Lab – Apple iPhone 14 Pro: Picture in front of Samsung but notch behind Google
It took seven years before Apple radically changed its tune. In fact, since the iPhone 6S and 6S PlusThe Cupertino company no longer changed the definition of its image sensors, which seemed irreversibly fixed at 12 megapixels. Then came the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max With a new main sensor of 48 mega pixels! “This is a revolution”surely.
As always in the world of Apple, the manufacturer of the sensor that equips the iPhone 14 Pro is still unknown. And it is not surprising that the company does not bother operating the very specific sensors found in modern smartphones.
From 48 to 12 megapixels in moments
So, by default, when you do this shoot With the main unit (24 mm f / 1.78 in 24 x 36 equivalent), the images captured will always be 12 MP, as the station resorts to the now known practice of pixel binning. With every shot, the device combines pixels to deliver an image that is decidedly less defined but, with a lot of software grub, will make it possible to get more successful low-light photos, and also less heavy for your gut. phone.
to me DigitalAnd, as you well know, every technological novelty piques our curiosity. Also, as soon as we were able to get hold of the new high-end smartphones from Apple, we tested them on our test benches.
Really a relevant increase in profile?
This analysis includes that Full HD RAW files. Yes, a little coquetry Made in Apple, to get to 48 mega pixels, you have to perform the photo capture process in its ProRaw format. We wanted to compare the shots from the main unit on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max with those of their more relevant competitors.
In a somewhat classic way, we doubled down on tests on our stage by focusing on each mobile’s main unit. We also used their default, parsing files from a file pixel binning During the day, in low light, with and without “night mode”. Let’s save the fight for high definitions for a later battle.
in a day
vs iPhone 13 Pro Max
By day, the similarities between the two Apple products are obvious. Despite the increase in definition, pixel merging, change in focal length or even contrast in aperture, it is difficult to distinguish iPhone 14 Pro Max from iPhone 13 Pro Max. However, if you look closely, you can see the differences here and there.
If colorimetry is close, managing subtle contrasts allows the iPhone 14 Pro Max to deliver a slightly more detailed shot. The situation is still weak, but the new baby presents a slightly richer picture than that of his older baby. However, the leap forward is not as straightforward as one might imagine with such a renovation.
vs Google Pixel 6
Google has become the expert in converting its photo software. The shots from the Pixel 6 are pretty rich, almost too much, but it brings out most of the details hidden in our scene. Note for example the lines of cards in the middle or bottom left.
On the contrary, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is more shy about managing subtle contrasts, but has better controlled chromaticity and is closer to reality. In fact, old Google 2021 smartphones tend to over-saturate colors that aren’t always what our eyes can really see.
vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Samsung takes the opposite view of US manufacturers. Despite having a more specific main sensor, the South Korean manufacturer opted for a softer treatment. It’s less flattering on a smartphone screen, but within the banknote frame in the center of the image, the S22 Ultra’s display is, in our view, more elegant, as it’s less compelling, if compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
However, this less advanced treatment is paid for as one moves away from the “hyper center” of the loop. Thus, the image presented by Samsung is less clear, almost more “smooth”, and is probably evidence that managing a 108 MP sensor is not always easy. Apple, by presenting a more uniform picture from start to finish, does a little better.
night
vs iPhone 13 Pro Max
Once the light is lowered considerably, we can see the contribution of the new sensor compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The fusion of pixels allows more light to be recovered and the shots produced by the 14 Pro Max are sharper and brighter.
The latest model has a clear advantage when night mode is deactivated, which is always exciting for photos on the go.
vs Google Pixel 6
The Google Pixel 6, even without the night mode, does everything to get close to a scene lit like daylight. The orange is less, the white is less bright and the subtle contrasts are less noticeable on Google, for an overall more successful shot in the center of the image.
However, Apple retains a slight advantage over the contour of the image.
vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
As we already noted while testing the S22 Ultra, except for the night mode, the images are hardly anything but flashy. The display is very poor, almost blurry, prompting the user to use the night mode only.
At the same time, the 14 Pro Max provides a smoother picture, more usable, and with more readable detail.
night mode
vs iPhone 13 Pro Max
If the night mode is deactivated, it is very easy to notice a real difference between the two Apple models, once this mode is activated, with a longer exposure time and calculating the images taken, the differences become more subtle. It is quite complicated to determine which version of the iPhone prevails over the other. In detail, the 13 Pro Max seems to do a little better, shame!
In addition, while the daytime colorimetry turned out to be quite similar, with the night mode, we note an unequal treatment of colors which, according to the author’s tastes, also tends in favor of the older of the two devices .
vs Google Pixel 6
Unsurprisingly, once in a night mode, Google’s Pixel 6 phone lived up to its reputation. If it weren’t for the slight underexposure, you’d think the photo was taken with our daylighting. Admittedly, our lit scene below 3 lux is much darker and the light more orange, but we were still amazed at the work of the software that Google runs to deliver a very clear and detailed shot.
iPhone 14 Pro Max is more affordable in this area. If there is a draw without the night mode, Apple still has to do to reach the level of its American competitor once the “night vision” of the latter is activated.
vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
As from the beginning of our article, the S22 Ultra offers a smoother picture, which does not necessarily bother us. But even with the night mode, many details are lost and the scene remains overly immersed in darkness.
With the iPhone, compared to the Samsung shot, it almost seems to have turned on the light because the scene is better exposed. Color processing is not the most accurate, but the image has become more pleasing and usable.
Marginal difference between two generations of Apple
After our various comparisons, this new version of the iPhone leaves us with some doubts. As with other manufacturers, and even if Apple took its time, we expected noticeably better images. Admittedly, there’s already an improvement at night compared to the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, but for the rest, in our lab, the differences are on the sidelines, and not always in the right direction.
“Incurable web evangelist. Hipster-friendly gamer. Award-winning entrepreneur. Falls down a lot.”