There are two variants of the new Pixel 8 series. The Pixel 8 has its own review and the Pixel 8 Pro. Here we review the 8 Pro, which offers a triple lens system, compared to the 8’s dual.

The Google Pixel 8 Pro in “Bay” (Blue). Photo: Amy Davies

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Google Pixel 8 Pro – At a glance:

• Price as reviewed: $999-$1179 / £830 – £1100
• 50MP wide camera, f/1.68 aperture, 25mm equivalent
• 48MP ultrawide camera, f/1.95 aperture
• 48MP 5x telephoto camera, f/2.8 aperture, 113mm equivalent
• 6.7” Super Actua LTPO OLED screen
• Android 14
• Manufacturer: Google

Looking at these specs alone, there are a few interesting differences between this and the older model – improvements to both hardware and software (there have already been AI updates for the Pixel 8 Pro since its release)

Read on for the details…

We review smartphones from the perspective of their photography and camera performance; so here we look mainly at the Google Pixel 8 Pro cameras and features included for photography and video.

Google Pixel 8 Pro – Features

Like its predecessor, the 8 Pro features a triple-lens setup. While the focal lengths have remained the same, we’ve seen some improvements in resolution and other metrics.

The main sensor of the 8 Pro has 50MP, and is 1/1.31” – that’s the same as last year’s Pixel 7 Pro, but the accompanying 25mm equivalent lens is now f/1.68.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s “visor” camera housing Photo: Amy Davies

It is joined by two 48 megapixel sensors. The ultrawide has an f/1.95 lens. This compares with last year’s 12MP, f2.2 lens. There’s also a 5x telephoto, which remains similar (now 113mm, previously 120mm ). The sensor size remains, but the maximum aperture is now f/2.8, rather than f/3.5 – so expect improvement in low light performance. Digital zoom for the Pixel 8 Pro reaches 30x, as before.

The 10.5MP f/2.2 selfie camera now has autofocus too, which again could mean some slight improvements in this area too.

In software improvements, Pixel 8 Pro brings a new “Pro” mode, which provides controls over things like shutter speed and white balance. Other AI features, including “Best Take” and “Magic Editor” allow for enhancements to photographs, such as swapping out faces in group shots. These improvements – being software related – may eventually come to older Pixel models, but for now at least, are restricted to the latest.

Pixel 8 Pro front. Photo: Amy Davies

Other features include the screen, which remains at 6.7” but is slightly different in shape, and ever so slightly lower in resolution – it has improved tough credentials though and is brighter. The battery is 5050mAh and boasts both fast charging and wireless charging.

The Pixel 8 Pro is the first phone to feature Android 14, but other models can now upgrade to the latest OS.

Google Pixel 8 Pro – Handling and Design

With its 6.7” screen, the Pixel 8 Pro is on the large side, but it matches other similar high-end smartphones, including the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and its own predecessor, the Pixel 7 Pro. The Samsung S23 Ultra is bigger, at 6.8”. For their large proportions, these phones are good for displaying photos and videos well.

The overall dimensions of the Pixel 8 Pro come in at 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8mm; similar to its predecessor, and weighs 213g – just 1g more than the older model. The corners of the screen however have been rounded – you could say it’s got more of an iPhone look, where previously it resembled more a Samsung. The screen now uses Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, so should withstand scratches even better. We haven’t tried to damage test the screen, and it’s resisted normal usage.

The Pixel 8 Pro has more rounded corners than its predecessor. Photo: Amy Davies

Flipping to the back of the phone and we see a “visor” set up for the camera housing similar to previous generations. The cameras are found in a horizontal strip across the top of the phone. A new addition noticeable in this strip is a cutout for a new sensor – this is a temperature sensor which can measure the same of various things (not yet approved for human use). This has nothing to do with the camera.

Google Pixel 8 Pro – Native Camera app

The native camera apps in Google Pixels have generally been noted for their simplicity of use; a little like iPhones in this regard. That changes somewhat for the Pixel 8 Pro, which for the first time in a Pixel model introduces a “Pro” mode. Note that the standard Pixel 8 does not have this.

A new Pro mode introduces the ability to change certain parameters. Photo: Amy Davies

Pro mode is accessed by tapping an icon from the main Photo screen – upon doing which, a set of adjustable parameters appears. This includes white balance, shutter speed, and ISO. You can also engage manual focus, as well as switch on useful functions such as focus peaking. After making multiple changes to settings, there’s a “reset all” option to revert to the default ones.

Slightly confusingly, there are also separate “Pro” options available when swiping up in the main Photo mode. Here you can change the resolution from the default 12MP to 50MP, as well as switch on raw shooting (you’ll get both a DNG and a JPEG if you do that).

A secondary “Pro” section enables high-resolution and raw shooting. Photo: Amy Davies

Other settings can also be accessed by swiping up here, including switching on the Timer, allowing macro focus to automatically engage, and changing the aspect ratio. More settings can be accessed in the main menu, such as switching on a grid and so on.

In the main Photo mode, if low light levels are detected, “Night Sight” should turn on automatically. However, you can also activate it manually – this can be helpful in mixed lighting situations. Just like with the 7 Pro, within Night Sight mode, there are additional options, including Astrophotography, which can be used if you place the phone on a steady surface or tripod.

Another photo mode is “Portrait”, which enables capture of shallow depth of field effects. You can shoot at either 1.5x or 2x. You can combine Portrait mode with Night mode for capturing portraits in low light, and there are other options, including face retouching, too.

Google makes use of AI technology for a couple of the other photo modes, including Long Exposure, which can be used to capture blur with moving subjects, while keeping the background sharp. Similarly, there’s also Action Pan, where the moving subject is kept still, with the background blurred to create a sense of movement that way. Both are incredibly easy to use – you just point the phone at a moving subject and it’ll do the work for you. Some subjects work better than others, but being able to do this directly from your phone with very little intervention is impressive nonetheless (albeit not new for the Pixel 8 Pro – the 7 Pro had these modes too).

The photo and video modes now have separate tabs. Photo: Amy Davies

All of the video modes have been separated into a different tab. This is a departure from the 7 Pro, however, if you update the 7 Pro to Android 14, you’ll see the same division too. In the Video section, you’ll find the standard ordinary Video mode, as well as other options such as Slow Motion, Time Lapse, and Pan (for creating panning video with smooth stabilisation).

A fair amount has been made of the Pixel 8 series’ new editing tools, particularly Best Take and Magic Editor. We’ve taken a closer look at how the Pixel’s Magic Editor works in a separate feature. But, to sum up, there’s a number of edits you can make, with perhaps the most interesting being to erase objects, move them around the frame, or make them bigger or smaller.

Sometimes it’s very successful, other times less so – it’s certainly worth experimenting with and can be useful for removing distracting elements. It does have some drawbacks though – for example, it’s quite slow to use and you’ll need to back up (all of your) your images to Google Photos before you can use it.

An image shot with the “Action Pan” mode on the Google Pixel 8 Pro. Photo: Amy Davies

Pixel 8 Pro · f/1.68 · 1/863s · 6.9mm · ISO21

Best Take is a fun feature for group portraits and selfies. When you take a series of portraits with faces in, you can head to the editor afterwards and select the best of the faces – perhaps somebody was blinking or looking miserable – in one shot. Again, sometimes this works better than other times – it can be confused by things like glasses on occasion, but generally it’s a fun feature that can certainly “save” a family photo that’s gone awry and requires no special editing expertise.

Google Pixel 8 Pro – Image Quality and Performance

We have been continually impressed by the quality of imagery from the Pixel series, right from the very first model – and the 8th generation builds on everything the previous models have done to produce the Pixel’s best quality images yet.

The Pixel 8 Pro produces great colours – they’re bright without being overly vibrant. Photo: Amy Davies

Pixel 8 Pro · f/1.68 · 1/504s · 6.9mm · ISO18

Shooting in good light yields the best results, with images which display a good level of detail, accurate exposures and colours which strike an excellent balance between vibrant and realistic. Comparing it with models such as the iPhone 15 Pro Max – which tends to be a little flatter – and the Samsung S23 Ultra – which goes far too vibrant, the Pixel 8 Pro sits neatly in the middle. What’s more, there’s excellent colour matching between the three different lenses available too.

In good light, the differences between the Pixel 7 Pro and 8 Pro aren’t huge – on the whole the two models put in a fairly similar performance, especially from the main lens. However, I noticed that on several occasions when I thought I was shooting with the 5x lens with the 7 Pro, it was in fact utilising the 1x sensor. This never happened with the 8 Pro, which has a wider aperture, so it’s likely that it’s down to the available light – even when it’s not particularly dark. As a result, images shot with the 5x lens selected from the 8 Pro produces consistently better results.

An image shot with the Pixel 8 Pro’s 1x lens. Photo: Amy Davies

Pixel 8 Pro · f/1.68 · 1/1689s · 6.9mm · ISO19

The same scene shot with the ultrawide lens. Photo: Amy Davies

Pixel 8 Pro · f/1.95 · 1/2179s · 2.23mm · ISO38

Here we see the 5x lens in action. As we can see from all three of them, colours are matched well between them all. Photo: Amy Davies

Pixel 8 Pro · f/2.8 · 1/315s · 18mm · ISO14

On the whole, the 5x lens is very good. Some might argue that 5x is “too long”, compared to the 3x lenses you’ll find on the S23 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro (not the 15 Pro Max which also has a 5x lens), but you can also shoot at 2x or 3x with the 1x lens (which will use the central portion of the sensor). My feeling therefore is that it’s good to have a dedicated lens for getting just that bit closer. Digital zoom is available up to 30x. Up to around 10x, the results are usable, especially at smaller sizes, but beyond that, the images become a bit too smudgy for anything but a record shot.

The ultrawide lens also produces more detail, and copes better in low light – as is to be expected from the jump in resolution and wider aperture. This also means that macro images are also better from the 8 Pro too, which uses the ultrawide angle lens. Here you’ll find that close-up shooting yields some very detailed and impressive results.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s Macro mode resolves lots of detail. Photo: Amy Davies

Pixel 8 Pro · f/1.95 · 1/61s · 2.23mm · ISO105

When it comes to Portrait mode, there’s not a dramatic improvement here from the last generation. Considering how much AI usability Pixel models have, it’s perhaps a surprise not to see some kind of automatic portrait recognition, but otherwise, the results are pretty good – with a natural drop off between subject and background, particularly if you’re only looking at them on your phone screen. You can adjust the strength of blur, and the focus point, after you’ve taken the picture if you want to – which comes in handy on the rare occasion there’s been a misfire.

A portrait taken with the Pixel 8 Pro. Photo: Amy Davies

Pixel 8 Pro · f/1.68 · 1/70s · 6.9mm · ISO20

The introduction of autofocus for the selfie lens means you get much sharper results – arguably this makes them less flattering, but either way, from a photographic point of view, it’s hard to deny they’re “better”. You can switch on “Portrait” mode for selfies to create a shallow depth of field effect. The result is a bit “obvious” here – we’ve seen much better results from the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but if you only intend to look at your selfies on a small phone screen, the effect is not too bad.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s selfie camera now has AF – here shown with “Portrait” mode. Photo: Amy Davies

Pixel 8 Pro · f/2.2 · 1/544s · 2.74mm · ISO46

Low light is where we see some excellent results. We thought the Pixel 7 Pro was very good, but it just goes to show that there’s still plenty of improvements that can be made. The wider aperture lenses are probably helping here, with the sensors able to gather more light, but there’s also no doubt some more advanced computational wizardry on display too. There’s very little in the way of lens flare – which can sometimes be an issue with the 7 Pro – while in general, there’s much more detail on show from images from the 8 Pro. It also compares very well with other flagships like the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Samsung S23 Ultra – in short, if low light is your thing, I’d wager that the Pixel 8 Pro is one of the very best for low light photography you can currently buy.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s “Night Sight” mode produces excellent results. Photo: Amy Davies

Pixel 8 Pro · f/1.68 · 1/8s · 6.9mm · ISO114

Shooting with the ultrawide in low light also yields fantastic results. Photo: Amy Davies

Pixel 8 Pro · f/1.95 · 1/8s · 2.23mm · ISO419

Video performs very well too, with smooth results that are nicely detailed. Stabilisation works well at 4K 60fps, and with a range of other video options, it’s a good choice for content creators who want lots of different styles to experiment with. No 8K video here, but that’s still a very niche requirement.

Google Pixel 8 Pro – Value for Money

The Pixel series has always been known for its excellent value for money – especially in relation to other flagship brands.

There’s been a bit of a price hike this year for the Pixel 8 Pro, with it now reaching the minimum £999/$999 mark for the first time – for that you’ll get 128GB of memory.

You can pay a bit more (£1059/$1059) and get 256GB, or more again (£1179/$1179) for 512GB. While it’s more expensive than last year, it’s still significantly cheaper than the iPhone 15 Pro Max (£1199/$1199 for the 256GB version – there is no 128GB with the Apple device), or £1399/$1399 for the 512GB.

Despite being expensive, you get quite a lot for your money with the Pixel 8 Pro. Photo: Amy Davies

It’s also a fair amount cheaper than the S23 Ultra, which will set you back quite a bit more, at £1249/$1249 for 256GB, £1399/$1399 for the 512GB. Again, there’s no 128GB version for the S23 Ultra. Additionally, both the S23 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max have 1TB options, so if you’re keen on outrageous amount of storage, you won’t find that with the Pixel.

So, while the 8 Pro certainly isn’t “cheap” by any means, it’s well-priced compared to its nearest rivals. If you want to save a bit of cash, going for the older 7 Pro is worth considering – with prices starting at £849/$899. You can buy the 7 Pro directly from Google at this cheaper price, and you may also be able to find them in the second-hand market for even better prices too.

Results are great from the Pixel 8 Pro. Photo: Amy Davies

Pixel 8 Pro · f/1.68 · 1/1912s · 6.9mm · ISO21

That said, of course by opting for the older model, you lose out on some of the great new features of the 8 Pro, and may feel you want to upgrade sooner – the slightly more expensive choice might therefore be better value for money over the longer term.

It’s also worth pointing out that Google offers an incredible 7 years of update support for the Pixel 8 Pro, which makes it the best mainstream smartphone on the market in terms of ongoing support – again, increasing its value proposition significantly.

Google Pixel 8 Pro – Verdict

Exposures are well-balanced. Photo: Amy Davies

Pixel 8 Pro · f/1.95 · 1/1466s · 2.23mm · ISO37

After Apple phones and Samsung phones, Google Pixel phones seem to be the ones you see most readily in people’s hands. Perhaps this is confirmation bias based on their distinctive-looking camera setup on the back, but either way, we often think of the Pixel series as being one of the “big three” when it comes to the best smartphones for photographers.

Using a combination of excellent hardware and advanced software, the Pixel 8 Pro takes what the company has already done with its existing models and improved it even further to make it extremely impressive.

It produces excellent images in a wide range of conditions, and there’s been a noticeable jump in image quality from its predecessor – something that is often harder to spot from the likes of Apple and Samsung, where each new version seems to be a lot more gentle.

Colours are realistic from the Pixel 8 Pro. Photo: Amy Davies

Pixel 8 Pro · f/1.68 · 1/100s · 6.9mm · ISO113

That said, if you’ve got a Pixel 7 Pro, there’s probably no need to immediately go out and upgrade. Yes, the 8 Pro is better, but with the main differences coming to low light and if you scrutinise things like detail at close quarters. There are also software improvements, such as the Pro Mode and Best Take – but how often you’ll want to use those is questionable. If this is how good the 8 Pro is – you might question, how good will the 9 Pro be – perhaps if you’ve got a 7 Pro already, it’s better to wait. You’re more likely to notice a bigger difference if you’ve got an older Pixel.

If you’re coming from a different brand altogether, unless you’ve already got one of the other flagships, the Pixel 8 Pro is likely to give you noticeably better pictures than what you’re already used to as well. It doesn’t quite snatch the crown from the Samsung S23 Ultra as the ultimate device for photographers – that phone’s extra zooming capability, plus 8K video recording means it just about pips it, but it’s an extremely close-run thing.

Overall, there’s a huge amount to like about the Pixel 8 Pro – and very little to dislike. It takes great pictures, is very pleasant to use and won’t set you back quite the fortune that other flagships will. Will you be getting one?

Related reading:

• Google pixel 7a – new budget phone king
• Google Pixel review – Mid-range phone shines
• Google Pixel 7 Pro Review – Premium camera performance
• iPhone 14 Pro vs Google Pixel 7 Pro – cameras compared

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The post Google Pixel 8 Pro Review – Great Hardware meets AI Magic appeared first on Amateur Photographer.

The Google Pixel 8 is of particular interest to those who don’t want to pay a grand for a flagship phone, as the Pixel 8 can be found for around $640 or £649 (less if you shop around).

However, go for the $999 / £949 Pixel 8 Pro and you get even more, with a 5x telephoto camera, AF selfie camera, as well as manual controls. Both cameras benefit from Google’s latest AI image editing features, including the new Magic Editor.

NOTE since December that Google Pixel 8 Pro got more AI updates

Google Pixel 8 home screen. Photo JW/AP

Buy now

Key Features at a glance:

• 50MP wide-angle camera, f/1.68, OIS, PDAF, 25mm equivalent
• 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, f/2.2, AF, 13mm equivalent
• 10.5MP selfie camera, f/2.2, 21mm equivalent, without AF
• 4K video at 60fps video from rear and front facing cameras
• 6.2inch OLED 120Hz screen, HDR10+, Gorilla Glass Victus
• 4565mAh battery, 27W wired charging, 15W wireless
• 8GB, 128/256GB RAM / storage options
• Android 14
• 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9mm
• 187g weight

Google Pixel 8 cameras. Photo JW/AP

The Pixel 8 is quite a compact phone by today’s standards, with a 6.2inch screen, and very curved corners. Whilst the screen is only slightly smaller than the 6.3inch Pixel 7, it does feel noticeably smaller in-hand.

For photography fans everywhere, it comes with Google’s impressive range of AI powered computational photography features such as those we’ve grown to love since the Pixel 6. This includes Magic eraser, Long exposure, Action pan, and more, plus there are a range of new features, including:

• Best take – lets you swap out the best portraits in photos of people
• Magic editor – includes sky replacement, object removal and moving, and further AI enhancement
• Audio magic eraser for video – removes unwanted sound from video

This “in-camera” editing has the ability to make changes within Google Photos, and can help create photos that would normally need 3rd party apps, or computer photo-editing to achieve. More on this later…

The camera hardware has also been updated, and we go over the differences between the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 7 here:

Google Pixel 8 vs Pixel 7 Hardware differences:

• Improved main camera with brighter aperture – f/1.68
• Improved ultra-wide angle camera – wider and adds AF
• Smaller screen 6.2inch vs 6.3inch
• Smaller body, but larger battery

Google Pixel 8 Features

We review smartphones from the perspective of choosing one for it’s photography and camera performance, so we’ll look mostly at what the Google Pixel 8 cameras offer, and the features included for photography and video.

Google Pixel 8 rear cameras. Photo JW/AP

The main 50MP camera has been updated since the Pixel 7, with a brighter aperture of f/1.68 vs f/1.85 on the 7. The sensor size remains the same at 1/1.31inch, and this camera has phase detection auto focus (PDAF), as well as optical image stabilisation (OIS). This camera uses pixel-binning to give 12.5MP images.

The ultra-wide-angle camera is now wider (125.8 degrees vs 114 degrees) and more importantly features auto-focus, compared to there being no auto-focus on the Pixel 7. The auto-focus is important here, as this adds a macro mode to the phone, where the Pixel 7 does not have one.

This camera has a 12MP sensor and an f/2.2 aperture, in comparison the Pixel 8 Pro has a 48MP ultra-wide-angle camera with an f/2.0 aperture.

The selfie camera has been updated with the 10.5MP camera featuring an f/2.2 aperture, but unfortunately this camera still lacks auto-focus. The Google Pixel 8 Pro has it.

Google Pixel 8. Photo JW/AP

Video recording is recorded at up to 4K resolution and 60fps, with the features available varying depending on the frame rate chosen, for example, for HDR video, the maximum resolution and frame rate is 4K 30fps. Similarly the level of stabilisation possible varies based on resolution, with video stabilisation available for: 4K Cinematic Pan video stabilisation, 4K locked, and at 1080p active. Additionally, a new feature called Audio Magic Eraser allows adjustments to the audio for music and voice levels in videos.

The camera app

The camera app on the Pixel 8 was updated to give a clearer separation between the photo and video modes. The app is easy to use with all the modes at the bottom, so is quick and easy to start shooting.

Google Pixel 8 camera app. Photo JW/AP

There are lots of photo shooting modes that make it easy to get creative results without much knowledge of photography. This includes long exposure photography, which would normally require a tripod and ND filter, but can be achieved hand-held. There’s also Action Panning, a portrait mode, a night mode, and an Astrophotography mode. More on some of these later.

Unfortunately there’s no pro / manual mode, with Google reserving that to the Pixel 8 Pro. This is a huge shame as it’s clearly a software feature, and therefore would be easy to switch on if they wanted to, with both phones using the same main camera.

Google Pixel 8 camera options. Photo JW/AP

There are more options available in the settings, including support for raw shooting, but no access to shoot with the full 50MP resolution from the main camera. You can get very quick access to the photo mode simply by double clicking the power button when the phone is locked, and it’ll jump straight to the photo mode. I found this particularly useful when I wanted to get a quick photo of a fleeting scene.

Computational and AI photography features

Here we look into the different AI photography features that come with the phone. Some of these are new, and others have been around since the Google Pixel 6 series.

Magic Editor

To use the Magic Editor, your phone needs to be connected to the internet, plus you need to ensure that Google Photos is setup to backup your photos to the cloud. If you haven’t set this up, for example, or your storage is full, then you won’t be able to use this feature. Trying to select it, and the phone will helpfully tell you to backup your photos, but won’t let you backup just the one photo you want to edit (without going elsewhere to back it up).

Using Magic Editor to adjust the sky, and remove a sign.

These gripes aside, once you do have your photos backed up, then you can use Magic Editor to edit and replace the sky, remove and move objects, as well as adjust other settings, based on the type of photo.

If you have taken a portrait the Magic Editor will edit the photo for you, giving a slightly altered image. If you’ve just taken a photo and then want to edit it with Magic Editor, again, you’ll have to wait for it to be backed up before editing it. Even with the phone connected to Wi-Fi, this can be a painfully long wait in comparison to simply editing a photo straight away.

Pixel 8 Magic Editor, before editing on the left, after editing on the right. As well as using Magic Editor to replace the sky and remove the sign, I adjusted the saturation and warmth of the image in the normal editor. Photo JW

It’s a neat idea, but it’s a shame it’s doesn’t give more control, as the level of adjustment within the Magic Editor is rather limited. For example, to move and change the size of one thing in a photo is done piecemeal; each must be processed before another element of the photo can be edited. However, it’s likely that this will be updated by Google over time, and we should see some improvements in the future.

Google Pixel 8 – Magic Editor – Before (left), After (right) “Portrait” enhancement

You can also use Magic Eraser in the normal photo editing app, and this is easier, quicker, and more fun, as you don’t have to use the somewhat awkward feeling, and slow Magic Editor. There’s also a much larger number of editing options within the normal photo editor.

Take a deeper look into Google’s Magic Editor in our guide on How to use Google’s Magic Editor. 

Best Take

Take a series of shots of people, and you can go through and select the best expression for each face detected in the scene. Clever stuff, and relatively straightforward to use. This will be especially useful for group shots where there are a number of people in the scene.

Google Pixel 8 Best Take mode. Photo JW/AP

Long exposure photography

This feature has been around since the Google Pixel 6. It impressed us then, and it continues to impress us, as you can simply take a photo, handheld, without a tripod and create long exposure photographs. This works really well for waterfalls, and other bodies of water where you want to blur out the movement.

The phone will save the original, as well as the long exposure photo so you can switch between the two to see which you prefer.

Long exposure photography – waterfall. Google Pixel 8 sample photo. Photo Joshua Waller

Pixel 8 · f/1.68 · 1/210s · 6.9mm · ISO34

Night photography

Night photography can be used for longer exposure low-light photography, however, you don’t always need to use the night photography mode as the camera can produce good results without activating this mode – depending on light levels. This feature was improved on the Pixel 7 series, and remains a quick and easy to use feature that can be used without a tripod to get long exposure low-light shots.

Low-light photography. Google Pixel 8 sample photo. Photo Joshua Waller

Pixel 8 · f/1.68 · 1/50s · 6.9mm · ISO774

If you do put your phone on a solid surface, such as a tripod, a wall, or beanbag etc, then you can enable an extra long exposure Astrophotography mode, great for star-trails or other celestial photography. The phone can even create a time-lapse video for you of the stars travelling across the sky. It’s an impressive feature and well worth trying.

Design and Handling

The Pixel 8 uses Gorilla Glass Victus on the screen, and I managed to scratch the screen on this phone, which is rarely something that I experience. The Pixel 8 Pro benefits from Victus 2 which should give a little extra protection.

The Pixel 8 is also smaller than the Pixel 7, with a slightly smaller screen (6.2inches vs 6.3inches), with a brighter screen and a faster refresh rate of 120Hz, vs 90Hz.

The phone looks and feels like a premium phone, and with the cameras on the phone looking physically larger it gives the impression of a more serious camera phone. There are stereo speakers, and these perform far better than expected for a small phone, with even some bass being audible.

Google Pixel 8 home screen. Photo JW/AP

The camera bar along the back also gives a benefit when the phone is placed on a desk as the phone will stay flat on the desk, unlike phones that have the cameras sticking out on one side.

The screen looks great, with a high brightness available, of up to 2000 nits (peak), or 1400 nits (HDR). The refresh rate can go as high as 120Hz, although the lowest is 60Hz, which could reduce battery life compared to phones that can go as low as 1Hz. In terms of colour reproduction, photos and images look great on the phone.

18W wireless charging is available with the right charger, and for faster charging speeds you can use wired charging, with up to 27W possible. This is reasonable, but not as fast as other brands out there, particularly the wired charging. The phone is IP68 rated, has a 2 year warranty, and up to 7 years of software updates.

Google Pixel 8 Performance

The Google Pixel 8, like other Pixel phones delivers impressive results, with pleasing colour reproduction, and reliable exposure and dynamic range. You don’t really need to worry about what setting you’re using as the phone will work it all out for you.

In terms of colour reproduction, the phone will give bright, saturated images, but without going too far. For example, similar photos taken with a Samsung photo show much stronger saturation.

You can use hybrid zoom, and results remain good as long as you don’t zoom too far – this Saab 900 Classic car was shot at 2x zoom. Photo Joshua Waller

Pixel 8 · f/1.68 · 1/1359s · 6.9mm · ISO22

Using up to 2x zoom can give good looking results, but go much beyond this, and you’ll soon start seeing the effects of digital zoom. Even with clever computing and image processing, you’re still not going to get amazing 5x or 8x zoom photos from this camera, and if you really do intend on taking a lot of telephoto zoom photos, then you will definitely get better results from the Google Pixel 8 Pro (or 7 Pro etc).

Trees taken with the Google Pixel 8 ultra-wide-angle camera. Photo Joshua Waller

Pixel 8 · f/2.2 · 1/234s · 1.95mm · ISO44

The ultra-wide-angle camera gives good colour and exposure, as expected, and the colour reproduction matches the main camera. Detail is quite good, but does drop off towards the corners of the frame, where optical issues such as purple fringing and chromatic aberrations become apparent, particularly in shots like this.

Trees taken with the main camera on the Google Pixel 8. Photo Joshua Waller

Pixel 8 · f/1.68 · 1/215s · 6.9mm · ISO24

The main camera performs very well, with images that don’t look overly processed, and the only issues being that noise can be visible in some shots, more so in the corners of the frame. This is mostly when shooting in darker conditions. I did notice some odd noise in very dark conditions on one of my images, when using digital zoom, but this was after taking several hundreds of images. Hopefully this will be resolved with a future update.

A mixture of Lichen and Moss taken with the Google Pixel 8. Photo Joshua Waller

Pixel 8 · f/1.68 · 1/397s · 6.9mm · ISO19

There’s now a dedicated “Macro” option that can be used if the subject is too close to the camera, however, the main camera can also focus relatively closely, as this shot above shows. If you need to get even closer, then the ultra-wide-angle camera is used, and this gives really close focusing.

Lego macro photo using the ultra-wide-angle camera. Photo JW/AP

Pixel 8 · f/2.2 · 1/24s · 1.95mm · ISO162

As soon as light levels drop enough, then the Night photography mode will be activated, and this gives impressive images that can be taken handheld. You get the choice of increasing the exposure time for high quality images, but you also get great results even without this activated.

Google Pixel 8 sample photo using the Night mode. Photo Joshua Waller

Pixel 8 · f/1.68 · 1/25s · 6.9mm · ISO602

Results from the Night Photography mode are really very impressive, but your results may vary, as you do get the best results from holding the phone as steady as possible.

Tram lines. Google Pixel 8 sample photo. Photo Joshua Waller

Pixel 8 · f/1.68 · 1/651s · 6.9mm · ISO20

Using the portrait mode

Google Pixel 8 sample photo using the portrait mode. Photo Jeremy Waller

Pixel 8 · f/1.68 · 1/59s · 6.9mm · ISO32

When using the portrait mode, the phone delivers an excellent looking image, with pleasing skin tones, plenty of detail and a good looking background blur (and bokeh). When shooting with the main camera you have the choice of 1.5x or 2x zoom, and can edit settings such as the amount of blur and depth, as well as the focus point.

Google Pixel 8 portrait mode using the selfie camera, with background blur. Photo JW

Pixel 8 · f/2.2 · 1/684s · 2.74mm · ISO50

The Pixel 8 selfie camera gives good results, with pleasing colour, and good levels of background blur. This can be adjusted after taking the photo, and you can also add a “Portrait light” with control over where you place the artificial light in the frame. In comparison to the Pixel 7, the results are slightly more natural, with less background blur on default settings.

Video recording

There are a number of options available in the video section of the app, including Pan and Blur, with blur giving a background blur effect. Magic Audio lets you adjust the voice and background noise, as well as the option to adjust Wind noise if it’s present. I had mixed results trying to remove some background music from a video I recorded.

Video stabilisation does an impressive job of keeping the footage stable when recording handheld. 4K HDR video can be recorded at 4K 30fps. If you switch up to 60fps (4K) then HDR is no longer available.

Value for Money

The Google Pixel 8 has seen the price of the phone increase to $699 / £699 compared to the Google Pixel 7, which had an RRP of £599. This is still a good price, but edging closer and closer to other phones with triple camera systems.

Google Pixel 7 (left) and 8 (right). Photo JW/AP

Phones with triple camera setups on the rear include the the Samsung Galaxy S23 (£849 RRP but less if you shop around), Xiaomi 13 (£739) and Xiaomi 13T Pro (£699). The Pixel 8 is still cheaper than the dual camera iPhone 15, which is priced at £799. You could also look at the Samsung Galaxy S22 if you wanted a cheaper option, and didn’t mind going for last years model.

Google Pixel 8 Verdict

The Google Pixel 8 is an excellent camera phone, and has some very impressive photography features. In fact, you don’t have to use these features, and you’re still going to get some amazing looking photos, with excellent exposure, good detail, and pleasing colour reproduction.

It’s the advanced photographic features and consistently good photographic results from this phone that make it a real contender compared to Samsung and Apple. It’s also priced competitively, and gives other phones a serious challenge.

Colour and detail are both very pleasing. Google Pixel 8 sample photo. Photo Joshua Waller

Pixel 8 · f/1.68 · 1/484s · 6.9mm · ISO19

There’s an improved main camera, with brighter aperture, and there’s also an improved ultra-wide-angle, now with auto-focus and a macro.

This makes the Google Pixel 8 an excellent all-round camera phone, and possibly one of the best phones out there for under $700 / £700.

However, there are two things that stop this from being the perfect camera phone, and that’s the lack of auto-focus on the selfie camera, which can be found on Samsung’s S22 and S23 series, and the lack of manual mode. Which for some reason Google only saw fit to add on the Pixel 8 Pro model. We can only hope that Google will add it via a future update. Fingers crossed.

Chips. Google Pixel 8 close-up sample photo. Photo Joshua Waller

Pixel 8 · f/1.68 · 1/1443s · 6.9mm · ISO17

The Magic Editor is a great idea, but could do with some refinement, as its a little bit clunky to use, and doesn’t give much control when you do use it. This is another area that could be improved with software updates.

However, if you simply want an easy to use phone, that gives excellent results time and time again, then the Google Pixel 8 would make an excellent choice, especially if you don’t want to spend more than $700/£700.

For more options have a look at our guide to the best budget phones, as well as the best premium phones for photography.

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OnePlus Open (Green). Photo JW/AP

Buy now

Key Features at a glance:

• 48MP main camera, f/1.7, 24mm equivalent, OIS, PDAF
• 48MP ultra-wide, f/2.2, 14mm equivalent, PDAF
• 64MP telephoto, f/2.6, 70mm equivalent, OIS, PDAF
• 20MP f/2.2 ultra-wide (inner) 20mm equivalent
• 32MP f/2.4 ultra-wide (cover) 22mm equivalent
• 7.82inch folding screen, 120Hz, 2800nits
• 6.31inch outer screen, 120Hz, 2800nits, ceramic guard
• 4805mAh battery, no wireless charging
• 16GB RAM, 512GB storage
• Android 13
• 153.4×143.1×5.8mm open, 153.4×73.3×11.7mm closed
• 239g / 245g (black/green options)

Folding phones are great for browsing the web. OnePlus Open (Green). Photo JW/AP

OnePlus Open Hardware, design and features

We review smartphones from the perspective of choosing one for it’s photography and camera performance. Here we look at what the OnePlus Open camera offers, and the features included for photography and video.

Often due to space and design complications of the folding system, the camera setup can be a little bit lacking compared to non-folding phones. Not with the OnePlus Open, which has put a strong emphasis on the triple camera system on the back.

OnePlus Open cameras (Green). Photo JW/AP

The OnePlus Open cameras are made up of:

The first camera to mention is the main 48MP wide-angle camera, with an f/1.7 aperture, optical image stabilisation (OIS), and phase detection auto-focus (PDAF). This gives pixel-binned 12MP images, and uses a 1/1.43inch sensor.

There’s a 48MP ultra-wide-angle camera, with an f/2.2 aperture, and this also features autofocus (PDAF), which can be used for close-ups. Again, this gives pixel-binned 12MP images, and has a 1/2inch sensor.

There’s also a high-resolution 64MP telephoto camera, with an f/2.6 aperture, as well as autofocus (PDAF), and optical image stabilisation. The telephoto camera can be used for close-ups, and gives pixel-binned 16MP images, and is also a 1/2inch sensor.

One of the useful things about dual-screen smartphones like the flip and fold phones available, is that you can use the main cameras for selfies, portraits, and group photos. Meaning you don’t have to use the lower quality selfie cameras.

OnePlus Open (Green). Photo JW/AP

However, if you do want to use the selfie cameras on the Open, then you’ve got a 20MP f/2.2 inner camera, and a 32MP f/2.4 outer camera, however, it’s worth noting this have much smaller sensors than the main cameras and therefore quality is likely to be lower.

The OnePlus Open looks like, and feels like, a premium folding phone, with a quality of construction up there with the best, yet the price is really rather competitive, at $1499 / £1399 currently (normally $1699 / £1599). Still significantly more than many flagship phones, if you think of flagship phones at the £1000 price point, but not much more than the higher memory options from Samsung, and Apple.

Other folding phones include the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, and the Google Pixel Fold. Both currently cost more than the Open in price, but as with many folding phones, there are regularly offers of bundled freebies, or discounts available.

The OnePlus Open comes with a free case (Green). Photo JW/AP

As mentioned, the OnePlus Open looks great, it’s got a thin body, with premium metal framed construction. The thinness of the phone is only broken by the larger circular camera bump on the rear. There’s even a sliding switch on the side with three positions to adjust the volume between on / vibrate and silent, as found on OnePlus phones of the past.

When opening the phone, you can adjust the level of fold to suit your needs, for example, if you wanted to watch a film or adjust the camera angle. However, it’s worth noting that when completely open it’s not entirely flat, there is still a very slight bend. This isn’t really noticeable day to day, unless you’re a bit obsessive about things like this, but as a reviewer it’s my job to point it out. It is, however, flatter than the Google Pixel FOLD, which is far more noticeable.

Wireless charging is not available, and this is a real shame, as this is a premium phone, and wireless charging is now seen as a must-have feature for many.

OnePlus Open (Green). The large screen is great for viewing photos. Photo JW/AP

The screens look great, with a high level of brightness available, on both the external and internal screens, and this can be really useful for viewing photos and websites, and anything else you use the phone for.

There are a wide range of shooting modes available in the camera app, as well as full manual controls in the “Pro” mode. In here you’re able to use manual controls and settings on all of the different cameras available from the 0.6x camera through to the 3x telephoto camera, as well as the 2x and 6x digital zoom modes.

OnePlus Open shooting modes. Photo JW/AP

The phone gives quick access to Pro, Video, Photo, and Portrait shooting modes, with the additional shooting modes found under more. These include night, hi-res, panoramic, film, slow-mo, long exposure, dual-view video, time-lapse, text scanner and XPAN. Film is a video mode, with options to record LOG video.

Included in the box is a 67W charger, a free two-part case, USB cable, a OnePlus membership card, some OnePlus stickers, a sim-removal tool and a range of booklets.

OnePlus Open Performance

Hasselblad have been working with OnePlus since the OnePlus 9 from 2021, and this means that imaging experts from Hasselblad are involved in tuning the results from the cameras, to give improved colour and performance from the camera system. So we should see some great results from the cameras on the OnePlus Open.

The main 48MP wide-angle camera gives pixel-binned 12MP images, and has an f/1.7 aperture as well as optical image stabilisation (OIS). Dynamic range is handled nicely with automatic HDR (high-dynamic range) combining a number of shots for enhanced dynamic range.

OnePlus Open shooting a street full of shops. Photo JW/AP – Main camera used, see links below for other shots taken at the same location.

OnePlus Open · f/1.7 · 1/432s · 6.06mm · ISO64

Taking the same shot, at the same location, and at the same time, but with 2x (digital) zoom, shows a degradation in image quality.

3x telephoto camera. Photo: Joshua Waller / AP

OnePlus Open · f/2.6 · 1/574s · 13.3mm · ISO50

The 64MP telephoto camera gives a 3x view, which is a good telephoto camera to have on a smartphone – rather than just 2x for example. The output is actually a pixel-binned 16MP image. Shown above is the photo from the 3x telephoto camera, and you can view the 6x (digital) zoom here, where image quality drops.

The British Museum, taken using the ultra-wide-angle camera on the OnePlus Open. Photo: Joshua Waller

OnePlus Open · f/2.2 · 1/33s · 2.59mm · ISO320

The ultra-wide-angle camera gives reasonable results, however, images are a little softer than I would have liked to see. Colour reproduction is very good, without being overly saturated.

Using the telephoto camera gives good results, as long as light is good, and you’re not too close to the subject. Photo JW

OnePlus Open · f/2.6 · 1/50s · 13.3mm · ISO500

Telephoto close-ups can switch to digital zoom (from the main camera) if light levels drop too much, or when you get too close to the subject. In comparison the iQOO 12 (from Vivo) will keep using the telephoto camera even in low-light, and with the subject closer. This is a shame, as the images using digital zoom are of lower quality, and it’s often difficult to tell on the phone when it’s switched to digital zoom.

OnePlus Open Telephoto close-up. Photo JW

OnePlus Open · f/2.6 · 1/33s · 13.3mm · ISO1250

When the camera continues to use the 3x telephoto camera for macro and close-up photos, rather than switching to digital zoom, the results are very good, with plenty of detail and good colour.

OnePlus Open, main camera, low-light. Photo Joshua Waller

OnePlus Open · f/1.7 · 1/13s · 6.06mm · ISO4000

Low-light performance from the main camera is very good, giving great results, even when shooting hand-held. The telephoto camera can also give some really nice results in low-light conditions, as shown below.

OnePlus Open, low-light with the main camera. Photo Joshua Waller

OnePlus Open · f/2.6 · 1/33s · 13.3mm · ISO400

The inner and outer selfie cameras are fixed focus, but give reasonable results. For the most flattering portraits though, you’d be better off using the main cameras. It’s quite straightforward switching screens to enable self-portraits with the main camera(s). Similarly, you’re going to get better video results when vlogging with the main cameras. You can use the portrait mode to adjust the level of background blur.

Group portrait using the OnePlus Open main camera. Photo JW/AP

OnePlus Open · f/1.7 · 1/17s · 6.06mm · ISO5000

The phone offers 4K video recording at 60/30fps from the main cameras, as well as 4K 30fps from the selfie cameras. Stabilisation is good, helping keep video stable when recording without a gimbal.

Value for Money

The OnePlus Open is currently priced competitively, at $1499 / £1399 currently with 16GB/512GB – normally $1699 / £1599. This makes it cheaper than the Samsung Z Fold 5, at $1919 / £1849 (512GB), and the Google Pixel Fold at $1919 / £1869 (512GB). There are often special offers available so make sure you see what’s on offer, and if the deals are available in your area. In comparison to non-folding phones, it’s still at the upper end of the scale.

Google Pixel Fold (Left), OnePlus Open (in Green, right). Photo JW/AP

OnePlus Open Verdict

The OnePlus Open is a really nice folding phone, and shows that you don’t have to buy a Samsung to get a premium experience. There’s a great set of rear cameras, with good results from the ultra-wide, great results from the main camera, and really good results from the telephoto camera.

In terms of down-sides, the ultra-wide angle camera is perhaps one where I would have liked to see sharper images, as results can look soft at times. In addition the lack of wireless charging is an odd omission on a flagship phone at this price point.

OnePlus Open (Green). Photo JW/AP

The next generation of camera phones are on their way, and the iQOO 12, Vivo X100 Pro, and Oppo Find X7 Ultra all looking to take smartphone cameras to the next level, with non-folding phones still looking like they’ll have an advantage over folding phones. However, the gap doesn’t seem to be as big as it once was.

In terms of folding phones, the OnePlus Open is up there with the best, and has a much more impressive build quality when compared to the Google Pixel Fold. If you’re looking for a folding phone, then the OnePlus Open gives photographers some high-quality results and a great shooting experience.

For more options have a look at our guide to the best flagship camera phones, or check out the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Google Pixel Fold reviews.

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The post OnePlus Open Review – an Open and Shut Case? appeared first on Amateur Photographer.

This year’s iPhone 15 Pro models have a slight variation in the two camera systems, with the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max as reviewed here being the first iPhone to include a 5x zoom lens using a tetraprism design, giving an equivalent of 120mm. By comparison, the smaller iPhone 15 Pro has a 3x zoom – so it’ll be up to you to decide how much zoom you want (and are willing to pay for).

iPhone 15 Pro Max at a glance

• $1199 / £1199 (256GB)
• 48MP wide camera, f/1.78 aperture, 24mm equivalent
• 12MP ultrawide camera, f/2.2 aperture, 13mm equivalent
• 12MP 5x telephoto camera, f/2.8 aperture, 120mm equivalent
• 6.7” Super Retina XDR OLED screen
• Titanium chassis
• iOS 17
• Processor: A17 Pro Chip

We review smartphones from the perspective of choosing a smartphone for its photography and camera performance, so we’ll be starting by looking at what the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers in terms of the cameras and what features are included for photography and video.

Other than the zoom lens, the other camera specifications are the same between the two models. That means, the other feature which maybe something to think about is how big a screen you’d like to have. As is often the case, the upgrades here compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max are fairly gentle – but we’ll explain more on that as we go.

iPhone 15 Pro Max features

The iPhone cameras have been impressing us for several years, and while the latest iterations don’t represent a big evolution from previous generations, the overall setup is still excellent.

Two of the three cameras for the iPhone 15 Pro Max appear to be more or less the same as those found on last year’s iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max (last year, the cameras were identical on both variants). So, we’ve got the same 48MP main sensor with its 24mm f/1.78 equivalent lens. We’ve also got the same 12MP ultrawide camera with a 13mm f/2.2 lens. A big difference however is the zoom lens, which departs from the iPhone 14 Pro/15 Pro as it’s now 5x optical thanks to its “tetraprism” design. That’s a 120mm f/2.8 equivalent and includes 3D sensor shift stabilisation. From the ultrawide to the telephoto, that’s a 10x zoom range, which is the biggest we’ve seen from an iPhone to date. Just as we saw last year, there’s also a “2x lens”, which is actually just the phone using the central part of the main sensor.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max triple lens system. Picture credit: Amy Davies

A new introduction is the addition of 1.2x and 1.5x options which are quickly accessible from the main screen. That means the main sensor can shoot at 24, 28 or 35mm equivalents, and thanks to the large resolution, not lose any resolution compared to standard shooting. Another new feature is that the standard output is now 24 megapixels, compared to last year’s 12MP. That is of course only if you’re using the main sensor, and it’s also only if you stick to standard shooting – as soon as you engage any special shooting options, such as macro or night, it’ll revert back to 12MP output.

Apple is generally reluctant to reveal details about sensor sizes and so on, but as they didn’t say anything about them changing from the older model, we can assume that little has changed in the hardware sense there. What is new is that the lenses now have a “nano scale coating” which is designed to help combat lens flare.

Improvements have been made to the iPhone 15 Pro series. Apple calls it “Next generation portrait mode”, with the big difference being that the phone can automatically recognise when a portrait subject is in front of it, even in the standard shooting mode. Essentially, if a person, dog or cat appears in the frame, the phone will capture all the necessary information to create a blurred background portrait shot. This is potentially useful for grabbing quick portraits, especially of erratic subjects. Moving the focus point for portraits is also now available – though this comes courtesy of an iOS 17 upgrade so you can do it with older iPhone models too (though for iPhone 14 and older you will need to have shot your image in Portrait mode in the first place).

Another – probably relatively small – change is the introduction of SmartHDR 5, whereas the iPhone 14 Pro used SmartHDR 4. This potentially means slight improvements in image output quality, but it’s probably only something you’ll notice if you’re looking extremely closely.

Many of the other features – relating to the camera at least – are essentially the same as the iPhone 14 Pro series. There’s macro mode for shooting close ups, night mode for low-light shooting and ProRAW capability. iOS 17 allows you to record full 48MP resolution in JPEG as well as raw format – but again, that’s something you can also apply to older models if you upgrade the operating system.

Video wise, the specs are again roughly the same. There’s 4K shooting up to 60fps – no sign of 8K coming to iPhone, such as we see with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Other modes like ProRes, Cinematic and Action have remained. A new introduction is Log video recording, something which is only likely to be of interest to dedicated videographers, rather than everyday users.

The new Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Picture credit: Amy Davies

There are other non-camera related hardware upgrades that are worth noting. The body of the iPhone 15 Pro Max is now made from titanium, rather than stainless steel. That means it’s lighter and smaller (albeit a little bit thicker) than the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The silencer switch on the side of the phone – a feature that’s been on iPhones for many generations – has been replaced by a new Action button in the same place which can control a number of different features.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max now has a USB-C port, at last. Picture credit: Amy Davies

Big news for many is the introduction of the USB-C charging port, with Apple having to bid farewell to its beloved Lightning cable after many years of service due to incoming EU regulations. The big benefit here is that you can use the same cables you’re likely already in possession of from other hardware, including MacBooks, iPads, cameras and more. It also enables faster transfer speeds too. Battery life seems to be the same between the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and things like wireless charging and fast charging also appear to be identical (both will require separately sold accessories).

In terms of the screen, the size, resolution and type of screen is the same as the iPhone 14 Pro Max. So we’ve got a 6.7” Super Retina XDR OLED, with 2556 x 1179 pixels, at 460ppi and 120Hz. The “Always On” display has remained, and IP68 waterproofing is the same as before, too.

As usual, Apple has introduced a new processor for the latest iPhones, with both the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max sporting A17 Pro Chips, compared to the A16 Bionic Chips of the previous generations. This brings speed improvements, but, for the average user it’s probably unlikely to make too much of a difference, unless you’re also using the phone for high-end applications such as gaming and the like.

iPhone 15 Pro Max Handling and Design

With the iPhone 15 Pro series you get the choice between two different screen sizes. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the larger of the two, with its 6.7” screen. Whether you like larger phones is a matter of personal taste – I’ve always been in favour of smaller options, but, I can’t deny that using the larger one makes your photos, videos – and other apps – shine in a better way. This year, I’ve decided I’ll be keeping the Max version to see if I can live with the larger screen size.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 6.7″ screen. Picture credit: Amy Davies

Admittedly, this is also partly due to the fact that you get the longer zoom lens with the Pro Max, something which also appeals too. Again, this is a matter of preference – some will argue that a 3x zoom is a much more sensible / usable option for the majority of situations, so it’s worth giving some though to how much zoom you think you’ll want or need before making a purchasing decision. In an ideal world, perhaps four different variants would be available, allowing you to choose between small screen / larger screen and shorter zoom / longer zoom – but Apple claims that it needs the larger housing of the Pro Max to accommodate the tetraprism design.

If you do prefer that bigger screen and longer zoom, you need to be prepared to pay a little bit more for it, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max having a $200/£200 premium over the smaller iPhone 15 Pro model. So, again, that’s something to think about.

Design-wise, Apple has pretty much stuck with the same body size and shape for the iPhone 15 Pro Max as its predecessor, albeit with some slight differences. Measurements are 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25mm, making it slightly smaller in height and width than the 14 Pro Max (160.7 x 77.6 x 7.85mm), but a little bit thicker. It’s fair to say that the differences are so minimal that it’s unlikely you’ll really notice a difference if you’re coming from one to the other. The 15 Pro Max is also lighter – at 221g, it’s the same weight as last year’s iPhone 14 Pro, but 19g lighter than the 14 Pro Max. Again, it’s not the kind of weight you’ll really notice on a day-to-day basis.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a titanium chassis and a glass back. Picture credit: Amy Davies

As before, we’ve got flat edges and rounded corners. Some find this to be a little bit on the clunky side, and it’s definitely true that a lot of Androids have an overall sleeker and slimmer appearance. Which you prefer is up to you. The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts slightly thinner bezels than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, so a little more of the actual screen is taken up by the display, too. I plumped for the “Natural Titanium” colour, with other options including Black Titanium, White Titanium and Blue Titanium. None of them are very exciting – but if you’re going to whack a case on it anyway, maybe it doesn’t matter.

More important to me is how tough the phone is. The Ceramic Shield front is claimed by Apple to be the toughest on the market. The iPhone 14 Pro series had the same thing, and after a year of using it every single day has no scratches so I feel pretty confident that the same will happen here. I also dropped my iPhone 14 Pro a number of times with no noticeable damage occurring – but that might be luck more than anything else.

iPhone 15 Pro native camera app

To launch the native camera app from a locked screen, you can swipe up from the bottom right hand corner of the screen. A new option is to set the Action button to launch the camera with a long press – this is a handy setting which I’ve found myself using a lot.

In contrast with many Android smartphones (Google Pixel being a notable exception), iPhones have always had a pretty simple and straightforward native camera app. You won’t find a “Pro” or “Advanced” mode here – but there are plenty of third party options if you want to do that.

Over the years however, Apple has added more to the native camera app to give more options, so while it’s still pretty simple if you want it to be, there are a number of things that you can adjust if necessary.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s native camera app is relatively straightforward. Picture credit: Amy Davies

The default shooting mode is “Photo”, which is probably the one you’ll use most of the time. That’s especially the case now that several other options / modes can be accessed straight from this mode, without having to switch to anything specific.

Along the bottom of the screen in this mode you’ll see the different lens options – .5, 1, 2 and 5. If you tap any of them, an x will appear next to the number and it will turn yellow, indicating which one you’re using. Remember that the 2x option is simply using the 1x part of the sensor, but it’s good to be able to jump straight to it. If you want to go longer than 5x, you can pinch to zoom.

New for the iPhone 15 Pro series is the 24/28/35mm options from the 1x sensor. To reach these, simply tap the 1 button – if you tap it again, it’ll change to 28 or 35mm. At 24mm it displays as 1x, then 1.2 and 1.5x for 28/35mm options. In the iPhone’s main menu, you can opt to choose 24, 28 or 35mm as the default 1x option – which could be useful if you find yourself consistently tapping to get a little bit closer.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max has several “lens” options for the main sensor. Picture credit: Amy Davies

The default resolution for output files is now 24MP, a doubling from the previous default for the iPhone 14 Pro. This only applies to the main sensor, since the others only have 12MP to begin with. You can opt to reduce it back down to 12MP in the main menu if you prefer – for example if you’re trying to save space. It’s also worth noting that as soon as any other modes kick in, like night or macro, you’ll be reduced back down to 12MP too. A new addition from iOS 17 is the ability to also record in full resolution (48MP) for both raw and JPEG options – this is something you’ll first need to enable in the main menu, but once you have you’ll see an option at the top of the main camera window to toggle resolution sizes.

Macro mode is the same as seen on the previous two generations of iPhone, in that all you need to do is bring the phone closer to a subject for it to activate. It works by automatically switching to the ultrawide camera – hence the drop to 12MP. It’s great for getting very close to a subject, but sometimes it’s better to stick to the main sensor so you can capture that extra detail (if the subject isn’t super close). Luckily, if you don’t want to use it, you can quickly tap the flower icon to turn it off.

Night mode works in a similar way in the sense that it is also automatically activated when it detects the right conditions – i.e. low light. Once low light has been detected, you can adjust the length of exposure if you prefer, but generally I’ve always found it does a good job by itself without too much interference. Again, resolution drops down to 12MP in night mode, so you can switch it off with a tap if you prefer.

Some extra functions can be revealed with a tap of an arrow at the top of the screen. By doing this you can access options such as flash, aspect ratio, exposure compensation, photographic styles and more. None of these options are new additions for the iPhone 15 Pro series, but they’re a good place to go if you want to make some changes.

The iPhone 15 Pro series has an automatic portrait recognition feature (shown here on the iPhone 15 Pro). Picture credit: Amy Davies

Automatic portrait mode got a fair amount of hype at the keynote launch of the iPhone 15 series, and it is a genuinely useful addition. It works by detecting when a person, dog or cat is front of it and capturing all the relevant data it needs to create a “portrait” effect – essentially a shallow depth of field look. You’ll know if it’s detected something by an “f” (to denote aperture) appearing in the bottom corner of the screen. You can tap it to turn it off if you don’t want it to do it, but if you leave it on, you’ll then have the scope to add or remove portrait effects after the fact. For quick shots of your kids or your pets then it’s great. The f will pop if you’re shooting in 1x, 2x or 5x lenses, but won’t if you have the ultrawide camera selected.

You still have the option to shoot in the dedicated Portrait mode too. There’s more options at the point of capture if you do that – such as choosing a different “Lighting” mode (though it’s worth noting you can add or change these after the fact if a portrait is detected in Photo mode too). Another benefit of shooting in the Portrait mode is that you can use it for subjects other than humans and pets and still get that shallow depth of field effect.

A new feature which comes from iOS 17 is the ability to adjust the focus point after you’ve taken the shot. This is something we’ve seen in Android phones plenty of times, but is new for iPhone. You can access this by tapping Edit in playback and shift the focus point to anywhere you like – ideal if it’s chosen the “wrong” person or animal in the frame, or you just want to get creative with the effects. It’s also possible to adjust the amount of blur, too.

To create videos, you can either long press the shutter button from the Photo mode, or switch to one of the dedicated video options. If you do the latter, you’ll get more control over things like resolutions and frame rates, as well as being able to shoot things like Pro Res or Action Mode. There’s also Cinematic (shallow depth of field videos), Time-Lapse and Slo-Mo dedicated modes too.

iPhone 15 Pro Max Image Quality and Performance

We are continually impressed by the image quality performance of iPhones, and fully expected the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max to be a continuation of that goodness. However, what’s perhaps a bigger question is whether it represents an improvement from previous generations and is therefore worthy of your money.

Images taken with the iPhone 15 Pro Max are generally very good, but if you compare them with those taken by the iPhone 14 Pro, there’s not a huge amount of noticeable difference to be seen. There’s perhaps a slight improvement if you look very closely at any given image, but it’s hard to see in isolation.

Colours are nicely vibrant. Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro Max · f/1.78 · 1/4049s · 6.86mm · ISO80

This is particularly true if you mostly only intend to look at images on your phone screen, but, if you bring the photos over to a computer screen, the extra resolution (24MP output) does make some difference overall. It also gives you scope to crop your images if you want to without dropping down too much in resolution.

The three sensors/lenses perform very well, but it’s probably safe to say that the main difference you’re going to notice from an iPhone 14 Pro/Max is the extra reach of the 5x zoom lens from the iPhone 15 Pro Max. If you’ve been using an older iPhone and have been waiting to upgrade, you’ll benefit more from the jump – say if you’ve been using something like the iPhone 12 Pro.

Overall, we’ve got nicely vibrant colours, and good matching between the three lenses. The main sensor puts in the best performance, as we’d expect, but the ultrawide is also very good and great for getting lots of extra scene in the frame.

The ultrawide angle lens produces nice results. Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro Max · f/2.2 · 1/3906s · 2.22mm · ISO50

An image shot with the main 1x sensor. Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro Max · f/1.78 · 1/9009s · 6.86mm · ISO80

The 5x zoom gets you closer to the action than any iPhone has ever done before. Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro Max · f/2.8 · 1/3344s · 15.66mm · ISO50

The 5x zoom lens is a new addition and therefore worthy of a little extra scrutiny.  The results from it are pretty good, and having that bit of extra zoom will be welcome for some. That said, I shot at 5x with both the iPhone 15 Pro (digitally) and iPhone 15 Pro Max (optically) and the differences between the two aren’t hugely obvious when looking at normal phone sizes – so if you do prefer the smaller screen, you probably shouldn’t feel you’re missing out enormously by not having the 5x zoom. Going beyond 5x with the iPhone 15 Pro leads you to digital zoom. This is best avoided for the most part – 10x is just about acceptable if you need to get that close, but the full 25x you should almost certainly steer clear of almost all of the time.

Being able to shoot at either 24, 28 or 35mm while keeping the full 24MP resolution is a nice addition for these iPhone 15 Pro models, and something I’ll be using regularly I’m sure. The 48mm (2x) option loses a bit of resolution, but is still high enough to create very good results. Overall, having access to these commonly used and popular focal lengths with a simple tap of the button is very good indeed.

The new 5x lens is quite a long focal length for portraits at 120mm. Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro Max · f/2.8 · 1/616s · 15.66mm · ISO50

The selfie mode, with Portrait blur applied. Image credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro Max · f/1.9 · 1/530s · 2.69mm · ISO25

The portrait mode, while improved in terms of usability, on the whole puts in the same performance as that seen with the iPhone 14 Pro Max. It’s very good and produces natural results for a range of subjects, particularly people and pets. What’s new here is the 5x focal length – arguably this is a bit long at 120mm for portraits, so you’ll likely find you need to be quite some distance away from your subject. However, it is a good way to get a close portrait if you need it. The selfie camera puts in a good performance, and again now automatically adds the “portrait” option without having to select it, so you can switch this on or off as suits you best.

The macro mode of the iPhone 15 Pro Max shows plenty of detail. Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro Max · f/2.2 · 1/99s · 2.22mm · ISO160

Macro mode appears to be pretty much the same as before, producing nicely detailed results when getting up close to a subject – in fact in many cases you can be more or less touching the subject and the phone will still focus well.

The Night mode for the iPhone 15 Pro performs best with the 1x lens – it was almost pitch black when this was shot. Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro Max · f/1.78 · 1/29s · 6.86mm · ISO1600

Night mode can be mixed with Portrait mode. Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro Max · f/1.78 · 1/15s · 6.86mm · ISO2000

For low light, the results are again on a par – or perhaps ever so slightly better – than from the iPhone 14 Pro/Max. The best results come from the 1x lens, but you also get very good shots from the 2x “lens” (which uses the 1x sensor). The ultrawide results are also pretty decent, but there is a noticeable drop in quality when using the 5x lens – albeit usable enough if you’re desperate. It’s possible to blend together Night mode with Portrait mode for low-light portrait shots. However, the results here are only really very good if you use the 1x option – 2x and particularly 5x are very low in quality.

As for video, as was expected, the quality is smooth, nicely detailed and with good colours. Videos look especially good if you’re viewing them on a Dolby HDR compatible device, for example the iPhone itself, but even on other devices and on social media services they look very good indeed.

iPhone 15 Pro Max Value for Money

There’s not really getting away from the fact that buying an iPhone is an expensive proposition. That’s even more true if you want to opt for the larger Max variant.

That said, the pricing of the iPhone models hasn’t gone up year on year, despite the fact that pretty much everything else has. The minimum you will pay here is $1299/£1299, which squarely puts it in the realm of the “premium” albeit fairly close in price to the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is significantly larger than the standard Pro model. Picture credit: Amy Davies

It’s got a $200/£200 premium over the cheapest smaller iPhone 14 Pro, however it’s worth remembering that it’s not strictly comparable as there’s no 128GB option for the 15 Pro Max. If you compare the two 256GB models, the difference is only around $100/£100, which is a lot more reasonable.

Prices of course go up exponentially the more memory you want, with $1599/£1599 for the maximum 1TB version. Who exactly needs 1TB of memory in a phone I’m not sure – I would suggest that 256GB is ample for almost every ordinary user – especially if you’re happy to make use of cloud services.

Apple no longer sells the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but you can buy that from other retailers. However, you’ll likely find that it is – for now at least – more expensive than the iPhone 15 Pro versions. A good option would be to consider second hand, where you might pick up a bargain from all those who like to upgrade year on year and have already ditched their perfectly serviceable iPhone 14 Pro Max.

iPhone 15 Pro Max Verdict

From a photographic point of view, there’s little to argue with Apple’s claims that the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best iPhone yet. I wasn’t really expecting much else – the company is hardly going to make a phone which is worse than the previous generation.

However, speaking of the previous generation, the upgrades here are relatively gentle. Whether you want them or not likely comes down to personal preferences and tastes, and what exactly you’re willing to pay for.

Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro Max · f/1.78 · 1/50s · 6.86mm · ISO160

In terms of image quality, the differences between the iPhone 15 Pro Max and last year’s iPhone 14 Pro are relatively minimal. You get an upgrade in terms of maximum zoom length, so if you’re regularly frustrated by not being able to get close enough, that alone could be enough to convince you to buy one.

It’s also true that the way you capture certain images has improved. The automatic portraits, for example, are genuinely useful. As is the 24, 28, 35mm option for the 1x lens.

Elsewhere, improvements come to hardware. It’s going to be great having just one charging cable for all my devices, and the new Action button means getting to the camera a few milliseconds quicker – you never know, it could make all the difference.

Whether you should dump your iPhone 14 Pro Max to rush out to buy an iPhone 15 Pro Max is another debatable. The answer is probably not – unless you simply love having the latest iPhone.  If you’re coming from an older model, say the iPhone 12 Pro Max, you’ll definitely notice a marked improvement though.

Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro Max · f/1.78 · 1/20000s · 6.86mm · ISO100

So how about in comparison to Android phones? Well, the Samsung S23 Ultra still is better overall – in terms of the camera at least. With the Samsung, you get four lenses, more reach and a more comprehensive native shooting app. If you’re operating system agnostic, then the Samsung is definitely the one to go for – but there will of course be plenty of people who are loyal to iPhone and feel as if no other brand exists.

Overall, yes, Apple has produced the best iPhone ever. It’ll certainly make it on to our list of the best smartphones for photographers – and I’d probably put it up there in the top two or three. Will you be buying one?

For more options read our Best camera phones for photography.

Related articles:

• iPhone 15 Pro review
• iPhone vs Android: Which is better for photography?
• iPhone 14 Pro vs Samsung S23 Ultra: which smartphone is best for photographers?
• iPhone 14 Pro vs Google Pixel 7 Pro
• Best smartphones for video

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The post iPhone 15 Pro Max Review – Zooming marvellous? appeared first on Amateur Photographer.

Of course that’s generally true (otherwise why release another one?), but here at AP we want to know exactly how true that is. In the case of the iPhone 15 Pro – is it much of an upgrade from last year’s iPhone 14 Pro? Is it worth going for the iPhone 15 Pro Max for a longer zoom and a larger screen? Perhaps it’s more of a jump if you’re coming from an even older model. We’ll find out the answers to all of these questions – and more – as the review progresses.

iPhone 15 Pro at a glance:

• $999/£999 (with 128GB storage)
• 48MP wide camera, f/1.78 aperture, 24mm equivalent
• 12MP ultrawide camera, f/2.2 aperture, 13mm equivalent
• 12MP 3x telephoto camera, f/2.8 aperture, 77mm equivalent
• 6.1” Super Retina XDR OLED screen
• Titanium chassis
• iOS 17
• Processor: A17 Pro Chip

We review smartphones from the perspective of choosing a smartphone for its photography and camera performance, so we’ll be starting by looking at what the iPhone 15 Pro offers in terms of the cameras and what features are included for photography and video.

iPhone 15 Pro features

In terms of the camera, the iPhone 15 Pro is very definitely a gentle upgrade when comparing it to the already excellent iPhone 14 Pro.

Most of the improvements or changes come from the outward design of the phone body, and there’s been a few small tweaks made to the native camera app – some of which are a result of iOS 17 and can also be applied to the iPhone 14 Pro and older models too though.

There’s a triple-lens setup here, just like with the iPhone 14 Pro. What’s more, the lenses and sensors appear to be more or less exactly the same. You get a 48MP main sensor, offering 24mm equivalent and f/1.78 aperture, which is joined by a 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide and 12MP f/2.8 3x telephoto lens. Apple doesn’t disclose its sensor sizes, but as no mention has been made about them changing, we can assume the physical hardware is the same here. One small difference is that lenses now have a “nano scale coating”, which is designed to reduce lens flare.

The triple lens setup of the iPhone 15 Pro. Picture credit: Amy Davies

Just like last year, there’s a “2x lens” option which essentially just uses the central part of the main sensor, but is nevertheless listed as an additional lens by Apple on its specs pages and the like.

New for the iPhone 15 Pro series is the 24 megapixel standard output for images. Previously, images shot using the 48MP sensor were binned down to 12MP, but now you get twice the resolution. This isn’t something you can do with the older iPhone 14 Pro, even with iOS 17 installed. It’s worth noting that when using certain modes, including Night, Portrait and Auto, you’ll still see the resolution go down to 12MP.

Also new is the ability to set a “default” focal length for the main lens. You can go with 24mm, 28mm or 35mm. You can also access all three in the main app. This presumably works by using an area of the sensor to create the equivalent focal length without any loss in resolution. Again, this is not available with the iPhone 14 Pro so you’ll need the newest model if you want it.

Portrait has been improved for the iPhone 15 Pro series. Called “Next generation portrait mode”, the big news here is the ability to automatically recognise portrait subjects (humans and pets) when shooting in the main camera mode. This means you can turn it into a portrait after the fact if you want to – again, this isn’t something that has so far come to iPhone 14 Pro and older. You can also adjust the focus point after the fact now for Portraits – but this is something that you can also do with older iPhone models with iOS 17 installed (so long as you have shot in Portrait mode in the first place).

Otherwise, most of the camera software and hardware appear to be largely the same. We have the same Macro mode, the same Night mode, and the ability to shoot in ProRAW. With iOS 17, you can now opt to shoot in full 48MP resolution with both JPEG and raw, so that can also be applied to older models. The new iPhone 15 Pro models use Smart HDR 5, rather than Smart HDR 4 of the iPhone 14 Pro – but whether this is a huge difference remains to be seen (but seems unlikely).

We still get 4K video at up to 60fps, and other modes such as Cinematic and Action have continued. One new addition is Log video recording, but that’s something which is only likely to appeal to high-end videographers and content creators.

iPhone 15 Pro’s new action button. You can use it to launch the camera. Picture credit: Amy Davies

Some general hardware changes of note include the new Titanium material for the body chassis, compared to Stainless Steel of the iPhone 14 Pro. This results in a lighter phone, despite it being (every so slightly) thicker than its predecessor. The silencer switch on the side of the iPhone has been replaced with a new “Action” button which can be set to control a number of functions – one which might appeal to photographers is the long press to launch the native camera app option.

The matt glass back remains, while the front is a 6.1” Super Retina XDR OLED display, with 2556 x 1179 pixels, at 460ppi and 120Hz. This is same as the iPhone 14 Pro. The “Always on” display has been kept, and we have the same IP68 waterproofing as its predecessor, too.

Apple has finally used a USB-C port for charging. Picture credit: Amy Davies

At long last, Apple has joined the USB-C revolution for charging, ditching its long-favoured Lightning cables for the iPhone 15 series. This means you can use the same cable as a lot of your other hardware, including computers and cameras. The battery life appears to be the same between the two models, and other features such as Fast Charging and Wireless Charging have also remained.

A new processor makes its debut in the iPhone 15 Pro series – the A17 Pro Chip, compared to last year’s A16 Bionic Chip. This should make overall operation faster and smoother, but is probably more of interest to gamers and the like who rely on super-fast processors.

iPhone 15 Pro Handling and Design

As has been the case for a number of years now, the iPhone 15 Pro series is available in two different sizes. The iPhone 15 Pro is the smaller of the two, with its 6.1” screen, compared to 6.7” for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

For the most part, the camera and general operation of the phone between the two models is the same. The larger Pro Max has a 5x zoom rather than a 3x zoom though, so that’s something to consider when choosing between the two.

The iPhone 15 Pro uses a very similar design to its predecessor. Picture credit: Amy Davies

Otherwise, if you prefer a smaller, more pocket-friendly smartphone, which is easier to use for other operations – such as texting – then it might be the iPhone 15 Pro which appeals the most. It’s also cheaper than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, too. The “downside” here is that you get less real estate for your photos and videos to shine.

The design of the phone is very close to the iPhone 14 Pro, having very similar measurements. The iPhone 15 Pro is 146.6 x 70.6 x 8.25mm, compared to the iPhone 14 Pro’s 147.5 x 71.5 x 7.85mm. In other words, the iPhone 15 Pro is very slightly narrower, but a tiny bit thicker. Despite this, it weighs just 187g, compared to the 221g of its predecessor. This isn’t really a weight difference that is going to be immediately obvious if you’re coming from one to the other.

Apple has stuck with the flat edges, and rounded corner design of the past couple of iPhone generations. Again, this is down to personal taste whether or not you like it. It’s a bit clunkier or chunkier looking than many Android equivalents, but that’s not to say it’s a bad thing. Colour-wise, all the new models have “Titanium” in the name, but are called Black, White, Natural or Blue. The choices are perhaps a bit muted, and all have a matte finish. Again, personal preference rules here – some will prefer the high gloss of many Androids, while others will prefer this approach.

The iPhone 15 Pro uses a titanium chassis and a glass back. Picture credit: Amy Davies

What’s perhaps more important is the reliability of the phone, with the front boasting a “Ceramic Shield” which Apple claims to be tougher than any smartphone on the market. This was also found on the iPhone 14 Pro – which, after more than a year of constant use has no scratches on it at all – pretty impressive. We should see the same performance here. The IP68 rating means the phone is water resistant to a depth of 6 metres for up to 30 minutes. The chassis is made of Titanium, rather than Stainless Steel.

iPhone 15 Pro native camera app

The native camera app for the iPhone 15 Pro hasn’t changed a great deal since its predecessor. On the whole, it’s a simple and straightforward setup, with yet again no introduction of a more advanced or extensive “Pro” mode – this is something you can install via many third-party apps if you want it though.

By default, the native app will start in “Photo” mode, which is where you’ll likely do the vast majority of your shooting – especially as now most other modes and options can be accessed directly from here too.

The native camera app for the iPhone 15 Pro remains largely unchanged. Picture credit: Amy Davies

You will see along the bottom the option to choose between the four different “lenses” – .5, 1, 2 and 5. You’ll know which one is selected by virtue of it displaying as 0.5x, 1x etc if you have. A new feature here is the ability to keep tapping the 1x lens to toggle between 24mm (1x), 28mm (1.2x) and 35mm (1.5x). You can set 24/28/35mm as the default start option in the main menu if you’d prefer to consistently use one.

You now have the option to shoot at 24mm, 28mm or 35mm for the main camera. Picture credit: Amy Davies

The default output resolution is now 24MP when shooting with the main lens, sticking at 24MP for 2x, but dropping to 12MP for the ultrawide and telephoto (as these have only 12MP sensors). You can also shoot in raw, with options to either record at maximum resolution (48MP) or at 12MP. A new addition here is full resolution JPEG. You’ll need to enable all of these options from the main menu, but once you do, they’ll be accessible from the main camera app window.

You can choose to shoot in full resolution in either raw or JPEG, or output to a lower resolution. Picture credit: Amy Davies

If you get close to a subject, macro will kick in. This works by switching to the ultrawide lens, so again you’ll lose the higher resolution if that happens. It allows you to get super close to a subject, but occasionally you might find you’re better off without it – in which case a quick tap of the icon swictches it off.

More camera functions can be accessed by tapping an arrow at the top of the screen. Picture credit: Amy Davies

A set of extra functions are hidden until you tap a small arrow at the top of the screen. Tapping it reveals things such as flash, aspect ratio, exposure compensation, timer, picture styles and so on. None of this is new for the iPhone 15 Pro series, but either way it gives you some scope for making adjustments if you need to.

Night mode will automatically activate should low light levels be detected. Picture credit: Amy Davies

Night mode should automatically switch on should the phone detect light is low. If it does, you can extend the length of the exposure if you prefer, but generally it’s easier to just let it get on with what it thinks best. Again, worth noting that full resolution drops down to 12MP when using Night mode.

You can switch off the Portrait effect after shooting if you decide you don’t like it. Picture credit: Amy Davies

A new function for iPhone 15 series is automatic portrait mode. When the phone detects it is looking at a portrait subject – human or pet – then you’ll notice a small “f” (to denote aperture) pop up in the bottom of the screen. This means that you can shoot the picture as you were going to anyway, and it will create a portrait effect. If you don’t like it, you can switch it off at the point of capture, or remove it after the fact. This is great for capturing quick shots of people and pets, particularly those that are likely to move from a given spot with any kind of speed. You will see the f pop up if you use either the 1x, 2x or 3x lens option, but not the ultrawide.

An “f” (for aperture) will appear if a portrait subject is detected when shooting in “Photo” mode. This includes humans, cats and dogs. And apparently mongooses too. Picture credit: Amy Davies

Alternatively, you can still shoot in the dedicated Portrait mode too. If you do that, then you get a few more options at the point of capture – including the different “lighting” modes. Again, these can be adjusted after the fact if you prefer, too. A nifty new feature which has just come to iOS 17 (so you can use it with older iPhone models too) is the ability to change the Focus point after the fact. Tapping Edit on your photos in playback will reveal you can shift the focus point to anywhere on screen – great if it’s not quite right, or perhaps it’s focused on the “wrong” person or animal. You can also adjust the strength of blur too.

As before, you can grab quick video clips by holding down the shutter button, but there’s also a dedicated video mode which gives you more control over things like frame rate and resolution. Things like ProRes and Action mode can also be accessed from the video mode. Cinematic video allows you to record shallow depth of field videos, while other options such as Time-Lapse and Slo-Mo are still here too.

iPhone 15 Pro Image Quality and Performance

Image quality from iPhone is always excellent, but the question here is whether there’s been any notable improvement for the iPhone 15 Pro, compared to the iPhone 14 Pro (and earlier generations).

If we look at images taken with both phones side by side, it’s pretty hard to pick out too much of a difference in most scenarios, with perhaps a marginal improvement seen for the iPhone 15 Pro if you’re really looking for it and scrutinising pictures very closely.

The iPhone 15 Pro once again displays great image quality. Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro · f/1.78 · 1/9009s · 6.86mm · ISO80

Being able to shoot at 24MP with the main sensor is one such improvement. On the whole, this doesn’t really make much difference if you only ever view your photos on the iPhone screen, but, it gives you some benefits if you need to crop your shot after the fact and still keep resolution high.

Looking at the images in isolation reveals that we’ve got a very well performing set of sensors here again. Although you might not notice a big jump from the iPhone 14 Pro, if you’ve waited a while before upgrading, you likely will see more of a difference – particularly if you’re using iPhone 12 Pro or earlier.

The ultrawide angle lens puts in a good performance, as usual. Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro · f/2.2 · 1/2083s · 2.22mm · ISO50

An image taken with the 1x lens of the iPhone 15 Pro. Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro · f/1.78 · 1/5814s · 6.86mm · ISO80

The 3x lens of the iPhone 15 Pro is a sensible “telephoto” option for most scenarios

iPhone 15 Pro · f/2.8 · 1/1130s · 9mm · ISO25

The iPhone 15 Pro doesn’t have a 5x lens like the 15 Pro Max, but you can shoot at that length digitally if you want to. Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro · f/2.8 · 1/943s · 9mm · ISO25

Colours are bright and vibrant, while also being well-matched between the three lenses. Exposures are on the whole well judged, with very little need for interference to adjust brightness or change the metering point in most situations.

Of the three lenses, it’s the main one that creates the best images, which is as you’d expect. The ultrawide is also a good performer, while the telephoto is best reserved for good lighting situations. Although you don’t have a 5x zoom here like you do with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, if you want to get that little bit closer, you have the option to do so digitally, and the results at 5x digital are reasonably good too. We’d also probably argue that 3x zoom is sometimes a better, more sensible option than 5x in the first place – so you could probably say that the iPhone 15 Pro is the better choice.

Having the different 24/28/35mm option from the main sensor, as well as the 2x (48mm) lens means you get a great degree of flexibility to shoot at a variety of popular focal lengths without losing quality, which is a nice addition for this model.

The iPhone 15 Pro’s Portrait mode produces pretty natural results. Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro · f/1.78 · 1/3597s · 6.86mm · ISO80

An image taken with the iPhone 15 Pro’s selfie camera, with Portrait effect applied. Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro · f/1.9 · 1/447s · 2.69mm · ISO25

Portrait mode puts in probably about the same performance as the iPhone 14 Pro, which is to say it’s very good. Being able to take a Portrait without switching to Portrait mode is a welcome addition, as is the ability to change the focus point after the fact – but this isn’t an improvement to image quality per se. Selfies are pretty good too, with the front-facing camera boasting autofocus, as well as the ability to add a blurred background effect after the fact if so choose – in the same was the rear-facing cameras automatically detect a portrait subject.

The macro mode shows off lots of detail. Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro · f/2.2 · 1/99s · 2.22mm · ISO64

In its keynote, Apple claimed that the iPhone 15 Pro benefits from seven different lenses. To get to that number it includes not only the three main lenses, but also the 2x, 24, 28 and 35mm options, as well as the macro mode. It’s probably a bit preposterous to describe the macro shooting mode as an additional lens, but it does produce good results regardless. Images are finely detailed and being able to get so close as to be almost touching the subject leads to some creative shooting possibilities.

The best results for Night mode come from the 1x lens. Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro · f/1.78 · 1/9s · 6.86mm · ISO2000

You can mix Portrait and Night modes together. Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro · f/1.78 · 1/15s · 6.86mm · ISO2000

As we’ve seen before with previous iPhone generations, when it comes to low light shooting, the best results are once again from the main lens. Here, you get plenty of detail and not too much noise. Results are also good from the 2x option – which, as it’s using the main sensor is to be expected. The results from the ultrawide in low light are fairly good, but are a noticeable drop down in quality from the main lens. The 3x lens is usable enough, but probably not what you’ll want to use to create your best shots. Portrait mode can be mixed with Night mode for “Night Portraits”. At 1x, the results are pretty good, but they get pretty ropey looking if you choose 2x or 3x, so we’d probably stick to traditional cameras for those for mid-longer focal length portraits for the time being.

Video quality is, again, pretty much on par with the iPhone 14 Pro, being smooth and stable, with nicely vibrant colours. You’ll see the best results if you view your videos on a Dolby HDR compatible device – such as the iPhone itself – but it’s easy to see why many content creators are happy to use their iPhones to record video without the need for elaborate or expensive additional equipment.

iPhone 15 Pro Value for Money

Before the iPhone 15 Pro was launched, there were rumours circulating that the iPhone 15 Pro series was going to shoot up in price.

As we all know, iPhones are not cheap, but actually, in the end, the base price of the iPhone 15 Pro turned out to be cheaper than last year’s model.

The iPhone 15 Pro is the smaller of the two iPhone 15 Pro models. Picture credit: Amy Davies

If you’re happy to only have 128GB of memory – which is probably more than enough if you’ve signed up to cloud services – then it’ll set you back $999/£999. That puts it competitively priced against the likes of the similarly sized Samsung S23, but more expensive than something like the Pixel 7 Pro, which has a similar camera setup, but a much larger screen.

The price increases if you want/need more memory – going up to $1,499 / £1,499 for the 1TB version. I’d question how many people need that level of memory, but it’s good to have the option there for those that need it.

As soon as a new pro iPhone is launched, Apple immediately discontinues the old ones from its website. While you can still buy the iPhone 14 Pro from other retailers, for the time being it’s actually more expensive than the newer model – so there’s very little sense in buying one of those.

iPhone 15 Pro Verdict

Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro · f/1.78 · 1/100s · 6.86mm · ISO160

So, is the iPhone 15 Pro the best iPhone that Apple has ever created?

Well, I can only really answer from a photographic point of view – but the answer is yes, it is. But of course it is – if it wasn’t, then it wouldn’t need to exist.

However, it’s very fair to say that if you already own an iPhone 14 Pro, the improvements are relatively marginal, and in some cases probably not significant enough to merit purchasing a brand new, very expensive phone for (though of course that’s up to the individual).

Image quality is generally about the same as the iPhone 14 Pro. While that means it’s very good, excellent even, if you’re anticipating some massive jump in quality by upgrading to the iPhone 15 Pro, you’re unlikely to see it.

Most of the improvements come in the form of usability – such as the automatic portrait mode, the additional 1x lens options, and hardware changes such as the new Action button and the addition of a USB-C port for charging. Whether you’re willing to buy a new phone to get these improvements comes down to personal taste and budgets – though it’s worth noting that if you have an iPhone 14 Pro you will probably be able to trade it in for roughly half the cost of the new model.

If you’ve been quite sensible and have a much older iPhone, say an iPhone 12 Pro or even iPhone 13 Pro, the differences in image quality are a bit more marked and arguably more worthy of spending your cash to get.

Picture credit: Amy Davies

iPhone 15 Pro · f/2.2 · 1/99s · 2.22mm · ISO125

By including a slightly different setup between the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple has created a bit of a dilemma here for photographers. Should they plump for the smaller device but be happy with 3x zoom, or should they pay a little bit more to get a 5x zoom (and other benefits like a larger screen). Again,’s hard to answer that without knowing what kind of shooter you are – some will simply prefer a 3x zoom, while others will crave that little bit of extra reach. Personally, I’d say that for many, the smaller screen and that sensible zoom is just about the perfect balance – but then I’m a fan of smaller phones in general. You may feel differently.

What about when we compare it to Android models? The iPhone 15 Pro, nor the iPhone 15 Pro Max has done enough to steal the crown from the Samsung S23 Ultra as the best smartphone for photographers, but, it compares very favourably against other flagship models and those which are closer in price to the iPhone models.

Overall, as predicted before the specs were even confirmed, Apple has produced another excellent device. Yes, it will make it onto our list of the best smartphones for photographers – it’s probably even in the top 3. Do you need it? Probably not, but since when has that ever stopped anybody picking one up?

For more options read our Best camera phones for photography.

Related articles:

• iPhone vs Android: Which is better for photography?
• iPhone 14 Pro vs Samsung S23 Ultra: which smartphone is best for photographers?
• iPhone 14 Pro vs Google Pixel 7 Pro
• Best smartphones for video

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Who are iQOO you might be asking? iQOO are an independent sub-brand of vivo. If you’re wondering who vivo are… then you’re probably not alone. They used to be part of BBK Electronics (which included Oppo and OnePlus), with vivo being its own entity within. Now vivo are independent, and iQOO (pronounced eye-koo) are producing phones that should suit both photographers, and gamers!

Regardless of the history of these mobile phone manufacturers, the iQOO 12 has enough credibility to come emblazoned with official BMW M Motorsport branding on this Legend edition of the iQOO 12.

iQOO is pronounced “eye-koo” and rhymes with Haiku. Photo Joshua Waller / AP

There’s also the brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 included, the newest and fastest mobile processor from Qualcomm, which has been paired with Vivo/iQOO’s own “customized Supercomputing Chip Q1” designed to enhance the gaming experience. Needless to say, this phone should be fast!

iQOO 12 Legend Edition. Photo Joshua Waller / AP

Key Features at a glance:

• 50MP main wide-angle, f/1.68, OIS, 23mm equivalent (1/1.3inch sensor)
• 50MP ultra-wide-angle, f/2.0, 15mm equivalent
• 64MP telephoto, f/2.57, 3x/70mm equivalent, OIS
• 16MP selfie camera, f/2.45, 27mm equivalent (video: 1080P only)
• 8K 30p, 4K 60/30p, Full HD 240p
• 6.78inch screen, AMOLED, 144Hz, up to 3000nits brightness
• 5000mAh battery, 120W charging
• 12/16GB RAM, 256/512GB storage options
• Android 14
• 163.2 x 75.9 x 8.1mm
• 203.7g weight

iQOO 12 Hardware, design and features

We review smartphones from the perspective of choosing one for it’s photography and camera performance. Here we look at what the iQOO 12 camera offers, and the features included for photography and video.

iQOO 12 Legend Edition. Photo Joshua Waller / AP

It’s become the norm for flagship smartphones to offer a triple camera system, and at the cutting edge of this, companies have to work out new ways to stand out from the competition. In the case of Samsung, with the S22/S23 Ultra series, there’s a fourth telephoto camera with a real 10x telephoto lens. Google offer advanced computational photography and AI features, making it easier to get certain types of shots.

With the iQOO 12 they’re offering a 50MP ultra-wide-angle camera, a 50MP main camera, and a number of advanced features, including a 64MP 3x telephoto macro lens (similar to the one seen on the Xiaomi 13 Pro), as well as an Astrography mode, which iQOO claim is capable of capturing the Milky Way. We haven’t had clear enough skies to test this yet, but one thing the iQOO 12 does offer is an AR Planetarium feature that will draw the constellations onto the photo – whilst also giving you the original unedited photo of the stars!

iQOO 12 Legend Edition. Photo Joshua Waller / AP

The main photo modes are easy to access, and there are some nice little touches, including an on-screen display showing you how much exposure compensation you’re using when adjusting the usual brightness setting. Another feature is Supermoon – this uses AI to fill in the detail to give you an enhanced version of the moon. Much like the Samsung’s own moon photography feature.

Along with these modes, there are also a range of long exposure modes including modes designed for traffic photography, night graffiti (light painting), waterfalls, long-exposure crowd photography, fireworks, plus star-trails.

It’s not often that you get a smartphone designed for astrophotography, or “astrography” as iQOO has decided to call it. Unfortunately, living in the city, I haven’t yet been able to find a clear enough sky to fully test this feature, but will be adding this to the review when the opportunity arises.

iQOO 12 Legend Edition manual mode. Photo Joshua Waller / AP

There’s a “Pro” manual mode available with all the usual settings, as well as the option to shoot raw photos. In another mode you can also shoot using the full-resolution of the sensor, rather than the default pixel-binned option.

When you’re not using the phone for photography, you’ll find the phone is extremely quick. Geekbench 6 scores are: 2270 single-core, and 7053 multi-core. This is hella fast! As a reference point, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, Samsung’s flagship smartphone from 2022, scores 1224 single-core and 3503 multi-core in Geekbench 6.

In terms of other apps installed on the phone, there are a lot already pre-loaded. There is the usual Google Play store so you can access all your favourite apps, but there is also another app store called V-Appstore.

iQOO 12 Legend Edition. Photo Joshua Waller / AP

The phone has a premium finish, with squared off silver sides, and a slightly more curved back when compared to the front of the phone. The screen looks very nice, and includes HDR10+ support, as well as a 105% NTSC color gamut and 100% DCI-P3 accuracy ratings.

The in-screen fingerprint reader works well, and the phone offers rapid charging at 120W. However, the lack of wireless charging is a little bit of a shame. There’s an always-on AMOLED display with a fast refresh rate of 144Hz; which will be great for the gamers out there. The phone has an IP64 rating, which should mean it’ll survive a light rain shower.

iQOO 12 Performance

The iQOO 12 has been introduced as having “an ultra-large main sensor” and whilst the sensor isn’t as large as phones with a 1inch sensor, it does offer a large 50MP sensor for phone, at 1/1.3inches. This uses pixel binning to give 12.5MP images. This is combined with an f/1.68 aperture, optical image stabilisation (OIS), and advanced image processing to reduce noise and improve colour reproduction.

Low-light photography. Even when shooting at high ISO speeds, the results look good. Photo Joshua Waller

I2220 · f/1.68 · 1/14s · 6.45mm · ISO5848

I’ve been particularly impressed by the low-light performance of this phone, with images shot it low-light giving some really nice colour reproduction, as well as low levels of noise, and good levels of detail.

Outdoors on a sunny day images are sharp and detailed. Photo Joshua Waller

iQOO 12 · f/1.68 · 1/1018s · 6.45mm · ISO50

Dynamic range is handled well with automatic HDR (high-dynamic range) combining a number of shots for greatly enhanced dynamic range, and detail from the main camera also impresses.

Main camera, photo taken at the British Museum. Photo Joshua Waller

iQOO 12 · f/1.68 · 1/521s · 6.45mm · ISO5154

With the main 50MP wide-angle camera you get pixel-binned 12.5MP images. You can also use a 2x zoom option if you want something in between 1x and 3x zoom. Results are really good, and it doesn’t seem to matter what the ISO speed says on photos, they remain detailed and noise free!

Using the ultra-wide-angle camera to capture as much as possible. Photo Joshua Waller

iQOO 12 · f/2 · 1/33s · 2.32mm · ISO1075

The 50MP ultra-wide-angle camera gives good results, with good colour, and relatively good levels of detail, again giving pixel-binned 12.5MP images. However, noise does become more visible when using this camera, especially when compared to the impressive results from the other cameras. This camera features auto-focus, and can be used for macro photography when needed.

The Royal Gold Cup taken with the telephoto camera. Photo Joshua Waller

The 64MP telephoto camera gives a 3x view, which is a nice telephoto camera to have on a smartphone – rather than just 2x for example – and also rather nice is that you can use it for close-up photography as well. This camera outputs pixel-binned 16MP image.

Results from the telephoto camera are very good, but unlike most other phones with a telephoto camera, even when shooting in low-light, the camera still keeps using the telephoto lens, rather than switching to digital zoom. You’ll also find a 10x zoom option, and results are better than I expected.

You can even use digital zoom up to 100x, but detail will suffer. Except when using the Supermoon feature, as this will use AI to add the detail back into the photo of the moon.

Close-up of food, using the 3x telephoto camera. Photo Joshua Waller

iQOO 12 · f/2.57 · 1/33s · 13.3mm · ISO740

Macro performance can be very impressive, with it possible to use the telephoto camera for close-up photos, something that’s rarely found on other phones, even when they’re flagship models. This gives much more pleasing background blur (bokeh), and a more natural looking image, compared to using an ultra-wide-angle camera for macro photos.

Using the selfie camera with some background blur applied.

iQOO 12 · f/1.4 · 1/20s · 3.74mm · ISO756

The 16MP selfie camera does not feature auto-focus which means other phones with AF will give better results. The selfie camera also maxes out at a resolution of Full HD, which means you’ll want to use the main cameras if you need higher resolution video. This might make it a poor choice for vloggers, and selfie fans.

The phone offers 8K video recording at 30fps, as well as 4K video from the rear camera at 60/30p, plus high-speed Full HD video at 240fps. However, unfortunately, only Full HD video is available from the selfie camera. Stabilisation is good, helping keep video stable when recording without a gimbal.

Value for Money

The iQOO 12 is priced at around €550 / $700. Considering how much this phone offers, this is impressive value for money. For a similar triple camera setup on a flagship Samsung or Apple, you’d easily be looking at spending double this. You even get the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor in the iQOO 12!.

Even when shooting at nearly ISO8000, the image looks good. Photo Joshua Waller

iQOO 12 · f/1.68 · 1/416s · 6.45mm · ISO7991

Another phone that could be considered, particularly if you’re interested in a telephoto camera that can also be used for macro photography, is the Xiaomi 13 Pro, however, this is more expensive.

iQOO 12 Verdict

The iQOO 12 offers a rather impressive set of rear cameras, with great performance from all three. The main camera gives really impressive performance in all conditions, as well as in low-light. The 3x telephoto camera performs really well, thanks to a periscope design, that enables close-focus use as well. This makes the telephoto camera feel like a real camera unit, rather than feeling limited as on other models.

The only real downside to this phone, in terms of cameras, is the 16MP selfie camera. Whilst this gives reasonable results, to give the full flagship level of performance, this would have included auto-focus as well as support for 4K video recording. If you don’t mind Full HD video from the selfie camera, then this may not matter too much to you.

Windows in the National Gallery. Photo Joshua Waller

iQOO 12 · f/1.68 · 1/33s · 6.45mm · ISO670

If the iQOO 12 becomes available in your area, and you’re interested in the latest processor, and impressive speed (particularly for gaming), then the iQOO 12 is well worth looking for. For photographers it gives some impressive results, and I look forward to continuing to shoot low-light photography with this phone!

For more affordable options have a look at our guide to the best budget smartphones, or have a look at the best flagship camera phones if you have a higher budget to spend.

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Redmi Note 12 Pro + 5G with a triple camera setup, and 200MP main camera, but why not print 8MP and 2MP on here for the other cameras? Photo: Joshua Waller

Key Features at a glance:

• 200MP f/1.7, 1/1.4inch sensor, PDAF, OIS, 4K 30p video
• 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle camera
• 2MP f/2.4 macro camera
• 16MP selfie camera with 1080p video
• 6.67inch AMOLED, 120Hz screen
• 5000mAh battery
• 8/12GB RAM, 256GB storage
• Android 12
• 162.9x76x8.98mm
• 210.5g weight
• Price: $354 /£339

Redmi Note 12 Pro + Hardware, design and features

We review smartphones from the perspective of choosing a smartphone for its photography and camera performance, so we’ll be starting by looking at what the Redmi Note 12 Pro + offers in terms of the cameras and what features are included for photography and video.

The main 200MP camera uses 16-in-1 pixel binning, giving 12.5MP images. The 200MP sensor uses a 16-in-1 Bayer sensor, and this is designed to give luminous detail at every pixel, but not colour detail for each individual pixel, so whilst this is supposed to give more detail than using a 12MP sensor, it doesn’t give more colour detail.

The Redmi Note 12 Pro + 5G is quite large in hand. Photo: Joshua Waller

The majority of the camera modes produce 12MP images, with only a few modes letting you select a higher resolution than 12MP. This effectively makes the 200MP sensor a marketing feature, and it takes a lot of effort to actually see the extra detail in images. For 99% of people it really isn’t going to make much difference having a 200MP camera, compared to a good 50MP, or 64MP sensor.

For example, you’d think having a 200MP camera, would allow you to crop into the centre of the image at a lower resolution and get an impressive amount of zoom, but unfortunately the 16-in-1 pixel binning sensor means the detail isn’t there. (See the Nokia PureView 808 from 2012 if you want to see a good implementation of this idea, which had a 40MP sensor with a standard Bayer sensor, which lets you use lossless zoom, at a reduced resolution).

• See our guide on do you need 200MP in a smartphone?

Some smartphones do a better job with high-resolution sensors, and we’ve seen the best results from the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

The Redmi Note 12 Pro + 5G has a mythical headphone socket, something we rarely see. Photo: Joshua Waller

Rather than a flagship processor, as found in the Xiaomi 12T Pro, this phone uses a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 processor. MediaTek are historically known for budget chipsets, but have been making leaps and bounds in recent years with increased performance as well as AI and photography features. For reference, the Geekbench 6 score is 963 single core and 2394 multi-core.

In the camera app you’ll find a range of photo modes including Pro, Documents, Video, Photo, Portrait, Night, and in More you can find Ultra HD (this lets you shoot at 50MP or 200MP), Short video, Panorama, VLOG, slow-motion, Time-lapse, and Long-exposure.

In long exposure there are a number of different modes including Moving crowd, Neon trails, Oil painting (waterfalls), Light painting, Starry sky, and Star trails. For most of these modes you can start the exposure and then end it when you’ve shot for the required time.

Redmi Note 12 Pro + 5G photo app. Photo: Joshua Waller

There are a number of different filters and effects available in photo and playback modes, including 7 film effects (as seen on the Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro), with KC64, V-250, H-400, KP160, FC400, C-50D, KG200. We’re guessing that some of these are meant to represent Kodachrome, Velvia, Fujicolor, and Kodak Gold.

In playback you’ll find the usual editing options, but you’ll also find a number of AI options including Art framing, Erase, Sky (sky replacement), Sticker, and Frame. The erase feature is like Google’s Magic Eraser, but on first try doesn’t seem as quick or refined, and when you first select one of these options, you can end up waiting 10 seconds plus whilst the phone says “Just a sec”.

Redmi Note 12 Pro + 5G long exposure photo modes. Photo: Joshua Waller

In long exposure there are a number of different modes including Moving crowd, Neon trails, Oil painting (waterfalls), Light painting, Starry sky, and Star trails. For most of these modes you can start the exposure and then end it when you’ve shot for the required time.

There’s a side fingerprint sensor, as well as AI face unlock for security purposes. NFC is built-in, as well as stereo speakers. Increasingly rare is the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone socket. There’s a generous 5000mAh battery, with a 120W charger included in the box, meaning you can charge your phone in record time. Finally the phone offers an IP53 rating meaning there is some weatherproofing.

How does the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ compare to the Redmi Note 12 Pro?

The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and 12 Pro are very similar devices, with the same screen size, same battery, and both feature stereo speakers as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack. The rear cameras differ, in that the 12 Pro+ features a 200MP f/1.7 camera, whereas the 12 Pro features a 50MP f/1.9 camera, both with optical image stabilisation (OIS). The ultra-wide, macro and selfie cameras are the same on both. The Pro+ comes with a 120W charger, whereas the Pro comes with a 67W charger.

Redmi Note 12 Pro + Performance

The main camera on the Redmi Note 12 Pro + gives the best results, and with optical image stabilisation (OIS) you can use it in less than ideal conditions. It gives a 24mm equivalent, meaning wide-angle shots, which is great for landscapes as well as general photography.

The portrait mode was used to create a blurred background when photographing these light purple bluebells. Photo Joshua Waller

The camera gives bright colourful photos, and detail is reasonable. Nowhere near what you’d get from a real camera with a high resolution sensor, but as long as you treat the camera as a 12.5MP camera, you should be pleased with the results.

Blossom looks good, with nice detail, and reasonable background blur.

The bright aperture of f/1.7 is reported at f/1.6 in the EXIF data, and this is on the brighter side of things for a smartphone, meaning the ISO speed is normally kept quite low, and images show very little signs of noise.

Bright colourful photos are what you get from the Note 12 Pro+ phone. Photo Joshua Waller

The ultra-wide-angle camera is almost capable of taking acceptable ultra-wide-angle shots, but even with an 8MP resolution you can see the poor image quality particularly towards the corners of the frame.

8MP ultra-wide-angle shots almost look reasonable on the smartphone’s screen, but as soon as you see the edges of the picture the quality quickly drops off.

It’s almost like a toy camera in comparison to the 200MP main camera. How can a phone be marketed as having a 200MP camera, and that being an essential and amazing feature, and then they also provide you with an 8MP camera, as though megapixels don’t matter in the slightest? Which is it, do high megapixel counts matter, or do they not?

Redmi Note 12 Pro+ photo using the 2x zoom option – it’s surprising how little extra detail is captured in this shot. Photo Joshua Waller

There is no telephoto camera, however, there is the option to use 2x zoom, which takes a crop of the image. With 200MP on offer, you’d think you’d get some decent results, but unfortunately the results aren’t anything special. If you pinch to zoom you can go up to 10x digital zoom, but we wouldn’t recommend using anything more than 2x zoom.

Macro images with the dedicated macro camera produce a 2MP image

The 2MP macro camera is quite frankly terrible, with a low resolution of just 2MP, and a fixed focus, you can only use it at a specific distance. This is clearly a waste of space, as you can get better close-up results from the main camera, with more natural looking results, better focus, and better background blur. It’s a shame they didn’t spend the money on a better ultra-wide-angle camera, rather than the 2MP macro camera.

Same photo taken using the main camera and 2x digital zoom, gives you significantly more detail and a much better photo.

Even when using the main camera and 2x digital zoom, you’re still going to get better photos than using the dedicated macro camera. It really is time these 2MP macro cameras we banished from society.

Portraits are handled well, although you can tell that it has been taken with a wide-angle camera. Photo Joshua Waller

The portrait mode lets you adjust the “aperture” with differing levels of background blur depending on what you select. There are beauty options, as well as access to the filters. The framing stays the same as when using the normal photo modes, and it’s a shame there isn’t a slightly closer crop available.

Here we’ve used the AI Sky replace editing options to add a moon to the background, where previously the sun was.

The selfie camera gives you 16MP images, however, the level of detail on offer looks like the camera is a quad-bayer setup, meaning you get roughly 4MP of detail in the images. As long as you don’t look to closely then the results are reasonable.

Video recording

Video options include 4K at 30p, FullHD at 30/60p, and slow-motion at 1080p, at 120fps. The selfie camera is maxed out at 1080p. Recording 4K video handheld, stabilisation performs at a reasonable level, however I’ve definitely seen better stabilisation on other smartphones. Lens flare is an issue in this video, but was generally not much of an issue in photos.

See our guide to the best phones for video.

Value for Money

Priced at £375, this is one of the cheapest smartphones with a 200MP camera, however, we’d much prefer a better combination of two good rear cameras than one good, and two poor cameras, as is the case with the 12 Pro+. It’s a real shame, as everything else about this smartphone, as a phone, is nice.

The best alternative is the Google Pixel 7a which has an excellent dual camera rear setup, clever AI photography features, and a good selfie camera with 4K video. Other alternatives to look at can be found in our guide to the best budget phones.

Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G Verdict

The main camera gives the best results, so ultimately, despite this camera having a triple camera setup on the rear, it’s really only one camera that you’ll actually want to use. At this price point you could be looking at a Google Pixel 7a which has a proper dual camera setup on the back with a great main camera, and a good ultra-wide, as well as a good selfie camera.

The 2MP macro camera is perhaps one of the most pointless additions ever made to a smartphone. The results are terrible, and you get better results from the main camera. It’s a shame they didn’t remove the macro camera, and spend the money on a better ultra-wide-angle camera, as this gives soft images.

2x zoom was used to get a closer photo of this cat.

With this smartphone the key selling feature is the 200MP camera, and it feels like the other cameras have been added as an afterthought, after spending all the money on the main camera. This gives you a smartphone that is not very well rounded in terms of the cameras on offer.

However, if you want a budget smartphone with a large 120Hz screen, 120W charging, and a headphone socket, and aren’t really too concerned about the camera features, then this is a phone that could be for you. But for photographers who want more, there are better options.

See more options in our guide to the best budget camera phones, or for those with more cash to splash, have a look at our best camera phones for photography. 

Related reading:

• Xiaomi 13 Review
• Xiaomi 13 Ultra announced with 1-inch sensor with variable aperture
• Xiaomi 14 / 14 Pro Series announced with Leica

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The post Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G Review appeared first on Amateur Photographer.

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G has a great screen. Photo: Joshua Waller / AP

Key Features at a glance:

• 64MP wide-angle camera, f/1.8, PDAF, OIS, 24mm equivalent
• 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, f/2.2, 13mm equivalent (no AF)
• 5MP macro, 5MP depth cameras
• 32MP selfie camera, f/2.2, 25mm equivalent – outputs 12/8MP images
• 4K video at 30fps from internal/external cameras
• 6.5inch AMOLED, 120Hz screen, 20:9 ratio, Gorilla Glass 5
• 5000mAh battery, 25W wired charging
• 4-8GB RAM options, 128-256GB storage options
• Android 12, upgrades to 13
• 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1mm
• 189g weight

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, rear. Photo: Joshua Waller / AP

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Features

We review smartphones from the perspective of choosing a smartphone for its photography and camera performance, so we’ll be starting by looking at what the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G offers in terms of the cameras and what features are included for photography and video.

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G may be last year’s mid-range model, but now its pricing makes it a strong contender in the budget phone space. It even offers a quad camera setup, with 4 cameras on the back, but don’t get too excited, as one of these is for depth information, and another is a 5MP macro camera.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G cameras close up. Photo: Joshua Waller / AP

The main camera gives us a 64MP f/1.8 wide-angle camera, with PDAF and OIS (optical image stabilisation), and this uses pixel binning, giving you 16MP images.

The ultra-wide-angle camera is a 12MP f/2.2 camera, which is nice to see on a budget phone, as some others will save money here with an 8MP camera.

The third camera is a 5MP f/2.4 macro camera, and there’s also a 5MP depth camera.

There’s a 32MP selfie camera, with fixed focus, an f/2.2 aperture, and this uses pixel binning to give you 12MP or 8MP images (depending on the framing).

Video recording is up to 4K resolution and 30fps, from the rear and selfie camera. Depending which camera you use will affect whether you get autofocus, and for this you’ll need to use the main camera on the back. You also benefit from optical image stabilisation when using the main camera.

The camera app

The camera app gives quick access to the usual photo modes, which includes a portrait mode (with multiple options), a fun mode (with Snapchat filters built-in), the video mode, and under “More” there are a range of additional shooting modes, including a Pro mode, and a Pro video mode.

Main camera app on the Samsung Galaxy A53. Photo: Joshua Waller / AP

On screen options in the photo mode include the ultra-wide-angle camera, the main 1x camera, and a quick shortcut to 2x digital zoom. There’s a pro mode that lets you change manual settings, and this can also be a handy way of measuring white balance for a scene.

More shooting modes are available. Photo: Joshua Waller / AP

The phone, like other Samsung smartphones, gives quick access to the camera app, as you can simply double-press the power button.

Design and Handling

There’s a 6.5inch screen, with an under-screen fingerprint reader. The screen looks good with good colour. There’s a small circular cut out at the top for the selfie camera.

Stereo speakers are nice to see on an affordable phone, and memory can be expanded with a MicroSD card.

There’s also an IP67 rating, giving water resistance up to 1m for 30 minutes. The rear of the phone is made of plastic, compared to a glass back on the A54. The sides are made of plastic, which is the same as the A54.

Side buttons on the A53. Photo: Joshua Waller / AP

The battery is rated at 5000mAh which gives plenty of life for a day+ worth of life. Charging is rated at 25W, but unfortunately the phone does not feature wireless charging. In the box you’ll find a USB cable, a sim eject tool, but no charger.

Colour options are worth mentioning as you’ll find the phone is available in black, white, blue or peach, as seen here.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Performance

Pink McLaren outside St. Pancras. Photo Joshua Waller

SM-A536B · f/1.8 · 1/1131s · 5.23mm · ISO50

Images from the Samsung Galaxy A53 are good straight out of the camera, and you can rely on the camera’s reliable focus and exposure. You don’t need to worry about changing the exposure, unless you wanted to adjust to your own personal tastes.

Mazda MX-5 cartoon styling, Lowdown, Sheffield. Photo Joshua Waller

SM-A536B · f/1.8 · 1/277s · 5.23mm · ISO50

Dynamic range is also good most of the time, with automatic HDR (high-dynamic range) helping. In comparison to other smartphones, colours can seem a little too saturated, and there’s a slight improvement in this with the newer A54.

Meersbrook Park trees taken with the ultra-wide-angle camera. Photo Joshua Waller

SM-A536B · f/2.2 · 1/315s · 1.74mm · ISO50

Ultra-wide-angle camera performance: Purple fringing was noticeable, particularly when using the ultra-wide-angle camera, and taking photos of trees for example. Flare was well controlled, even with the sun in the frame. When it was out of frame, it was noticeable on videos recorded with the phone.

Green chillis, photo taken with the main camera. Photo Joshua Waller

SM-A536B · f/1.8 · 1/50s · 5.23mm · ISO320

There’s a dedicated “Macro” option using the 5MP camera, however, you get significantly better photos from the main camera. See the close-up photo of the green chilli’s taken with the main camera, above, and then compare them to the macro image taken with the 5MP macro camera below, which really can’t cope with indoor lighting.

Green chillis, photo taken with the macro camera. Photo Joshua Waller

SM-A536B · f/2.4 · 1/25s · 2.13mm · ISO250

Whilst you can get much closer to your subject with the macro camera, you will need to make sure that lighting is very good, otherwise images will lack detail and colour.

Low light image taken with the A53. Photo Joshua Waller

SM-A536B · f/1.8 · 1/14s · 5.23mm · ISO1000

The night mode does a reasonable job, in low-light conditions, letting you take photos without the need for a phone tripod or other support. Results from the A53 don’t quite match the level of the A54, however.

Selfie taken with the selfie camera in sunny conditions. Photo Joshua Waller

SM-A536B · f/2.2 · 1/119s · 3.72mm · ISO50

Using the selfie camera, you get the option of a wide view, which gives you 12MP images, or a closer view, which gives you 8MP images. The camera has struggled a little bit with the dynamic range in the selfie taken in the sun, and the high levels of saturation haven’t helped here.

Selfie taken with the selfie camera in low-light. Photo Joshua Waller

SM-A536B · f/2.2 · 1/25s · 3.72mm · ISO1250

In low light conditions, the selfie camera struggles a bit, but results are reasonable.

Video recording

Video stabilisation is reasonable, with the camera recording relatively stable footage when using the phone handheld. 4K video can be recorded using the main rear cameras, or the selfie camera. Flare can be an issue.

Value for Money

At this price point, there are a number of alternatives, with the Google Pixel 6A being around the same price, as well as the Nothing Phone 1, which has seen lower prices since the Nothing Phone 2 was released. If you did want to consider the Samsung Galaxy A54, you’d be looking at a noticeable price bump.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G with the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G on top. Photo Joshua Waller / AP

For more options have a look at our guide to the best budget camera phones available.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, now that it’s been out for more than a year, offers incredible value for money for people on a tighter budget. In fact, there’s not a lot of difference between this phone, and the newer, more expensive Samsung A54, apart from a few minor differences. There is an improvement in camera performance with the newer model, but if your budget is tight, then it might be out of the question.

Chips. Photo Joshua Waller

SM-A536B · f/1.8 · 1/434s · 5.23mm · ISO50

Whether you prefer the glass back of the A54 or the curved camera island on the back of the A53 is probably down to personal preference. But if you’re looking to save yourself some money, then the A53 is a good choice. We’d also be very tempted to consider the Google Pixel 6A as an alternative, as this is a similar price and offers a great dual camera setup.

For more options have a look at the best budget camera phones.

Related Reading:

• Samsung Galaxy A54 5G Review
• Samsung Galaxy A54 vs Sony Xperia 10 V – Cameras Compared
• Black Friday – Save £250 on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

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The Pixel 7a now costs £449 (less for Black Friday) / $375, which is a bump in price compared to the Pixel 6a, available for £299 / £264.

Google Pixel 7a photo Joshua Waller / AP

Goodle Pixel 7a at a glance:

• 64MP wide-angle, f/1.9, 25mm equivalent, (83°), OIS, 4K 60p
• 13MP ultra-wide, f/2.2, 14mm equivalent, (120°), 4K 30p
• 13MP selfie camera, f/2.2, 21mm equivalent, 4K 30p, face unlock
• 6.1inch FullHD gOLED, upto 90Hz, screen
• Battery: 4385mAh (18W charging, 7.5W wireless)
• Operating system and processor: Android 13, Titan M2 processor
• Size and weight: 152.4 x 72.9 x 9.0mm, 193g (IP67 rating)
• 8GB RAM, 128GB storage

Google Pixel 7a with Pixel 7a case by Google – photo Joshua Waller / AP

Google Pixel 7a Hardware, design and features

We review smartphones from the perspective of choosing one for it’s photography and camera performance, so that is our primary focus on the Google Pixel 7a; its cameras and features for photography and video.

The design of the Google Pixel 7a should look familiar to anyone who’s seen other Pixel phones, with the now standard visor bar across the back housing the dual camera unit. The Pixel 7a steps up the quality in both styling and feel compared to the 6a.

Google Pixel 6a (left), 7a (right) photo Joshua Waller / AP

However, there have been a number of improvements made to the smartphone this time round, and whilst they may seem relatively minor, they make a noticeable difference and make this smartphone stand out more, particularly in this sub 500 price point.

The rear cameras have both been updated compared to the Pixel 6a, and similarly the selfie camera has been upgraded to a 13MP camera, now with 4K video, rather than FullHD video on the 6a.

The Google Pixel 7a has an upgraded 13MP selfie camera. Photo Joshua Waller / AP

The two rear cameras are now made up of a 64MP f/1.9 main camera with OIS, with a wider view at 25mm equivalent, and 16MP pixel-binned images. The ultra-wide-angle camera is a 13MP f/2.2 camera with a 14mm equivalent. Both support 4K video, with the main camera offering up to 60fps.

The 64MP main camera gives 16MP pixel-binned images, giving a higher resolution than offered by the Pixel 7 Pro, although of course, there is no telephoto camera. Instead, the Pixel 7a has to rely on digital zoom, or Super Res Zoom, like the Pixel 7. By default this gives a 2x option, but you can pinch the screen to zoom even further, up to 8x.

Using the long exposure motion blur mode, you can get photos of waterfalls with the water smoothed. Photo Joshua Waller

Long exposure has been added, for the first time in the a series, as found on the 7 and 7 Pro, and this is useful for waterfalls, light trails, or crowds etc. However, unlike other smartphones, where you can hold the button for as long as you want, on the Pixel 7a (and other Pixels) the length of time is controlled entirely by the phone, so at times the exposure can be shorter than you wanted.

Real Tone is included, and this is an AI system that has been trained with over 10,000 portraits of people of colour, so that the camera can give improved auto white balance. This ensures that people of colour, especially those with darker skin tones, are rendered authentically.

Google Pixel 7a photo gallery. Photo Joshua Waller / AP

Night Sight is said to be improved, as with low-light performance, and it’s also designed to be quicker than previously. You can adjust the length of time for a longer exposure, and higher quality.

Magic eraser is available, and can be found when viewing photos back in the photo gallery. Go into the editing options to find this feature.

Photo Unblur is designed to unblur any blurry photo – and works with new photos as well as any old photos in your photo library. It’s also designed to work with faces.

Google Pixel 7a rear – photo Joshua Waller / AP

The battery is designed to give at least 24 hours of operation, and this can be extended further with extreme battery saver. The battery is a 4385mAh unit, which is fairly generous. However, the relatively slow charging at 18W is poor compared to many other smartphones. Wireless charging is supported which is useful.

The Camera app

The Pixel 7a camera app is a rather simplistic affair, with options to switch between the cameras, as well as switch to a 2x zoom mode. Like other Pixel smartphones, there is no pro or expert mode, meaning you won’t find full manual controls on this phone.

However, that’s not to say that you can’t achieve quite a few different things with the right situation. For example, in the Night Sight mode you can adjust this from 3s to 6s, and when the phone detects a stable base, it can extend this even further, with up to a 4 minute exposure possible, making it suitable for astrophotography.

Google Pixel 7a photo mode. Photo Joshua Waller / AP

Regarding manual controls, the phone does let you adjust the white balance as well as the exposure, and in advanced options you can enable RAW+JPEG shooting. Beyond this you’re fairly limited.

Google Pixel 7a Performance and image quality

The main 64MP wide-angle camera gives impressive results – and is surprisingly capable of close-up photography, such as food photography, with little effort.

Here’s a bowl of chips. Note the detail captured, and how you can see the individual grains of salt. Photo Joshua Waller

Colour reproduction is very pleasing, with great results straight away. Images also appear to be consistent, from shot to shot, as well as between the different cameras on the phone.

Huddersfield Train Station, taken with the main camera on the Google Pixel 7a. Photo Joshua Waller

Dynamic range, and HDR is handled automatically, and the camera can cope very well with scenes with high levels of contrast.

Meersbrook Park taken on a very sunny day with the Google Pixel 7a. Photo: Joshua Waller

There are times when images can look very saturated, but generally they give a realistic representation of the conditions. You also get 16MP images, thanks to the pixel-binned images from the 64MP sensor, giving it an edge in resolution over other smartphones, which tend to give 12-12.5MP images.

Main camera – gives excellent 16MP images, with plenty of detail and pleasing colour. Photo: Joshua Waller

The 13MP ultra-wide-angle camera gives very good results, with quite low levels of noise, and very good colour reproduction. Distortion is fairly well controlled, although does become apparent in some circumstances, depending on what you’re photographing.

Ultra-wide-angle camera, taken with the Google Pixel 7a. Photo: Joshua Waller

Digital zoom is available as a 2x option, using Super Resolution Zoom, and can give good results, and they look good on screen, but can be lacking in detail, especially compared to actual 2x optical zoom cameras.

2x Super Resolution Zoom, gives good results, especially if viewing on the web.

You can zoom further by pinching, but again, there is no real match for a telephoto camera, and if you need to go much beyond 2x zoom, then the Google Pixel 7 Pro or another smartphone is needed.

Close-up photo of a cat – showing lots of detail in the eyes and fur. Photo Joshua Waller

Whilst the camera doesn’t specifically talk about “Macro shooting”, the close-up focus of the main camera is good enough for close-up shots of food, pets and other small objects, and if you use the 2x option, you can take frame-filling close-up photos of objects as small at Hot Wheels cars.

Frame-filling close up of a Hot Wheels car, using the main camera and 2x super res zoom. Photo: Joshua Waller

The selfie camera is a 13MP unit, with fixed focus, and portrait mode is available. This automatically blurs the background, and does a relatively good job of cutting out the subject, without making too much mess of the hair.

Google Pixel 7a portrait taking with the 13MP selfie-camera, portrait mode blurs the background. Photo: Joshua Waller

This performs best in good light, with lower detail shown in low-light shots. As it’s fixed focus you’ll need to make sure you’re the optimum distance from the camera for the sharpest results, too close and your face will be blurred.

Video recording gives you options for 4K at 60fps from the main camera, or 4K 30fps when using the selfie camera. There are slow motion and time lapse options, as well as a range of video stabilisation options, including standard, locked, active and cinematic pan. For those interested in recording voices, there is a “Speech enhancement” option designed to improve audio when recording in busy environments.

Value for Money

The Google Pixel 7a is available for around $449 / £429, making it competitively priced with other sub-$500 smartphones, such as the Nothing Phone 1 ($420 / £319), and even begins to give the Google Pixel 7 a run for it’s money, with a higher resolution main camera, and a higher resolution selfie camera.

Google Pixel 7a (left), Pixel 7 (middle), and Pixel 7 Pro (right). Photo Joshua Waller / AP

With the Google Pixel 7a offering such a competent and well-rounded camera system, it really does make you wonder if you need to spend more than $500/£450 for a smartphone. When you can get the Google Pixel 7a, and it performs this well, do you really need to spend double this price, to get a flagship camera phone?

Google Pixel 7a Verdict

Google once again proves that you don’t need to spend big money to get an excellent smartphone, and whilst it’s a shame this phone isn’t the same RRP as the Pixel 6a was, the slight increase in price seems well worth it.

The Pixel 7a gives you two rear cameras that perform very well, with a main camera that gives a higher resolution final image than many other phones, a great ultra-wide-angle camera, along with a much-improved selfie camera. The fact that the selfie camera offers 4K video recording, is impressive, especially since some smartphones that cost double the price don’t.

Some might even go so far as to say that the Google Pixel 7a is blooming marvellous. Photo Joshua Waller using 2x zoom.

There’s even a good level of close-up performance from the phone, and even though it doesn’t offer a dedicated macro mode, we were impressed by the results it offered, as close-up photos showed plenty of detail. Whilst you don’t get a pro or expert mode, you do get a whole host of useful photography features, including motion blur (for creative waterfall shots and more), night mode, magic eraser, plus portrait modes that make you look great.

Sure, the phone is missing a dedicated telephoto camera, but if you just want the occasional 2x photo, then the Pixel 7a can produce decent results. At this price point, there’s no other phone I’d recommend, and therefore the Google Pixel 7a comes highly recommended.

See more options in our guide to the best budget camera phones, or for those with more cash to splash, have a look at our best camera phones for photography. 

Read more:

• Google Pixel 6 review – the best camera phone at this price?
• Google Pixel 6a review: the best budget phone in 2023?
• iPhone 14 Pro vs Google Pixel 7 Pro – cameras compared

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The post Google Pixel 7a Review – new budget phone king appeared first on Amateur Photographer.

That means that while you get a headline-friendly 200MP main camera, there are compromises elsewhere eg the lack of a telephoto camera. However, if you’re looking for something that doesn’t break the bank and provides a good all-round experience for most situations, it could be just the ticket.

Honor 90 at a glance:

• £389.99-£499.99
• 200MP wide camera, f/1.9 aperture, PDAF
• 12MP ultra wide and macro camera, f/2.2 aperture, AF
• 2MP depth camera, f/2.4 aperture
• 6.7-inch AMOLED Quad-curved floating display, 120Hz
• 4K video at 30fps
• 1080p video at 60/30fps
• Android 13
• Processor: Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated
• hihonor.com

Photo credit: Amy Davies.

NIKON Z 6_2 · f/8 · 1/100s · 63mm · ISO360

Honor 90 features:

At its current price, it competes extremely well with other mid-range models such as the Google Pixel 7a, Samsung Galaxy A54, and is cheaper than the Xiaomi 12T Pro. It’s more expensive than the Oppo Reno8 Pro, but that’s ridiculously cheap at the moment.

So what do you get for your mid-range money? There’s the aforementioned 200MP main camera, with an 1/1.4” inch sensor that is larger than the previous model’s version. It is joined by an f/1.9, 27mm equivalent lens. An ultra-wide 12MP camera module is also included, with an f/2.2 16mm equivalent lens. A third 2MP f/2.4 camera is a “depth” camera and can be used for assisting with creating portraits and shallow depth-of-field effects, but isn’t in essence selectable by itself.

There are 4K video options, but you are limited to 30fps. Unsurprisingly, there’s no 8K available here, which is generally reserved for top-level expensive flagship models but 4K is more than adequate for most users. Full HD at 60/30fps is also available.

Other useful features to think about here include storage options between 256GB / 512GB (at a small price bump for the latter), the 6.7-inch AMOLED screen and a 5000 mAh battery which has the ability for very quick charging with Honor “SuperCharge” which can see the battery powered up to 45% in just 15 minutes with a 66W charger (not provided in the box as standard). Wireless charging is not available – a common factor among mid-range smartphones.

Honor 90 handling and design:

Photo credit: Amy Davies.

NIKON Z 6_2 · f/8 · 1/125s · 59mm · ISO320

The 6.7” AMOLED screen makes the Honor 90 slightly on the large side, but that seems to be the popular trend these days. It’s the same size as the Oppo Reno 8 Pro 5G’s screen, a little smaller than the flagship models like the 6.8” Samsung S23 Ultra, and larger than some other mid-range options such as the 6.1” Google Pixel 7a and the 6.4” Samsung Galaxy A54.

Smartphone screen size is a matter of personal preference – a large one like this can be awkward to use one-handed, but it makes your videos, photos and other entertainment look good. Speaking of which, with its high resolution of 2664 x 1200 and 120Hz refresh rate, it’s an excellent screen – especially for the price, being much more detailed than other mid-range options like the Oppo Reno 8 Pro and Google Pixel 7a.

Photo credit: Amy Davies.

NIKON Z 6_2 · f/8 · 1/125s · 70mm · ISO400

Apart from the dimensions of the device, the design itself is very sleek, with nicely curved edges and an ultra-shiny finish for the “Midnight Black” colour way we’ve been using. Emerald Green, Peacock Green and Diamond Silver are also available with a matte finish.

The camera units themselves are housed in two separate small round protruding units at the back of the phone. One contains the main and ultra-wide cameras, while the other contains the depth camera and the flash unit. It’s not a common look for smartphones, and is quite striking.

As this is a mid-range phone, there’s no special promises of toughness here, so it’s probably worth investing in a case to protect it from accidental drops and scratches. That said, during our tests it was used case-free and survived unblemished.

Honor 90 native camera app:

Photo credit: Amy Davies.

NIKON Z 6_2 · f/8 · 1/125s · 70mm · ISO360

You might be forgiven for thinking that since this is a mid-range model, the native camera app might be limited. However, similar to other Android devices, the Honor 90’s standard photo app is very well-featured with lots of choice when it comes to shooting modes and so on.

The default Photo mode is what most people will probably use for the majority of their photos. In this mode, you can access the 0.6x and 1x lens, but also a 2x digital zoom option directly by tapping on the numbers shown on the screen. To zoom even further digitally, you can also pinch on the screen to a maximum of 10x.

Photo credit: Amy Davies.

NIKON Z 6_2 · f/5.6 · 1/200s · 70mm · ISO320

Other options here include switching on AI Photography (where settings are tweaked automatically to match the scene), enabling a flash, enabling different digital filters and switching on Moving Photos. A more extensive group of settings can be found by tapping on a cog icon, giving you options to change things like aspect ratio, switch on a grid and a level and so on.

In this mode, you’ll find that “Night” is automatically activated should low light levels be detected, while “Super Macro” will also engage if you get close to a subject (at which point, the app will switch to using the super wide camera).

Photo credit: Amy Davies.

NIKON Z 6_2 · f/5.6 · 1/160s · 70mm · ISO320

Along the bottom of the screen, there’s a host of other shooting options. These include Portrait mode for photographing human subjects with a shallow depth of field, a selectable Night mode, and an Aperture mode which gives you the option to create shallow depth of field effects with any subject.

There’s also a Video mode, plus a “Multi Video” mode which allows recording from both the rear and front cameras at the same time. Tap “More”, and you’ll also find a range of additional shooting options including HDR photo, Slow-Mo, Panorama and so on. Two which might be of interest here are Pro mode and High-Res mode.

Photo credit: Amy Davies.

NIKON Z 6_2 · f/5.6 · 1/250s · 63mm · ISO320

With Pro mode, you can control certain shooting parameters, such as shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation, white balance and so on. It’s also here that you’ll find the ability to shoot in raw format. High Res mode is fairly self-explanatory, but it allows you to take advantage of the full 200MP of the sensor, rather than the pixel-binned 12MP images it produces as standard. It’s recommended that you use High Res mode in good light for the best results.

The Video mode is fairly simple, with 4K available at 30fps. You can also switch on AI and have the phone automatically choose the best video mode for the purpose too, with Portrait Video, HDR Video, Close-Up, Multi-Video and Solo-cut available for the machine to choose between.

Photo credit: Amy Davies.

NIKON Z 6_2 · f/5.6 · 1/200s · 63mm · ISO320

Honor 90 image quality and performance:

As we often find with smartphones, particularly in the middle of the range, the Honor 90 is very capable of producing some great shots in good conditions. If light is good, there’s not too much contrast. The overall impression of images from the main sensor is that they’re detailed, vibrant and look especially good on the screen of the Honor 90, but also stand up reasonably well to closer inspection on a computer.

The Honor 90’s main lens puts in the best performance. Picture credit: Amy Davies

REA-NX9 · f/1.9 · 1/950s · 6.12mm · ISO50

Shot from the same position, we can see the angle of view the ultrawide lens gives. Picture credit: Amy Davies

REA-NX9 · f/2.2 · 1/1700s · 1.96mm · ISO50

Unsurprisingly, the images from the ultrawide angle lens aren’t quite as good, particularly in lower light, with some smudginess on display, but this is only particularly obvious when zooming in quite close on images – they’re perfectly good for social media and the like.

As there’s no telephoto zoom lens here, you’re left with the digital zoom option. But, with 200MP available from the main sensor, a crop actually produces decent results for the 2x option – again particularly if you don’t intend to examine too closely. Further digital zooming is generally best avoided if possible.

The 2x zoom is a digital crop, but with a 200MP sensor it produces very usable results.

REA-NX9 · f/1.9 · 1/1000s · 6.12mm · ISO50

The 10x zoom is less impressive, so it’s best avoided where possible. Picture credit: Amy Davies

REA-NX9 · f/1.9 · 1/1000s · 6.12mm · ISO50

We’ve often found before than an AI mode can go a bit wild with colours, oversaturating blues and greens, but things appear to be a bit more controlled here, to the point where it’s hard to say exactly what the AI is doing in most cases.

Night mode produces nice results – particularly from the main (1x) lens. Photo credit: Amy Davies

REA-NX9 · f/1.9 · 1/14s · 6.12mm · ISO10000

The Night mode copes quite well, with the best results seen from the main lens. There is a bit of smudging in some areas of the frame, but the overall impression is pretty good. The ultrawide lens puts in a reasonably good performance, but it’s best if you don’t examine too closely. Portrait mode does a good job on the whole, with the Depth camera coming in to help create a realistic outline. So long as the subject’s outline isn’t too fussy, you get a reasonably good result, with both the 1x and 2x options both performing quite well.

This image taken with the HighRes mode shows a lack of detail. Photo credit: Amy Davies

REA-NX9 · f/1.9 · 1/100s · 6.12mm · ISO800

This comparison shot taken in the phone’s standard mode is much better.

REA-NX9 · f/1.9 · 1/100s · 6.12mm · ISO500

High-Res mode shows off the full 200MP available from the main sensor, but the results aren’t great if light is anything less than super bright. Our image taken in good light here is quite smudgy and missing in detail – with the standard 12MP output file much better. It doesn’t seem like a mode you’ll actually want to use that often overall.

Portrait mode gives you the choice of either a 1x or 2x point of view. The results are pretty natural. Photo credit: Amy Davies.

REA-NX9 · f/2.4 · 1/780s · 6.12mm · ISO50

The SuperMacro mode allows you to get super close to a subject and while the results look reasonable on the phone screen, as soon as you get them on a larger screen, you can see some loss of detail – again if you’re only ever looking / sharing on your phone, this is less of a problem. There are much better smartphones for macro on the market – but they tend to come with a much higher price premium than the Honor 90 so it’s not so bad for a mid-range device.

The standard video options produce fairly smooth, steady and well-detailed video when used in good light.

You can use either lens and digital zoom when shooting in all resolutions. If perhaps you’re an advanced vlogger or content creator looking for a range of different shooting modes and higher resolutions, such as 4K 60p or even 8K, this won’t be the phone for you, but for the average user who just wants to grab video clips of certain moments, the Honor 90 is more than adequate.

Super macro mode means you can get very close to a subject. Results look good on the phone screen, but there’s some smudginess if you examine more closely. Photo credit: Amy Davies.

REA-NX9 · f/2.2 · 1/33s · 1.96mm · ISO250

Honor 90 value for money:

These days, high-end smartphones can cost a relative fortune. Models like the Honor 90 which sit in the mid-range can save you a tonne of money if you’re willing to compromise on certain features.

For the price, the Honor 90 is a decent performer for photographers – particularly if you’re happy to stick with the main camera and aren’t too worried about telephoto performance, or don’t need something fairly niche such as 8K video recording.

The standard lens produces nicely detailed shots. Photo credit: Amy Davies.

REA-NX9 · f/1.9 · 1/100s · 6.12mm · ISO1600

It compares extremely well with flagship models, even from Honor’s own range such as the Honor Magic 5 Pro, pricewise, and is several times cheaper than bigger-name flagships from the likes of Samsung and Apple. In terms of other mid-range competitors, it’s also good value for money, offering a good main lens, a stylish device and a broad functioning native camera app. Arguably only the Oppo Reno8 Pro offers better value for money right now.

Honor 90 verdict:

Honor has been produced some great smartphones for some time now, and the Honor 90 continues that legacy. If you’re not bothered by the bigger names, flagship models and high prices, then it’s always worth looking at what the company is up to.

The Honor 90 takes good photos in a variety of scenarios. Photo credit: Amy Davies.

REA-NX9 · f/1.9 · 1/910s · 6.12mm · ISO50

The Honor 90 is ideal if you’re looking for something that can handle a variety of different shooting situations reasonably well, but don’t need all the extra advanced features that others bring. It’s fair to say that image quality from other models is better in certain circumstances, such as macro, but if you’re happy with most everyday shots being well taken care of, it’s a great buy.

Related content:

• The best budget camera phones in 2023
• Best smartphones for video in 2023

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