Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Software program has seemingly turn out to be simply as essential (if no more essential) than {hardware} on the subject of the finest digital camera telephones. In truth, I purchased my Pixel 7 Professional again in 2022 as a result of I believed it supplied a improbable mix of digital camera software program and {hardware}.
Nevertheless, spending time with telephones just like the HUAWEI P60 Professional and vivo X100 collection has made me understand that Chinese language manufacturers, not Google or Samsung, are on the bleeding fringe of digital camera {hardware}.
Do you suppose Google and Samsung have fallen behind in digital camera {hardware}?
1324 votes
What impresses me about these telephones?
Maybe the most important factor that’s impressed me about latest Chinese language flagship telephones is the upgraded telephoto digital camera expertise. Many of those telephones present a large aperture for nice low-light efficiency, close-up focusing capabilities, a comparatively giant sensor, and a high-resolution output.
The Google Pixel 9 Professional collection definitely ticks most of those bins, and we have been proud of photographs from its periscope digital camera, though macro focusing is a notable omission. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely additionally affords a few of these perks however misses out on a large aperture and close-up focusing. In the meantime, the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus persist with historical 10MP 3x telephoto cameras, leaving loads of fashionable telephoto digital camera options on the desk.
Simply try a few of my favourite telephoto snaps captured on Chinese language flagship telephones under.
Sony’s previous couple of Xperia 1 flagship telephones have even provided variable telephoto cameras. The Xperia 1 VI has a variable telephoto digital camera able to steady zoom from 3.5x to 7.1x. Which means constant picture high quality between these two zoom ranges — no cropping or hybrid zoom wanted. What’s stopped Google or Samsung from investing in comparable cameras?
Higher important digital camera {hardware}
Shifting away from the telephoto cameras, many Chinese language flagship telephones now supply one-inch important digital camera sensors that allow cleaner, brighter photographs. Consequently, I’ve actually loved handheld astrophotography modes on latest vivo telephones. A tripod will nonetheless present sharper, cleaner outcomes, and the model’s low-light processing is heavy-handed, however picture high quality is respectable for a handheld snap and completely good for Instagram.
Google’s latest Pixel flagships all supply moderately sized important cameras, however I’d nonetheless like to see the corporate embrace even bigger sensors for higher low-light images, portraits, and movies. I really feel prefer it’s excessive time Samsung provided one-inch 50MP cameras too. In any case, who cares in regards to the S24 Extremely’s 200MP important digital camera if shutter lag remains to be a problem? The Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus additionally sorely want a important digital camera improve, utilizing what’s essentially the identical sensor as 2022’s S22 and S22 Plus.
Switchable apertures, greater sensors, versatile telephoto — there’s a lot lacking from Apple, Google, and Samsung flagships.
Fundamental digital camera improvements aren’t restricted to very large sensors. HUAWEI and Xiaomi’s latest telephones additionally supply variable aperture important cameras, bringing extra management over focusing and depth-of-field results.
In order for you every thing in focus, you’ll be able to go for the slender aperture. In the meantime, a large aperture gives you a shallow depth-of-field with pure bokeh results in comparison with the factitious bokeh seen in portrait mode snaps. Take a look at the comparability under from the P60 Professional’s important digital camera with large and slender apertures. Amazingly versatile, proper?
Software program is one other story
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
As a lot as I really like seeing bleeding-edge digital camera {hardware} from Samsung and Google’s rivals, I nonetheless often use my Pixel 7 Professional for images. That’s primarily as a result of natural-looking images that aren’t over-sharpened or neon because of aggressive HDR. Google has additionally introduced a couple of genuinely helpful software program options to subsequent fashions lately, equivalent to Add Me and Finest Take. I’m additionally an enormous fan of Samsung’s suite of software program options, equivalent to Single Take, Director’s View, and shadow/reflection elimination.
Chinese language rivals are catching up by way of software program, although, if not exceeding Google and Samsung in some areas. Shade profiles are a significant addition to telephones from OnePlus, OPPO, Xiaomi, and vivo, however they’re completely lacking on Google and Samsung telephones. The Xiaomi 14 Extremely additionally affords AI-assisted zoom that beats the S24 Extremely in our testing. And in contrast to Google, Chinese language flagships embody on-device video options like 8K and improved low-light video.
If solely I may mix Google’s software program with Xiaomi’s {hardware}.
In any occasion, whereas Samsung and Google nonetheless supply top-tier digital camera software program that may ship a refined, full-featured expertise, it’s clear that there’s room for enchancment on the {hardware} facet. That is particularly obvious for Samsung’s extra reasonably priced flagships and their more and more ageing cameras. Now, if solely I may mix Samsung or Google’s software program with OPPO, Xiaomi, or vivo {hardware}.
