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 a superb triple-camera setup that is already significantly impressed me, alongside the telephone’s slick new 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 really excellent pictures. So which one does it greatest and which one do you have to think about when you’re in search of the most effective images telephone round? I took each telephones across the gorgeous Edinburgh suburb of Leith to seek out out. It’s an attention-grabbing matchup as each telephones have comparable digicam choices with a most important normal lens, an ultrawide lens and a telephoto zoom. And each have already confirmed their photographic prowess in our full opinions, with wealthy pictures and wonderful dynamic vary being delivered on each side. Pixel 7 Pro, most important lens.
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iPhone 14 Pro, most important lens.
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Take a take a look at the pictures above from the Pixel 7 Pro’s 50-megapixel and the iPhone 14 Pro’s 48-megapixel most important 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 feel 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 performed an awesome job in capturing this excessive distinction scene above. There’s little or no to decide on between them, however I feel the Pixel 7 Pro’s extra pure coloration tones would possibly 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 swap to the zoom lenses although, most notably as a result of the Pixel 7 Pro’s 5x provides 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 picture compositions in a scene that will be misplaced to those that solely have broad angle lenses. Using the zoom lens for the pictures above let me seize a very totally different scene, however I did not must 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 publicity nevertheless, 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 further 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 picture consequently. That mentioned, 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 pictures above are extra combined nevertheless. While each telephones achieved a typically 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 coloration tones on the buildings and timber towards the middle of the body. It’s robust to make a name on which is “better” right here. Pixel 7 Pro, most important lens.
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iPhone 14 Pro, most important lens.
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Back to the primary 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 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 total. 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 pictures 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 total coloration steadiness is extra pure. And whereas the iPhone stored 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 images as it will 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 pictures 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, relatively 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 far 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 under the iPhone 14 Pro’s 12 megapixels. It’s not an enormous distinction, there may be barely extra element seen while you zoom in. Both pictures are typically strong, nevertheless, though I feel the Pixel has gone a bit too “HDR” by lowering 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 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 mates into the image. I took the pictures above on this mode, and the Pixel truly has the sting barely by way of advantageous 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, 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 pictures 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 capable of seize the dynamic vary right here, leading to blow-out areas, whereas the iPhone has performed a significantly better job of maintaining these vivid tones underneath 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 comparable coloration tones, publicity and solely marginal enhancements on the iPhone’s shot when seen 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 pictures above, the Pixel’s shot is brighter and extra vibrant however suffers massively from movement blur, regardless of that indisputable fact that I stabilized myself in opposition to a bridge wall when taking the shot. I took three pictures right here and this was the most effective 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 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, 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 vulnerable to lens flare at night time when taking pictures in direction of vivid gentle 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 stuffed with red-pink flares surrounding the sunshine. It’s a disgrace as a result of this might in any other case have been a pleasant night-time scene. Which telephone takes higher footage?Both telephones took some really excellent pictures throughout this take a look at, and it isn’t straightforward to present both one the definitive win. Some components of what makes a “better” picture will come down to non-public desire. In well-lit outside pictures, I discovered that the Pixel 7 Pro achieved a extra pure coloration tone from its most important lens than the iPhone managed. But its colours weren’t pretty much as good in some wider-angle pictures. Of course, you’ll be able to arrange totally different photographic types on the iPhone to customise how the digicam captures pictures and make them look extra pure if that is your desire.At night time the iPhone is the clear winner although, with higher colours, crisper element and a superior potential to deal with vivid gentle 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 can be merely out of attain of the iPhone’s 3x zoom. I additionally most popular the look of the Pixel’s macro pictures in the entire exams 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 images is essential, then go for the iPhone 14 Pro. If you need zoom abilities to seek out artistic compositions in your landscapes and avenue images, 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 pal’s meals at a neighborhood market or some gorgeous 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 price it.