Camera Quality and Samples

The photographic camera solution on the Pixel and Pixel Twoscore is identical, and is similar (from a hardware perspective) to the Nexus 6P. The rear sensor is a 12.3-megapixel (4048 x 3036 native iv:iii) Sony IMX378 one/ii.three" CMOS with 1.55µm pixels, paired with an f/2.0 26mm (equivalent) lens. The IMX378 is supposedly a faster sensor than the IMX377 used in the Nexus 6P, which allows the Pixel XL to include new ultra-fast automatic HDR functionality.

The rear camera sits next to a light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation autofocus associates that's used in conjunction with PDAF autofocus, and there's also a dual-LED wink. You won't observe optical image stabilization though, equally Google believes the hardware in this camera, combined with new software tricks, is expert plenty in low light. You volition detect back up for up to 4K30, 1080p120, and 720p240 video recording.

The front photographic camera is an viii-megapixel Sony IMX179 (3264 x 2448 native four:3) one/3.2" CMOS sensor with one.4µm pixels, paired with an f/2.4 26mm lens. At that place's nix particularly fancy well-nigh this camera, equally it's basically identical to the front end camera on the Nexus 6P. It supports up to 1080p30 video recording.

Image processing makes or breaks a smartphone camera. In the example of the Google Pixel, the paradigm processing and general software capabilities of this camera make information technology the best I've tested in a smartphone to date. Gone are the days of a Google-made phone with a mediocre camera; the Pixel has what information technology takes to accident away the competition.

The Pixel XL doesn't go for the highest resolution possible, only the selection of a 12.3-megapixel sensor with 1.55µm pixels is clever, like it was on the Nexus 6P, every bit the larger pixels deliver more than light data. And while nosotros're not seeing 20-megapixel photos with loads of zoomability, the Pixel XL delivers splendid fine particular. This is in stark contrast to what was previously the best Android smartphone camera, the Galaxy S7, which too delivered 12-megapixel stills but succumbed to the 'oil painting issue'. The Pixel XL'south racket reduction filters are far superior and less aggressive, so more fine particular is preserved.

Image quality is astonishing. This is mostly due to Google'southward new HDR+ style, which applies cypher-shutter-lag HDR to images automatically and in nearly all occasions. With such a fast HDR mode, there is no longer an annoying capture delay or any issues with ghosting, allowing the Pixel to use this mode in all situations. The terminate consequence is class-leading dynamic range and excellent camera performance, whereas with by phone cameras information technology was a choice between the 2.

I punished the Pixel Xl with some seriously challenging lighting weather, featuring horrendous backlighting or significant contrast, but in nearly all situations the Pixel XL pulled through to deliver a fantastic paradigm. You won't get this from whatever other phone camera.

Colour quality is outstanding. The Pixel XL has the same power as the Samsung Milky way S7 to deliver saturated colors both outdoors and indoors, and that's ane of its many strengths. No matter the weather condition, the Pixel XL produces photos at the correct exposure with splendid dissimilarity, vibrant colors, and a touch more accuracy than the Galaxy S7. Photos from this camera wait fantastic without whatsoever editing, and that's exactly what I want from a telephone camera: instant shareability.

Not everything most the Pixel XL's processing is fantabulous. Occasionally the camera tin struggle to meter white balance correctly, so a small minority of images have a slightly blue or yellow tone depending on the conditions. This is a relatively minor outcome, though, and doesn't detract from paradigm quality in a significant way.

The sensor'due south big pixels produce great depression-light imagery, which is brighter than the real life scene in well-nigh situations. When it gets really night, dissonance tin can become an issue, however despite the lack of OIS I rarely produced a blurry handheld photo. Color quality and level of detail is also superior to nigh other smartphones hither, and continues the Pixel Twoscore'south camera dominance.

I've already mentioned how fast the Pixel XL's camera is at capturing images, fifty-fifty in HDR way, but this is too true of focusing. The camera isn't quite as fast as Samsung'southward Dual Pixel system, nevertheless the combination of PDAF and laser autofocus delivers a top-end autofocus feel, 2d to the Milky way S7. Simply bespeak the Pixel XL at an object, and it will exist in focus near instantaneously.

Google has geared the Pixel XL entirely towards producing excellent photos automatically, and so the camera app is express in its characteristic set. Manual controls are limited to very basic white balance and exposure options; at that place's no direct control over ISO or shutter speed. Panorama and photograph sphere functionality is included, though in that location are no photo filters or 'beauty' modes.

There are two compelling extras that are worth mentioning. The Lens Blur style, which simulates bokeh by taking multiple images for depth calculations, works surprisingly well for a camera without dual rear sensors. Object border detection and depth calculations are merely as proficient as the Huawei P9, and the simulated bokeh is somewhat pleasing.

The outburst style is also worth discussing as it produces automatically produces an blithe GIF from your flare-up of images. The Photos app also highlights what it believes are the best (sharpest) images from the collection of shots, and the camera can shoot upwardly to 10 full resolution shots per second.

The selfie photographic camera is very proficient as well, delivering abrupt and colorful images in nigh lighting conditions. Don't expect results as expert as the rear photographic camera, just the 8-megapixel sensor has enough calorie-free gathering ability to produce detailed images in low light.

The camera gets even meliorate, though. The stabilization provided in the video mode is ludicrous. It'due south meliorate than anything I've seen from a camera before, even those with hardware optical image stabilization. You can walk on uneven ground and capture a fully-stabilized 4K30 or 1080p60 video that looks as smooth equally butter, like you're riding a hoverboard and using a gimbal. This characteristic alone gives the Pixel the best video recording of whatsoever smartphone.

When coupled with excellent video and audio quality, along with a range of shooting modes that include dull motion at 1080p120 and 720p240, the Pixel has you covered for recording high-quality video. The 4K manner tops out at 42 Mbps, and the effects of stabilization on epitome quality are minimal.