The $550 OnePlus 6T makes me wonder if Google's $800 Pixel 3 phone is actually worth the extra money for a better camera
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Antonio Villas-Boas
Nov 18, 2018, 18:30 IST
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Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
Here we are, then, taking a look at photos from the best camera on a smartphone versus the best value in a smartphone in the world.
I'm talking about the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, which cost $800 to $900, respectively, and the OnePlus 6T, which starts at $550.
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To buy a Pixel smartphone, including the Pixel 3, is not usually a decision based on design. In my experience, it's a decision based on using the purest form of Android, getting the latest Android updates as soon as they're released, and having the best camera on any smartphone.
The Pixel 3 does, indeed, have a better overall camera than the OnePlus 6T. But the difference isn't that stark. After my test shoot, I'm wondering if one of the Pixel's main propositions as the best smartphone camera is diminishing.
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Check out photos taken with the Pixel 3 XL (which has the same camera as the smaller Pixel 3) and the OnePlus 6T:
The Pixel 3 does what Pixels do: Take contrast-y shots with deeper colors and more detail than other phones. But it doesn't always look significantly better.
Here's a perfect example of when the Pixel's strengths work against it. The OnePlus 6T's shot is clearly better with its brighter colors. The Pixel's photo looks positively dull here.
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And the same goes here.
Both cameras have optical zoom, and Google's software-enhanced zooming clearly shows how powerful software can be.
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Both phones have HDR to reveal details in shady areas when there's lots of surrounding light. The OnePlus 6T reveals more detail, but the photo looks artificial. Both phone aren't immune to lens glare, either.
The Pixel 3 captured the incredibly deep purple color of this skull, as well as its intricate details, a lot better the OnePlus 6T.
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The Pixel's signature contrast-loving camera also does better in revealing details on this clear acrylic art piece. Yes, it's a bag of trash.
Neon is tough for cameras to capture, and the OnePlus 6T completely nailed it compared to the Pixel 3.
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Neither phone did terribly well in a very low-light situation. The Pixel's photo is too dark and the OnePlus 6T's photo is grainy.
Both phones have night modes for their cameras, and it's clear that Google's Night Sight for its Pixel phones produces better results in very dimly lit conditions.
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But both cameras perform about equally at night in a town/city setting with more surrounding light.
You've seen the photos, so you can decide for yourself which phone has the better camera.
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Something you should consider ...
And the same goes for the OnePlus 6T, where I can easily edit photos to look closer to the Pixel 3's photos.
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