This story is a part of Focal Point iPhone 2022, CNET’s assortment of reports, ideas and recommendation round Apple’s hottest product.
Google’s Pixel 7 Pro has already critically impressed me with its slick new design, its streamlined Android 13 software program and, in fact, its wonderful triple digicam setup on the again. 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 excellent photos. So which one does it greatest and which one must you think about should you’re in search of the most effective pictures telephone round? I took each telephones across the beautiful Edinburgh suburb of Leith to seek out out. It’s an fascinating matchup as each telephones have related digicam choices with a major commonplace lens, an ultrawide lens and a telephoto zoom. And each have already confirmed their photographic prowess in our full critiques, with wealthy photos and wonderful dynamic vary being delivered on either side. Pixel 7 Pro, major lens.
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iPhone 14 Pro, major lens.
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Take a have a look at the images above from the Pixel 7 Pro’s 50-megapixel and the iPhone 14 Pro’s 48-megapixel major digicam lens. Both scenes are nicely uncovered right here, with managed blue skies and loads of element to be seen within the extra shadowy areas. The iPhone’s shade steadiness is a bit hotter, which I believe fits the scene nicely, though the Pixel’s picture is arguably a contact extra pure wanting.
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 ideal 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 shade 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 after we change to the zoom lenses although, most notably as a result of the Pixel 7 Pro’s 5x affords 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 totally different photograph compositions in a scene that may be misplaced to those that solely have large angle lenses. Using the zoom lens for the images above let me seize a very totally different scene, however I did not should bodily transfer to get it.That further 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 very good publicity nonetheless, and whereas the Pixel’s picture is noticeably hotter (notably on the buildings themselves), I like the colour balances of each photographs. Pixel 7 Pro, 5x zoom lens.
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iPhone 14 Pro, 3x zoom lens.
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Again, that further zoom on the Pixel let me get a tighter composition on the buildings subsequent to the river within the photos above, and it is a better-looking photograph because of this. That stated, I want 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 images above are extra blended nonetheless. While each telephones achieved a usually respectable publicity, they each have barely blown out highlights seen within the distant clouds. And whereas I want the extra pure blue sky of the iPhone 14 Pro, the Pixel 7 Pro has achieved extra vibrant shade tones on the buildings and timber towards the middle of the body. It’s powerful to make a name on which is “better” right here. Pixel 7 Pro, major lens.
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iPhone 14 Pro, major 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 photos above. There’s tons of element in each, and the general publicity is spot on. If I have 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 desire, 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 images above present the identical scene however from the ultrawide lens this time. To my eye, it is a better win for the iPhone right here. The general shade steadiness is extra pure. And whereas the iPhone saved a good 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 capable of provide macro pictures as it might 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 images above, I want 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, moderately 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 photos above once 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 do not like as a lot. Pixel 7 Pro selfie digicam take a look at.
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iPhone 14 Pro selfie digicam take a look at.
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The Pixel 7 Pro is packing a 10.8-megapixel front-facing selfie digicam, which is barely beneath the iPhone 14 Pro’s 12 megapixels. It’s not an enormous distinction, there may be barely extra element seen whenever you zoom in. Both photographs are usually strong, 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 want how I look within the iPhone’s picture. Pixel 7 Pro wide-angle selfie take a look at.
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iPhone 14 Pro wide-angle selfie take a look at.Both telephones have a wider-angle possibility 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 images above on this mode, and the Pixel truly has the sting barely by way of wonderful picture particulars. But once more, I want 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, evening mode.
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iPhone 14 Pro, evening 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 images 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 evening mode, 100% crop.
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iPhone 14 Pro, evening 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 photos, with the Pixel’s shot displaying some movement blur, notably on the pub signal. Look on the spotlights on the wall sculptures above; the Pixel’s shot hasn’t been capable of seize the dynamic vary right here, leading to blow-out areas, whereas the iPhone has completed a a lot better job of retaining these vibrant tones below management. Pixel 7 Pro, evening mode.
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iPhone 14 Pro, evening mode.
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There’s not as a lot to decide on between in these night-time photographs above that I took overlooking Leith Shore. Both have related shade tones, publicity and solely marginal enhancements on the iPhone’s shot when seen at 100%. Pixel 7 Pro evening mode, 5x zoom.
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iPhone 14 Pro, evening mode, 3x zoom.
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Switch to the zoom mode, and there is a larger distinction between the 2 telephones. In the pictures above, the Pixel’s shot is brighter and extra vibrant however suffers massively from movement blur, regardless of that incontrovertible fact that I stabilized myself towards a bridge wall when taking the shot. I took three photos right here and this was the most effective I might get.
Pixel 7 Pro, evening mode, 5x zoom at 100% crop.
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iPhone 14 Pro, evening 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 does 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, evening mode.
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iPhone 14 Pro, evening mode.
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I additionally discovered that the Pixel 7 Pro is especially vulnerable to lens flare at evening when taking pictures in the direction of vibrant gentle sources like the road lamp proven within the photos above. While each cameras undergo from lens flare, the Pixel’s is especially problematic since a lot of the evening sky is crammed with red-pink flares surrounding the sunshine. It’s a disgrace as a result of this may in any other case have been a pleasant night-time scene. Which telephone takes higher photos?Both telephones took some actually excellent images throughout this take a look at, and it is not simple to present both one the definitive win. Some components of what makes a “better” photograph will come down to non-public desire. In well-lit outside photographs, I discovered that the Pixel 7 Pro achieved a extra pure shade tone from its major lens than the iPhone managed. But its colours weren’t nearly as good in some wider-angle photographs. Of course, you possibly can arrange totally different photographic kinds on the iPhone to customise how the digicam captures images and make them look extra pure if that is your desire.At evening the iPhone is the clear winner although, with higher colours, crisper element and a superior means to deal with vibrant gentle sources — each by way of publicity and lens flare. However, the Pixel 7 Pro completely takes the win with its superior zoom expertise, with its 5x zoom letting you snag lovely, crystal-clear photos which might be merely out of attain of the iPhone’s 3x zoom. I additionally most well-liked the look of the Pixel’s macro photos in all the checks 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 evening pictures is vital, then go for the iPhone 14 Pro. If you need zoom expertise to seek out artistic compositions in your landscapes and avenue pictures, then the Pixel 7 Pro is for you.
If you simply need an ideal throughout digicam to snap vibrant photographs of your children 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 go well with you extremely nicely. Your larger choice will as a substitute come down as to whether you need to go along 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.