Although not shouting about 'AI' processing, the OnePlus 6 camera software clearly subscribes to the 'enhance everything as much as possible' method. The results of all this aren't as 'super real' as on the Honor 10 I looked at recently, but as I noted in my look at the Samsung Galaxy S9 camera - it's as if the photos produced by modern phones are taken in an ideal world where everything's colourful and bright and cheery - no place for natural greys and gloom!
Notes:
- The OnePlus 6 was set to 16MP at 4:3, the native resolution of the main camera. The Lumia 950 XL was used in its native 20MP 4:3 mode, i.e. no oversampling or other purifying of images, but maximum optical detail.
- All photos were taken handheld on full 'auto' on both phones, unless stated otherwise, and with the phones handheld. Mimicking real life users.
- Sorry for the lighting restrictions. No sun - blame the UK climate. No night shot, as this was only a one day test and logistics didn't allow it.
Let's pit the results against each other, using our Famed Interactive Comparator (FIC). All 1:1 crops are at 900x500 for comparison, but see the links for full versions.
| Note that the interactive comparator below uses javascript and does need to load each pair of images. Please be patient while this page loads, if you see a pair of images above each other than you've either not waited long enough or your browser isn't capable enough! You ideally need a powerful, large-screened tablet or a proper laptop or desktop. This comparator may not work in some browsers. Sorry about that. On Windows 10 Mobile, use the 'AAWP Universal' UWP app, which handles the comparator very competently (see the tips in the app's help screens). |
Test 1: Lake side
Overcast conditions (sorry, no sun!), with a pretty lake view. Here is the scene:
In case you want to grab the original images to do your own analysis, here they are, from the Lumia 950 XL and OnePlus 6, click the links to download. And to look at the images in more detail, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, again use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
These photos are very close, surprisingly so. The 950 XL manages very slightly more detail and more 'solid' colours, so I'm giving it the edge, but to all intents and purposes, when viewed in full there really is no difference.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 10 pts; OnePlus 6: 9 pts
Test 2: HDR
Still overcast, but shooting the detailed side of this building against the bright grey sky. Here is the scene:
In case you want to grab the original images to do your own analysis, here they are, from the Lumia 950 XL and OnePlus 6, click the links to download. And to look at the images in more detail, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, again use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Again this is a tough call. The Lumia shot looks less processed (which it is) but on the other hand there's a very slight trademark 'yellow tint'. If you look at the stencilled names, there's more genuine detail in the 950 XL's rendition, but the OnePlus 6 is surprisingly close behind.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 9 pts; OnePlus 6: 8 pts
Test 3: Flower macro
I couldn't resist this lovely orange flower at the restaurant where I was having lunch. Here is the scene:
In case you want to grab the original images to do your own analysis, here they are, from the Lumia 950 XL and OnePlus 6, click the links to download. And to look at the images in more detail, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, again use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Both lovely photos, I can't split them. There's just the slightly more saturated orange on the OnePlus 6's version. I'd repeat, these are pretty tiny crops on 16/20MP images, so both cameras are doing well and the OnePlus 6 is doing very well to keep up with the Lumia 950 XL, in my opinion.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 10 pts; OnePlus 6: 10 pts
Test 4: Photo bombed!
Another lovely flower, deep in shade - and I got more than I bargained for, as there was a truly tiny little insect within the petals Neither phone nailed the focus on the insect, understandably, but it's still part of my test crops! Here is the scene:
In case you want to grab the original images to do your own analysis, here they are, from the Lumia 950 XL and OnePlus 6, click the links to download. And to look at the images in more detail, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, again use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
The Lumia's colours are more saturated, while the OnePlus 6 brings out more detail, despite the slightly lower resolution. Honours even overall? The different emphasis would make for a classic 'image processing seminar, perhaps? Ultimately, both cracking photos.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 9 pts; OnePlus 6: 9 pts
Test 5: Indoor assortment
An interesting display of objects, behind glass, presenting an extra challenge, but both phone cameras did well. Here is the scene:
In case you want to grab the original images to do your own analysis, here they are, from the Lumia 950 XL and OnePlus 6, click the links to download. And to look at the images in more detail, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, again use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
As the light levels drop, the quality of the Lumia's optics and OIS come into play - there's genuine extra detail in the 950 XL's image and less noise in areas of solid colour. It's the difference between 'excellent' and 'good', in this case.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 10 pts; OnePlus 6: 8 pts
Test 6: LED flash
In quite low light, in the shadows, I pose for a snap, with LED flash forced on in both phone cameras. Here is the scene:
To look at the images in more detail, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, again use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
At last a win - and another surprising one - for the OnePlus 6 camera - with its snap remarkably crisp. In fact, it's obviously over-sharpened and the edges look artificial, but it still managed to freeze a human subject in poor light better, thanks mainly to a 1/33s exposure rather than the Lumia's 'composite'/Dynamic Flash 1/16s shot. Or maybe the OnePlus just got lucky!!
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 7 pts; OnePlus 6: 9 pts
Verdict
Adding up the points gives us a relatively narrow win for the Windows phone:
- Lumia 950: 55/60
- OnePlus 6: 53/60
Even though it uses off the shelf components (inherited from OPPO and with Sony sensors), the typical 2018 f/1.7, OIS-equipped phone camera is now capable of getting within striking distance of the champion Lumia from late 2015. Which is interesting, to say the least, given how much expertise went into the Lumia 1020, 930 and 950 series. In terms of scoring, only the phone cameras with 2x telephoto lenses have topped the Lumia 950, but this new OnePlus 6 out performs its 'on paper' specification.
Again, not too shabby, though see the link below, since I note there that there are issues with its video capture at the moment.
Comments welcome.
PS. See also my overall comparison between the OnePlus 6 and the Windows-powered Alcatel IDOL 4 Pro.