As a reminder, here are the raw imaging specs across the board for the rear-facing cameras:
| Lumia 950 XL (2015) | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020) | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (2021) | Redmi Note 9T (2021) |
|
Only one camera: Dedicated two-stage shutter button/launch key 20 MP (PureView oversampled to 8MP here) |
Three cameras: 12 MP, f/1.6, 1/1.9" (estimated), dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS |
Four cameras: 108 MP, f/1.8, 1/1.33", PDAF, Laser AF, OIS (all output at 12MP, regardless of scene or zoom) |
Only one (serious) camera: 48 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.0", PDAF plus |
The central battle then is between the top iPhone and the top Samsung, with the Lumia hanging in there by virtue of sheer image processing genius in the RGB oversampling. The Redmi is an interesting data point, showing what you can get in 2021 for a pittance (under £200 most days).
Notes:
- With there being four photos/crops for each test case, I can't use the interactive comparator, of course, so will go for four crops stacked for easy comparison. You'll get the idea. In each case, I'm looking for accurate and pure images even at the pixel level so that later work on a photo or even a simple crop won't result in a pixellated mess.
- As usual, all shots are handheld and on full 'auto', apart from allowing auto-night modes and apart from setting the iPhone 12 Pro Max to its 'ProRAW' shooting mode, which was one of the core points to this feature. As to why ProRAW, see here. It's effectively a way of setting one's phone camera to 'super high quality' all the time.
- Of particular note is that I don't test zoom factors over 3x here - I realise that this is disallowing one of the Galaxy S21 Ultra's cameras, doing it something of a disservice, but a) zoom factors of between 1x and 3x make up the vast majority of real world photos, and b) there's no equivalent on the other tested phone cameras, so it would be an artificial posing feature for the Samsung. Don't worry, if you really fancy the 'space zoom' features, then add on a truck load of points for this and grab the S21 Ultra, it's a cracking device in many ways. I'm just not testing the periscope zoom in this particular feature. See my previous article for this.
Test 1: Sunny landscape
Good lighting and a very icy scene - half this pond had frozen over! But with a central wooden point of focus and detail, and vegetation behind, it's a good test scene:
And here are 1:1 crops from (in this order, top to bottom) the Lumia 950 XL, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and the Redmi Note 9T, click any crop to download/open the full resolution photo if you want to do your own analysis:
All four photos are pretty good, as you'd expect in perfect lighting. But the Lumia wins for natural detail, just look at the shrubs at the rear of the pond, with its photo perhaps a little yellow-cast, as per usual. Golden hour all day every day with the Lumia! We're then into a descending scale of natural-ness with the iPhone (even in its ProRAW mode here) starting to approximate nature with artefacts, the S21 Ultra slightly more so, and then the Redmi's version of nature just being a mass of green and brown blobs.
Still, the central wooden feature (for ducks?) comes out well in terms of detail in all four photos and it's hard to complain too much.
Scores: Lumia 950 XL: 9 pts; iPhone 12 Pro Max: 9 pts; S21 Ultra: 8 pts; Redmi Note 9T: 8 pts
Test 2: Sunny landscape, zoomed
The exact same scene but zoomed to around 2x on the Lumia and Redmi (both without a telephoto lens), 2.5x on the iPhone 12 Pro Max, and 3x on the S2 Ultra.
Here are 1:1 crops from (in this order, top to bottom) the Lumia 950 XL, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and the Redmi Note 9T, click any crop to download/open the full resolution photo if you want to do your own analysis:
We can dismiss the Redmi's photo instantly - these modern Quad Bayer sensors are so crude in operation - there's no room for genuine 'PureView' zoom, sadly. So what you see here (bottom) is effectively a 12MP shot zoomed in software, i.e. lossy. The Lumia's not far behind, being 0.5x genuine lossless PureView zoom and an extra 0.5x lossy software zoom, and not very well done at that. Artefacts aplenty in each.
The other two shots are interesting. At first glance the S21 Ultra's shot looks crisper and clearer, but be careful - looking at the (in reality) very smooth ice shows a mass of artefacts - totally made up detail that's not there to the eye. The iPhone 12 Pro Max does'n't pull as much detail out of the wooden structure, but it also doesn't make things up - the ice is shown beautifully smooth (think ice rink). And so overall I'm giving it the win - the Samsung is trying too hard!
Scores: Lumia 950 XL: 7 pts; iPhone 12 Pro Max: 9 pts; S21 Ultra: 8 pts; Redmi Note 9T: 6 pts
Test 3: More ice, more detail
More ice from the frozen UK this week, this time shooting into the sun and with reeds poking up from the frozen water, rather artistically. A tricky scene to get right in terms of lighting and detail:
And here are 1:1 crops from (in this order, top to bottom) the Lumia 950 XL, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and the Redmi Note 9T, click any crop to download/open the full resolution photo if you want to do your own analysis:
The situation's much as in test 1, the detail and the realism, even at pixel level, in the Lumia 950 XL photo is extraordinary. By comparison, even the iPhone and Samsung shots look like photocopies. The Samsung also adds high contrast edges, somewhat artificially, while the Redmi does well on the image processing side of things, but the lower grade of its optics and the crudeness of that Quad Bayer sensor do rather ruin fine detail.
Scores: Lumia 950 XL: 9 pts; iPhone 12 Pro Max: 8 pts; S21 Ultra: 7 pts; Redmi Note 9T: 6 pts
Test 4: Easy, easy, signage
A typical 'snap' subject at around 2m, nothing too strenuous, and in overcast lighting:
And here are 1:1 crops from (in this order, top to bottom) the Lumia 950 XL, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and the Redmi Note 9T, click any crop to download/open the full resolution photo if you want to do your own analysis:
The sign itself is handled well by each, though somehow the S21 Ultra went all out so much for contrast that it managed to dull the white of the background. My main interest here was the brickwork and cement, with the Redmi overdoing the red colour and the Samsung edge enhancing the cement too much. Meanwhile, the Lumia and iPhone did a great job all round in representing reality.
Scores: Lumia 950 XL: 10 pts; iPhone 12 Pro Max: 10 pts; S21 Ultra: 9 pts; Redmi Note 9T: 8 pts
Test 5: Zoom test no. 2, perfect lighting
I couldn't resist another zoom test, a gentle 2-3x zoom in perfect sunny winter lighting. Here's the unzoomed scene:
And here are 1:1 crops from 2x-3x zoomed photos from (in this order, top to bottom) the Lumia 950 XL, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and the Redmi Note 9T, click any crop to download/open the full resolution photo if you want to do your own analysis:
Fascinating to see the differences here. From top to bottom, we have noise and artefacts creeping into the Lumia's part-lossy zoom; genuine telephoto detail with a refreshing lack of edge enhancement or artefacts from the iPhone - though, as some have pointed out, if we're being really, really picky, noise reduction is still present, so some surfaces are artificially 'clean'; hyper-enhancement and upscaling (10MP to 12MP) from the Samsung, resulting in noise and contrast which isn't there to the naked eye; and finally a rather cartoony digital zoom attempt from the Redmi, reminiscent of digital zoom in camera phones a decade ago.
Scores: Lumia 950 XL: 7 pts; iPhone 12 Pro Max: 10 pts; S21 Ultra: 9 pts; Redmi Note 9T: 6 pts
Test 6: Night challenge
A real test of light gathering at night (shot at about 30m) and also dynamic range, with bright detail within the shop window:
And here are 1:1 crops from (in this order, top to bottom) the Lumia 950 XL, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and the Redmi Note 9T, click any crop to download/open the full resolution photo if you want to do your own analysis:
In terms of stability, either through OIS or multiple frame-aligning, all four photos are impressive, despite handheld operation and a strong and freezing wind blowing me, there's no blur in sight. None of the test phone cameras managed to handle the intensity of the lights inside the shop, but that's understandable. The Redmi is clearly struggling in terms of processing, with the night mode producing thickened edges and heavy contrast - and mirrored by the S21 Ultra, which also goes to town on texture of brickwork and signage (see that on the door). While the Lumia does a fabulous and naural job, especially for a five year old phone, beaten only by the extra (and also natural) detail from the iPhone 12 Pro Max, here in its 'don't edge enhance or sharpen' ProRAW mode. Top notch.
Scores: Lumia 950 XL: 9 pts; iPhone 12 Pro Max: 10 pts; S21 Ultra: 7 pts; Redmi Note 9T: 6 pts
Test 7: Snowy HDR
With bright lights, dark detail and shooting into snow(!) Here are scaled images from (in this order, top to bottom) the Lumia 950 XL, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and the Redmi Note 9T, click any crop to download/open the full resolution photo if you want to do your own analysis:
Going for scaled versions this time, since the crops weren't that different, I'd rate these as: the Lumia struggles a little with glare from the lights and the snow is invisible to it because of the long exposure, while the iPhone and Samsung use multiple exposures, enabling them to pick up individual snow flakes and this adds a lot of atmosphere. Meanwhile, the Redmi both loses the snowflakes and makes the car a little too 'blue'. But I'm being picky, all four did pretty well here. If I had to pick a winner? The iPhone - the natural clarity impresses and this got close to reality, what my eyes saw.
Scores: Lumia 950 XL: 8 pts; iPhone 12 Pro Max: 10 pts; S21 Ultra: 9 pts; Redmi Note 9T: 7 pts
Test 8: Searing signs
With bright signs against a dark building, a test of low light HDR/dynamic range. Here are scaled images from (in this order, top to bottom) the Lumia 950 XL, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and the Redmi Note 9T, click any crop to download/open the full resolution photo if you want to do your own analysis:
The Lumia and Redmi struggle with the brightness of the main sign, but the HDR in low light from the iPhone and Samsung are impressive. As you might expect from modern flagship camera systems?
Scores: Lumia 950 XL: 8 pts; iPhone 12 Pro Max: 10 pts; S21 Ultra: 10 pts; Redmi Note 9T: 7 pts
Test 9: Portrait time
Time to test out portrait modes (or just 'plain' in the Lumia's case!) I tried to budget for a pretty super-model, but got over-ruled. So you get me. Wrinkles and all! In order to make the shot even harder to nail, I included a sunlit curtain backdrop. So this becomes portrait plus HDR, a difficult trick to pull off.
Here are scaled images from (in this order, top to bottom) the Lumia 950 XL, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and the Redmi Note 9T, click any crop to download/open the full resolution photo if you want to do your own analysis:
Distance varied slightly in taking these shots, since - obviously - I was relying on a family member to shoot what looked best on each phone's screen. The Lumia was the only one not to claim a portrait mode and produces a workman-like shot. Nothing special, but nothing too terrible. The iPhone 12 Pro Max's Portrait mode always goes for full-on Hollywood, and it does so here again. Better than reality? Possibly, it's a nice shot, even if a little soft focus on purpose! The S21 Ultra, as with other Samsung modes, goes for a lot more contrast but ends up as the most realistic of the shots here, i.e, not too beautified, I think. But it's all a bit subjective. The Redmi was the disappointment. Not sure what was happening on the phone screen, but I expected better in terms of framing and portrait 'effect', especially given the depth camera.
Scores: Lumia 950 XL: 7 pts; iPhone 12 Pro Max: 10 pts; S21 Ultra: 10 pts; Redmi Note 9T: 6 pts
Verdict
Adding up the scores gives us:
- iPhone 12 Pro Max (ProRAW): 86 pts (/90)
- Galaxy S21 Ultra: 77 pts
- Lumia 950 XL: 74 pts
- Redmi Note 9T: 60 pts
Before anyone complains in the comments, I should emphasise again that this is a level playing field, at least in terms of shooting modes. The iPhone 12 Pro Max shoots just as happily in ProRAW mode as in default mode and you can edit, reframe, and share the photos immediately - no extra work is needed. While the Lumia and Samsung's RAW modes are vanilla RAW dumps with no 'smarts' or HDR available, needing huge amounts of work to produce anything decent. In addition, the Samsung S21 Ultra can't even use its telephoto lenses in Pro mode, perhaps the closest to the iPhone's ProRAW in terms of ambition.
Of course, there's the ignoring of the 10x periscope zoom on the S21 Ultra - again, if you need this degree of zoom then go right ahead. But you won't use it for anything except wildlife in the real world - it's just too extreme.
So, looking at the scores for image quality, the iPhone 12 Pro Max in ProRAW mode is clearly out in front of the entire phone world by some margin. Everything's as close to photo perfection as it's possible, at the moment. It's why the phone has been my primary since release and I've never been happier with the camera phone in my pocket. It even does a lot of the old Lumia 1020 tricks.
The S21 Ultra, despite its update this week, still adds too much contrast, too much edge enhancement - no doubt Samsung will keep tweaking the algorithms, but I'm not holding my breath for drastic improvements here.
While the Lumia 950 XL holds its own in terms of a reliable snapper if you don't need zoom (or ultra-wide), with a touch of yellow every now and then. And the Xiaomi Redmit Note 9T brings up a slightly disappointing rear - I've never used a single phone camera with a Quad Bayer sensor that has performed to my expectations. And the Redmi fits right in with this, sadly.