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izacus 5 days ago

Pixel phones have won blind camera tests last few years without Apple coming close though.

nomel 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

This is tricky. Most Android phones apply heavy color saturation and contrast adjustments, by default, to the images and the display itself, where iPhone tends to keep things more "raw". But, "pop" is what the average person usually prefers. It's post processing step that can heavily influence favor, unrelated to the camera. The Samsung cameras are still objectively better though, in many metrics.

My work involves showing images accurately on screens, and I always have dig through all the settings to make the Android phones just to show an image without heavy modification (for Samsung, it's 3 separate settings!). There is no such setting for iPhone, where the default experience is a (literally) color calibrated screen.

RankingMember 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

In my view Pixels have been dominating in still photos for years but their video has never been on par with iPhone. I'd put my old Pixel 3's still camera up against my iPhone 13 any day (if my Pixel hadn't bricked itself a little out of warranty like all of mine seemed to).

hbn 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The difference between the photos on any flagship phone for the past 5 or so years is insignificant and mostly up to personal preference, but the difference between iPhone and anything else in videos is massive.

tshaddox 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

This is because iPhone photos are ubiquitous which causes photos from less common phones to stand out. And the less common phones likely optimize for this A/B test scenario by e.g. increasing contrast and saturation. Meanwhile Apple likely has little to no interest in optimizing for A/B tests with minor smartphone players, and instead optimizes merely for delivering satisfying photos in the widest range of scenarios.

Pixel photos are very good too, for the record. I just think the "blind camera test" is worthless.

shaklee3 5 days ago | parent [-]

That's quite an interesting way to explain why Apple does poorly in blind tests. The real reason though is that Apple's cameras are just not as good, but I suppose it's easier to explain away by making up biases.

tshaddox 5 days ago | parent [-]

My and your personal preferences for one camera over the other isn't the issue. Nor am I claiming that one is objectively better than another. My point is that blind tests (between two cameras of similar quality) are worthless simply because they don't reflect the preferences the test-taker would actually have given extensive use of each camera.

The issues with blind tests like this are well-known. I assure you I have no interest in persuading you to alter your own preferences.

jama211 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

For pictures but not for video, the stabilisation is better on iOS typically

tick_tock_tick 5 days ago | parent [-]

Stabilization is about to all become post processing AI based and if we know there is only thing Apple sucks at now a days it's software.

jama211 5 days ago | parent [-]

There’s huge value in having proper optical stabilisation, even if you’re using AI better input will still equal better output.

SirMaster 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

What if I personally don't tend to agree with most people over what constitutes a good looking photo?