The iPhone 13 Pro could also be Apple’s newest smartphone, however its digital camera isn’t a giant improve over the iPhone 12 Pro. So the place does that depart Apple when it competes with the newly launched Google Pixel 6 Pro. The iPhone and the Pixel have lengthy fought for digital camera supremacy, and if the 13 Pro can’t all the time finest its predecessor, can it at the very least beat Google’s newest mannequin? To discover out, I took each telephones out for a few days to take a number of photographs, and the end result might come as a shock to some.
Camera specs and testing process
Before we have a look at the photographs, let’s verify the specs of every digital camera. The Google Pixel 6 Pro has a 50-megapixel foremost digital camera joined by a 48MP telephoto digital camera with 4x optical zoom, plus a 12MP wide-angle digital camera. The Apple iPhone 13 Pro has three 12MP cameras, with the telephoto offering a 3x zoom, and the wide-angle digital camera a 120-degree area of view.
Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsThe iPhone 13 Pro has iOS 15.1 put in, and the Google Pixel 6 Pro has Android 12. All photographs have been taken back-to-back, and all I did was press the shutter button. Once the photographs had been taken, I in contrast all of them on a color-calibrated monitor. You’re seeing the unique photographs beneath, simply barely resized to make them extra appropriate for on-line use.
This take a look at was additionally carried out on the identical time that I put the Pixel 6 Pro up towards the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, and I’ve beforehand in contrast the iPhone 13 Pro with the iPhone 12 Pro in an analogous digital camera take a look at.
The foremost digital camera
The pub
Our first picture exhibits simply what a giant distinction there may be between the Pixel 6 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro’s cameras. The Pixel 6 Pro takes a brighter, extra detailed picture with better distinction, higher white stability, and much more engaging colours. The iPhone 13 Pro’s picture can’t get near the Pixel 6 Pro’s, in my view.
Pixel 6 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsHave a look at the extra element on the facet of the pub constructing and the window within the roof that’s closest to the digital camera. The wall is bathed in shadow within the iPhone’s picture, but you may see each brick within the Pixel 6 Pro’s picture, which it exposes with out ruining the remainder of the picture. On the closest chalkboard, you can also make out the place the writing has been erased regularly, however this isn’t seen within the iPhone’s picture.
iPhone 13 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsI don’t assume the iPhone 13 Pro’s picture is technically unhealthy in any respect, however of the 2 photos, I’d all the time be happier with the picture taken by the Pixel 6 Pro on this scenario. It’s fairly, inviting, colourful, and shareable.
The automobile
This is an odd one, as though it is a picture taken with the primary digital camera on the Pixel 6 Pro, it nearly seems prefer it’s a poor wide-angle shot. It has elongated the automobile’s physique in a wierd manner, making the again look far longer than it really is.
Pixel 6 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsThe automobile within the iPhone 13 Pro’s picture is proportionally appropriate, and though there’s a slight variation within the angle I took the picture, it appears unlikely this may trigger such a drastic distinction in look.
iPhone 13 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsHowever, the iPhone 13 Pro’s coolness stays, and although I like the way it makes the automobile’s paint and wheels look, the general tone is extra reasonable and pure within the Pixel 6 Pro’s picture. But as a result of the automobile isn’t really that form, it will possibly’t compete.
The canine
A pleasant canine sat with me whereas I had espresso, and quietly modeled whereas I took just a few photographs. Compared to the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the Pixel 6 Pro’s picture was the clear winner, however it’s slightly nearer between it and the iPhone 13 Pro.
Pixel 6 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsSure, the coolness of the iPhone 13 Pro’s picture is straight away apparent, however the scene has been captured in an analogous manner, full with very engaging depth of area in each photographs.
iPhone 13 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsBut once more, the Pixel 6 Pro’s stage of element is astonishing, and the canine’s fur and nostril are just a bit sharper. Even although the iPhone 13 Pro comes near it, the Pixel 6 Pro takes the picture I’d wish to share, and that’s a vital distinction.
Winner: Google Pixel 6 Pro
The wide-angle digital camera
The solar
Not the simplest picture for both digital camera to take, as I used to be taking pictures instantly into the solar, however the outcomes are fascinating. First, word the iPhone 13 Pro’s wider 120-degree area of view in comparison with the 114-degree area of view from the Pixel 6 Pro. It might not sound like a lot, however you may definitely see the distinction within the last picture. I used the solar to line each photographs up, exhibiting the additional quantity captured by the iPhone 13 Pro on the proper of the shot.
Pixel 6 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsThe iPhone 13 Pro’s picture has a significantly extra silvery tone than the Pixel 6 Pro’s, however a barely bluer sky, and fewer noticeable lens flare too. The Pixel’s sand seems extra pure, and the footprints are higher outlined.
iPhone 13 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsIt was a cold, very windy morning, and each cameras seize the environment nicely, however the Pixel 6 Pro’s pure tones and colours make the general picture extra interesting, regardless of the 13 Pro’s wider area of view and putting sky.
The seashore
The Google Pixel 6 Pro takes a far hotter, barely extra saturated picture than the iPhone 13 Pro, with its cool tones. However, the iPhone 13 Pro’s wider angle does come into better impact right here, including drama and scale to the sky and the ocean on the proper of the picture.
Pixel 6 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsI additionally just like the iPhone 13 Pro’s remedy of the sky, with extra distinction, some sharper blues, and a moodiness lacking from the Pixel 6 Pro’s picture. However, the pebbly seashore is captured extra attractively by the Pixel, as a result of these hotter tones.
Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsWhile the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s picture of the identical scene was very near the Pixel 6 Pro’s picture in my earlier testing, these are fairly completely different from one another. I wrestle to decide on which one I like the most effective, and nearly wish to mix the iPhone’s sky with the Pixel’s pebbly seashore. But as a result of the seashore is absolutely the point of interest, the Pixel 6 Pro is the winner on this one.
The park
Like the opposite photographs right here, the iPhone 13 Pro’s wider angle digital camera provides better scale in comparison with the 6 Pro, and on this surroundings, the coolness has been minimized, making for a greater balanced image.
Pixel 6 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsHowever, the autumn colours which are beginning to present via are extra evident within the Pixel’s picture, and the blue sky and fewer aggressively darkened clouds make it a happier scene and nearer to what I noticed with my very own eyes.
iPhone 13 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsOverall, the Pixel 6 Pro’s wide-angle digital camera might not seize the identical scale because the iPhone 13 Pro’s, however its heat tone, nice white stability, and engaging colours and distinction imply the photographs it takes seize your consideration extra. It beats the iPhone 13 Pro right here.
Winner: Google Pixel 6 Pro
Portrait and macro mode
The signal
This portrait picture was taken with the zoom characteristic energetic, which provides a 3x magnification on the iPhone 13 Pro and a 2x magnification on the Pixel 6 Pro. For every picture, I tapped on the display close to the highest of the publish the place it meets the directional signal.
Pixel 6 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsThe Pixel 6 Pro understood the complete signal was the point of interest, whereas the iPhone 13 Pro started blurring out the precise signal half because it extends into the gap. The portrait impact is ruined, and it’s clear a synthetic bokeh impact has been added.
iPhone 13 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsIn the Pixel 6 Pro picture, the signal is best remoted, however there may be nonetheless proof of blurring the place there shouldn’t be, so it’s not good. However, it has captured the scene extra successfully than the iPhone 13 Pro.
The cup
The identical issues are encountered on this picture of a espresso cup. Here I didn’t faucet on the display to take the picture and left the cameras to type out the point of interest and impact. Both understood it was the cup and my hand, however the iPhone 13 Pro appears to deal with it as a “flat” merchandise, whereas the Pixel 6 Pro acknowledges the cup is spherical when it decides what to blur.
Pixel 6 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsThe Pixel captures the strap on my Apple Watch Series 7 extra successfully, there’s extra texture on the cardboard cup than within the iPhone’s picture, and the sting of my hand is extra sharply outlined too.
iPhone 13 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsHave a look at the distinction within the depth of area impact as nicely. The iPhone 13 Pro’s blur is way stronger than the Pixel 6 Pro’s, which does counsel it’s tuned extra for portrait photographs of individuals, and not likely objects. That’s positive, however the Pixel 6 Pro’s higher object recognition makes it extra versatile.
The chestnuts
The iPhone 13 Pro has a macro mode that mechanically prompts while you get inside a sure distance of an object by switching to the wide-angle digital camera. The Google Pixel 6 Pro doesn’t have such a characteristic and isn’t excellent at close-up photographs in any respect.
Pixel 6 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsSimilar to within the take a look at towards the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, the Pixel 6 Pro’s picture is outclassed by the iPhone 13 Pro, which sharply captures loads of element and coloration. The Pixel 6 Pro can’t match it, specializing in the very middle of the picture and including a distorted blur to the outer half.
iPhone 13 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsIgnoring the distinction within the general picture, I want the colours and tone of the iPhone 13 Pro’s picture, making this picture one of many few instances thus far the place it has crushed the Pixel 6 Pro on this side. While the iPhone 13 Pro can take significantly better close-up photographs — an space it additionally beat the iPhone 12 Pro — it will possibly’t match the Pixel 6 Pro’s portrait mode.
Winner: Google Pixel 6 Pro
Night mode
The path
Taken within the early night and after the solar had set, something past the gate publish on this picture was in nearly whole darkness to the bare eye. I chosen Night Mode on the Pixel 6 Pro, whereas the iPhone 13 Pro mechanically activated it, and each cameras set the publicity time with out me doing something.
Pixel 6 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsThe iPhone 13 Pro beats the Pixel 6 Pro right here, delivering a sharper picture with much less noise and fewer blur on the partitions and floor while you zoom in. While I do barely want the Pixel 6 Pro’s hotter tone for the bottom, the patches of damp and moist leaves do look extra reasonable for the time of day and situations within the iPhone’s picture.
iPhone 13 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsInterestingly, each wrestle to keep away from noise within the leaves and bushes, whereas the iPhone 13 Pro makes higher use of the accessible gentle, particularly within the prime proper of the picture.
The tree
The picture taken by the iPhone 13 Pro is extra like what I used to be seeing with my very own eyes, with the yellow glow of the sodium road lighting apparent in all areas. The Pixel 6 Pro’s picture is far brighter, and nearly fully eliminates the streetlights’ yellow tint.
Pixel 6 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsI want the iPhone 13 Pro’s remedy of the sky, which is much less blue than the Pixel 6 Pro’s picture, and there’s extra definition within the clouds. However, there’s much more element on the street on the left of the Pixel 6 Pro’s picture, the place you can also make out the form of the buildings, the home windows, and parked automobiles.
iPhone 13 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsIf the purpose was to seize extra info and add brightness, the Pixel 6 Pro’s picture is the winner. If the purpose was to seize the scene as you have been seeing it, the iPhone 13 Pro’s picture is the winner.
The monument
It’s a really related scenario in our final evening mode picture, the place the Pixel 6 Pro produces a vivid, sharp picture that misses out on the feel and realism of the iPhone 13 Pro’s picture.
Pixel 6 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsThe weathering on the monument and the wall is extra outlined within the iPhone 13 Pro’s image, and each present an nearly similar quantity of sharpness on the names and dates, that are solely readable even with out zooming in.
iPhone 13 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsThis is a tough class to guage. Both produce nice lowlight photographs, and which one you favor will come down as to whether you need extra brightness or extra realism. For me, the iPhone 13 Pro’s capacity to raised replicate what I used to be seeing on the time wins out.
Winner: Apple iPhone 13 Pro
Optical zoom
The signal
The iPhone 13 Pro has 3x optical zoom, and the Pixel 6 Pro has 4x optical zoom, so there’s a slight distinction between the photographs right here. The point of interest of this picture is the signal, which is manufactured from a mesh, which means what’s behind it ought to be seen within the picture.
Pixel 6 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsThis is extra noticeable within the Pixel 6 Pro’s {photograph}, because the iPhone makes the signal significantly darker whereas emphasizing the textual content. The yellow textual content on the prime of the signal within the Pixel’s picture is extra obvious, and the bushes within the background are sharper while you zoom in.
iPhone 13 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsBoth photographs present the register adequate element to learn the textual content, however the colours and distinction are higher within the Pixel 6 Pro’s picture.
The tree
Repeatedly all through this take a look at, the Google Pixel 6 Pro has proven the way it emphasizes colours and boosts distinction over the iPhone 13 Pro, which has a constantly cooler tone and may obscure element in shadow.
Pixel 6 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsThis hasn’t modified with the optical zoom both, and you’ll actually see the distinction on this shot of a tree. The fall colours of the leaves, the feel of the branches, and even the colours on the bushes within the background are richer and extra obvious.
iPhone 13 Pro Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsIt’s higher at separating the decrease branches and trunk from the background, and all this regardless of getting in nearer than the iPhone 13 Pro. Zoom in additional, and there’s extra element as nicely. The Pixel 6 Pro beats the iPhone 13 Pro right here.
Winner: Google Pixel 6 Pro
Overall winner: Google Pixel 6 Pro
In my first set of picture assessments, it was an in depth battle between the Pixel 6 Pro and the Galaxy S21 Ultra, however towards the iPhone 13 Pro, the brand new Google cellphone had a neater time. It solely misplaced one part — the Night Mode take a look at — however even then, there might be individuals who want the brighter look over the iPhone’s reasonable environment. However, the iPhone 13 Pro’s macro mode is a characteristic the Pixel 6 Pro can’t match.
Andy Boxall/Digital TrendsThe iPhone 13 Pro’s digital camera didn’t impress as a lot as I hoped after I put it towards the iPhone 12 Pro, and I can’t assist however surprise how the Pixel’s photographs would evaluate to Apple’s 2020 smartphone as a substitute. The iPhone 13 Pro nonetheless has a really succesful digital camera, and it does take some good photographs, however the Pixel 6 Pro is extra constant and takes extra shareable, extra eye-catching photographs extra of the time.
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