Some notes:
- As usual, I've mainly stayed away from 'easy' shots in perfect conditions - I want to try and make these phone cameras really work, so I'm deliberately trying to make things hard. This shows up differences in output much more clearly.
- The Pixel 3's shots are at 12MP in 4:3 or 9MP shooting at 16:9. I'm using the 950 in its reduced/oversampled 8MP mode (it could rise to 16MP if absolutely needed), because I intend to make life very hard for these phone cameras in terms of lighting, and they'll need all the oversampling/combination processing they can muster to achieve detail and keep noise down. Plus I do use zoom on both phones at least once below.
- Zooming is under manual control on the Lumia 950, in that a 2x zoom is always half 'PureView' (smart cropping) and half digital interpolation. On the Pixel 3 the zoom is all digital, except that the multi-exposure system lets the camera amalgamate multiple shots with tiny differences in framing, in order to create a 'lossless' zoom. Within reason, though it works surprisingly well.
- All photos were taken handheld on full 'auto' on both phones, unless stated otherwise, and with the phones handheld. Mimicking real life users.
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: Sunny landscape
A gorgeous November day. Here is the overall scene:
In case you want to grab the original images to do your own analysis, here they are, from the Lumia 950 and Pixel 3, click the links to download. And to look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Both fine photos, but I'm going to give the win to the Lumia, as there's a little more genuine detail, thanks to the superior optics and lesser edge enhancement.
Microsoft Lumia 950: 10 pts; Google Pixel 3: 9 pts
Test 2: HDR scene
Both phone cameras have HDR facilities enabled when needed, so let's try an shooting a dramatic shot of a tower against a sunny sky. Here is the overall scene:
In case you want to grab the original images to do your own analysis, here they are, from the Lumia 950 and Pixel 3, click the links to download. And to look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
This is fascinating, as it sums up the differences in image processing between the two phone cameras. The Lumia tries to keep things natural, while the Pixel 3 lives up to the HDR+ name by exagerating shady detail to the point where it doesn't look real anymore. However, I'm going to award equal points, since you could argue either way as to which is preferable - most casual users would pick the Pixel 3 shot as their favourite (aided by a bluer sky) while I'd pick the Lumia one as more accurate to reality.
Microsoft Lumia 950: 9 pts; Google Pixel 3: 9 pts
Test 3: Extreme HDR
Let's try an extreme HDR photo, shooting straight into the sun. Here is the overall scene:
In case you want to grab the original images to do your own analysis, here they are, from the Lumia 950 and Pixel 3, click the links to download. And to look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Again the extra processing in the Pixel 3 shot kind of ruins the image down at the pixel (pun intended) level, with the grass on the edge of sharpening ruin in the Lumia shot but out of control in the Pixel's JPG. Don't get me wrong, both overall photos are stunning, especially considering what I was asking of the phone cameras, but the Lumia again gets a slight win for extra purity.
Microsoft Lumia 950: 10 pts; Google Pixel 3: 9 pts
Test 4: Zoom time
Both phone cameras improvise some zoom, as described above. So, in perfect light, here's a zoom into a bank of trees. Here is the overall unzoomed scene:
In case you want to grab the original zoomed images to do your own analysis, here they are, from the Lumia 950 and Pixel 3, click the links to download. And to look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Note that the Pixel 3's image is zoomed in further. There's no UI control for any exactness, so both zooms were guesses on-screen in both cases. Both photos have degraded IQ (Image Quality) though, as you might expect, with obvious artefacts and uncertainty. More so on the Lumia side - it's not great at zoom! Now, the Pixel 3 has, in theory, 'Super Res Zoom', and it did slightly better above, picking up two more point from me. Plus, in fairness, Google is still actively working on the Pixel 3 Camera software, so I do think their new zoom system will get even better.
Microsoft Lumia 950: 6 pts; Google Pixel 3: 8 pts
Test 5: Indoors, gloom
A typical indoor shot with light only from a couple of windows - the church interior does offer lots of detail though. Here is the overall scene, looking a lot lighter here than it did to my eyes(!):
In case you want to grab the original images to do your own analysis, here they are, from the Lumia 950 and Pixel 3, click the links to download. And to look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Another tricky shot to score - both camera phones do incredibly well in MUCH darker conditions than their photos make out. The Pixel 3 manages dramatic detail even when it's more subtle in real life, while the Lumia strikes a good middle ground, achieving a pleasant and natural result with a crisp long exposure, though missing out on some finer detail in the process. For example, look at the yellow/white rose in the middle of the flower arrangement - the Pixel 3 shot shows all its petals.
Oh, I give up, a score draw!
Microsoft Lumia 950: 9 pts; Google Pixel 3: 9 pts
Test 6: Night time
You know the drill. Handheld, with a floodlit church to capture and process. Here is the overall scene, and note the unlit tower behind - will either phone camera be able to get much detail from that?:
In case you want to grab the original images to do your own analysis, here they are, from the Lumia 950 and Pixel 3, click the links to download. And to look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Astonishing results from the Lumia 950 here, producing oversampled purity in the grand PureView tradition. The Pixel 3 result is still excellent, though there's more noise and obvious processing. Both phones deserve a medal to get this shot handheld (in the freezing cold - the things I do for AAWP!), but the Lumia has to take it by a nose.
Microsoft Lumia 950: 10 pts; Google Pixel 3: 9 pts
Test 7: Night text
Looking at another night time shot in very low light, this time with some text to read (on the signs) - a great test of resolved detail and low light handling:
In case you want to grab the original images to do your own analysis, here they are, from the Lumia 950 and Pixel 3, click the links to download. And to look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
The Lumia produces another clear low light shot but, despie the obvious contrast enhancement from the HDR+ process, the Pixel 3 wins this shot - look at the greenery by the door, look even at the reflection the greenery in the door glass panel! Very impressive from the new Android device.
Microsoft Lumia 950: 8 pts; Google Pixel 3: 10 pts
Test 8: Party time!
My standard indoor, moving people mock-up shot, e.g. at a party and with me here 'dancing' (yeah, yeah, I know) in front of the two phone cameras:
In case you want to grab the original images to do your own analysis, here they are, from the Lumia 950 and Pixel 3, click the links to download. And to look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Neither phone camera could get this shot - unsurprisingly. (Anyone up for a Lumia 1020 - Pixel 3 shootout?!) LED flash just doesn't cut it indoors when people are moving, however clever your software is. Of the two attempts here (and each was the best of two attempts with each phone - I thought this fair enough), the Lumia grabs more light but the Pixel is crisper. So - yet again - a score draw. Just not a very high score!
Microsoft Lumia 950: 6 pts; Google Pixel 3: 6 pts
Verdict
Adding up the points gives us:
- Google Pixel 3: 69/80
- Lumia 950: 68/80
So a pretty close run thing, but this time (last year saw the Pixel 2 XL a little way behind) the Google Pixel (3) triumphs, albeit by only a single point. We've seen the multi-lens Galaxy S9+ and the iPhone Xs Max also win out against the 2015 classic 950/XL 'gold standard', but this is the first time that a single-camera-ed phone has won.
Given the use of stock Android (by definition) and the pretty good camera, I'd recommend both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 generations to Windows 10 Mobile users seeking a new home. And, with the '3' here, it's fair to say that imaging won't be a step down overall.
Comments? I'm sure some here have also tried the Pixel 3/XL cameras...