I did a Galaxy S24 Extremely vs. Pixel 8 Professional digicam take a look at. It’s not even shut

Whenever you need a wonderful digicam in your new smartphone, selecting the Google Pixel 8 Professional is a smart and secure alternative, however what concerning the massive, costly Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely? In any case, it’s Samsung’s prime digicam cellphone, and it has options that make it distinctive among the many competitors.

Is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely value paying $300 greater than you’ll for the Google Pixel 8 Professional, if the digicam is the highest cause you’re searching for a brand new cellphone? I took many images with them each over a collection of various days to search out out.

The cameras

There are fairly a couple of technical particulars that differ between the Pixel 8 Professional and the Galaxy S24 Extremely’s digicam, so it’s vital to undergo these first earlier than wanting on the images. The Pixel 8 Professional has a 50-megapixel major digicam with a 1/1.31-inch sensor dimension and an f/1.68 aperture, together with a 48MP wide-angle digicam with a 125.5-degree field-of-view.

The 48MP telephoto digicam takes 5x optical zoom images, and has a Tremendous Res zoom to 30x. Optical and digital picture stabilization (OIS and EIS) are on the huge and telephoto cameras, plus there’s laser autofocus and a spectral sensor for better shade accuracy.

On the again of the Galaxy S24 Extremely is a 200MP, f/1.7 aperture major digicam, a 50MP telephoto digicam for 5x optical zoom images, a 10MP digicam for 3x optical zoom images, and a 12MP wide-angle digicam with a 120-degree field-of-view. The principle, huge, and telephoto cameras have OIS, plus there’s laser autofocus too. Samsung claims “optical high quality” zoom ranges at 2x and 10x zoom.

On the entrance of the Pixel 8 Professional is a ten.5MP selfie digicam with autofocus, whereas the Galaxy S24 Extremely has a 12MP digicam with autofocus. Each have complete video capabilities, however now we have not in contrast them on this take a look at. All images had been shot in auto mode, in contrast on a color-calibrated monitor, and have been resized for friendlier on-line viewing.

Most important digicam

The specs of the 2 major cameras are fairly completely different from one another, and unsurprisingly, there are fairly a couple of variations within the images they take, too. The primary photograph units the tone for the remainder of the take a look at, because it illustrates Samsung’s continued willingness to spice up colours and distinction for a brighter, extra vibrant picture. Google tones issues down for a extra pure look that’s nearer to how issues are in actual life.

One factor to notice is with the close-up pictures, the S24 Extremely usually robotically switches to the Focus Enhancer, which removes any pure background blur. The above photograph was taken with the function deactivated, so it matches the Pixel 8 Professional’s picture. Element and focus are related, and which you favor will come all the way down to how vibrant you want your images.

The second photograph of the bridge exhibits how distinction and publicity differ. The S24 Extremely’s remedy ends in the instantly noticeable moodier sky, which is a tiny bit noisier than the Pixel 8 Professional’s, however look intently and you may see how the S24 Extremely retains your complete scene in focus, whereas the Pixel 8 Professional concentrates on the foreground.

Whereas the punchier colours of the S24 Extremely can generally work rather well, they don’t in all conditions, with the espresso and toast on this photograph showing unnatural in comparison with the Pixel 8 Professional’s spot-on colours and white steadiness.

There’s additionally proof of edge enhancement within the S24 Extremely’s images when daring colours meet, and the Pixel 8 Professional’s higher steadiness creates not solely a extra natural-looking photograph, however a extra real looking one too. You possibly can see this within the photograph of the bushes, the place the blue sky isn’t separated successfully sufficient from the greenery within the S24 Extremely’s photograph.

Our last photograph exhibits lots of the variations between these two cameras in a single shot. The S24’s moody sky, deeper colours, stronger distinction ranges, and better stage of element are clear. The Pixel 8 Professional higher captures the way in which the scene seemed in actual life, however the harsher tones and publicity rob it of some vibrancy. The Pixel 8 Professional’s consistency all through offers it the win on this class, however it hasn’t been a runaway victory.

Winner: Google Pixel 8 Professional

Huge-angle digicam

There’s extra of the identical from the S24 Extremely’s wide-angle digicam, as the primary photograph of the church exhibits, however this time the Pixel 8 Professional can’t fairly sustain. Publicity variations end in a extra washed-out picture, and even when the S24 Extremely does go overboard with saturation a bit, the punchier look is preferable to the Pixel 8 Professional’s subdued tone.

The S24 Extremely’s wide-angle digicam is best demonstrated within the second photograph of the pond, the place the bushes and foliage have extra life within the Galaxy S24 Extremely’s photograph. It’s a detailed factor, and whereas I admire the consistency of look from each cameras, Samsung’s remedy offers wide-angle photographs better presence and drama, which I feel is vital.

Once more, that is obvious within the final photograph, displaying pebbles in entrance of a lake. From the reflection within the water to the colour of the pebbles, the S24 Extremely’s photograph is extra interesting, much less chilly, and the picture I’d be extra prone to share. The Pixel 8 Professional’s wide-angle digicam is nice, however the S24 Extremely nails the tone right here. It’s a really shut class, and whereas neither at all times will get the photograph proper, the Galaxy S24 Extremely appears to succeed extra usually.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely

Telephoto 5x optical zoom

Each cameras can take 5x optical zoom images, however the outcomes are fairly completely different, and the Galaxy S24 Extremely actually exhibits off its telephoto prowess right here. Within the first photograph of the sheep via the gate, the S24 Extremely’s photograph is full of element and pin-sharp, whereas the Pixel 8 Professional’s photograph isn’t as well-focused and lacks the identical stage of element.

It’s tougher to identify the variations within the second photograph, however they’re there. Have a look at the floating duck home. Once more, it’s sharp and outlined within the S24 Extremely’s photograph, however far much less so within the Pixel 8 Professional’s photograph. The colours are barely extra enticing within the Pixel’s photograph, however that’s simply mounted within the S24 Extremely’s picture, whereas the Pixel’s lack of definition shouldn’t be.

Within the last picture, the S24 Extremely’s photograph is obvious and exhibits off the feel of the partitions and stone, and whereas it’s intently matched by the Pixel 8 Professional’s picture, the latter simply isn’t fairly as sharp. This slight haziness places the Pixel 8 Professional’s optical zoom behind the S24 Extremely’s, which is totally the winner on this class.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely

Telephoto 10x zoom

Neither digicam takes 10x optical zoom pictures, however each promise sturdy outcomes as a result of intelligent software program and using {hardware}. The photograph of the pigeon was shot via a window, and right here, the S24 Extremely captures colours and texture higher than the Pixel 8 Professional, which continues to have issues with sharpness. The S24 Extremely’s photograph may move for an optical zoom photograph, whereas the Pixel 8 Professional’s couldn’t.

As soon as once more, within the second photograph, the Galaxy S24 Extremely washes out the picture barely, however it’s a lot sharper and extra outlined than the Pixel 8 Professional’s photograph. The textual content is extra readable, and the sides are much less jagged. Simply because it did after I in contrast the Galaxy S23 Extremely’s 10x zoom with the S24 Extremely’s 10x zoom, it actually impresses for an “optical high quality” mode, and it beats the Pixel 8 Professional with no downside.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely

Evening mode

The Pixel 8 Professional excels at balancing the darkish of the evening sky with publicity in lit areas, as the primary photograph exhibits. The blue tint of the evening sky within the S24 Extremely’s photograph is distracting, however the digicam takes images that proceed to be sharper and extra detailed than these taken with the Pixel 8 Professional. Have a look at the bricks for proof, in addition to the element on the trail in entrance of the store.

Within the second photograph, the S24 Extremely avoids the ugly smoothing on the roof of the constructing that’s seen within the Pixel 8 Professional’s photograph and retains the picture sharp and in focus. There’s much less noise within the sky, too, making for a significantly better, extra secure picture throughout. It doesn’t at all times go the Galaxy S24 Extremely’s manner, although.

The ultimate photograph was taken at 10x zoom, and the Pixel 8 Professional efficiently captures the photograph I needed to take and is definitely barely extra consultant of the scene than the S24 Extremely’s picture. Nonetheless, the distinction intimately remains to be appreciable, with the Samsung digicam taking a extra detailed, much less noisy, and better-balanced photograph completely. It’s one other massive win for the Galaxy S24 Extremely.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely

Selfie digicam

Samsung’s selfie digicam often did not get the colours proper in its images, whereas the Pixel 8 Professional succeeded in creating a much more real looking picture, with extra pure pores and skin tones too. The Portrait impact in each is nice, however the S24 Extremely does edge forward of the Pixel 8 Professional barely right here, with fewer blurred sections the place it could actually’t work out what’s presupposed to be occurring. I don’t thoughts both picture, and whereas the S24 Extremely’s colours and pores and skin tones aren’t that correct, I want the publicity and distinction to the Pixel 8 Professional’s. This one is a draw.

Winner: Draw

A stunning win for Samsung?

The Google Pixel 8 Professional succeeded in profitable the principle digicam part, however misplaced 4 different sections to the Galaxy S24 Extremely and solely managed a draw with the selfie digicam. For a digicam most (rightly) take into account among the finest within the enterprise, it hasn’t actually impressed subsequent to the newest Samsung Extremely cellphone.

Samsung actually pulled forward with its glorious telephoto digicam, which regardless of not utilizing a 10x optical zoom this time round, nonetheless managed to take superior images to the Pixel 8 Professional at each 5x and 10x. It did the identical when it was up in opposition to the Galaxy S23 Extremely too, however it was by no means a forgone conclusion it will handle the identical factor in opposition to Google’s software program experience.

The Pixel 8 Professional’s digicam is excellent, however it has met its match with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely, which is proving to be one of many absolute best smartphone cameras we’ve ever used.

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