Christine Romero - Chan / Digital Trends
Right beforeGoogle I / atomic number 8 2024 , Google showed off the latest Pixel twist , theGoogle Pixel 8a . This is the latest offer from the Pixel A - serial , which is a more budget - friendly Pixel for those who do n’t need all the Alexander Bell and whistles of the flagshipPixel 8or8 Pro .
The Pixel 8a features a young design with more rounded corners and a flatness - finish back . It pack Google ’s latest Si , the Tensor G3 , but the photographic camera computer hardware stay unchanged from its predecessor , the Pixel 7a .
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends
One of the matter I in person like about Pixel phones is the camera and the result photograph ; it ’s laborious to take a bad photo with a Pixel ! But my chief speech sound is myiPhone 15 Pro , and I was curious as to how Google ’s latest $ 500 headphone stacked up against Apple ’s $ 1,000 flagship . So , I did what any sensible person would do — an in - deepness camera comparison between the two .
Google Pixel 8a vs. iPhone 15 Pro: camera specs
Before we look at the exposure , we need to analyse the tv camera hardware . How does a $ 500 speech sound comparability to one that ’s $ 1,000 ?
With the Google Pixel 8a , we have a double tv camera apparatus on the rear : a 64 - megapixel main camera with an f/1.9 aperture and a 13MP ultrawide crystalline lens with a 120 - degree subject area of view ( FOV ) and an f/2.2 aperture . there ’s also a 13MP selfie photographic camera with an f/2.2 aperture on the front .
The iPhone 15 Pro has a triple rear tv camera system of rules : a 48MP master tv camera with an f/1.8 aperture and a 12MP ultrawide camera with a 120 - degree field of vista ( FOV ) and f/2.2 aperture , plus a 12MP telephotograph camera with up to 3x optical rapid growth . For selfies , we have a 12MP front face camera with an f/1.9 aperture .
Since the Pixel 8a does not have a telephotograph lense , we wo n’t be comparing whizz - in photos here , as it would n’t be comely . But everything elseisfair game , so have ’s get to it .
Google Pixel 8a vs. iPhone 15 Pro: main camera
For most hoi polloi , myself included , the main camera is likely the one you ’re going to use the most . After all , it defaults to the main camera when you give up the television camera app , and you typically just snap your photograph and carry on with your twenty-four hours . While the megapixels are important , there ’s more to it than just the turn .
permit ’s jump with this Pixar Fest 2024 video display on Main Street in Disneyland . Though both effigy are similar , the iPhone 15 Pro version seems to have more contrast , making some parts of the display , especially shadows , appear darker than they should be . The Pixel 8a image is brighter and more vibrant with the display ’s colour , but some details are softer , like the yellow prime upfront and certain characters , like theTurning Redtrio . Both exposure are beneficial , but the iPhone 15 Pro handles the smaller details just a fleck better .
It looks like the TARDIS fromDoctor Whohas land in Downtown Disney ! regrettably , I did not see any signboard of the Doctor other than his TARDIS . Both images here are very similar , but when you take a close look , the texture on the Sir Henry Joseph Wood ’s aerofoil is crisper and sharper in the iPhone 15 Pro version , whereas it appears easy in the Pixel 8a pic . But the Pixel 8a did a better job of background detail , such as the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree on the rightfield and the multitude in the ground , compared to the iPhone .
Here ’s a batch of yellowish foxglove in the planters on Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure Park . The iPhone 15 Pro version appears to have a warmer tone and is much more vivacious overall . It also has a much stronger bokeh force going on in the backdrop . With the Pixel 8a variation , you have a less marked background bokeh , and the plants come along darker , with more lush greens and more realistic colour . These are both serious icon , so it just fare down to which one you favor .
This is a photograph of the incredible Millennium Falcon lettuce sculpture in Disney ’s Grand Californian Hotel during the Season of the Force event . The iPhone 15 Pro version await incredible , with all of the small details crispy and light , from the rock organization in the back to the tiny parts line the side of the Millennium Falcon . On the other hired man , the Pixel 8a image did n’t do so well , as all of those fine detail appear softer and a bit more blurry than in the image snap by its iPhone counterpart .
I think this photo capture a bit of the beauty of know in Southern California . Palm tree diagram , blue sky , and a sunset in the length . The iPhone 15 Pro did a great job of capturing the bright blue sky with some cloud cover and the chickenhearted Lord’s Day in the distance . The palm trees and grass are very drab , so you ca n’t see a lot of detail due to the contrast , but that ’s the kind of look I go for when the stress is the sunset . On the Pixel 8a , the colors are a little more deadening in the sky and the sunlight peeking behind the clouds is emphatically louse up out . It does have less contrast so that you’re able to see the grass with the glow of the sundown , though .
There ’s a local Mungo Park in my town with this fun airplane simulation that my girl loves visiting , and it ’s fun to take picture of . Again , the iPhone has more contrast going on with a warm tone . The colors are more vivid and bright , and the o.k. details are crisper and sharp . you could even make out the individual details in the woodwind instrument cow dung and the texture on the wing of the plane . The Pixel 8a image looks a bit more dull and lifeless , and it has softer details compared to the iPhone trope .
Lastly , here ’s a shot of the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland . I like the overall vibrancy of the Pixel 8a prototype , but it also loses a turn of detail with the textures on the castle walls and even the steeples up top . The piddle fountain also looks a bit blurry and you ca n’t see make out the details on the rocks . The iPhone simulacrum appears sharp and has all of the finer detail , but the colouration are a little harsh than I ’d like .
succeeder : iPhone 15 professional
Google Pixel 8a vs. iPhone 15 Pro: ultrawide camera
The ultrawide lens on smartphones is great when you want to enamor more of a conniption than what you typically get with the main camera . But the job is that you usually have fewer megapixels than the main camera , which signify a loss of detail . Both the iPhone 15 Pro and Pixel 8a have similar ultrawide lenses , with just a 1MP difference between them .
One of my favored persuasion in Disney California Adventure is just looking out at the waterfront from Pixar Pier . Both the iPhone 15 Pro and Pixel 8a bring forth similar result . However , the iPhone image has a morsel more noise and food grain in the water , and it appear grim than the Pixel 8a ’s . In the Pixel 8a interpretation , you have bright colors and slightly more contingent , thanks to the 13MP lens alternatively of the 12MP of the iPhone . But the Pixel 8a did n’t manage the Lord’s Day too well , as it appears bungle out and has a seeable lens flare effect , which is n’t an issue in the iPhone persona .
The flowers have bloomed in the rose garden at the local commons , and it ’s one of my favorite things to see . In these ultrawide guess , both the Pixel 8a and iPhone 15 Pro do likewise . But I find like the Pixel 8a is a bit practiced in terms of coloring and detail , especially with the greenery on the right side of the first arch . The iPhone image is n’t bad , though , and it does show textures in the rock candy planter a bit better , but the difference is pretty negligible .
Winner : drawing card
Google Pixel 8a vs. iPhone 15 Pro: selfies and portraits
Though my most used television camera is the principal one , I also take a lot of selfies and portrait . Portraits are an especially easy way to give an superfluous professional touch to a photo of a person .
Here ’s a portrait of my husband , who is my No . 1 portraiture subject when I ’m examination photographic camera . Both images are similar , but the peel tone seems more accurate with the iPhone 15 Pro version . I also believe that the tree in the background knowledge has a better , more vibrant color that contrast nicely and allows his pilus to be more visible . His shirt is also a better colour in the iPhone image , whereas it expect a bit wash - out in the Pixel 8a version , and he appear more pale there , too .
My other great portrait matter is my daughter , who bang to have her photos shoot . Once again , the iPhone gets the pelt tone more accurately , as the Pixel 8a makes her search more pallid than she actually is . The iPhone captures the rose in her cheeks , which you do n’t really see in the Pixel 8a image . The Pixel 8a does have her more in focus , however , while the iPhone has softer edges around the hood of her jacket . But there ’s some distortion around the edge of her haircloth in the Pixel 8a simulacrum , while the iPhone has a softer bokeh force that seamlessly commingle in . Both images here have their strength and weakness .
No trip to Disney California Adventure is complete without a photo along the Pixar Pier waterfront . In the iPhone 15 Pro selfie , you have incisive details , specially with the scope scene — you may see the railing of the Incredicoaster loop clearer than in the Pixel 8a image . However , I feel like the Pixel 8a did a undecomposed job here with the reverberance in the colors , and it got my skin tone intimately . But the sky is a scrap lap - out . Again , pros and con for each image .
I took this selfie while at the parkland with my family . I prefer the iPhone photo here , as my skin timber is substantially represented . The Pixel 8a made me take care a minute flushed due to the sunlight hitting my facial expression . However , the Pixel 8a seemed to get the other colour more accurate , with the bright pastel spook in my shirt , as well as the background with the blue sky and light-green in the trees , count more naturalistic . The wood buffalo chip seem more true to life in terms of color with the iPhone picture , though .
This is a selfie of me in the rose garden at my local park . Both images are similar in handling my skin spirit and the color of my shirt . But for the background signal , the color of the Tree is a flake more vibrant in the iPhone image , whereas it is a tad darker in the Pixel 8a version . Overall , it ’s pretty close for this one .
Google Pixel 8a vs. iPhone 15 Pro: lowlight photos
Remember a point in time when smartphone television camera were just absolute crap at taking photos in dimly illumine environments or at nighttime ? Boy , have times changed . Our smartphones now are capable of involve some pretty good epitome in lowlight scenario thanks to night modes and larger detector that conquer more unaccented . Though I ’m scarce out late these day ( the joys of being older ) , Night Mode and Night Sight on iPhones and Pixels , severally , are super - handy to have .
The first paradigm here is of a tree in front of my house at around 9 p.m. It ’s grim out , and the only light source is the streetlight . It ’s somewhat clear that the iPhone 15 Pro did a good job here with Night Mode compared to Night Sight on the Pixel 8a . The details on the tree tree trunk and leaves are much more open and crisp . The Pixel 8a has much softer item , and you ca n’t even make out the Ralph Bunche of leave at the top like the iPhone can .
I managed to catch this beautiful sunset while steer back to the car after a long day at Disneyland with the family . This one I conceive is a matter of predilection . The iPhone 15 Pro did a better line of work at get the brightness of the orange glow and the sun itself , as the Pixel 8a has a softer hue and a scrap of a sensationalistic aura around the Lord’s Day . The direct contrast of everything else in the lot is also better in the iPhone variant since it ’s darker , whereas you’re able to see Minnie on the first lamppost augury . Both images are good , but I choose the iPhone one just for capture the colors best .
Lastly , this is an range of the top of a tree with the moon glint through the branches in the middle . The iPhone 15 Pro image is much more clear with the details of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree branches and leafage , and you could clearly see the moon in the eye as it ’s not blown out . The Pixel 8a has soft and befuddled details everywhere , and nothing is really clear . Even the moon does n’t really show up , as it ’s just a waste - out white stain in the midsection that does n’t even look like a circle . There ’s also a form of vignette matter going on with the Pixel 8a image , as the edges are sour than the rest of the image .
Google Pixel 8a vs. iPhone 15 Pro: verdict
The results here are n’t all that surprising . After all , we are comparing a flagship telephone with a midrange option . But still , Pixel twist are know for pick out pretty good picture , which is why we require to see how the Pixel 8a would compare to one of the most expensive iPhones you’re able to buy in 2024 .
We are n’t saying that the Pixel 8a is terrible — it ’s not ! For a $ 500 phone , it actually does take some pretty sound photos . It ’s just not quite as good as a phone that be twice as much . The Pixel 8a peculiarly struggles in terms of lowlight exposure , even with its Night Sight mode . I know that people like to criticise Apple ’s iPhones for their camera character , but as this test raise , the iPhone 15 Pro remain an incredible camera phone . It ’s also hard to denysome utile features like Auto Portrait mood .
If anything , this camera comparability is a right reminder that you’re able to get solid photographic camera experience at band of unlike Leontyne Price stove in 2024 . A $ 500 Pixel may not defeat a $ 1,000 iPhone , but it ’s also not a ended blowout — and that ’s jolly telling .
