Google launched the Pixel 7 Pro, its new high-end smartphone, in October. The Pixel 7 Pro came out just weeks after Apple’s new iPhone 14 Pro Max, so we thought we’d compare the cameras of the two smartphones, pitting the high-end iPhone against the high-end Pixel 7.
On paper, the iPhone 14 Pro Max and Pixel 7 Pro have similar camera systems. The iPhone is equipped with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 12-megapixel telephoto lens, and a 48-megapixel wide-angle lens, which Apple calls the “main” camera. The Pixel 7 Pro has a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 48-megapixel telephoto lens, and a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens. The Pixel 7 Pro wins in terms of raw megapixels, especially for the telephoto lens.
What we’ve learned from camera comparisons over the years is that all high-end smartphones take similar photos and they come out great. For the most part, you’ll get stunning images with both the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Pixel 7 Pro, though there are some differences to be aware of.
With standard photos, shadows are darker in iPhone images, and the Pixel 7 Pro brightens things up a bit. Pixel 7 Pro images are less saturated and we’re seeing more vibrant colors from the iPhone. In some cases, images that come directly from the Pixel 7 Pro camera look sharper, though that could be a software effect and a difference in the editing Google does behind the scenes.
Both wide-angle and ultra-wide images come out the same, but the Pixel 7 Pro’s telephoto capabilities are much better than the telephoto features offered by the iPhone. Google added 5x optical zoom, compared to 3x optical zoom for the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and that makes a difference. There’s actually a 30x Super Res digital zoom option that’s impressively sharp.
In portrait mode, the Pixel 7 Pro offers more depth of field for more background blur, which some people will prefer. It can sometimes have trouble separating the subject from the background, and works better with people than with objects.
When it comes to night mode, both smartphones have pros and cons. The Pixel 7 Pro is better for night portraits of people because the iPhone tends to be too soft around the face, but the iPhone is better for shots that include the sky. The Pixel 7 Pro is sharper in more images and wins when it comes to astrophotography, but there are issues with artifacts in some images.
With video, the iPhone 14 Pro Max does a better job, which is something we’ve seen for a few years now. iPhone video is sharper, although Google has made some strides with stabilization. Cinema mode on the iPhone has improved in 2022 with support for 4K video at 24 and 30 fps, while Cinema Blur on the Pixel is limited to 30 fps.
All in all, the Pixel 7 Pro has the edge when it comes to photos, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max wins in the video category, but both smartphones take great pictures, and it’s often hard to decide which is which. the best. What do you think of the Pixel 7 Pro? Let us know in the comments below.