The futurezone readers have decided: Here are the results of our camera blind test.
Finding the best smartphone camera is not that easy: test results from camera specialists are one thing. The eyes of the viewer and the quick choice of which picture looks better are the other thing.
With this in mind, we created a camera blind test at the end of February and let our futurezone readers vote on which photo they like better at first glance – without revealing which smartphones they are.
So which cell phones were the photos taken with? The answer: The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Both devices are among the absolute top devices, each costing around 1,300 euros.
Over 1,000 futurezone readers voted and thus ensured relatively clear results. It should be mentioned that the photos were heavily downscaled when they were uploaded to the voting tool and the quality of the images suffered as a result. But now to the results.
The chandelier
The photos of the chandelier on a ceiling are very different. The result is all the more clear: 77 percent of the votes went to the iPhone photo, only 23 percent went to the Samsung photo.
The result is not surprising either. The photo that was taken with the Galaxy S21 Ultra does not really reproduce the colors correctly. The iPhone 12 Pro Max hits them much better. The details of the iPhone also come across much better.
recorded in standard mode
At dusk
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra hit the train tracks better when it got dark. Here 53 percent opted for the Samsung picture, 47 percent voted for the iPhone photo.
What is striking about these pictures is that Samsung is trying significantly more to create the mood of the twilight, while the iPhone is apparently more focused on reproducing the scenery.
recorded in night mode
The alley at night
A quick look at the pictures suggests 2 very similar photos. If you take a closer look, the differences become clear. The result was similarly clear: The iPhone prevailed here with 73 to 27 percent.
In the Samsung photo, the colors are a bit washed out in the center of the image. In contrast, the iPhone picture is much stronger in color. When it comes to details, there are only minor differences between the two images.
recorded in night mode
Colors in artificial light
The result is similarly clear with the artificial still life. 34 percent of the vote went to the Samsung picture, 66 percent opted for the iPhone photo.
The iPhone has a clear advantage, especially when it comes to the details in the area of the blue plug and the structure of the couch. In the Samsung photo, the details in these areas are quite blurred.
recorded in standard mode
Panorama in wide angle
Here, too, the result is more than clear. However, in reverse order: 73 percent went to the Samsung picture, 27 percent to the iPhone.
The iPhone's wide-angle camera apparently has slight weaknesses here, which can be seen in almost all areas of the photo – especially towards the edges of the image. Although the Samsung image is sharpened a lot, it creates a much better photo.
taken with the wide-angle camera
Park at night
Another very clear result: even in the night photo in the park, the iPhone 12 Pro Max clearly prevails against the Samsung Galaxy S21 with 64 to 36 percent.
As with the previous night photo in the alley, the Samsung image shows a weakness in the center of the image. The colors here are a bit washed out again and not really nicely saturated. The iPhone photo has a slightly too high color temperature, but it can still reproduce the scenery better.
recorded in night mode
Conclusion
The result of the blind test is clear: With 4 photos, the iPhone 12 Pro Max prevailed against the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. For one photo, the result was pretty even, and for one, the Samsung phone received the majority of the votes.
Compared to other smartphones, both devices have an impressive night mode. However, the iPhone is able to reproduce the scenery better – at least in the example photos.
Even in the interior with artificial light, the iPhone is ahead of the Samsung cell phone. The Apple mobile phone clearly delivers better pictures here.
The wide angle seems to be the major weak point of the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Because the panorama photo has become much better with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra than with the Apple mobile phone.
