This story is section of Focal Point iPhone 2022, CNET’s sequence of data, guidelines and recommendation around Apple’s hottest product.
Google’s Pixel 7 Pro has an dazzling triple-camera setup that is already seriously impressed me, alongside the phone’s slick new plan and streamlined Android 13 instrument. However the competitors is fierce, with Apple’s most modern iPhone 14 Pro furthermore packing some potent specs and a spot of cameras that would possibly take in reality very excellent photos.
So which one does it easiest and which one would possibly also unbiased level-headed you take into record for those who would possibly also very smartly be purchasing for the supreme images phone around? I took both phones around the excellent Edinburgh suburb of Leith to search out out.
It’s an enticing matchup as both phones have the same camera choices with a significant long-established lens, an ultrawide lens and a telephoto zoom. And both have already confirmed their photographic prowess in our full critiques, with rich photos and dazzling dynamic fluctuate being delivered on all sides.
Pixel 7 Pro, predominant lens.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
iPhone 14 Pro, predominant lens.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Resolve on a look for at the photos above from the Pixel 7 Pro’s 50-megapixel and the iPhone 14 Pro’s 48-megapixel predominant camera lens. Each scenes are smartly uncovered right here, with managed blue skies and tons element to be considered in the extra dark areas. The iPhone’s colour balance in all fairness warmer, which I have suits the scene smartly, even supposing the Pixel’s image is arguably a splash extra natural attempting.
Pixel 7 Pro, ultrawide lens.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
iPhone 14 Pro, ultrawide lens.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Switch to the ultrawide lens, and all once more both phones have performed a big job in capturing this high inequity scene above. There’s very small to settle from them, however I have the Pixel 7 Pro’s extra natural colour tones would possibly also give it the edge.
Pixel 7 Pro, 5x optical zoom lens.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
iPhone 14 Pro, 3x optical zoom lens.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Issues change after we swap to the zoom lenses despite the indisputable truth that, most seriously since the Pixel 7 Pro’s 5x affords a mighty nearer glimpse than the 3x optical zoom of the iPhone 14 Pro. I love an extended zoom as it helps you glean diverse photograph compositions in a scene that will be lost to those who easiest have huge angle lenses. Utilizing the zoom lens for the photos above let me grab a entirely diverse scene, however I did not need to physically transfer to receive it.
That extra reach is noticeable on the Pixel’s shot, with a mighty nearer zoom on the structures in the gap. Each phones have done a appropriate exposure on the change hand, and whereas the Pixel’s image is noticeably warmer (in particular on the structures themselves), I love the colour balances of both photos.
Pixel 7 Pro, 5x zoom lens.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
iPhone 14 Pro, 3x zoom lens.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Again, that extra zoom on the Pixel let me receive a tighter composition on the structures next to the river in the photos above, and or not it is a greater-attempting photograph which capability. That stated, I take the tones and exposure of the iPhone’s shot, with brighter whites and a extra consuming pop of orange visible on the central building and richer blue tones in the sky.
Pixel 7 Pro, ultrawide lens.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
iPhone 14 Pro, ultrawide lens.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
The ultrawide photos above are extra mixed on the change hand. Whereas both phones done a in general decent exposure, they both have pretty blown out highlights visible in the some distance away clouds. And whereas I take the extra natural blue sky of the iPhone 14 Pro, the Pixel 7 Pro has done extra consuming colour tones on the structures and trees toward the guts of the frame. It’s refined to operate a call on which is “better” right here.
Pixel 7 Pro, predominant lens.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
iPhone 14 Pro, predominant lens.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Aid to the most valuable camera lens, and there would possibly be all once more very small to settle from the two photos above. There’s hundreds element in both, and the general exposure is spot on. If I had been nitpicking — which I’m — I would possibly perchance utter the Pixel 7 Pro’s sky has pretty too mighty of a crimson tinge in it and or not it is a horny extra contrasty scene general. Whereas that is resulted in deeper orange hues on the autumn leaves, or not it is much less consultant of the say colours of the scene. It’s largely down to deepest preference, however I’m marginally erring toward the iPhone’s shot right here.
Pixel 7 Pro, ultrawide lens.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
iPhone 14 Pro, ultrawide lens.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
The photos above point to the identical scene however from the ultrawide lens this time. To my survey, or not it is a extra effective map cessation for the iPhone right here. The final colour balance is extra natural. And whereas the iPhone saved a appropriate inequity in the darker dwelling in the backside left, the Pixel has tried to brighten this dwelling artificially, ensuing in an odd-attempting grey patch that I’m not inflamed by.
Pixel 7 Pro, huge-angle lens with macro focal point.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
iPhone 14 Pro, huge-angle lens with macro focal point.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
With the Pixel 7 Pro now packing auto-focal point on its ultrawide lens, or not it is ready to present macro images as it would possibly focal point within a few inches of the lens. It’s something Apple launched on the iPhone 13 Pro, and or not it is big fun to experiment with.
Within the macro photos above, I take the image from the Pixel 7 Pro’s camera. The white balance has resulted in additional consuming — and extra devoted — blue-crimson tones on the flower’s petals. The leaves in the background furthermore have extra of an emerald tone, in preference to the yellow-inexperienced tones considered on the iPhone’s shot.
Pixel 7 Pro, huge-angle lens with macro focal point.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
iPhone 14 Pro, huge-angle lens with macro focal point.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
And or not it is mighty the identical in the photos above after I historical the phones to receive a low-down shot of this dandelion, with the blue sky listless it. The Pixel 7 Pro’s shot has mighty extra consuming inexperienced tones in the grasses around the topic. The iPhone 14 Pro captured a warmer scene, with extra yellow tones considered in the grasses that I personally don’t like as mighty.
Pixel 7 Pro selfie camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
iPhone 14 Pro selfie camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
The Pixel 7 Pro is packing a 10.8-megapixel entrance-facing selfie camera, which is simply below the iPhone 14 Pro’s 12 megapixels. It’s not a immense distinction, there in all fairness extra element visible for those who zoom in. Each photos are in general stable, on the change hand, even supposing I have the Pixel has long gone pretty too “HDR” by reducing the highlights on my face too mighty. Personally, I take how I look for in the iPhone’s image.
Pixel 7 Pro huge-angle selfie test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
iPhone 14 Pro huge-angle selfie test.
Each phones have a mighty wider-angle option for the entrance-facing cameras, which turns out to be handy for those who take to need to grab extra of your atmosphere or are attempting to squash extra of your mates into the image. I took the photos above on this mode, and the Pixel in reality has the edge pretty in phrases of gorgeous image crucial formulation. However all once more, I take the exposure and inequity from the iPhone because the Pixel’s HDR has flattened the tones in my face pretty too mighty for my liking.
Pixel 7 Pro, evening mode.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
iPhone 14 Pro, evening mode.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
When switching to evening mode on both phones, I had to give an early map cessation to the iPhone in the photos above. Its white balance produced a nicer-attempting shot with out the overly warmth orange tone considered in the Pixel’s image.
Pixel 7 Pro evening mode, 100% nick.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
iPhone 14 Pro, evening mode, 100% nick.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
It’s furthermore certain that the iPhone’s image is sharper when cropping in to 100% on both photos, with the Pixel’s shot exhibiting some hotfoot blur, in particular on the pub signal. Belief at the spotlights on the wall sculptures above; the Pixel’s shot hasn’t been ready to grab the dynamic fluctuate right here, ensuing in blow-out areas, whereas the iPhone has performed a considerably better job of keeping those shining tones underneath withhold a watch on.
Pixel 7 Pro, evening mode.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
iPhone 14 Pro, evening mode.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
There isn’t as mighty to settle from in these evening-time photos above that I took overlooking Leith Shore. Each have the same colour tones, exposure and easiest marginal enhancements on the iPhone’s shot when considered at 100%.
Pixel 7 Pro evening mode, 5x zoom.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
iPhone 14 Pro, evening mode, 3x zoom.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Switch to the zoom mode, and there would possibly be an even bigger distinction between the two phones. Within the photos above, the Pixel’s shot is brighter and extra consuming however suffers vastly from hotfoot blur, with out reference to that indisputable truth that I stabilized myself in opposition to a bridge wall when taking the shot. I took three photos right here and this used to be the supreme I would possibly also receive.
Pixel 7 Pro, evening mode, 5x zoom at 100% nick.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
iPhone 14 Pro, evening mode, 3x zoom at 100% nick.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
You would possibly in reality stumble on how blurry the Pixel’s image is when cropping in to 100%. Certain, the iPhone would not have the identical reach with its 3x zoom. However its shot is mighty sharper and clearer, and it simply takes the map cessation right here.
Pixel 7 Pro, evening mode.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
iPhone 14 Pro, evening mode.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
I furthermore realized that the Pixel 7 Pro is basically inclined to lens flare at evening when capturing in direction of shining light sources admire the boulevard lamp confirmed in the photos above. Whereas both cameras endure from lens flare, the Pixel’s is basically problematic since many of the evening sky is filled with crimson-crimson flares surrounding the sunshine. It’s some distance a disgrace because this is in a position to in any other case had been a nice evening-time scene.
Which phone takes better photos?Each phones took some in reality very excellent photos during this test, and or not it is full of life to give both one the definitive map cessation. Some formulation of what makes a “better” photograph will plan down to deepest preference. In smartly-lit launch air photos, I realized that the Pixel 7 Pro done a extra natural colour tone from its predominant lens than the iPhone managed. However its colours weren’t as appropriate in some wider-angle photos. Clearly, that you simply would possibly presumably spot up diverse photographic styles on the iPhone to customize how the camera captures photos and connect them look for added natural if that is your preference.
At evening the iPhone is the certain winner despite the indisputable truth that, with better colours, crisper element and a superior capability to tackle shining light sources — both in phrases of exposure and lens flare. Nonetheless, the Pixel 7 Pro solely takes the map cessation with its superior zoom expertise, with its 5x zoom letting you snag glorious, crystal-certain photos that are simply out of reach of the iPhone’s 3x zoom. I furthermore hottest the hunt for of the Pixel’s macro photos in the total tests I shot.
Now playing:
Behold this:
Pixel 7 Pro Overview: Google’s Most fascinating Cell phone Will get Better
10: 14
So which is “easiest” will plan down to what you take to have most from your phone camera. If evening images is compulsory, then inch for the iPhone 14 Pro. Within the event you take to have zoom expertise to search out ingenious compositions for your landscapes and boulevard images, then the Pixel 7 Pro is for you.
Within the event you appropriate want a big all over camera to snap consuming photos of your young folks at the seaside, your friend’s food at a native market or some excellent woodland scenes for your next hike, then both phone will swimsuit you extremely smartly. Your bigger resolution will as but every other plan down as to whether or not you take to need to inch alongside with iOS or Android as your working system and whether or not spending the extra hundred bucks or so on the iPhone 14 Pro is value it.
