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One of many key parts of a modern-day telephone is the digicam setup. Most telephones have a number of cameras, and their high quality can range, which is why, after we get the chance, we prefer to take a number of telephones out and shoot aspect by aspect.
Whereas pictures and photograph high quality are sometimes subjective, it helps us decide which telephones can actually ship, from a megapixel perspective.
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So when Honor gave me the chance to shoot with the Magic 8 Professional in probably the most scenic locations on the planet — the Grand Canyon — I jumped on the alternative, and I introduced a few telephones together with me. It was there at CES when I discovered myself at Maverick Helicopter Excursions, simply south of the strip, able to cross two objects off my bucket record (and get a little bit work performed alongside the way in which).
Dana, our very succesful pilot whose playlist recreation can also be extraordinarily on level, flew us on our 80-mile round-trip at about 120 mph and 1,800 ft.
Meet the contenders
The telephones I introduced are the Honor Magic 8 Professional, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely, and the Pixel 10 Professional XL. All of those telephones have wonderful photographic reputations, so I needed to see how they evaluate. For its half, the Honor is packing 50-megapixel sensors for its essential, ultrawide, and selfie cameras, whereas the 200-megapixel telephoto sensor gives 3.7x optical zoom.
The Samsung goes a distinct approach, with a 200-megapixel essential digicam, a 50-megapixel ultrawide digicam, a 5x optical zoom digicam, and a 10-megapixel 3x optical zoom digicam, plus a 12-megapixel selfie digicam on the entrance.
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In the meantime, the Pixel 10 XL has probably the most constant sensor sizes with a 50-megapixel essential digicam, 48-megapixel shooters for the ultrawide and telephoto lenses, and a 42-megapixel selfie digicam on the entrance. However cameras are extra than simply megapixels, as we’ve got discovered prior to now.
Since this was a helicopter tour, a few of these pictures have been clearly shot by the helicopter’s home windows. For some purpose, they simply would not let me crank down the window and shoot usually — bizarre, I do know. Whereas which pictures got here from contained in the helicopter must be self-evident, I will you should definitely notice them. If I do not, you’ll be able to assume I used to be standing on terra firma. So let’s dive in.
Earlier than takeoff selfies
Earlier than we lifted off, I took the chance to snap a fast selfie. OK, I needed to snap three fast selfies (one for every telephone). All three pictures are nice, however (as you will see later) the Pixel handles HDR a lot better than the opposite two, with the daylight blowing out my face.
If I am being sincere, the much less of my face you see, the higher. For everybody else, use the Pixel 10 Professional XL to your selfies.
Principal cameras on the Hoover Dam
Our first cease on this tour was the Hoover Dam. I say “cease,” however we did not cease; we hovered. We didn’t hover lengthy sufficient for me to snap pictures with all three telephones, so solely the Samsung S25 Extremely and the Honor Magic 8 Professional are represented right here — capturing by the window, clearly.
Additionally, I did not seize the very same angle from each; we did not hover lengthy.
Whereas the Honor Magic 8 Professional captured a bit extra element in these pictures, total, I most popular the look of the Samsung S25 Extremely. The Magic 8 Professional pictures seem extra washed out and do not seize the wealthy earth colours of the encircling panorama. I admit that could be as a result of change in angle, however I nonetheless left the dam extra happy with Samsung’s shot.
Testing digicam versatility within the canyon
We continued on our approach and ultimately arrived within the Grand Canyon. That is an space within the Grand Canyon that may solely be reached by helicopter — or loads of rope and ache. I began off by taking a couple of full photograph units — principally, I held the telephone and snapped a photograph at each default zoom degree from ultrawide as much as most zoom.
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The ultrawide digicam on the Honor Magic Professional 8 produced, in my view, the extra engaging photograph, however Samsung makes a powerful case as effectively. Google, nevertheless, doesn’t.
Each the Honor Magic Professional 8 and the S25 Extremely seize loads of element. The colours on the Samsung appear extra correct to what I bear in mind of the day, whereas the Honor photograph feels a bit “punchier”. The Pixel photograph is reasonably drab and borderline monotonous.
The acute zoom on the telephoto lens has comparable outcomes. I would like to say, the Pixel 10 Professional XL would not zoom previous 30x, and, being in the midst of the Grand Canyon, I could not do an web search to determine why. I knew there was a situation beneath which it might cease at 30x — stability or decision settings — however attempt as I would, I could not discover it, and neither may anybody else in our group.
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That stated, the 100x zoom on each the Samsung and the Honor telephones was… not superior. So, we’re sticking to 30x!
Right here, too, you get the identical story. The Pixel 10 Professional XL turned out drab, the Samsung telephone captured far more element, and the Honor telephone punched up the colours. I most popular the Samsung photograph right here, too, although Honor is effectively represented.
Flip the telephone round, and also you get the other impact. On this case, the Pixel has the perfect photograph by far. Each Samsung and Honor struggled with the dynamic vary of the sunshine behind me, so it full washed out the canyon wall. The Pixel had no such bother.
Lastly, for macro pictures, the Honor and Pixel telephones each have a beautiful bokeh impact behind the topic of this…no matter plant that is — I am from Chicago. The Samsung telephone captures much more depth than the opposite two. I am not so certain that is for the perfect. A little bit foreground comfortable focus could make a photograph crisp, and I get pleasure from that.
Movement capturing
Whereas making our approach again to the town, I observed one other copter flying alongside us, so I took the chance to attempt to seize it. Reality be informed, not one of the telephones did an excellent job whereas capturing by plexiglass, at 120 mph, capturing one other shifting factor at 120 mph, and at 10x zoom, by the way in which. Let’s simply say that was predictable, however all is just not misplaced.
From left to proper: Honor Magic 8 Professional, Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely, Google Pixel 10 Professional XL
Adam Doud/ZDNET
Usually, when you’re trying on the different helicopter and need to learn the “Honor” emblem on the aspect, Honor did the perfect job. When it comes to complete composition, I would give the nod to Samsung. The main target is a bit sharper, and total judder is much less. This was about as difficult a shot as I might try, so total, I am fairly happy.
Winding down
Lastly, as we flew again into the town, we have been handled to a completely outstanding sundown and an incredible view of the strip by the window. To be sincere, all three are outstanding pictures. Of the three, I say Samsung will get the win right here, too. There’s extra element, and the colours are extra correct to what I noticed that night.
As we got here in over the strip, I snapped off three extra pictures, although we have been shifting fairly shortly. For the ultimate shot, Honor got here to play. This last shot, taken earlier than touching again down on the airport, captured the strip in all its lit-up glory, and the Honor Magic 8 Professional captured probably the most element and the perfect colours. It was an effective way to complete off the night.
My verdict
All three telephones did a outstanding job capturing this journey, and every had its personal strengths and weaknesses. I wasn’t thrilled with the Pixel 10 Professional XL total, so given a alternative, I would in all probability go away that one at dwelling. Of the remaining two, I desire the flexibility of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely — there is a purpose we picked it as the perfect total Android telephone.
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That stated, the Honor Magic 8 Professional can sustain fairly effectively. The 200-megapixel telephoto sensor permits the telephone to seize a protracted zoom vary, although each are superb as much as 30x. Each are priced equally as effectively.
The wild card within the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely, which could be very possible launching within the subsequent month or two, in accordance with rumors and the standard timeline. Whether or not the S26 Extremely could have a greater set of cameras is theory, but it surely’s additionally a reasonably good guess. It is likely to be clever to attend and see on this case.
