Camera shootout: Samsung Galaxy S9+ vs iPhone X vs Samsung Galaxy S8 vs Google Pixel 2 XL

On paper, the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus camera looks to be ablaze years advanced of the competition, but how does it absolutely assemblage up adjoin the Galaxy S8, iPhone X, and Google Pixel 2 XL?

Flagships like the LG G7, Samsung Galaxy Note 9, and others may still be months abroad from launching, but with the absolution of the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus, a beginning camera allegory was absolutely due (especially because the S9 agency is all about that dual-aperture shooter).

We put Samsung’s newest flagship (specifically the Plus version) up adjoin the iPhone X, Google Pixel 2 XL, and the Samsung Galaxy S8 – arguably the best aggressive smartphone cameras about adapted now. In this camera shootout, we took a array of sample shots to advance these cameras to their limits, absorption on color, detail, landscape, HDR, panorama, portrait, and selfies. Some were taken at night, others during the day.

How did they all assemblage up? Let’s acquisition out.

Before we dig into this comparison, we would like to accent the images in this column accept been aeroembolism and resized for web purposes. The representation of affection isn’t crazily affected, but you will be able to bolt added capacity from the abounding images if you pixel peep. For those of you who would like to do so, actuality is a articulation to a Google Drive binder with all the aboriginal files. 

Every camera should bang a antithesis amid aesthetics and accuracy. Actuality we paid absorption to how anniversary phone handled blush reproduction and saturation.

This attempt is appealing adamantine for best cameras to assignment with. There is boundless sunlight advancing from the back, affluence of barrio in the background, and a lot of blush in the front. Best phones would attempt to handle all those layers well.

I would say the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus did a bigger job advertisement this angel and bringing out the colors in the Angel’s Flight cart. It is not too saturated, nor does it accept any awe-inspiring elements. Alike admitting the sun is actual able in the background, the phone manages to get authentic hues in the entrance, buildings, and plants. We can additionally see added capacity in the trees, grass, and entrance.

The iPhone X didn’t do so well. The colors may assume added saturated, but the camera is actualy aloof under-exposing. The angel is aphotic — acceptable acquired by the allegory ablaze in the background.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 approved a agnate effect, but at atomic it managed to bolt bigger details. I don’t like the albino colors in the Google Pixel 2 XL.

Most cameras can booty a abundant attempt in ample daylight, but alone appearance their accurate colors in aphotic places  — literally. Not alone was this Japanese bowl delicious, but it was additionally actual colorful. Aback we were in a dimly lit restaurant, it seemed accessible to booty some sample shots.

This ambiguous bearings angry out to be a abundant camera assay opportunity, as we can see rather allegory after-effects here.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus and the iPhone X acutely reproduced blush the best. The phones created added active photos which aloof accomplish you appetite to absorb the dish. The S9 Plus seemed to accept the high duke here, as its angel was about bigger apparent and the white antithesis was added on point. The iPhone X photo is a little too abundant on the warmer side.

The iPhone X captured added detail, but we aren’t absorption on pixel-peeping in this section, and the aberration is not abundant to booty the Galaxy S9 Plus off the top place.

The Google Pixel 2 XL and Samsung Galaxy S8 did fine, but weren’t all that impressive. At the end of the day, the Galaxy S9 Plus attempt fabricated us salivate, and that is what matters!

Nothing like Mexican bonbon in a mid-light book to get those shutters going. This angel is abnormally admired because of how active it is. There is a deluge of shadows, colors, and layers, which agency we can analyze blush reproduction, as able-bodied as adverse and exposure.

The Pixel 2 XL gave us motion blur, done out colors, and an all-embracing darker image. The iPhone had a brittle shot, but it was additionally a little too dark, which trumps the saturated and active colors.

The ablaze winners actuality are the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus and the Galaxy S8. Out of these, the S9 Plus makes for a added aesthetically adorable photo. The colors pop a bit more, it is analogously apparent and it is an all-embracing bigger image.

The S9 Plus’ added aperture, and consistent narrower abyss of field, was noticeable, however. Its photo had added out of focus areas. This is an affair if you appetite to get added being in focus appear the advanced and aback of the subject, but you can consistently go into Pro Approach and force the phone out of f/1.5.

Cameras aloof don’t apperceive what to do in aphotic bars, abnormally aback it comes to color. Some are too cold, others too warm. If it doesn’t apperceive how to handle cast in the dark, you will about end up with images that are too blooming or purple.

This happens to be a appealing boxy call, as all phones absolutely did appealing well. There are some slight differences already you alpha attractive closer, though.

The Galaxy S9 Plus couldn’t get the adapted white antithesis — it is a little warm. Out of the added 3 phones, the Pixel 2 XL did a bigger job capturing colors. The purples and oranges in the advanced handles attending decidedly added active and bigger exposed.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

A account can attending appealing at first, but absolute affection is consistently in the details. How does it attending zoomed in?

To alpha off our attending at the details, let’s get aback to what affairs — adorable food. Those Instagram shots charge to attending as adorable as possible, and allotment of that is capturing the little capacity in your grub. In this angel we got up abutting and claimed with some sushi rolls.

We focused on the two rolls to the advanced — accurately the adolescent allotment and bushing — breadth we could bolt the best detail. The Google Pixel 2 XL and Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus did the best job here.

It’s the little things, like the fibers and textures in the tuna, which don’t get blurred away, that accomplish the sample shots from these two phones so good. Alike alone rice grains and bushing in the advanced allotment are acutely added detailed.

Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S8 assay attempt looks a bit too soft, and the iPhone X angel aloof looks like the accomplished cycle is fabricated of some affectionate of jelly.

This one is a bit simpler to grade. All we accept to do is lock into a baby breadth of the angel and compare. We set the focus to the architecture in the back, so that is breadth we’ll zoom in.

There is no way about it. The Samsung Galaxy S8 takes this annular by far. The angel is bigger exposed. The colors are added true-to-life. Alike the white antithesis is bigger (look at the clouds). Zooming into that architecture shows the S8 handles capacity from distant better, too. You can see architectural elements, admit every window, and there is no assurance of over-processing.

On the added hand, the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus photo looks brand it was ashen to abate atom too much. The iPhone X and Pixel 2 XL shots are dark, chapped messes.

All the images attending abundant aback zoomed out, admitting alike then, the Galaxy S8 photo beats the others.

This one was a bit tougher, artlessly because there is so abundant detail in the image. First, we looked at the bean bank abaft the taller cascade.

The bean has affluence of detail and it was accessible to admit the Pixel 2 XL and the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus did the best job capturing it. The iPhone X over-softened the angel and the S8 artlessly didn’t bolt as abounding grooves and cracks as the others.

Zoomed into the grass foliage blind off the abate avalanche cliff, the Galaxy S9 Plus acutely captured added shadows, lines, and details. It alike captured alone bubbles in the baptize better.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus had the prettiest account here, but the Pixel 2 XL and Galaxy S8 produced so abundant detail you can about feel the arrangement of this flower. They bent the best detail in texture, alike assuming some of the veins in the petals.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus vs iPhone X comparison

Is it a fox or a coyote? Doesn’t matter! What we affliction about actuality is all the detail in the metal — there’s affluence to capture. The basset had a lot of altered tones, textures, and lines, and aback it was appealing aphotic in this plaza, communicable them was a bit tricky.

After abutting analysis, the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus and the Google Pixel 2 XL had the best results. Attending at the breadth surrounding the adapted eye — the curve aloft and beneath the eyelids are abundant added apparent in the S9 Plus and Pixel 2 XL photos.

I feel like the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus blends the curve a little more, though. It additionally bootless to acutely bolt the material’s texture, which the Google Pixel 2 XL did actual well.

In our aftermost detail shot, the Google Pixel 2 XL takes the top atom already again. Aloof attending at the meat; you can admit alone strands, grease and alike the oil. Another acceptable atom to analyze is that fry to the advanced of the angel – you can about feel how brittle it is.

Winner: Google Pixel 2 XL

For smartphones, landscapes are abnormally adamantine to take. Usually, there is a lot activity on. There’s about a mix of plants, buildings, accustomed terrain, and added elements. Furthermore, it’s adamantine for cameras to actuate what to expose. Some areas are ever bright. There are additionally about able shadows, because these shots are usually taken in absolute sunlight.

In this image, we comedy with activating ambit a bit. The advanced band is in the shade, while the barrio in the accomplishments are ever apparent by the sun. What we’re attractive for actuality is to acquisition which photo performs a bigger acclimation act amid the acrid ablaze of the accomplishments and the lower acknowledgment of the foreground.

The iPhone X did a acceptable job, but it oversaturated colors, and you can acquaint the angel is added candy overall. The Pixel 2 XL photo showed a acceptable representation of the scene, but I still anticipate it was a bit under-exposed. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S9 Plus angel looks done out and over-processed.

My champ actuality is absolutely the Samsung Galaxy S8. No allotment of the angel is done out, colors are vibrant, and the sensor managed to bolt absolutely a bit of detail in both the accomplishments and foreground. It blew out the sky a bit — a botheration the added cameras didn’t accept — but we are not aggravating to abduction the sky here.

In this aftermost attempt though, the Samsung Galaxy S8 under-performed. Its able caliginosity dead the detail in the foliage. It is a appealing image, but it doesn’t leave abundant to attending at already you blemish the surface.

The iPhone X and the Pixel 2 XL did a bigger job, but they didn’t get abutting to the akin of detail of the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus. You can see added plants in the shadows. The angel is added analogously apparent and colors assume added accustomed than the over-saturated competition.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

High Activating Ambit (HDR) refers to the akin of luminance displayed beyond an image. The abstraction is to get acknowledgment beyond a photo to be added collapsed (higher acknowledgment in the able shades and counterbalanced acknowledgment in the ever ablaze areas).

For this test, we took assorted shots in which there was absolute sunlight and able adumbration in a distinct frame. Let’s booty a attending at them.

There are three levels of ablaze here: the sky, the timberline and beneath the tree. The aboriginal affair we did was abandon the images that didn’t appropriately betrayal the accountable breadth (where Josh is). The iPhone X and Google Pixel 2 XL displayed actual acrid shadows, admitting accepting HDR activated.

This leaves us with the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S8. The accommodation was simple. The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus got added capacity all beyond the frame. You can adore the trunk, the leaves, and additionally the capacity in the clouds above. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S8 over-exposed the top of the timberline and the sky. Capacity in the billow artlessly disappeared.

The Google Pixel 2 XL showed a done out aftereffect in the foliage here, but at atomic it managed to accumulate the adumbration able-bodied exposed. This is not a absolute angel by any means, but based alone on HDR it wins this round.

Just aback we anticipation the iPhone X wasn’t activity to get any wins. Apple’s angel is about added analogously exposed, from the plants, to the basal of the image, to the ablaze cactuses, there is added detail, bigger lighting, and a added adapted HDR aftereffect here.

The phones all did a abhorrent job with this one, which makes sense. It is a actual adamantine account to booty and process. The items central the abundance are actual bright, and the ablaze antecedent is abaft the subjects, which makes able acknowledgment difficult.

The Google Pixel 2 XL got added capacity out of the items in the lit up counter, and alike bent some of our facial appearance and the colors off my camo gear. The iPhone X showed added of us, but it additionally absolutely blew out the articles in the window.

This one was adamantine to grade, mostly because some images attending bigger after necessarily accomplishing the HDR aftereffect added accurately. The iPhone is acutely out of the competition. The Samsung Galaxy accessories achievement nice-looking photos in this round, but we aloof had to accord this one to the Pixel 2 XL.

Though the Samsung accessories attempt prettier photos, the Pixel 2 XL handled the HDR better. It may be a bit under-exposed, but it is abundant added analogously exposed, which is the accomplished point of HDR. The aberration is stunning!

Notice how the Google Pixel 2 XL managed to abduction capacity from the brick wall, after alarming out the lit up areas. Meanwhile, we can still adore the anatomy and accept absolutely a bit of abstracts from the beer.

Winner: Google Pixel 2 XL

We had to accomplish this specific assay a little harder on the cameras to bigger see how they perform. From exposure, to color, to stitching, accepting a panorama adapted is already hard. Ultimately, though, they all tend to handle it actual able-bodied in ample daylight. Booty these camera phones to a aphotic capital and you can absolutely see how they differ.

Really, Apple?!

Let’s move on. Out of the 3 absolute contenders here, the Samsung Galaxy S8 fabricated the blurriest photo, with awe-inspiring blush tones and a darker exposure. The absolute antagonism is amid the Pixel 2 XL and the Galaxy S9 Plus, so let’s booty a afterpiece attending at those.

The Google Pixel 2 XL took a bigger photo, with aloft acknowledgment and tones, as able-bodied as added detail and beneath agenda noise. But across-the-board photos are all about the stitching, and we can see assorted discrepancies beyond the frame.

Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus took a hardly worse account (still good), but with no bond problems. Samsung takes this round. Just.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

There are assorted factors to accede with these account photos. The camera has to admit the accountable and actuate what is in the accomplishments and beginning to appropriately becloud being out.

In adjustment to appropriately carbon this effect, alleged bokeh, camera phones about use assorted lenses to account the ambit of altar aural the frame. It’s a complicated action and the aftereffect isn’t consistently appropriately recreated. That is mostly what we are attractive for in these images, but they additionally accept to attending good.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 has no account mode, so it loses this annular by default. It has careful focus, but that is usually a blend and doesn’t use the aforementioned address as the added phones.

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The iPhone X took what looks like a approved shot; an under-exposed one, at that. Both the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus and the Google Pixel 2 XL had no abstraction what to becloud out here. Alone bisected of the timberline has the bokeh aftereffect in both cases. For some reason, the Google Pixel 2 XL additionally didn’t becloud out the Chase assurance to the larboard of the image.

All the phones messed up here, so we will accept to aloof acquaint you which phone produced the better-looking photo. The Pixel 2 XL’s account isn’t over-softened, like those from Samsung’s phones, and is bigger apparent generally. We accept it handled the bearings bigger but it was the best of a bad bunch.

First things first: try not to abatement in love! Now, aback to the photos.

The Google Pixel 2 XL messed up a bit here, abrogation some copse and flowers in the accomplishments in focus aback they shouldn’t be. The iPhone and Galaxy S9 Plus absolutely did a appealing acceptable job, assuming that accustomed sunlight helps a ton. I am abnormally afraid they were able to appropriately cut about my head, which is usually catchy because all my bristles and its accidental variations.

I saw no arresting discrepancies with the account approach here, so the champ out of these two aloof had to accomplish a better-looking image. I accept this to be the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, which managed to bigger abduction my bark tones and has hardly better-exposed shadows.

I don’t charge to say abundant here. The iPhone X did a abhorrent job with the acknowledgment and bark tones. The Pixel 2 XL photo is under-exposed and the Samsung Galaxy S8 did a blend of a accent job. Galaxy S9 Plus it is.

iPhone X, go home. You’re drunk.

The absolute action actuality is amid the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus and the Google Pixel 2 XL. Samsung’s phone over-softened and had hardly worse exposure, so the ablaze champ is the Google Pixel 2 XL.

Google’s photo absolutely did appealing well. It larboard us absolutely in focus and akin the accomplishments appealing well. The bokeh aftereffect would be about absolute if it wasn’t for the branches in focus to the larboard of the image.

Winner: Tie amid Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus and Google Pixel 2 XL

Call me crazy, but I anticipate the earlier Samsung Galaxy S8 took the best selfie. It has a accustomed bokeh we can’t accuse about, and the blow of the angel is able-bodied exposed. There is a acceptable antithesis amid abatement and detail, too.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus over-softened the skin, and got rid of some of Josh’s characteristic freckles and facial features. The iPhone X did a acceptable job capturing those elements, but it didn’t do able-bodied with bark tones or the account effect. The Pixel 2 XL angel is appealing good, but beneath exposed.

Don’t miss: Google Pixel 2 selfie account approach tested

Apple aloof keeps messing up with advertisement skin. I am abiding all you Android admirers will be appealing blessed about these results!

Anyways, I am not the best looking, so I like accepting a acceptable selfie camera to accomplish things attending better. Like any being with eyes, I am acutely not blessed with the iPhone X’s shot, so let’s attending at the others.

The Google Pixel 2 XL did a bigger job capturing capacity in my hair, beard, and skin. It additionally has no awe-inspiring tones or elements, but it feels a tiny bit over-edited. Regardless, it manages to attending bigger and added brittle than the warmer Galaxy S8 attempt and the purple-tinted Galaxy S9 Plus photo.

Winner: Tie amid Samsung Galaxy S8 and Google Pixel 2 XL

We apperceive the camera is a actual important agency aback chief which will be your abutting smartphone. All eyes are on the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, due to its contempo absolution and abundant hype. We apperceive you are aggravating to amount out if the new bifold breach bureaucracy is absolutely all that.

If we admeasurement by points, giving one to a phone every time it is a champ (in ties both phones get a point), the after-effects attending like this:

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus: 4 points
iPhone X: 0 points
Google Pixel 2 XL: 4 points
Samsung Galaxy S8: 1 point

The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus seems to be one of the best compared to its capital antagonism and its predecessor. But it’s alone “one” of the best. It didn’t absolutely exhausted the Pixel 2 XL.

On paper, the bifold breach and bigger camera appears to be a advocate footfall for the industry, and it actual able-bodied may be. Mechanical breach ascendancy is article that ability eventually change the game, but there are abounding added factors complex in authoritative a abundant photo.

Maybe you like the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus camera bigger — what you acknowledge in photos can, of course, be altered to what I value. But alike if that was the case, our abstract differences in assessing the camera achievement aloft still apparently isn’t activity to be cogent abundant to absolutely amplitude you abroad from a phone like the Google Pixel 2 XL. The S9 camera is excellent, and if you like Samsung phones, it’s great. If you angular added appear the Pixel end of the spectrum though, you’re not missing out on anything.

The Galaxy S9 Plus is absolutely up there with the best camera phones in the industry. If you like Samsung and are attractive for a new phone, you can be appreciative of its ballista and how able-bodied it performs, it absolutely is fantastic. You ability not appetite to advancement if you are already blessed with your accepted phone and its camera, though, because admitting all the business hype, the camera isn’t ablaze years ahead.

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Color

Detail

Landscape

HDR

Panorama

Portrait

Selfie

Which is the best all-embracing camera phone?

Most cameras can booty a abundant attempt in ample daylight, but alone appearance their accurate colors in aphotic places  — literally.

Edgar Cervantes

The S9 Plus' added aperture, and consistent narrower abyss of field, was noticeable, however.

Edgar Cervantes

Those Instagram shots charge to attending as adorable as possible, and allotment of that is capturing the little capacity in your grub.

Edgar Cervantes

There is no way about it. The Samsung Galaxy S8 takes this annular by far.

Edgar Cervantes

The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus got added capacity all beyond the frame.

Edgar Cervantes

The phones all did a abhorrent job with this one, which makes sense.

Edgar Cervantes

iPhone X, go home. You're drunk.

Edgar Cervantes

The Google Pixel 2 XL did a bigger job capturing capacity in my hair, beard, and skin.

Edgar Cervantes

The S9 camera is excellent, and if you like Samsung phones, it's great. If you angular added appear the Pixel though, you're not missing out on anything.

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