retains issues in focus.
Michael Simon/IDGThe laser autofocus generally labored just a little too effectively on the Galaxy Note 20, as you possibly can see within the blurriness across the middle of the flower, left.
This is one thing of an excessive instance, however the Note 20 Ultra’s laser autofocus is unquestionably aggressive. I count on it’s one thing Samsung can dial again in future software program updates.
Pixel 4a vs Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: Low gentle
Google kicked off the race to take one of the best low-light photographs with Night Sight on the Pixel 3. Even with out the devoted Pixel Visual Core processor, you’re getting glorious low-light photographs on the 4a.
Michael Simon/IDGSamsung has tremendously improved low-light efficiency on the Note 20 Ultra, left, with glorious element, shadows, and brightness as in comparison with the Pixel 4a.
Samsung has made nice strides with its personal low-light mode on the Note 20 Ultra as effectively. With a good quantity of ambient gentle, in any other case darkish photographs had been properly brightened on Note whereas nonetheless preserving shadows, with even higher element than the Pixel 4a as seen within the photographs above.
Michael Simon/IDGIn excessive low gentle, the Note 20 Ultra, left, took the brighter image, however the Pixel 4a had higher readability and shade.
When the sunshine is sort of all gone, nevertheless, the Pixel 4a performs just a little higher due to Google’s AI wizardry. The photographs above had been taken in near-total darkness. While neither digital camera took a flawless shot, the Pixel 4a grabbed extra of the colour and element of the unique, whereas the Note 20 merely brightened issues.
Pixel 4a vs Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: Portraits
The Note 20 Ultra has a second zoom lens to work with, so it must be the higher portrait taker. For essentially the most half, it’s. However, the Pixel 4a greater than holds its personal towards Samsung’s superior {hardware}. As you possibly can see under, each portrait modes do a incredible job of pulling out the topic from a busy background and producing good background blur with little effort. However, the Note 20’s further lenses make edges just a bit bit sharper.
Michael Simon/IDGThe Pixel 4a, proper, is ready to deal with portraits very effectively even with only a single lens, however you possibly can see some slight blurriness across the edges. The Note 20 Ultra is constantly sharp.
Pixel 4a vs Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: Motion
With a single 12MP lens, you’d count on the Pixel 4a motion photographs to be extraordinarily blurry. Once once more, Google’s great processing picks up the slack. From close to and much, each telephones snapped movement photographs as if the topic had been standing nonetheless, as you possibly can see within the photographs of splashing water under.
Michael Simon/IDGBoth cameras are capable of seize movement very effectively, although on this shot the Note 20 Ultra’s over-saturation, left, works in its favor.
Pixel 4a vs Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: Zoom
Even although Samsung has dialed it again to 50X from the S20 Ultra’s insane 100X, the Note 20’s premier function stays its Space Zoom. Samsung claims you’re getting “super resolution” at 50X, manner additional than the Pixel 4a’s 7X. f you need essentially the most zoom, there’s no contest between the 2 telephones.
Michael Simon/IDGThere’s no comparability between the Note 20 Ultra, left, and the Pixel 4a relating to zooming.
But even in case you’re sticking to lower than 10X zoom, the Note 20 is the superior telephoto cellphone. At max zoom, the Pixel 4a is noticeable noisier than the Note 20 Ultra, and fewer correct throughout. From the blurry phrases to the blown-out colours, the Piel 4a struggles mightily and not using a devoted telephoto lens, giving the Note 20 Ultra an enormous benefit.
Update 8/19: This article has been up to date with photographs and evaluation.