The Google Pixel 6 Pro has won high praise for what it offers in exchange for $599, and it just proved its imaging mettle in DxOMark’s camera tests by racing ahead of heavy-hitters like the iPhone 13. When the iPhone 13’s cameras were put to test in October last year, it turned out to be a very capable device that even outscored some acclaimed camera-centric phones like the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
DxOMark’s testing surmised that the iPhone 13’s cameras produce nice colors even in challenging backlit scenarios, offer accurate autofocus and target exposure, and deliver a good dynamic range in videos among other wins. The improvements it offered come courtesy of upgrades such as a 47 percent larger sensor for the main camera, an advanced ultra-wide camera, the new sensor-shift image stabilization, and software upgrades like Smart HDR 4.
With such strong praise for both devices, the folks over at DxOMark have finally carried out their rigorous camera trials on the Pixel 6, and it managed to edge the iPhone 13. The Google offering was awarded a net camera score of 132, while the iPhone 13 peaked at 130. Interestingly, the cards flip on the Pro side of things, with an identical margin though. The Pixel 6 Pro scored 135, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max sits above it with a tally of 137. Carrying forward its Pixel line’s legacy, the Pixel 6 was praised for its still photography chops, but lags behind in the video capture segment.
The Pixel Legacy Is Still Strong
Starting with the strengths, DxOMark notes that the Pixel 6’s upgraded 50-megapixel main camera delivers bright photos with a sufficient amount of detail, accurate colors, and impressive control over handling shadows. While the Pixel 6’s larger camera fares well in low-light situations, lack of details is still an issue, and color fringing is said to happen as well. Overall though, the Pixel 6, as well as the iPhone 13, appear to be capable performers in both daylight and indoor conditions, and predictably struggle in low-light scenarios. Where the differences truly come to light are videos.
In video tests, the Pixel 6 achieved a tally of 115, while the iPhone 13 was slightly ahead with 117 points in its pocket. Rendering accurate textures and exposure control in videos are areas where the Pixel 6 is said to lag behind the iPhone 13. While video stabilization and details were touted as good, the Pixel 6 was held back by woes like inconsistent colors, noise, and unstable autofocus in challenging light. One aspect that is truly surprising is that that the Pixel 6 and its Optical Image Stabilization hardware scored higher on the video stabilization parameter than the iPhone 13’s sensor-shift image stabilization tech.
But kudos to Google, for making a $599 phone that can take down the venerable $699 iPhone 13 when it comes to camera prowess. But there's something that regular phone buyers should keep in mind. DxOMark scores are awarded based on in-depth testing in almost all scenarios, taking into account more parameters than an average phone user would care about. At the end of the day, all one wants is a smartphone camera that they can take out of pocket, tap the shutter button, and end up with a photo or video that is not an oversaturated, blurry mess. The Pixel 6 and iPhone 13 are both good at that, but with a price tag that is $100 slimmer, the Google phone deserves all that attention.
Source: DxOMark