Lumia 950 XL and iPhone 12 Pro Max cameras
Let's start with a few specs:
| Lumia 950 XL (2015) | iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020) |
|
Dedicated two-stage shutter button/launch key 20 MP (oversampled to 8MP here), f/1.9, 1/2.4", PDAF, OIS |
12 MP, f/1.6, 1/1.9" (estimated), dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS |
It's clear that the Lumia is outgunned, but as usual the PureView oversampling and (relatively) natural image processing should keep it competitive.
Notes:
- I've shot at 8MP on the Lumia 950 XL (leaving headroom for some lossless 'PureView' zoom into the sensor and also getting the advantages of oversampling and noise reduction).
- All photos were taken on full auto and handheld, as a regular user would do. No tripods or RAW editing sessions needed!
Let's pit the results against each other, using our Famed Interactive Comparator (FIC). All 1:1 crops are at 900x500 for comparison, though I've put up the originals on my own server, for you to download if you want to do your own analysis.
| 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 nature
The downfall of most phone camera systems - capturing the infinite detail in nature. Here with a tree in the sun dangling over water. Here is the overall scene:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 XL and iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the iPhone 12 Pro Max, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
You know what's coming here, of course. As ever, the Lumia's naturalistic image processing gets a win here, while there's just a touch too much edge enhancement and general sharpening going on in the iPhone image. Apple definitely decided to dial up the 'pop' factor when viewing on the phone screen. Which is a shame, though I understand the reasons behind the decision for the mainstream.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 10 pts; Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020): 9 pts
Test 2: Lake scene again, zoomed
The same scene but this time using roughly 2x zoom on the Lumia (part PureView) and the 2.5x telephoto on the iPhone. You can grab the original zoomed photos from the Lumia 950 XL and iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the iPhone 12 Pro Max, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
With the Lumia straying into digital zoom territory, its image has strayed (at the pixel level) into a blocky mess. Unsurprisingly. While the slightly over processed iPhone image gets the win still because it's based on the 2.5x telephoto lens - this has a small aperture but is fine in good light, as here.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 7 pts; Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020): 9 pts
Test 3: Overcast structure
Buildings are often handled well by phones that like to enhance and sharpen, so I'd expect the iPhone to do well here. Here is the overall scene, taken in light rain(!):
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 XL and iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the iPhone 12 Pro Max, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
I'm calling this one a draw - I prefer the Lumia 950 XL's natural image, even at the pixel level, while it has yellowed the stone a little. The iPhone 12 Pro Max lightens the scene as much as possible, given the lighting, but on the other hand the stonework looks just a little artificial.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 9 pts; Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020): 9 pts
Test 4: Portrait time
A rightfully modern trend is being able to shoot arty portrait shots - the Lumia can't really compete in the software effect stakes, but I needed to test this anyway.
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 XL and iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020), for your own analysis.
Here are scaled versions, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the iPhone 12 Pro Max, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
We veer into the realms of the subjective here, of course. The iPhone 12 Pro Max nails the arty effect, as it usually does, with telephoto and main sensors combining, adding an extra dose of face brightening (the sun was behind me) into the equation for a very pleasing portrait. Having said that, the Lumia's shot seems more 'real'. So it depends on whether you want to capture reality or create something pro-arty! I'm giving this one to the iPhone because it accomplished the aim of the photo but my skin is too pink - the Lumia shows what I really looked like on a bleakly sunny November day!
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 8 pts; Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020): 9 pts
Test 5: Bright indoor
A winter ski scene at a UK garden centre. And a good subject for a test in 'intermediate' light. Here is the overall scene:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 XL and iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the iPhone 12 Pro Max, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
The iPhone 12 Pro Max makes a bit of a mess of this shot, at least if you look closely. The signage is over-sharpened to the point of ugliness, the colours are too dark across the board, plus there's just too much contrast on everything. The Lumia 950 XL gets the win here by nailing colours and contrast, plus its usual very restrained sharpening. A stunning PureView shot/example.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 10 pts; Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020): 8 pts
Test 6: Bright indoor, zoomed
The same model scene, but this time zoomed by 2x/2.5x. You can grab the original zoomed photos from the Lumia 950 XL and iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the iPhone 12 Pro Max, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Although the colours are still too dark and contrasty, the iPhone 12 Pro Max wins this zoom test by virtue of its 2.5x telephoto lens, of course, with miles more detail. (It's worth noting that in low light the iPhone doesn't use the telephoto for zoom, instead switching back to the main lens and larger sensor/aperture.) The Lumia's part PureView zoom, part blocky digital zoom isn't terrible when the photo is viewed on-screen as a whole, but it's noisy and full of small artefacts.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 7 pts; Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020): 9 pts
Test 7: Indoor nature
OK, not quite real nature, but another model, of a wonderfully fluffy owl. Still under indoor lights at the garden centre. Here is the overall scene:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 XL and iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the iPhone 12 Pro Max, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
The Lumia's PureView oversampling (developed by Nokia back in 2007-2012) wins the day here, with wonderfully natural detail and accurate colours, while the iPhone strives so much for contrast and edges that the own's fur is cosmetically changed. Ditto the Christmas tree fir behind it. Nice try Apple, but in this case you're trying too hard.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 10 pts; Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020): 8 pts
Test 8: Low light detail
Under UK Covid-19 lockdown, this cafe was closed - but with the lights off it provided an excellent test scene under genuine low light conditions - it was a lot dimmer than the phone cameras make it seem below!! Here is the overall scene:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 XL and iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the iPhone 12 Pro Max, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
You only have to look at the colours and writing on the jars to see the mess that over-zealous enhancement can make. Again, the iPhone 12 image processing software is just trying way too hard. Back when ex-Nokian Ari Partinen was in charge of Apple's imaging section things were more natural. But now he's gone Apple seems to have fallen into the same trap as Samsung and others, adding contrast and edges everywhere. With ugly effect, to my eyes, at least. What do you think?
In contrast (pun intended!), the Lumia's natural photo could almost be what you'd see if you were 'there'. While the iPhone's shot looks like a colour photocopy of the Lumia's!
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 10 pts; Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020): 8 pts
Test 9: Very low light
With just a weak lamp on in a bedroom, here's a piece of still life - a nicely detailed toy van. Here is the overall scene, made to look (as usual) brighter than it was to my eyes:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 XL and iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the iPhone 12 Pro Max, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
I'm going to get pilloried for all these comments and scores, but... the five year old Lumia wins this shot as well, and by quite a margin. Not only did it get the green top of the van right, the shadow side of the van is rendered almost perfectly, in terms of colours and outlines. In contrast (again, that pun), the iPhone 12 Pro Max's image processing makes the green top too dark, most of the colours are gone from the illustrations, and the outlines are all too thick (too much edge enhancement).
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 10 pts; Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020): 8 pts
Test 10: Night time
Dead of night, with just a few weak street lamps. How will the phone cameras cope? Here is the overall scene:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 XL and iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the iPhone 12 Pro Max, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
This is tough to judge - the Lumia nails how the scene 'should' look, just brightening things with a longish single exposure, but at the expense of a little noise and a very slight blurriness creeping in, despite the OIS. The iPhone, as with most modern flagships, goes down the 'multiple exposures over a few seconds, auto-aligned' route and thus manages a much brighter image. But you could argue that the degree of sharpening causes quite a few ugly artefacts. As with many of the shots in this feature, I'd like something in between the two extremes! (Cue the Google Pixel 5, with which I was also shooting here, and maybe that can be a separate feature on allaboutmobile.com in the near future, watch this space!)
Overall the iPhone has to take the win, but not without the caveats above.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 8 pts; Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020): 9 pts
Verdict
For the record, the scores add up as:
- Lumia 950 XL (late 2015): 89 pts (/100)
- Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020): 86 pts
Which is... shocking. Last year, the iPhone 11 Pro (which I still have for testing) beat the Lumia convincingly, thanks to much more natural image processing. Something has changed in Apple's imaging division - my guess is that now that ex-Nokia PureView engineer Ari Partinen has gone, the new people in charge have followed the Samsung and Huawei herd down the 'pop' and 'wow' path. Colours have to be enhanced, edges have to be thickened, anything and everything to look good on the phone screen and damn the purity of the images themselves.
Try to crop in (as I do above) and do something with a smaller part of an iPhone 12 Pro Max image and you'll be met with ugliness. It's really not good, especially for a phone camera with such stellar imaging hardware. Can Apple do something about all this? Of course they can, in updates, if they have the will. If.
In the meantime, we have the absurd situation that in terms of image quality, a five year old, now obsolete Microsoft phone with a camera based on 2012 Nokia technology, is beating the very latest cutting edge, super-expensive iPhone. I'm honestly at a loss for words. I'll keep testing though and I'll keep watching for updates. Your comments welcome!
PS. Of course, the iPhone camera is many times faster than the Lumias, plus there's also the wide angle lens, not tested above. So it's not all bad news...
