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To this point, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is proving to be a champ at taking pictures with its refreshed cameras, displaying off its a lot improved macro and low gentle efficiency. In my iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra photo shootout, Apple’s flagship simply cruised to the end line, however what I’m rather more enthusiastic about is how an iPhone 16 Professional Max vs. Pixel 9 Professional XL showdown seems.
That’s as a result of I’ve spent practically a yr with the Pixel 8 Pro, which I believe was one of many most underrated phones launched within the final yr. With its non secular successor, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, Google offers us a 50MP predominant digital camera, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, and a 42MP selfie shooter. In my Pixel 9 Pro XL review, I point out the way it’s nonetheless the AI telephone to beat with its new generative options and intuitive picture modifying instruments.
Apple’s clearly not trying to sit quietly, so the iPhone 16 Professional Max is anticipated to increase its lead in our best camera phones checklist. Given how our Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max photo shootout turned out not way back, this is perhaps yet one more simple victory for Apple. The iPhone 16 Professional Max is armed with a 48MP predominant shooter, 48MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto with 5x zoom, and a 12MP selfie digital camera.
Quickly after Apple’s ‘Glowtime’ event this month in Cupertino, I introduced alongside each telephones to close by Half Moon Bay to shoot some pictures with them — then proceeded to view what I captured on a monitor in a while for a correct side-by-side comparability.
iPhone 16 Professional Max vs. Google Pixel 9 Professional XL: Daytime
Beginning off by the seashore, the iPhone’s predominant digital camera does a significantly better job at capturing the scene — however I’ll say that the Pixel 9 Professional XL does a superb job as properly.
Each handle to seize the textures of the Adirondack chairs within the foreground, however the iPhone 16 Professional Max’s picture will get extra of my consideration resulting from its hotter coloration temperature and brighter publicity. The Pixel 9 Professional XL is a smidge below uncovered and the colours are oversaturated.
Winner: iPhone 16 Professional Max
iPhone 16 Professional Max vs. Google Pixel 9 Professional XL: Dynamic vary
For his or her dynamic vary efficiency, I pointed the 2 digital camera telephones towards the beer faucets on the bar due to the sturdy gentle supply coming from the skin.
The very first thing I discover is that the Pixel 9 Professional XL has a stronger distinction, nevertheless it doesn’t tone down the highlights in addition to the iPhone 16 Professional Max as a result of the intense areas outdoors are overblown. In the meantime, the iPhone manages to stability out the publicity between the shadows and highlights higher.
Winner: iPhone 16 Professional Max
iPhone 16 Professional Max vs. Google Pixel 9 Professional XL: Colours
This mosaic in downtown Half Moon Bay has a ton of coloration, and once I look rapidly, the iPhone and Pixel pictures look equivalent to me. However once I zoom into completely different components of the picture, just like the orange pumpkin within the decrease backside, the iPhone’s brighter publicity offers it the additional pop that will get my consideration.
Despite the fact that it’s not as obvious right here, I discover that the Pixel 9 Professional XL tends to provide the extra saturated trying colours between the 2.
Winner: iPhone 16 Professional Max
iPhone 16 Professional Max vs. Google Pixel 9 Professional XL: Ultrawide
I do know it is perhaps exhausting to see it right here, however the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s ultrawide digital camera has the broader 123-degree subject of view — so that you’ll get extra of the shot in body in comparison with the iPhone’s 120-degree FOV.
For this pattern, I just like the Pixel’s shot extra, partly for a way the colours pop and its stronger distinction. Each ultrawide cameras seize a number of element with the stained glass home windows, however the iPhone is a tad softer with the small print. Simply have a look at the sides of the window body and the siding of the church.
Winner: Pixel 9 Professional XL
iPhone 16 Professional Max vs. Google Pixel 9 Professional XL: Macro
These macro pictures of this flower are dramatic. I can’t imagine how shut I’m capable of get to it with their respective macro modes, however the iPhone 16 Professional Max pulls off the higher seize. I’m astounded by the quantity of element, together with the entire pollen across the petals and even the hidden spiker proper smack within the center.
The Pixel 9 Professional XL additionally catches an outstanding shot that’s wealthy intimately, nevertheless it doesn’t obtain the identical degree of definition — plus it’s actually heavy with the colour saturation.
Winner: iPhone 16 Professional Max
iPhone 16 Professional Max vs. Google Pixel 9 Professional XL: Selfie
The Pixel 9 Professional XL’s meatier 42MP selfie is the clear winner in these selfie pictures I captured of myself. Not solely does this new autofocus digital camera have a wider 103-degree subject of view that lets me fill out the scene extra, nevertheless it captures sharper particulars round my face — like my hairline and sure, my wrinkles. The iPhone 16 Professional Max’s 12MP selfie cam isn’t too shabby both, however the Pixel wins this spherical.
Winner: Pixel 9 Professional XL
iPhone 16 Professional Max vs. Google Pixel 9 Professional XL: Portrait
One factor to notice about taking portrait pictures with the Pixel 9 Professional XL is that the minimal zoom is 1.5x, whereas the iPhone 16 Professional Max can shoot them at 1x zoom. Each telephones handle to seize my colleague Kate with loads of crisp particulars, together with the Apple Watch Series 10 on her wrist.
However once I look across the edges of her face, I like how the iPhone casts that smooth blur across the edges — whereas the Pixel doesn’t have as a lot consistency, like how some components of the sides are in focus and others usually are not.
Winner: iPhone 16 Professional Max
iPhone 16 Professional Max vs. Google Pixel 9 Professional XL: Zoom
In true flagship kind, each the iPhone 16 Professional Max and Pixel 9 Professional XL characteristic devoted telephoto cameras with 5x optical zooms. You’ll be capable to get nearer to faraway objects than their predominant cameras with out dropping a lot element, however these pictures I captured at 5x zoom are robust.
They each handle to match one another by way of element and readability, just like the textures of the enormous eye and the letters round it. However this one comes right down to how the iPhone 16 Professional Max brightens the shadows extra, just like the a part of the tree within the decrease left nook.
Winner: iPhone 16 Professional Max
iPhone 16 Professional Max vs. Google Pixel 9 Professional XL: Panorama
I actually love how these panoramas turned out. Most significantly, they handle to have a constant publicity all through the shot — plus they comprise a ton of element. There are the ripples within the far background overlooking Half Moon Bay Seashore, in addition to the license plates of the vehicles on the left. The largest distinction for me, nonetheless, is how the iPhone 16 Professional Max’s shot seems brighter and extra vivid.
Winner: iPhone 16 Professional Max
iPhone 16 Professional Max vs. Google Pixel 9 Professional XL: Low gentle
For the reason that bar at Half Moon Bay brewery was already darkish, I attempted out the evening modes of every digital camera telephone on my lonely beer. Outcomes had been principally the identical, however the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s tendency for saturating the colours is pronounced right here once more — and there’s this odd inexperienced tint to the reflecting space within the again.
Switching it up, check out these pictures from my yard. The world across the tree and closed off patio are nearly pitch black, with my neighbor’s flood gentle within the far background being the strongest supply of sunshine. The iPhone’s shot is superior not just for its brighter image and vibrant colours, but additionally for the quantity of element it captures with the tree and its branches.
Winner: iPhone 16 Professional Max
iPhone 16 Professional Max vs. Google Pixel 9 Professional XL: Verdict
(Picture credit score: Future)
There’s simply no stopping the iPhone 16 Professional Max. After cruising to the end line in opposition to the Galaxy S24 Extremely, it additionally simply pushed forward of the Pixel 9 Professional XL on this picture shootout.
Whereas the iPhone 16 Professional Max’s digital camera efficiency is the clear winner right here, I wouldn’t depend out the Pixel as a result of I nonetheless want the way it has a richer digital camera expertise. Which means it provides the guide controls I crave for pictures, together with the power to auto-track topics once I file video. There’s additionally all of the AI-assisted instruments that make it useful, like Magic Editor and Add Me.
Apple’s nonetheless getting its ft moist with Apple Intelligence, so it has an extended option to go earlier than it could possibly match the Pixel. However when it comes purely to digital camera efficiency, the iPhone 16 Professional Max can’t be beat.
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