OnePlus 12 ( leave behind ) and Google Pixel 8Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

TheOnePlus 12is every mo a worthy heir to the brilliantOnePlus 11 , and the tv camera is shaping up to be one of the brand ’s high-pitched specced yet . But what happen when it meets theGoogle Pixel 8 ?

The Pixel 8 is one of the best camera phones you’re able to get and is even cheaper than the OnePlus 12 , so if you desire to take a lot of picture , which one will answer you better ? We regain out in our comprehensive run .

Comparing the camera specs

The OnePlus 12 is the first smartphone to use Sony ’s LYT-808 50 - megapixel camera , which promises right performance and more detail in all ignition conditions , and the 1/1.4 - inch detector has optical image stabilization ( OIS ) and an f/1.6 aperture . The 64MP OmniVision OV54B periscope zoom is also a first for phones and provides a 3x optical soar and a 6x hybrid rapid growth , plus it also has OIS . lastly , there ’s a 48MP wide - angle television camera with a 114 - degree field of view .

OnePlus has supply a new HDR algorithm to the OnePlus 12 ’s camera software , and partner Hasselblad has tuned the Portrait Mode to let in two different simulated focal length — a 50 mm medium rapid growth at 2x and a 70 mm for close - up shot at 3x . The selfie camera has 32 megapixels and electronic image stabilisation .

On report , the Google Pixel 8 ’s camera is easy beaten by the OnePlus 12 , as it “ only ” has two cameras and no periscope television camera or optical zoom . A 12MP wide-cut - angle camera connect the 50MP main photographic camera , with a 10.5MP selfie television camera on the front . work behind the scenes is Google ’s always - excellent camera software , which should n’t be underestimated .

If you think the OnePlus 12 has the win in the bag already , do n’t be so speedy to approximate , as when we put thePixel 8 against the OnePlus 11 , Google ’s phone still managed to hail out on top . However , it was very close , so has OnePlus done enough with the sequel to take down the Pixel 8 this time ?

All the photos below were take in automatic mode , video was n’t included in the tryout , and epitome have been resize for loose on-line showing .

Main camera

There are some very interesting differences between the Pixel 8 and OnePlus 12 ’s master photographic camera , and it really does seem as if OnePlus and Hasselblad have found succeeder in wreak out a specific character and flair for its photos . The first photo is a simple one , taken on a very crisp winter good afternoon , and you’re able to see how the OnePlus 12 utilize color and counterpoint otherwise from the Pixel 8 .

The way the two cameras let out shot affects the counterweight , too , with the second image manifest how tones and shades change . The kindling in the doorway in the Pixel 8 ’s exposure await great but is overexpose in the OnePlus 12 ’s photo , pretend the astuteness of reflexion in the glass above it . The warmer tones of the OnePlus 12 ’s photo do make the scene more attractive than the colder , clinical Pixel 8 ’s picture .

you may see the OnePlus 12 ’s warm tones in the next photo too , but also how focal length differ equate to the Pixel 8 , with one favoring the pledge and the other the coffee tree cup . The Pixel 8 ’s good white balance is noticeable , as is its generally sharper focus and detail .

In the last photo , you preserve to see differences in tint , bloodless balance , and colouring material , but it also point where the OnePlus 12 can smooth images out compare to the Pixel 8 . There ’s more particular and grain from the Pixel 8 , and while I wish the lovingness of the OnePlus 12 ’s epitome , the fluency takes aside some of the realism .

It ’s a trend we ’re going to continue to see , and it stand for that although the OnePlus 12 ’s main television camera performs very well , it has some problems that need repair , while the Pixel 8 ’s camera is more rounded instantly .

Winner : Google Pixel 8

Wide-angle photos

Our first wide - slant photo continues the have-to doe with style where the OnePlus 12 has a disposition to smooth things out quite a lot , losing detail in the process . The telephone booth is old and weathered , which usher in the Pixel 8 ’s photo , but is far less evident in the OnePlus 12 ’s . The lack of item and overweening smoothing is evident in the background , too , plus the red color is more orange than in the Pixel 8 ’s picture .

It ’s not always quite so obvious , but the suavity is usually there in the OnePlus 12 ’s all-embracing - slant photos . In this full scene , the wooden bridge and the grass banking company around the lake are far less delineate in the OnePlus 12 ’s photo , for representative . The Pixel 8 ’s tone and brightness make it a happy , more invite conniption than the low - contrast , shadowy OnePlus 12 photo .

Our last wide - angle photo usher how these aspects together make the OnePlus 12 ’s across-the-board - angle photos less visually appealing than the Pixel 8 ’s . The high contrast colors and item - obscure shadows smash the OnePlus 12 ’s photo , and it bet completely dissimilar from the Pixel 8 ’s brighter , well - equilibrize shot . The shot in veridical life was closer to the Pixel 8 ’s image , too .

Lowlight photos

Given what you ’ve come across from the camera already , the first pic in our lowlight examination will be a surprisal . Shooting into the localise sun , the OnePlus 12 become the unmanageable condition into an attractive , realistic photo , while the Pixel 8 scramble to make the good of the environment . It seems the Sony LYT-808 ’s lowlight title are accurate .

The drift continue when it sustain very non-white , with the OnePlus 12 balancing the external darkness and the shop lights very effectively and showing less noise in the vehicles and road surfaces , too . It ’s not perfect , with boundary sweetening clean on the roofline , but you’re able to also spot standardised publication with the Pixel 8 ’s photo .

Both struggle when it ’s very dark , as the picture of the streetlight shows . The OnePlus 12 exposes the sparkle well than the Pixel 8 , but the surroundings are less detailed and muddier . But it has brought out more color than the Pixel 8 . Surprisingly , the OnePlus 12 usually produces a more balanced , better exposed , and more detailed lowlight exposure than the Pixel 8 .

Winner : OnePlus 12

Zoom modes

Before we get going , just a quick musical note : The Pixel 8 ’s zoom photos look differently cast than the OnePlus 12 ’s , despite both sharing the same rapid climb levels in the app . permit ’s go with the 2x zoom , which is the only shortcut in the Pixel 8 ’s camera app . It ’s much better than the OnePlus 12 ’s 2x mode , which is also an selection in the app , showing more detail and more accurate color every time .

Moving on to the 3x zoom , this is where the OnePlus 12 should glow , as it ’s the only truly optical rapid growth mode among the pair . However , it ’s slightly disappointing . The photo of the tire express it can pull in the point , but it also shows quite a lot of smoothing once again , and the grain that exists in the Pixel 8 ’s photo is lost .

The second 3x zoom pic of the threshold designate the OnePlus 12 ’s warmth once again , but there is very little departure between the lucidness of the text between the two . The stairs behind the spyglass are sharper than in the Pixel 8 ’s photo , though , but look carefully at the metal pane on the door itself , and you may see more smoothing in the OnePlus 12 ’s image .

What about 6x zoom ? The OnePlus 12 ’s camera app has a crosscut to this rapid climb style , while the Pixel 8 has to be manually typeset to match it . The OnePlus 12 ’s 6x zoom is a loan-blend , but it has instill a mountain , and this picture show why . See the amount of detail in the Lego hand on the brick and the lovely natural bokeh in the shot too . The Pixel 8 ca n’t get close .

All this has made the rapid climb section quite unmanageable to judge . At 2x , the Pixel 8 is superior , and at 6x , the OnePlus 12 is superior . But neither is leading at 3x , which is where the OnePlus 12 should really pull ahead . I am using the OnePlus 12 forwards of launching ( with the final computer software variation available to me installed ) , so this may meliorate with an update in the future . For now , however , it ’s going to be a tie .

Winner : Draw

Selfie camera

The OnePlus 12 ’s selfie camera has a much wider field of view than the Pixel 8 by default and chip in a much stronger bokeh effect , too . There are considerable differences in texture , cutis flavour , and color , with the Pixel 8 taking a far more naturalistic and born photo than the OnePlus 12 . However , despite ( or because of ? ) the smoothing , I prefer the wider OnePlus 12 picture , but I appreciate it ’s not technically ranking .

The Pixel 8 wins, but only just

The Pixel 8 has taken one more category profits than the OnePlus 12 , meaning it is our overall winner , but the duad have tied in two categories , showing the test has been a faithful runnel thing . It ’s also interesting the OnePlus 12 has beat the Pixel 8 in lowlight picture taking , a category most would expect the Pixel 8 to win . It seems the unexampled Sony tv camera ’s lowlight performance claims are accurate .

It ’s unfortunate the extensive - slant tv camera is a dashing hopes on the OnePlus 12 , as the main photographic camera can take some fantabulous photos ; plus , there are some unclouded issues with the zoom camera that need fixing . The smoothing noticeable in many photos has cost the OnePlus 12 dearly in this test . I ’ve been testing the phone beforehand of launch , and it would n’t be the first time OnePlus has improve the camera through software updates after it was give up .

For now , the Pixel 8 is still the recommended leverage if you want a great all - around camera phone without expend too much money , but the OnePlus 12 has a lot of strengths , and it ’s also obvious there ’s plenty of potential difference , too . It ’s one to catch , but the Pixel 8 is really the one to buy today .