This story is a part of Focal Point iPhone 2022, CNET’s assortment of stories, suggestions and recommendation round Apple’s hottest product.
Google’s Pixel 7 Pro impressed me a lot I gave it a extremely sought-after CNET Editors’ Choice award. Its glorious triple digicam system is excellent, and I like the refreshed design and streamlined Android 13 software program. But the competitors is fierce, with Apple’s newest iPhone 14 Pro additionally packing some potent specs and a set of cameras that may take actually very good pictures. And sure, we liked that telephone sufficient to provide it an Editors’ Choice award too. So which certainly one of these award-winning smartphones packs one of the best digicam setup and which one must you contemplate for those who’re searching for one of the best pictures telephone round? I took each telephones across the beautiful Edinburgh suburb of Leith to seek out out. It’s an attention-grabbing matchup as each telephones have related digicam choices with a primary commonplace lens, an ultrawide lens and a telephoto zoom. And each have already confirmed their photographic prowess in our full opinions, with wealthy pictures and glorious dynamic vary being delivered on each side. I’ve since put the Pixel 7 Pro by means of some extra assessments and whereas it wasn’t prime of the pack in night time mode conditions, I discovered its zoom gave the epic Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra a run for its cash. Pixel 7 Pro, primary lens.
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iPhone 14 Pro, primary lens.
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Take a take a look at the photographs above from the Pixel 7 Pro’s 50-megapixel and the iPhone 14 Pro’s 48-megapixel primary digicam lens. Both scenes are properly uncovered right here, with managed blue skies and loads of element to be seen within the extra shadowy areas. The iPhone’s coloration steadiness is a bit hotter, which I believe fits the scene properly, though the Pixel’s picture is arguably a contact extra pure trying. Pixel 7 Pro, ultrawide lens.
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iPhone 14 Pro, ultrawide lens.
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Switch to the ultrawide lens, and once more each telephones have completed an awesome job in capturing this excessive distinction scene above. There’s little or no to decide on between them, however I believe the Pixel 7 Pro’s extra pure coloration tones may give it the sting.Pixel 7 Pro, 5x optical zoom lens.
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iPhone 14 Pro, 3x optical zoom lens.
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Things change once we swap to the zoom lenses although, most notably as a result of the Pixel 7 Pro’s 5x gives a a lot nearer view than the 3x optical zoom of the iPhone 14 Pro. I like an extended zoom because it helps you discover completely different photograph compositions in a scene that might be misplaced to those that solely have extensive angle lenses. Using the zoom lens for the photographs above let me seize a very completely different scene, however I did not must bodily transfer to get it.That additional attain is noticeable on the Pixel’s shot, with a a lot nearer zoom on the buildings within the distance. Both telephones have achieved a superb publicity nonetheless, and whereas the Pixel’s picture is noticeably hotter (notably on the buildings themselves), I like the colour balances of each pictures. Pixel 7 Pro, 5x zoom lens.
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iPhone 14 Pro, 3x zoom lens.
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Again, that additional zoom on the Pixel let me get a tighter composition on the buildings subsequent to the river within the pictures above, and it is a better-looking photograph because of this. That stated, I choose the tones and publicity of the iPhone’s shot, with brighter whites and a extra vibrant pop of orange seen on the central constructing and richer blue tones within the sky.Pixel 7 Pro, ultrawide lens.
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iPhone 14 Pro, ultrawide lens.
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The ultrawide photographs above are extra blended nonetheless. While each telephones achieved a typically first rate publicity, they each have barely blown out highlights seen within the distant clouds. And whereas I choose the extra pure blue sky of the iPhone 14 Pro, the Pixel 7 Pro has achieved extra vibrant coloration tones on the buildings and bushes towards the middle of the body. It’s powerful to make a name on which is “better” right here. Pixel 7 Pro, primary lens.
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iPhone 14 Pro, primary lens.
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Back to the principle digicam lens, and there is once more little or no to decide on between the 2 footage above. There’s tons of element in each, and the general publicity is spot on. If I had been nitpicking — which I’m — I’d say the Pixel 7 Pro’s sky has a bit an excessive amount of of a purple tinge in it and it is a barely extra contrasty scene general. While that is resulted in deeper orange hues on the autumn leaves, it is much less consultant of the particular colours of the scene. It’s largely down to non-public choice, however I’m marginally erring towards the iPhone’s shot right here.Pixel 7 Pro, ultrawide lens.
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iPhone 14 Pro, ultrawide lens.
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The photographs above present the identical scene however from the ultrawide lens this time. To my eye, it is a neater win for the iPhone right here. The general coloration steadiness is extra pure. And whereas the iPhone stored an honest distinction within the darker space within the backside left, the Pixel has tried to brighten this space artificially, leading to a weird-looking gray patch that I’m not eager on. Pixel 7 Pro, wide-angle lens with macro focus.
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iPhone 14 Pro, wide-angle lens with macro focus.
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With the Pixel 7 Pro now packing auto-focus on its ultrawide lens, it is in a position to supply macro pictures as it may possibly focus inside a few inches of the lens. It’s one thing Apple launched on the iPhone 13 Pro, and it is nice enjoyable to experiment with. In the macro photographs above, I choose the picture from the Pixel 7 Pro’s digicam. The white steadiness has resulted in additional vibrant — and extra correct — blue-purple tones on the flower’s petals. The leaves within the background even have extra of an emerald tone, quite than the yellow-green tones seen on the iPhone’s shot. Pixel 7 Pro, wide-angle lens with macro focus.
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iPhone 14 Pro, wide-angle lens with macro focus.
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And it is a lot the identical within the footage above after I used the telephones to get a low-down shot of this dandelion, with the blue sky behind it. The Pixel 7 Pro’s shot has way more vibrant inexperienced tones within the grasses across the topic. The iPhone 14 Pro captured a hotter scene, with extra yellow tones seen within the grasses that I personally don’t love as a lot. Pixel 7 Pro selfie digicam check.
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iPhone 14 Pro selfie digicam check.
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The Pixel 7 Pro is packing a 10.8-megapixel front-facing selfie digicam, which is barely under the iPhone 14 Pro’s 12 megapixels. It’s not an enormous distinction, there’s barely extra element seen whenever you zoom in. Both pictures are typically stable, nonetheless, though I believe the Pixel has gone a bit too “HDR” by decreasing the highlights on my face an excessive amount of. Personally, I choose how I look within the iPhone’s picture. Pixel 7 Pro wide-angle selfie check.
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iPhone 14 Pro wide-angle selfie check.Both telephones have a wider-angle choice for the front-facing cameras, which is useful if you wish to seize extra of your environment or need to squash extra of your pals into the image. I took the photographs above on this mode, and the Pixel really has the sting barely by way of superb picture particulars. But once more, I choose the publicity and distinction from the iPhone because the Pixel’s HDR has flattened the tones in my face a bit an excessive amount of for my liking. Pixel 7 Pro, night time mode.
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iPhone 14 Pro, night time mode.
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When switching to nighttime mode on each telephones, I needed to give an early win to the iPhone within the photographs above. Its white steadiness produced a nicer-looking shot with out the overly heat orange tone seen within the Pixel’s picture. Pixel 7 Pro night time mode, 100% crop.
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iPhone 14 Pro, night time mode, 100% crop.
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It’s additionally clear that the iPhone’s picture is sharper when cropping in to 100% on each pictures, with the Pixel’s shot exhibiting some movement blur, notably on the pub signal. Look on the spotlights on the wall sculptures above; the Pixel’s shot hasn’t been in a position to seize the dynamic vary right here, leading to blow-out areas, whereas the iPhone has completed a significantly better job of protecting these vivid tones beneath management. Pixel 7 Pro, night time mode.
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iPhone 14 Pro, night time mode.
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There’s not as a lot to decide on between in these night-time pictures above that I took overlooking Leith Shore. Both have related coloration tones, publicity and solely marginal enhancements on the iPhone’s shot when considered at 100%. Pixel 7 Pro night time mode, 5x zoom.
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iPhone 14 Pro, night time mode, 3x zoom.
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Switch to the zoom mode, and there is a greater distinction between the 2 telephones. In the photographs above, the Pixel’s shot is brighter and extra vibrant however suffers vastly from movement blur, regardless of that indisputable fact that I stabilized myself towards a bridge wall when taking the shot. I took three pictures right here and this was one of the best I may get. Pixel 7 Pro, night time mode, 5x zoom at 100% crop.
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iPhone 14 Pro, night time mode, 3x zoom at 100% crop.
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You can actually see how blurry the Pixel’s picture is when cropping in to 100%. Sure, the iPhone would not have the identical attain with its 3x zoom. But its shot is way sharper and clearer, and it simply takes the win right here.Pixel 7 Pro, night time mode.
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iPhone 14 Pro, night time mode.
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I additionally discovered that the Pixel 7 Pro is especially prone to lens flare at night time when capturing in direction of vivid mild sources like the road lamp proven within the footage above. While each cameras endure from lens flare, the Pixel’s is especially problematic since a lot of the night time sky is crammed with red-pink flares surrounding the sunshine. It’s a disgrace as a result of this is able to in any other case have been a pleasant night-time scene. Which telephone takes higher footage?Both telephones took some actually very good photographs throughout this check, and it is not straightforward to provide both one the definitive win. Some components of what makes a “better” photograph will come down to non-public choice. In well-lit outside pictures, I discovered that the Pixel 7 Pro achieved a extra pure coloration tone from its primary lens than the iPhone managed. But its colours weren’t nearly as good in some wider-angle pictures. Of course, you’ll be able to arrange completely different photographic types on the iPhone to customise how the digicam captures photographs and make them look extra pure if that is your choice.At night time the iPhone is the clear winner although, with higher colours, crisper element and a superior skill to deal with vivid mild sources — each by way of publicity and lens flare. However, the Pixel 7 Pro completely takes the win with its superior zoom abilities, with its 5x zoom letting you snag lovely, crystal-clear pictures which are merely out of attain of the iPhone’s 3x zoom. I additionally most well-liked the look of the Pixel’s macro pictures in all the assessments I shot.
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So which is “best” will come all the way down to what you need most out of your telephone digicam. If night time pictures is necessary, then go for the iPhone 14 Pro. If you need zoom abilities to seek out inventive compositions in your landscapes and avenue pictures, then the Pixel 7 Pro is for you. If you simply need an awesome throughout digicam to snap vibrant pictures of your youngsters on the seaside, your good friend’s meals at a neighborhood market or some beautiful woodland scenes in your subsequent hike, then both telephone will swimsuit you extremely properly. Your greater determination will as a substitute come down as to whether you need to go together with iOS or Android as your working system and whether or not spending the additional hundred bucks or so on the iPhone 14 Pro is value it.