The Pixel 8 has an incredible digital camera. Can this new Android telephone beat it?

The OnePlus 12 is each bit a worthy successor to the good OnePlus 11, and the digital camera is shaping as much as be one of many model’s highest specced but. However what occurs when it meets the Google Pixel 8?

The Pixel 8 is without doubt one of the finest digital camera telephones you may get and is even cheaper than the OnePlus 12, so if you wish to take lots of images, which one will serve you higher? We discover out in our complete take a look at.

Evaluating the digital camera specs

The OnePlus 12 is the primary smartphone to make use of Sony’s LYT-808 50-megapixel digital camera, which guarantees higher efficiency and extra element in all lighting circumstances, and the 1/1.4-inch sensor has optical picture stabilization (OIS) and an f/1.6 aperture. The 64MP OmniVision OV54B periscope zoom can be a primary for telephones and supplies a 3x optical zoom and a 6x hybrid zoom, plus it additionally has OIS. Lastly, there’s a 48MP wide-angle digital camera with a 114-degree subject of view.

OnePlus has added a brand new HDR algorithm to the OnePlus 12’s digital camera software program, and accomplice Hasselblad has tuned the Portrait Mode to incorporate two completely different simulated focal lengths — a 50mm medium zoom at 2x and a 70mm for close-up pictures at 3x. The selfie digital camera has 32 megapixels and digital picture stabilization.

On paper, the Google Pixel 8’s digital camera is definitely overwhelmed by the OnePlus 12, because it “solely” has two cameras and no periscope digital camera or optical zoom. A 12MP wide-angle digital camera joins the 50MP principal digital camera, with a ten.5MP selfie digital camera on the entrance. Working behind the scenes is Google’s always-excellent digital camera software program, which shouldn’t be underestimated.

When you assume the OnePlus 12 has the win within the bag already, don’t be so fast to guage, as after we put the Pixel 8 in opposition to the OnePlus 11, Google’s telephone nonetheless managed to come back out on high. Nevertheless, it was very shut, so has OnePlus finished sufficient with the sequel to take down the Pixel 8 this time?

All of the images beneath have been taken in computerized mode, video wasn’t included within the take a look at, and pictures have been resized for simpler on-line viewing.

Predominant digital camera

There are some very fascinating variations between the Pixel 8 and OnePlus 12’s principal cameras, and it actually does appear as if OnePlus and Hasselblad have discovered success in bringing out a particular character and elegance for its images. The primary photograph is a straightforward one, taken on a really crisp winter afternoon, and you’ll see how the OnePlus 12 makes use of shade and distinction in a different way from the Pixel 8.

The way in which the 2 cameras expose pictures impacts the steadiness, too, with the second picture demonstrating how tones and shades change. The lighting within the doorway within the Pixel 8’s photograph appears nice however is overexposed within the OnePlus 12’s photograph, affecting the depth of reflection within the glass above it. The hotter tones of the OnePlus 12’s photograph do make the scene extra engaging than the colder, scientific Pixel 8’s photograph.

You’ll be able to see the OnePlus 12’s hotter tones within the subsequent photograph too, but in addition how focal lengths differ in comparison with the Pixel 8, with one favoring the toast and the opposite the espresso cup. The Pixel 8’s higher white steadiness is noticeable, as is its typically sharper focus and element.

Within the final photograph, you proceed to see variations in tone, white steadiness, and shade, but it surely additionally exhibits the place the OnePlus 12 can clean photos out in comparison with the Pixel 8. There’s extra element and texture from the Pixel 8, and whereas I like the heat of the OnePlus 12’s picture, the smoothness takes away a few of the realism.

It’s a development we’re going to proceed to see, and it signifies that though the OnePlus 12’s principal digital camera performs very properly, it has some issues that want fixing, whereas the Pixel 8’s digital camera is extra rounded instantly.

Winner: Google Pixel 8

Huge-angle images

Our first wide-angle photograph continues the regarding development the place the OnePlus 12 tends to clean issues out quite a bit, dropping element within the course of. The phone sales space is outdated and weathered, which exhibits within the Pixel 8’s photograph, however is way much less evident within the OnePlus 12’s. The dearth of element and extreme smoothing is obvious within the background, too, plus the pink shade is extra orange than within the Pixel 8’s photograph.

It’s not at all times fairly so apparent, however the smoothness is normally there within the OnePlus 12’s wide-angle images. On this wider scene, the wood bridges and the grass financial institution across the lake are far much less outlined within the OnePlus 12’s photograph, for instance. The Pixel 8’s tone and brightness make it a happier, extra inviting scene than the low-contrast, shadowy OnePlus 12 photograph.

Our closing wide-angle photograph exhibits how these elements collectively make the OnePlus 12’s wide-angle images much less visually interesting than the Pixel 8’s. The excessive distinction colours and detail-obscuring shadows break the OnePlus 12’s photograph, and it appears utterly completely different from the Pixel 8’s brighter, well-balanced shot. The scene in actual life was nearer to the Pixel 8’s picture, too.

Winner: Google Pixel 8

Lowlight images

Given what you’ve seen from the cameras already, the primary photograph in our lowlight take a look at will probably be a shock. Taking pictures into the setting solar, the OnePlus 12 turned the tough circumstances into a beautiful, reasonable photograph, whereas the Pixel 8 struggled to make one of the best of the surroundings. It appears the Sony LYT-808’s lowlight claims are correct.

The development continues when it will get very darkish, with the OnePlus 12 balancing the exterior darkness and the store lights very successfully and displaying much less noise within the automobiles and street surfaces, too. It’s not excellent, with edge enhancement clear on the roofline, however you can even spot comparable points with the Pixel 8’s photograph.

Each wrestle when it’s very darkish, because the photograph of the streetlight exhibits. The OnePlus 12 exposes the sunshine higher than the Pixel 8, however the environment are much less detailed and muddier. However it has introduced out extra shade than the Pixel 8. Surprisingly, the OnePlus 12 normally produces a extra balanced, higher uncovered, and extra detailed lowlight photograph than the Pixel 8.

Winner: OnePlus 12

Zoom modes

Earlier than we get going, only a fast notice: The Pixel 8’s zoom images look in a different way framed than the OnePlus 12’s, regardless of each sharing the identical zoom ranges within the app. Let’s begin with the 2x zoom, which is the one shortcut within the Pixel 8’s digital camera app. It’s significantly better than the OnePlus 12’s 2x mode, which can be an choice within the app, displaying extra element and extra correct colours each time.

Transferring on to the 3x zoom, that is the place the OnePlus 12 ought to shine, because it’s the one actually optical zoom mode among the many pair. Nevertheless, it’s barely disappointing. The photograph of the tire exhibits it could possibly pull within the element, but it surely additionally exhibits numerous smoothing as soon as once more, and the feel that exists within the Pixel 8’s photograph is misplaced.

The second 3x zoom photograph of the doorway exhibits the OnePlus 12’s heat as soon as once more, however there’s little or no distinction between the readability of the textual content between the 2. The steps behind the glass are sharper than within the Pixel 8’s photograph, although, however look fastidiously on the steel paneling on the door itself, and you’ll see extra smoothing within the OnePlus 12’s picture.

What about 6x zoom? The OnePlus 12’s digital camera app has a shortcut to this zoom mode, whereas the Pixel 8 must be manually set to match it. The OnePlus 12’s 6x zoom is a hybrid, but it surely has impressed quite a bit, and this photograph exhibits why. See the quantity of element within the Lego script on the bricks and the stunning pure bokeh within the shot too. The Pixel 8 can’t get shut.

All this has made the zoom part fairly tough to guage. At 2x, the Pixel 8 is superior, and at 6x, the OnePlus 12 is superior. However neither is stellar at 3x, which is the place the OnePlus 12 ought to actually pull forward. I’m utilizing the OnePlus 12 forward of launch (with the ultimate software program model obtainable to me put in), so this may increasingly enhance with an replace sooner or later. For now, nevertheless, it’s going to be a tie.

Winner: Draw

Selfie digital camera

The OnePlus 12’s selfie digital camera has a a lot wider subject of view than the Pixel 8 by default and offers a a lot stronger bokeh impact, too. There are appreciable variations in texture, pores and skin tones, and shade, with the Pixel 8 taking a much more reasonable and pure photograph than the OnePlus 12. Nevertheless, regardless of (or due to?) the smoothing, I favor the broader OnePlus 12 photograph, however I admire it’s not technically superior.

Winner: Draw

The Pixel 8 wins, however solely simply

The Pixel 8 has taken yet one more class win than the OnePlus 12, that means it’s our general winner, however the pair have tied in two classes, displaying the take a look at has been a detailed run factor. It’s additionally fascinating the OnePlus 12 has overwhelmed the Pixel 8 in lowlight pictures, a class most would anticipate the Pixel 8 to win. It appears the brand new Sony digital camera’s lowlight efficiency claims are correct.

It’s unlucky the wide-angle digital camera is a disappointment on the OnePlus 12, as the primary digital camera can take some wonderful images; plus, there are some clear points with the zoom digital camera that want fixing. The smoothing noticeable in lots of images has price the OnePlus 12 dearly on this take a look at. I’ve been testing the telephone forward of launch, and it wouldn’t be the primary time OnePlus has improved the digital camera by software program updates after it was launched.

For now, the Pixel 8 continues to be the beneficial buy if you would like an ideal all-around digital camera telephone with out spending an excessive amount of cash, however the OnePlus 12 has lots of strengths, and it’s additionally apparent there’s loads of potential, too. It’s one to observe, however the Pixel 8 is actually the one to purchase right now.

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