Pixel 3 camera test: Google’s phone delivers again
In the world of smartphone photography, the Google Pixel has consistently been at the forefront, and the Pixel 3 is no exception. With its advanced camera system, it has once again set a benchmark for mobile photography.
The Google Pixel 3 comes equipped with a 12.2-megapixel rear camera and dual 8-megapixel front cameras. But it’s not just the hardware that’s impressive — it’s the software and artificial intelligence that truly elevate the photography experience. Google has harnessed machine learning to enhance image processing, a move that’s clearly evident in the quality of the photos taken with the Pixel 3.
The camera test reveals spectacular results, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The Night Sight feature stands out, allowing users to capture bright, detailed photos in low-light scenarios without a flash. This technology merges multiple frames to create a singular well-lit image, reducing noise and bringing out colors that other phones would miss in such darkness.
Portrait Mode on the Pixel 3 continues to excel. With just a single lens, Google uses computational photography to create a depth map, resulting in portraits with pleasing background blur (bokeh) while keeping the subject sharply in focus. Side-by-side tests with competitors show how well the Pixel 3 handles edge detection around hair and glasses — traditionally tricky areas for even high-end cameras.
Another feature worth noting is Top Shot. When using motion photos, the Pixel 3 recommends the best shot out of a series of images. It minimizes blinks or unwanted expressions, ensuring users capture moments with everyone looking their best.
The Super Res Zoom feature also shows significant improvements over standard digital zooms found in other smartphones. While it can’t quite match an optical zoom lens’ clarity on standalone cameras or phones with dedicated zoom lenses, it does offer an enhanced digital zoom function by combining several frames to improve sharpness at higher zoom levels.
Color reproduction is accurate and vibrant without appearing oversaturated. Dynamic range is expansive; shadows and highlights are captured with detail rarely seen on phone cameras.
Video capabilities continue to be strong as well, with up to 4K resolution at 30 frames per second. Stabilization is robust, creating smooth footage even when captured handheld in motion.
Despite fierce competition from other tech giants, Google’s Pixel 3 camera passes every test with flying colors. It’s clear that through thoughtful integration of hardware and cutting-edge AI software solutions, Google has succeeded once again in delivering one of the best mobile photography experiences available on any smartphone.