Camera comparison: Pixel 4 vs Galaxy S10 vs iPhone 11 Pro

In this three-way camera match, we have the highly anticipated Google Pixel 4 against the Android world's top dog, the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Apple's current flagship, the iPhone 11 Pro.

Last year, thanks to Google's advanced image processing, the Pixel3 camera blew everyone away. But a year is a long time in a market that innovates at such a rapid pace. Have the competitors caught up?

We tested all three cameras to see their performance.

iPhone 11 Pro

Galaxy S10

Shooting with the sun behind you isn't always possible, and less-than-perfect lighting conditions put the dynamic range of your phone's camera under strain.

The photo taken with the iPhone 11 Pro has a lot of contrast, but the darker areas of the statue appear entirely black.

Quality is a bit better with the Pixel, but the image still looks darker overall.

The Galaxy S10 does much better, brightening up the whole scene without washing out the sky too much.

The Galaxy S10 takes this trick.

Pixel 4

iPhone 11 Pro

Galaxy S10

An interior scene with mixed lighting.

The Pixel4 impresses here. The photo is sharp with the AI ​​white balance setting a bit colder than it actually was. The result is brilliant with realistic colors.

The iPhone and Samsung seem warmer, with the iPhone slightly overdoing the saturation.

The Pixel4 is the pick of the three in this case.

Pixel 4

iPhone 11 Pro

Galaxy S10

The iPhone 11 and Galaxy S10 both have a "2x" button to launch into telephoto, but the Pixel 4 relies entirely on a "pinch-to-zoom" feature.

The Pixel 4's "Super Res Zoom" technology combines all the data recorded while you take the photo to create a sharper, magnified image.

In this photo taken with 2x zoom, the Pixel 4 photo is slightly sharper than the Galaxy S10.

The iPhone 11 struggles with a white balance that's too warm and too contrasty.

Pixel 4

iPhone 11 Pro

Galaxy S10

Artificial, subdued lighting and bright colors, too much depth of field mode in this case. Unusually for the Pixel 4, the white balance is incorrect, giving the image an overly yellow tint. Once you have done the automatic Google Photos adjustment. However, the result is much better but insufficient to compete with the vibrant colors of the iPhone 11.

Pixel 4

iPhone 11 Pro

Galaxy S10< /p>

Late afternoon light can be an interesting test for dynamic range. Here, the iPhone 11 comes out with warm, saturated colors while the Pixel 4 is a bit disappointing. The Galaxy S10 strikes the right balance with realistic colors.

The Galaxy S10 wins.

Pixel 4

iPhone 11 Pro

Galaxy S10

Green playground and blue sky. The Galaxy S10's efforts are slightly underexposed, but you get deeper blue skies. The iPhone is too shiny, which makes it look artificial, the Pixel 4, on the other hand, looks perfect. There is little difference in terms of overall quality. so this tour depends on your personal preferences.

Pixel4

iPhone 11 Pro

Galaxy S10

The maximum zoom puts the sophisticated Google software to the test. Unlike its competitors, the Pixel 4 collects data from multiple images, creating a cleaner image. While the iPhone 11 Pro falters, the Galaxy S10 fares better, but still falls short compared to the Pixel's smooth lines and lack of noise.

Thanks to its image processing software, the Pixel 4 wins the zoom comparison hands down.

Pixel 4

iPhone 11

Galaxy S10 p>

Another example of the differences in how the three devices handle color and shadows in well-lit scenes. You'll notice a sharper distinction between light and shadow on the iPhone 11, resulting in excessive contrast compared to the more realistic Pixel 4 and Galaxy S10.

Of the two, the Galaxy produces more vivid colors.

Not a clear winner here, but the iPhone is definitely the loser.

Pixel 4

iPhone 11 Pro

Galaxy S10 p>

One of the few instances where the Galaxy failed to impress, the image looks washed out compared to the rich colors of the Pixel 4. The iPhone 11 has warmer tones, but overall the colors are not as natural as in the Pixel.

Another win for the Google Pixel 4.

Pixel 4

iPhone 11 Pro

Galaxy S10

By now you must have realized that each of the three devices has a unique style. In this photo, the deep blue sky reflected in the pond makes the Galaxy S10 the one everyone would probably choose as their favorite. The Pixel 4 looks more natural, but I know which one I'd share on Instagram. The iPhone fails to brighten dark areas, making it the worst of the three.

Galaxy S10

iPhone 11 Pro

The same image but with the wide-angle. The iPhone doesn't do very well on dark fall mornings, and the Galaxy has an edge with its ability to brighten dark areas without washing out the rest of the image. The dark patch of grass in the lower right is too dark the iPhone while the Galaxy makes another highly shareable photo.

Surprisingly, you won't find a wide-angle option on the Pixel 4. Yes, one of the most useful and fun innovations in smartphone photography is missing from Google's latest, a major flaw if you want a camera for all the occasions.

Pixel 4

iPhone 11 Pro

Galaxy S10

iPhone 11 Pro

Galaxy S10

Another example of where the wide angle makes all the difference. Slightly warmer tones on the iPhone 11, better on the Samsung and Pixel 4. The level of detail is nearly identical on all three, but it's another winner for the Galaxy S10. When it comes to the wide-angle version, the iPhone fares the worst as the sunny masonry on the right loses all detail compared to the Galaxy S10.

Pixel 4

iPhone 11

Galaxy S10

A close-up with a depth of field effect on a busy background. Another nicely colored snap from the Samsung, but it's a tie overall.

A convincing victory for the iPhone 11 with the S10 close behind.

Pixel 4

iPhone 11 Pro

Galaxy S10

An extreme close-up in good lighting. This should be easy to get, but too many cameras struggle to get the focus right the first time. Vivid colors also expose the excessive saturation often found on phone cameras.

The Galaxy S10 is in focus but the colors are rather washed out. Compare it to the iPhone and its signature oversaturated reds are a bit of a stretch. The Pixel 4 is the best of the three with high contrast, true-to-life colors, and excellent focus choice.

Self Portrait Pixel 4

Galaxy S10 Self-Portrait

Self-Portrait iPhone11 Pro

Self Portrait 2 iPhone 11 Pro

Self Portrait 2 Galaxy S10

Good edge detection is what separates a decent selfie camera from a great selfie camera. In these portraits, all three devices handle hair almost perfectly, with the Galaxy S10 being the only one to reveal some imperfection. Skin tones are best on the iPhone, but the Pixel4 delivers a crisp image.

The iPhone 11Pro undercuts it when it comes to selfies.

Pixel 4 low light

Pixel 4 detailed low light

Detailed low light iPhone 11 Pro

Low light Galaxy S10

Galaxy S10 detailed low light

Pixel 4

iPhone 11 Pro

Galaxy S10

Night shots are where the three cameras differ the most. This is all down to the different way they handle dark conditions. The Galaxy S10 doesn't lighten the shadows as much as the other two, the result is overall darker but still crisp and realistic. The iPhone 11 is the brightest and captures the most detail in the darkest areas without adding noise. The Pixel 4 is almost as bright but the image stabilization doesn't match the iPhone's excellent result.

When detecting low light, the Pixel gives you the option to switch to night mode, the iPhone 11 instead makes that decision for you. The Galaxy S10 leaves this option entirely manual and many new users may miss it. Once activated, the result produced with the Galaxy S10 is realistic but does not come close to the vivid colors that the iPhone offers.

When it comes to night mode, the iPhone easily wins.

Verdict

Does the Pixel4 confirm Google's dominance in camera quality? Well, it's complicated.

Each of these three devices has a signature "look" which in most cases is a matter of personal preference. The iPhone 11 Pro will undoubtedly delight existing iPhone customers who will recognize marked improvements over its predecessors.

The iPhone trumps its two Android rivals for night mode performance and selfie photography, while the Galaxy S10 still seems up to snuff. the most realistic colors in a variety of situations.

If we separate the two Android devices, the versatility of Samsung's flagship makes it our pick over the Pixel 4.

The latest Google phone, however, is still an outstanding performer, looking sharp in almost any condition and excelling in low light, but the lack of a wide-angle option means the Samsung is the more complete package. . But if you're an iOS stalwart, you'll be pleased with the 11 Pro's upgrades.

Still not decided? Compare smartphone cameras of all brands and models, using our

phone comparison chart

.