I did a Pixel 8 and OnePlus 11 digicam take a look at. Selecting a winner wasn’t simple

At the start of the yr, OnePlus launched the OnePlus 11 with its Hasselblad-tuned digicam. It impressed us on the time, however how does it evaluate to the model new Google Pixel 8, launched almost 9 months later? The 2 value $700, so chances are high, in case you’re taking a look at one, the opposite has popped up in your searches too.

Our comparability solutions the query of which digicam is healthier — and likewise exhibits whether or not Google’s computational images is all the time noticeably superior. The outcomes could shock you in a single key class.

OnePlus 11 vs. Pixel 8: digicam specs

There are three cameras on the again of the OnePlus 11, beginning out with the 50-megapixel primary digicam, geared up with optical and digital stabilization, after which joined by a 48MP wide-angle digicam and a 32MP Portrait Telephoto digicam. The telephoto works when taking portrait pictures, however there may be nonetheless a 2x choice within the digicam app. On the entrance is a 16MP selfie digicam with digital picture stabilization.

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The Google Pixel 8 solely has two cameras on the again, with the array consisting of a 50MP primary digicam and a 12MP wide-angle digicam. The Pixel 8 has optical and digital stabilization on the principle digicam, and each telephones use a spectral sensor to enhance shade accuracy. Behind the {hardware} is Google’s software program and algorithms enhancing the pictures, whereas OnePlus has labored with Hasselblad to tune features of the digicam. The Pixel 8 has a ten.5MP selfie digicam.

All of the pictures had been taken in automated mode on a number of totally different days and in several climate circumstances after which examined on a color-calibrated monitor. The ultimate pictures have been resized right here for simpler viewing on-line.

OnePlus 11 vs. Pixel 8: primary digicam

The primary photograph we’re going to take a look at exhibits off the traits that may proceed to outline the pictures on this part. The OnePlus 11 boosts the colours and distinction and units a brighter publicity stage, whereas the Pixel 8 tones the photograph down with extra pure colours and higher total stability. The Pixel 8 additionally has a a lot stronger depth of discipline, which will be very enticing however may have an effect on the sharpness of the entire picture.

Subsequent, you possibly can see how HDR units the 2 aside, with the OnePlus 11 going for a far brighter, way more colourful picture, however on the expense of the clouds and sky. It’s blown out in a number of spots, the place the Pixel 8 has once more used a extra pure stability to indicate the scene because it was on the time. Due to the heavy-handed strategy, the OnePlus 11’s photograph struggles with element, particularly within the tree prime within the prime left of the photograph.

Within the photograph of the muffin, each cameras have nice focus and depth of discipline, however the Pixel 8’s pores and skin tone is extra correct. I’m pasty, however not fairly as pasty because the OnePlus 11 makes out. The colour of the muffin can be extra sensible within the Pixel 8’s photograph, and while you crop the picture down, it’s barely sharper, too.

I used tap-to-focus to pressure the digicam to take a look at the Cayman script, and the extent of element captured in each seems glorious. The image highlights once more the distinction in shade, tone, saturation, and publicity. The Pixel 8’s photograph is way more sensible and consultant of the automotive’s shade, plus the glass isn’t as overexposed because the OnePlus 11’s photograph.

All this doesn’t all the time work within the Pixel 8’s favor, as this photograph of the leaf exhibits. The stunning autumnal colours are superbly realized by the OnePlus 11, and I don’t care that the trail beneath is fully the unsuitable shade; it simply seems much more enticing and consultant of the day than the Pixel 8’s extra clinically correct coloring.

The Pixel 8’s realism and stability shine via in every photograph, whereas the OnePlus 11’s exuberance and keenness to take a extremely vibrant and colourful photograph has an enchantment of its personal. Google’s digicam takes sharper pictures, however it might solely be potential to identify when you’ve got the 2 side-by-side or usually crop them down. Nevertheless, whereas I just like the atmospheric pictures the OnePlus 11 can take, the Pixel 8’s splendidly pure tone wins out — however it’s actually shut.

Winner: Google Pixel 8

OnePlus 11 vs. Pixel 8: wide-angle digicam

Neither wide-angle digicam is nice, however the Pixel 8 manages to extract much more element via its sharper, extra natural-looking pictures. Within the first photograph, the identical traits that make the OnePlus 11’s primary digicam such an eye-catcher stay, with vibrant, saturated colours giving a vibrant look to the picture. Nevertheless, whereas the Pixel 8 tones issues down somewhat, there’s extra element within the photograph, particularly while you crop it down.

It’s onerous to not love the OnePlus 11’s colourful wide-angle pictures, although, they usually’re normally extra full of life than the Pixel 8’s wide-angle pictures. The blue sky is extra noisy within the Pixel 8’s photograph, and there’s extra noticeable smoothing in some locations. Each have optimistic and detrimental features, and neither actually takes nice wide-angle pictures, however it must be a draw. If the OnePlus 11’s particulars weren’t usually misplaced in its wide-angle pictures in comparison with the Pixel 8, it might have received.

Winner: Draw

OnePlus 11 vs. Pixel 8: 2x zoom

OnePlus calls the 2x an optical zoom, whereas the Pixel 8’s 2x zoom is technically optical high quality, because it crops the principle sensor’s picture. However the pixel depend tells the entire story, as a 2x OnePlus 11 shot is 3136 x 2352, whereas the Pixel 8’s 2x pictures are 4080 x 3072 pixels.

The primary photograph of the church clock exhibits the impact of the upper pixel depend and Google’s software program on this sort of photograph. The OnePlus 11 has apparent edge enhancement and blur down the facet of the constructing, however that is lacking fully from the sharp Pixel 8’s photograph. This sharpness continues on the brickwork, the clock face, and even the bushes.

The Pixel 8 doesn’t all the time produce nice 2x pictures, although, because the second picture exhibits. The washed-out picture doesn’t have the pop of the OnePlus 11’s photograph, however the stage of element in every is comparable. The solar was low within the sky, which appeared to negatively have an effect on the Pixel 8’s photograph.

Nevertheless, the Pixel 8’s larger pixel depend wins over more often than not, as you possibly can see on this complicated picture. There’s numerous blur because the leaves are smudged collectively within the OnePlus 11’s photograph, however they’re extra outlined within the Pixel 8’s picture. The sharpness means the cool, sunny day’s environment is extra precisely portrayed by the Pixel 8. Just like the wide-angle digicam, neither cellphone takes good pictures, however the Pixel 8 undoubtedly improves on the OnePlus 11.

Winner: Google Pixel 8

OnePlus 11 vs. Pixel 8: night time mode

The Pixel collection has all the time had a status for wonderful lowlight pictures, and whereas the Pixel 8’s white stability is instantly superior to the OnePlus 11, it doesn’t streak forward elsewhere as chances are you’ll anticipate. Whenever you crop into the primary photograph, the indicators on the door and home windows are barely sharper within the Pixel 8’s photograph, however the OnePlus’s picture is crisp and sharp, whereas the Pixel 8 blurs element out.

The second photograph is a shock, because it was completely black, other than the one mild illuminating the church within the distance. All the pieces within the periphery was invisible to the bare eye, and whereas neither photograph is nice, the OnePlus 11 undoubtedly coped with the atmosphere higher than the Pixel 8. The OnePlus 11 took the extra steady, much less blurry, much less noisy, much less smudgy photograph — and proves once more that simply because an evening mode photograph is brighter, doesn’t make it higher.

Deciding this spherical is hard, however have a look at the background in our remaining picture. The OnePlus 11 higher exposes the roof and telegraph pole, and the brighter sections are simply as sharp because the Pixel 8’s photograph. The OnePlus 11 is certainly extra snug taking pictures in very darkish environments with out coming throughout as artificially boosting the publicity to unrealistic ranges.

Winner: OnePlus 11

OnePlus 11 vs. Pixel 8: selfie digicam

I didn’t just like the efficiency of both selfie digicam. The Pixel 8’s edge recognition in portrait mode is unreliable, and the pictures lack element, however it will possibly seize some pretty colours. The OnePlus 11’s selfies will be horribly over-exposed, and the distinction ranges smash pores and skin tone. It doesn’t do edge recognition a lot better than the Pixel 8, both. It’s disappointing the OnePlus 11 and Pixel 8 don’t put a lot emphasis on entrance digicam efficiency.

Winner: Draw

The Google Pixel 8 wins, however solely simply

The Google Pixel 8 wins the comparability battle with two wins in comparison with the OnePlus 11’s single win, however two classes additionally ended up in a draw, so it was surprisingly shut total. The OnePlus 11’s win within the night time mode part got here as a shock, exhibiting the Pixel 8 status isn’t all the time deserved and doesn’t all the time make it the default most suitable choice for low-light images. Google’s software program makes the enhancing course of much more attention-grabbing, however that’s the place the developments revamped the previous yr will be discovered, reasonably than in the principle digicam’s pictures.

Should you’re curious about shopping for both of those telephones, it’s value noting each prioritize the principle digicam and disappoint with lackluster efficiency from the wide-angle, zoom, and selfie cameras. If you’d like extra shade and a larger HDR enhance, the OnePlus 11 will in all probability be the higher alternative. The Pixel 8’s magic occurs while you’ve taken the photograph, and you’ll experiment with Magic Editor and Magic Eraser.

Earlier than deciding, ensure to learn our in-depth opinions of the OnePlus 11 and Pixel 8 first and see how I felt concerning the OnePlus cellphone after I returned to it not too long ago. It’s additionally enjoyable to look again at how the Google Pixel 7 in comparison with the OnePlus 11 in a digicam take a look at and see how the software program and {hardware} efficiency have altered since February 2023.

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