We have another 3-way camera comparison, and the participants are the newly-released OnePlus 5T, the small-but-mighty Google Pixel 2, and possibly the last of its kind, Apple’s iPhone 8 Plus.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty differences, have a quick peek at the specs. Also, do note that all shots are taken at Full Auto to determine which does best in pure tap-and-shoot fashion.
SPECS | OnePlus 5T | Google Pixel 2 | Apple iPhone 8 Plus |
Rear Camera | Dual: 16 MP (f/1.7, 27mm, 1/2.8″, 1.12 µm, gyro EIS) + 20 MP (f/1.7, 27mm, 1/2.8″, 1 µm), phase detection autofocus, dual-LED flash
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12.2 MP (f/1.8, 27mm, 1/2.6″, 1.4 µm, Dual Pixel PDAF), OIS, phase detection & laser autofocus, dual-LED flash
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Dual: 12 MP (f/1.8, 28mm, OIS) + 12 MP (f/2.8, 57mm), phase detection autofocus, 2x optical zoom, quad-LED dual-tone flash
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Front Camera | 16 MP (f/2.0, 20mm, 1.0 µm), gyro EIS, Auto HDR
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8 MP (f/2.4, 27mm, 1/3.2″, 1.4 µm)
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7 MP (f/2.2, 32mm)
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Price (SRP) | PhP 25,990 | PhP 32,500 | PhP 48,500 |
Done? Alright, let’s get it on with the first shot!
It’s a hybrid shot with low-lit and amply-lit elements to see how their Auto modes adjust the values. As we’ll see here, the Pixel 2 generated the most noise out of the three with the OnePlus 5T and iPhone 8 Plus being above. Colors and exposure are spot-on for all three but the OnePlus 5T takes the cake for having the most balanced one despite the overly dark center. However, unlike the iPhone’s shot, the OnePlus 5T did introduce a few yellow mids as seen in the Pixel 2’s shot. Taking a look into the abyss, the iPhone 8 Plus captured it perfectly without introducing noticeable noise but with laudable detailing. The OnePlus 5T’s background has a bit of unexplainable haloing despite having discernible cloud lines.
Next is a close-up shot of one of the leaves in the same area. The Pixel 2 stood out really well with its colder tone and well-balanced dynamic range. Even the dried tip of the leaves can be made out compared to the OnePlus 5T’s and iPhone 8 Plus’s. The focus is also commendable on the Pixel 2 since the rest around the focal point is naturally blurred out, and the differences can be seen when put side-by-side with the OnePlus 5T and iPhone 8 Plus. Despite being colder, the greens that the Pixel 2 captured are even more vibrant than the warmer and lighter greens that the other two have.
The third is another lowlight shot, but this time, it’s a landscape shot. Unlike the first two shots, the Pixel 2 suffered here with immense noise that led to poor detailing. The OnePlus 5T did better than the Pixel 2 here in every aspect despite having the same temperature. However, I find the iPhone superior in this sample due to its more vibrant oranges and more detailed structures at the cost of lens flare.
Following up that nighttime landscape shot is a daytime one, featuring our favorite building. The OnePlus 5T and iPhone 8 Plus are on equal footing here in terms of details and colors. However, checking the Pixel 2’s result dispels all of the bad rap it got with the previous shot. Despite having darker colors, they are more vibrant without sacrificing detail.
And with the same framing but this time with HDR on, the differences are not that much on the Pixel 2 compared to the OnePlus 5T’s changes. Not only was contrast boosted up really high, buildings got more lighting out of the scene, even the background ones.
Next is a closeup of one of my IEM’s, the TFZ Series 2. This wasn’t shot in Portrait Mode or anything, so the blurs are natural. Again, I find the focus best on the Pixel 2 with the most details too. What it didn’t capture well was the wine red coloring of the in-ears that the OnePlus 5T was able to capture well. However, even with the higher exposure on the OnePlus 5T’s it washed out some of the details that the S2’s have.
And finally, before we get to the selfies, here is a flat lay that was not expertly-arranged unlike most. The first thing to notice – the color of the OPPO F5 on the iPhone 8 Plus’s take. This actually goes for the Vivo V7 too since they are of the same shade of gold. The little boost that the reds have over the Pixel 2’s and OnePlus 5T’s surely livened up a significant part of the flat lay. And talking about the Pixel 2’s take, the raised browns definitely made the brown mat more eye-catching than that the other two.
So, selfies – one of two is a daylight selfie with enhancements left on auto. With this, the iPhone’s unfiltered shot reigns supreme in terms of details and also has the most accurate skin tone. The OnePlus 5T and Pixel 2 has beautified shots without losing important details. On the OnePlus 5T, the skin tone became whiter at the cost of having less contrast in the shot, resulting in detail loss. The Pixel 2 towers over the two again in this round for having the best balance in beauty and naturalism including colors.
The last photo sample is a low-light shot with just background lights being the source of lighting. For some reason, despite the inaccuracy, the Pixel 2’s shot is the most compelling out of the three with its cold tones and outstanding details. The OnePlus 5T’s shot is over-softened with poor exposure compensation. The iPhone 8 Plus did similar in that regard but with fewer details compared to the Pixel 2.
Lastly, video recording. If I have to choose one of the three for such a task, it would be the iPhone 8 Plus. Details, exposure, dynamic range, and stabilization are optimized really well for the most professional-looking mobile capture. The OnePlus 5T and Pixel 2 did worse especially in low-light scenarios since on-the-fly adjustments are only done using variables. Motion blur is practically non-existent in the iPhone 8 Plus’s shot, and with the capability to go for 4K60, this phone just begs for more.
Verdict time. So, let’s talk price first. The OnePlus 5T is almost half the price of an iPhone 8 Plus with reputable camera results as seen in the OnePlus 5 with less optimization. The Pixel 2 follows with its $649 tag, and for such a small phone to possess such camera quality really gets me excited for what will come in the following years. If you’re a videographer, I believe the iPhone 8 Plus gets it done in the best way possible with flexible formatting.
As always, this has been Caesar of ManilaShaker, and Merry Christmas, everyone!
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