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Google Pixel 2 vs Huawei Mate 10, Apple iPhone X 3-Way Flagship Camera Comparison

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Q4’s flagship releases from near and far didn’t necessarily shake the foundations of mobile technology. If any, the race for having the best possible camera has been a thing as of late while adapting to the latest trends. This is our 3-Way Camera Comparison of the Google Pixel 2, Huawei Mate 10, and Apple iPhone X.

Specs

Before we get into the results’ discussion, let’s have a peek at what each phone has to offer.

SPECS Google Pixel 2 Huawei Mate 10 Apple iPhone X
Rear Camera 12.2 MP (f/1.8, 27mm, 1/2.6″, 1.4 µm, Dual Pixel PDAF), OIS, phase detection & laser autofocus, dual-LED flash

Video:
2160p@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@240fps

Dual: 12 MP (f/1.6, 27mm, OIS) +20 MP (f/1.6, 27mm), 2x lossless zoom, Leica optics, phase detection & laser autofocus, dual-LED dual-tone flash

Video:
2160p@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps

Dual: 12 MP (f/1.8, 28mm) + 12 MP (f/2.4, 52mm), OIS, phase detection autofocus, 2x optical zoom, quad-LED dual-tone flash

Video:
2160p@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps

Front Camera 8 MP (f/2.4, 27mm, 1/3.2″, 1.4 µm)

Video:
1080p@30fps

8 MP, f/2.0

Video:
1080p@30fps

7 MP (f/2.2, 32mm)

Video:
1080p@30fps, 720p@240fps

Price (SRP) PhP 43,995 PhP 32,990 PhP 49,995

On paper, the difference doesn’t seem too distant. Well, let’s have the results speak for themselves then.

Daytime

For the first image, which is captured with their respective portrait modes, the Pixel 2 comes up with the best bokeh effect without obvious cutouts. Details are on-par for all three, considering the resolution and post-processing. Out of the three, it is the Mate 10 that gave the outstanding output – and not in a good way. The exposure is overblown on the rim itself, making the reflections unclear and the accuracy messed up.

Next is a landscape shot taken with HDR on. Again, details are equal, but the colors start to separate for the three. The iPhone X has the liveliest colors out of the three, with the blue in the sky standing out the most. Even though that the Mate 10 and Pixel 2 are on par in terms of contrast balance, the Pixel 2 still wins by having better-pronounced shadows without sacrificing the overall tone.

 

With an indoor shot and HDR on again, the three seem to be on par at a glance. Upon further inspection, it can be seen that the Pixel 2 output is cooler than the rest and that the iPhone X has the warmest tones as seen in the bottom and upper portion of the image. The Mate 10 performed poorly on balancing exposure on the darker parts of the images, resulting in really dark portions that aren’t the same case for the two.

Following that indoor shot is a closeup shot. For some reason, the Mate 10’s shot is paler. Regarding temperature, the Pixel 2 now has the warmest tones and the iPhone X now holds a colder feel to it. The greens were affected greatly due to this tone shift as seen on the trees in the background.

Wrapping up the daylight shots would be another indoor shot, but this time without HDR. Temperatures are once again changed between the three but colors stayed the same for all three.

Nighttime

During nighttime, the scenario’s still the same – color temperature varies from sample to sample, and that the exposure varies too between the three a lot. Details, however, belong to the Pixel 2 for the first image.

The second nighttime image presents varying lighting sources, and it could be seen at a glance that the Pixel 2 captured this wonderfully. The Mate 10 did a poor job of recreating the scene by having generally bland colors. The iPhone X still did well for what it could offer but suffered a bit in the detail department.

With the vastness of space on the background, noise levels become apparent. Details fell flat for the Pixel 2’s sample along with the colors. Now, it is the iPhone X that has the best-looking image out of the three without having overbearing details.

For a closeup of nighttime, shutter speed becomes wonky for all. Both the Pixel 2 and iPhone X produced rather blurry shots. However, the Pixel 2 has the better color reproduction. The Mate 10, again, finished last against the two by having dull colors despite having the sharpest details possible.

Finishing things up with a landscape shot, the Pixel 2 produced the one with the most vibrant colors at the cost of detail as seen in the close-ups. The iPhone X followed suit in both aspects and the Mate 10 finished last again.

Selfies

With the selfies, it can be seen that it’s the Pixel 2 and iPhone X that did their best to try to recreate the subject’s face. The Mate 10 has its own inherent beautification that some users may not love.

Even in low-light, the results are still the same from a general standpoint with the Pixel 2 accurately capturing the lighting and colors.

And on the last image, the iPhone X presented a rather aggressive detailing with higher contrast than the other two. Still, details are well-defined with the Mate 10’s being the most unnatural.

Videos

Out of the three, it is only the iPhone X that is capable of 4K 60FPS with its encoder. Despite all being able to capture in 4K, details are best on the Pixel 2 without sacrificing colors nor contrast. It is to be noted that the Mate 10’s stabilization can only be used up to 1080p at 30FPS due to chipset limitations. The Pixel 2, on the other hand, can use both OIS and EIS at the same time for video capture, making for the most stable output out of the three.

Verdict

Among these three, the DxOMark rating of the Pixel 2 is no joke and it has proven itself in our own 3-way camera comparison with two other beasts of the same level. With its price in the middle of the two, it may just have the best balance out of all the smartphones out on the market right now.

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