Comparing top smartphones in photography is always exciting, and iPhone 16 Pro Max in this direction he again showed his strength. With a new one 24 mm main cameraimproved ultra wide-angle shots a 5x optical zoom maintains its reputation as one of the best devices on the market. We took a look at how the iPhone 16 Pro Max takes photos.
We must not forget that all the parameters are the same for iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. This time I pitted him against his greatest rival, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultrato see how they differ in real world of sharpness of details until after color contrast. The results showed that The iPhone excels especially in videowhile Galaxy offers powerful zoom capabilities. Well, which one is a better choice for everyday use? Let’s take a look at it.
Camera specifications
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra they are among the absolute best when it comes to smartphone cameras. iPhone offers 48 Mpx main sensor with wide-angle lens, 48 Mpx ultra-wide lens a 12 Mpx telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. It’s not missing either 12 Mpx front camera and possibility shooting 4K video at 120 frames per second. We also find here LiDAR scannerwhich helps to create portrait photos. What pleased me the most was the option to take 24 MPx JPG images and an automatic option later activating portrait mode.
Galaxy S24 Ultra on the other hand, it has 200 Mpx main sensor, 12 Mpx ultra-wide lens, 10 Mpx camera with 3x optical zoom a 50 Mpx telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. The front camera has 12 Mpx and can record video up to 8K resolution.
Not only hardware but also software is important
Although high number of megapixels may sound tempting the quality of the photos does not depend only on the hardware. Camera softwareas well as advanced features such as photography styles a tone mapping on the iPhone, they play key role. It is these tools that allow easy customization saturation whether contrast according to your preferences.
When choosing, it is not only about specifications, but also about how well smartphones handle everyday photography. Both models bring unique approachwhether through precise Galaxy detailsor natural iPhone colors. For photography lovers it is about very balanced competitionbut the final decision depends on your expectations and preferences.
Samsung S24 Ultra | iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
Chip: | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | A18 Pro |
Main camera | 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm | 48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm |
3x Telephoto | 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm | – |
5x Periscope telephoto | 50 MP, f/3.4, 111mm | 12 MP, f/2.8, 120mm |
Ultra wide | 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm | 48 MP, f/2.2, 13mm |
Lidar | TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) | |
Video | 8K@24/30fps,
4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
4K@24/25/30/60/100/120fps,
1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, 3D (spatial) video/audio, stereo sound rec. |
Selfie | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm |
!! for the best comparison, I recommend opening the original image in a new tab!!
How does the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max take pictures?
Main camera
200 MP vs 48 MP
Zoom
Macro
Portrait mode
Selfie
Photographic styles
Many professional photographers can “Photographic Styles” at first consider it as an ordinary set of presets, but after thorough testing I can say with confidence that they are much more sophisticated. These styles are not only extremely easy to usebut at the same time they uniquely adapt to different objects in the photo, whether it is about people, animals, sky or landscape.
During the apple presentation, I learned that five “undertone” styles is part of Apple’s effort to create better camera. The goal is to provide to all users option customize the look of your photos and at the same time maintain natural skin tones. This approach highlights Apple’s commitment to making their camera serve users of all types.
In recent years, iPhones have become so advanced that their photos can sometimes have an impact too processed. Photographic Styles however, they allow fine-tune the processing rate exactly according to your preferences, giving you more control over how your photos look.
What is particularly impressive is that you can choose the style before the photo shoot and even him edit laterwhich provides flexibility similar to ProRAWalthough with less creative control.
One of the biggest advantages Photographic Styles is theirs consistency. They almost always take pictures good or great and rarely degrade image quality, unlike traditional filters that often degrade the visual side.
When you first open Photographic Stylesthe default style is Standard. By scrolling to the left you discover five “undertone” stylesand shifting transport nine “mood” styles. This allows you to find a look that suits your aesthetic while maintaining the professional quality that iPhone cameras are known for.
Was I able to fool even the pros by editing in the original application?
Yes, he did. Of course, if we think of a few ironic answers, the result was clear. The reason was also that the photo was uploaded to Instagram Storieswhere the participants could not have it zoom inwhich was the purpose of this test.
Most ordinary people however, he shares his photos via social networkswhere the quality and resolution significantly will reduce. This is also why the iPhone can easily replace a modern camera in such cases.
But can the iPhone always replace a modern camera? Certainly not. The rule still appliesthat if we want the greatest quality and flexibility in editingno professional camera remains in first place.
LowLight
Final assessment
Although Galaxy S24 Ultra brings many interesting features, iPhone 16 Pro Max excels in universality and ease of use. Its software can perfectly process each shot without the need for major adjustments. If you are a photographer or simply a lover of high-quality images, the iPhone offers a comprehensive solution with exceptional results.
And will smartphones replace a quality camera? iPhone 16 Pro Max shows that it is possible – in many common situations. However professional cameras they still hold their place where they are needed manual settings a top optics.
I kind of miss the days when we discovered radical new hardware solutions for the iPhone every few years, but I guess that had to change one day. I think so professional photographers and filmmakers they’ll really appreciate the improvements of the last few years, but the average user might not even notice the difference.
The Apple team has once again moved forward in improving the work with the camera. New 48 MP Ultra-Wide senzor delivers stunning results, function Photographic Styles offers new tools for personalizing shots and Camera Control enables faster access to the camera and the photography itself.
It has been the most significant improvement over the past few years transition from Lightning to USB-C. High speed recording ProRes Log directly to the SSD was literally a game-changer, and we also enjoyed faster charging, new accessory options and other professional features.
- The best video mode among smartphones
- Great for photography and filming everyday life
- Wide dynamic range throughout the zoom range
- Accurate white balance and natural color rendering
- Excellent detail and texture
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Effective video stabilization
- Inconsistent details within zoom (2x – 5x)
- Only 12 MP resolution in 5x camera
- Unwanted glare
We thank Telekom for the loan of the iPhone 16 Pro Max for the test.
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Our tip
Source: www.mojandroid.sk