Hi guys, its MTG here, and today I'm going to be comparing the cameras found on the OnePlus
5T and the Google Pixel 2 XL.
The Pixel 2 XL is considered by many as the best smartphone camera out right now, so I
wanted to see how it compared head-to-head with the OnePlus 5T.
I took a lot of these pictures right after Boston's first snowfall, so expect to see
a lot of snowy pictures and 4K video of MIT's campus.
Both phones are on their latest software updates, and everything was set to automatic.
Let's get right into it.
The Pixel 2 XL has a single 12.2 Megapixel sensor with an f/1.8 aperture.
Using Google's image processing and machine learning, it can also achieve portrait style
pictures on both the front and back cameras.
The camera can record up to 4K at 30 fps and 1080p at up to 120 fps.
It has both optical and electronic image stabilization.
The Pixel 2 XL's front camera is 8 Megapixels with an aperture of f/2.4.
It can record video at up to 1080p at 30 fps.
The OnePlus 5T has a dual camera system.
Both cameras have an aperture of f/1.7.
The main camera is 16 megapixels, whereas the second low-light camera is 20 Megapixels.
By intelligently combining every 4 megapixels into one, the 5T's second camera is able to
reduce noise in very dark scenarios.
The phone will automatically switch to the low-light camera if it is dark enough, but
there is no way to switch cameras manually.
The 5T, heavily utilizing software, can take wide-angle portrait mode pictures.
The main camera can shoot 4K at up to 30 fps and 1080p at up to 60 fps.
It has gyroscope-based electronic image stabilization.
The front camera has an aperture of f/2.0 and is an impressive 16 Megapixels with auto
HDR capabilities.
It can record up to 1080p at 30fps and also has gyro-based EIS.
When looking at outdoor shots in good lighting, both cameras perform excellently.
Both cameras are able to capture very detailed images, and both cameras have great HDR capabilities.
With cameras on phones these days, it's hard to differentiate between any two solid cameras
in good, even lighting.
Especially because both the Pixel 2 XL and OnePlus 5T create cooler images, it's almost
impossible to differentiate between the pictures shot outside during the day.
This image shows that the Pixel 2 XL sometimes sacrifices color accuracy for sharpness.
The 2 XL captured finer details, but the 5T did a better job at keeping all of the colors
looking natural.
The Pixel failed to maintain any of the blue in the sky.
In this image, the OnePlus 5T did the better job with the colors, but the Pixel 2 XL did
the better job with the text on the banners in the background.
This image was taken while it was snowing.
The Pixel 2 XL was able to still capture a lot of fine details, despite the fact that
it was snowing.
The 5T didn't do too bad a job, but the Pixel did take the better shot.
The Pixel 2 XL has an advantage in complex shots such as this one because of its excellent
post-processing, it can go back to the darker areas and brighten them and reduce noise.
That being said, the OnePlus 5T also handled the shot well, it just isn't as bright in
some areas.
In this other complex lighting shot, I feel as If the Pixel 2 XL may have over-processed
the shot.
The colors in the 2XL's shot just look a little more washed out.
The 5T just did a great job.
(vases shot) This image also has challenging lighting conditions.
I did notice that sometimes the 5T's images would have lens flares in some of its images,
but both phones did handle this situation well.
The 5T's image is brighter, but the 2 XL handled finer details better.
(kresge snow in front of mcc) In other instances with complex lighting scenarios, the two cameras
produce images that are almost indistinguishable from one another.
(classroom shot) This indoor picture shows how well the Pixel 2 XL maintains details
everywhere in the image.
The writing on the board is clear in both, but all of the details in the guy's jacket
are lost in the OnePlus 5T's picture.
(bench) This other indoor picture shows the advantages of each phone.
The OnePlus 5T did the better job with the color of the plant, but the Pixel 2 XL captured
finer details on the bench and on the cement behind the bench.
When looking at portrait mode pictures of both phone, know that the 5T doesn't have
a telephoto lens, so it will heavily utilize software to achieve the portrait style pictures
we're used to.
As you know, the Pixel 2 XL only has one camera so it will be using Google's AI and machine
learning algorithms to create its depth effect pictures.
All of the pictures you are about to see were created with software, and I think that's
really cool.
The Pixel 2 XL does not have a telephoto lens, just like the OnePlus 5T, but the 5T is able
to capture more in the frame in portrait mode.
Both pictures were taken from the same vantage point.
I love the Pixel 2 XL's portrait mode capabilities, but in this shot where the sun is behind me,
I think that the 5T did take the more naturally looking image.
The 2XL appears to have washed out my face.
When I turned around and had the sun behind me, we can now see why people love the portrait
mode on the new Pixel 2's so much.
Both cameras did a pretty good job with finding edges and blurring what was necessary in the
background.
But the Pixel 2 XL was able to capture significantly more detail in my face and neck.
Looking at the side-by-side, we can see just how much more the 2 XL's camera was able to
pick up.
When looking at pictures shot on the front cameras of both phones, I should note that
the Pixel 2 XL is the only phone out of the two that is able to take really solid portrait
mode pictures with its front camera.
When looking at selfies without portrait mode, I noticed that both cameras took really solid
pictures.
Whatever the Pixel 2 gained with its superior post-processing, the OnePlus 5T was able to
counter with a higher megapixel count and larger aperture.
In whatever the lighting condition or scenario, the front cameras of both phones will definitely
not disappoint.
But with the Pixel 2 XL, you'll take some portrait mode pictures that people will be
stunned came from a front camera.
Next I'll look at the video quality of each phone.
Both were set to their max 4K at 30 fps for their rear cameras and 1080p at 30 fps for
their front cameras.
All image stabilization was also turned on.
Both phones have incredible video quality.
All of the colors in the picture look great despite the fact that it was getting dark
outside.
I've noticed that phones that have electronic image stabilization are great with walking,
but only pretty good with panning, and with optical image stabilization it's reversed.
The 5T is a little jumpy on the pans, but does a decent job with stabilizing any sort
of forward motion.
The Pixel 2 XL has both optical and electronic image stabilization, and tries to have the
benefits of both.
I think the 2 XL does do the better job with not over compensating with the EIS, resulting
in the smoother video of the two.
Nonetheless, most people will be more than satisfied with either video.
The front cameras of both phones are also both great in terms of video quality.
It was getting dark, and both cameras did a pretty good job with the lighting.
The Pixel 2 XL did do the better job of picking up the background and had the larger field
of view.
The 5T's front camera also utilizes its gyro-based electronic image stabilization capabilities,
and its video was smoother while walking as a result.
In terms of audio quality, the 2XL was actively trying to reduce background noise, but my
voice was noticeably more tinny than on the 5T's.
The 5T didn't do as good of a job with reducing background noise, but overall I think the
audio sounded better from the 5T's footage.
When testing in low-light, it was interesting to see when the OnePlus 5T actually utilized
its second, low-light camera.
Again, it automatically switches when it detects it's dark enough, and it can't be manually
switched to.
Interestingly enough, the only time it switched was when the subject was me.
(kresge) The Pixel 2 XL heavily utilizes software when taking night pictures in efforts to brighten
up the image and reduce noise.
But sometimes this results in unnaturally bright shots at night.
The 5T does have the darker image and is having trouble differentiating between the auditorium
and the sky, but I think the colors look more like they actually did, in the 5T's shot.
(kresge lamps) In this shot, we see that the 5T better handled the lamps, especially the
one closest to me, but the Pixel does pick up some color from the sky and a little more
detail on the top of the auditorium.
(maseeh) In this image, both phones did a great job with capturing the dorm even when
it was really dark outside.
In my opinion, I think the OnePlus 5T took the more true to life picture.
Yes, the 2 XL's shot is brighter, but the brightness looks too artificial, and looks
as if a filter was used after the picture was taken.
(street sign with lights) In this shot, we can see how the 5T just does the much better
job with dealing with the lights in the shot.
(zoom in to the sign) The Pixel 2 XL still captured more detail in the shot, but its
inability to handle lights overpowers the entire image.
When trying to test portrait mode on both phones at night, the OnePlus 5T would not
let me, and said it was too dark.
This image was taken by the 5T's second camera, and it simply did not capture the color of
my jacket well.
The picture shows how the Pixel 2 XL is still hands down the best phone for taking pictures
of people.
This shot also utilized the 5T's second camera and did not allow for portrait mode.
Whereas the Pixel 2 XL was able to produce this high quality of a portrait mode image.
That being said, the 5T's image isn't bad.
it's only when it is directly next to the Pixel 2 XL's shot that you see its flaws.
These phones differ in price by about three to $350 dollars, with one of the major differences
being their camera.
I'll definitely be doing a full comparison between the two, but simply looking at the
cameras, you can see that even the king of all smartphone cameras has its flaws.
The OnePlus 5T did impress me with a lot of the pictures it was able to take regardless
of price point.
Different people will key in on different aspects of an image.
Hopefully this video helped you realize the differences between the two camera systems.
Let me know in the comment section which scenarios you're more likely to shoot in and which phone
you think would be best for that.
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