In this episode of Photo Shoot|out, we compare 200 photos taken on the iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Pixel 9 Pro XL to find out with which is the best phone for photography. With their triple cameras, which include telephoto shooters with 5x optical zoom, they offer plenty of utility to cover the gamut. As usual, there can only one phone can come out on top. We give you a definitive winner. This is Photo Shoot|out!
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00:00So far, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has proven to be a champ at taking photos with its refresher
00:06cameras, showing off its much-improved macro and low-light performance.
00:11In my iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra photo shootout, Apple's flagship easily
00:16cruised to the finish line, but what I'm much more excited about is how an iPhone 16
00:21Pro Max vs Pixel 9 Pro XL turns out.
00:24That's because I spent nearly a year with the Pixel 8 Pro, which I think was one of
00:27the most underrated phones released in 2024.
00:31With its spiritual successor, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, Google gives us a main 50-megapixel
00:36camera, 48-megapixel ultrawide, 48-megapixel telephoto with 5x optical zoom, and a 42-megapixel
00:42selfie camera.
00:43Out of the bunch, the latter is technically new hardware.
00:47In my Pixel 9 Pro XL review, I mentioned how it's still the AI phone to beat with its
00:51new generative features and intuitive photo editing tools.
00:55Apple's obviously not looking to sit quietly, so the iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to extend
01:00its lead in our best camera phones list.
01:02Given how our Pixel 9 Pro XL vs iPhone 15 Pro Max photo shootout turned out, this might
01:08yet be another easy victory for Apple.
01:10The iPhone 16 Pro Max is armed with a 48-megapixel main shooter, 48-megapixel ultrawide, 12-megapixel
01:16telephoto with 5x optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel selfie camera.
01:21Soon after Apple's Glowtime event in Cupertino, I brought along both phones to nearby Half
01:26Moon Bay to shoot some photos with them, then proceeded to view what I captured on a monitor
01:31later on for a proper side-by-side comparison.
01:35This is Photo Shootout.
01:36Starting off by the beach, the iPhone's main camera does a much better job at capturing
01:41the scene, but I will say the Pixel 9 Pro XL does an excellent job as well.
01:46Both managed to capture the textures of the Adirondack chairs in the foreground, but the
01:50iPhone 16 Pro Max's image gets more of my attention due to its warmer color temperature
01:55and brighter exposure.
01:57The Pixel 9 Pro XL is a smidge underexposed, and the colors are oversaturated.
02:02For their dynamic range performance, I pointed the two towards the beer taps at the bar because
02:07of the strong light source coming from the outside.
02:10The first thing I noticed is that the Pixel 9 Pro XL doesn't tone down the highlights
02:14as good as the iPhone 16 Pro Max because the bright areas outside are overblown.
02:19Meanwhile, the iPhone manages to balance out the exposure between the shadows and highlights
02:24better.
02:25This mosaic in downtown Half Moon Bay has a ton of color, and when I look quickly, they
02:30look identical to me.
02:32But when I zoom into different parts of the photo, like the orange pumpkin in the lower
02:36bottom, the iPhone's brighter exposure gives it the extra pop that gets my attention.
02:41Even though it's not as apparent here, I noticed that the Pixel 9 Pro XL tends to produce the
02:46most saturated colors between the two.
02:49I know it might be hard to see it, but the Pixel 9 Pro XL's ultra-wide camera has a wider
02:54123 degree field of view, so you'll get more of the shot in frame versus the iPhone's 120
02:59degree one.
03:00For this one, I like the Pixel more partly for how the colors pop and its stronger contrast.
03:06Both capture a lot of detail with the stained glass windows, but the iPhone's a tad softer
03:10with the details.
03:11Just look at the edges of the window frame and the siding of the church.
03:15These macro photos of this flower are dramatic.
03:18I can't believe how close I'm able to get with their respective macro modes.
03:22But the iPhone 16 Pro Max pulls up the better capture.
03:25I'm astounded by the amount of detail, including all the pollen around the petals and even
03:30the hidden spider right smack in the middle.
03:33The Pixel 9 Pro XL also catches a superb shot that's rich in detail, but it doesn't achieve
03:38the same level of definition.
03:39Plus, it's really heavy with the color saturation.
03:42The Pixel 9 Pro XL's meteor 42 megapixel selfie is the clear winner in these selfie shots
03:47I captured of myself.
03:49Not only does this new autofocus camera have a wider 103 degree field of view that lets
03:54me fill out more of the scene, but it captures sharper details around my face, like my hairline
04:00and yes, my wrinkles.
04:01The iPhone 16 Pro Max's 12 megapixel selfie camera isn't too shabby either, but the Pixel
04:07wins this one.
04:08One thing to note about taking portrait photos with the Pixel 9 Pro XL is that the minimum
04:13zoom is 1.5x, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max can shoot them at 1x zoom.
04:19Both phones managed to capture my colleague Kate with plenty of crisp details, like the
04:23Apple Watch Series 10 on her wrist.
04:26But when I look around the edges of her face, I like how the iPhone casts the soft blur
04:30around the edges, whereas the Pixel doesn't have as much consistency.
04:34Like how some parts of the edges are in focus and others are not.
04:38In true flagship form, they both feature dedicated telephoto cameras with 5x optical
04:43zooms.
04:44You'll be able to get closer to far away objects than their main cameras, without losing
04:48much detail.
04:49But these shots I captured at 5x zoom are tough.
04:52They both managed to match each other in terms of detail and clarity, like the textures of
04:58the giant eye and the letters around it.
05:00I really love how these panoramas turned out.
05:03Most importantly, they managed to have a consistent exposure throughout the shot.
05:07Plus, they contain a lot of detail.
05:09There are ripples in the far background overlooking Half Moon Bay Beach, as well as the license
05:13plates of the cars on the left.
05:15The biggest difference for me, however, is how the iPhone 16 Pro Max's shots look brighter
05:20and more vivid.
05:22Since the bar at Half Moon Bay Brewery was already dark, I tried out the respective night
05:26modes on my lonely beer.
05:28They're mostly the same, but the Pixel 9 Pro XL's tendency for saturating the colors is
05:33pronounced here again.
05:34There's this odd green tint to the reflecting area in the back.
05:37Switching it up, take a look at these shots from my backyard.
05:41The area around the tree and closed-off patio are just about pitch black, with my neighbor's
05:45floodlight in the far background being the strongest source of light.
05:49The iPhone's shot is superior, not only for its brighter picture and vibrant colors, but
05:54also for the amount of detail it captures with the tree and its branches.
05:58Look, there's just no stopping the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
06:01After cruising to the finish line against the Galaxy S24 Ultra, it also pushed ahead
06:06against the Pixel 9 Pro XL in this photo shootout.
06:09While the iPhone 16 Pro Max's camera performance is the clear winner here, I wouldn't count
06:14out on the Pixel just yet because I prefer how it has a richer camera experience, meaning
06:19it offers the manual controls I crave for photography, along with the ability to auto-track
06:23subjects when I record video.
06:25There's also the AI-assisted tools that make it helpful, like Magic Editor and Adme.
06:31Apple's still getting its feet wet with Apple Intelligence, so there's a long way to go
06:34before it can match the Pixel, but when it comes to purely camera performance, it can't
06:39be beat.
06:40Who do you think won this photo shootout?
06:42Let me know your thoughts and reasons in the comments below.
06:45Don't forget to watch the rest of our iPhone 16 coverage, including our full review from
06:49Mark as well as Kate's Apple Watch Series 10 review.
06:52Make sure to follow us on social at Time's Guide, and as always, I'm John V. and I'll
06:56see you soon.