The Xiaomi 14 Ultra has critically impressed us with its digital camera high quality, each as an on a regular basis carry road images digital camera cellphone and in its skill to seize pro-standard pictures of Taylor Swift throughout her Eras tour. But the iPhones have all the time supplied high quality images abilities and the new iPhone 16 Pro is not any exception.
I used to be extraordinarily eager to see how these two digital camera powerhouses examine, so I charged them up, laced up my boots and headed out into the stunning metropolis of Edinburgh to take them on a images tour which will or might not embody a number of stops at numerous pubs.
All pictures proven have been taken in both JPEG or HEIC except in any other case acknowledged. All have been taken utilizing every cellphone’s default digital camera apps.
We begin with this view overlooking a set of allotments. It was fairly cloudy on my stroll, so that you’d anticipate cooler colours in the scene typically. But even so, I used to be a bit stunned by how chilly the iPhone’s shot appeared right here. The Xiaomi’s picture is not a lot hotter, nevertheless it’s sufficient to make it look extra true-to-life.
At 5X optical zoom, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra has produced a shot that, whereas darker, has higher distinction and deeper colours that make it the better-looking picture to my eye.
Cropping into the 5x zoom pictures, it is also evident that the Xiaomi 14 Ultra has produced a sharper, extra detailed photograph right here.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s colours are clearly bolder right here, too, with richer-looking greens on the ivy leaves, which look surprisingly washed out in the iPhone’s shot.
On the floor, I desire the deeper tones and richer shadows seen in the Xiaomi’s shot. It offers a particular temper right here, which may not be to everybody’s tastes. But that is not the complete story…
Zooming in on the particulars, it turns into clear that the iPhone has delivered a a lot sharper picture, with the effective particulars on the barrel’s woodwork trying downright blurry in the Xiaomi’s shot.
I’m barely torn right here. On the one hand, the iPhone’s picture is brighter and retains extra element in some areas (like the marble flooring) the place the Xiaomi’s aggressive noise discount has smoothed them out. On the different, the Xiaomi’s shot does have extra readability in areas like the railings. As a extra private choice, I like the brighter highlights in the ceiling on the Xiaomi’s picture, which just about have a bloom impact as if I have been utilizing a cinebloom filter (which, after all, I wasn’t).
While the pictures are definitely totally different from each other, I am unable to actually determine on which one is healthier.
This one is less complicated to name. While the Xiaomi’s shot is marginally sharper than the iPhone’s, the iPhone’s picture is brighter and extra colourful, making it the better-looking shot general.
The pint image taken by the Xiaomi may be marginally brighter, however in any other case there’s nothing to decide on between the two telephones right here. The beer was scrumptious, thanks for asking.
I’m undecided whether or not the Xiaomi merely missed focus right here, however its shot taken inside one other previous pub is extraordinarily blurry in comparison with the iPhone 16 Pro’s picture. A transparent win for the iPhone.
The iPhone takes a simple victory with this indoor shot taken at 5x zoom. Its shot is brighter and sharper than the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s.
Again, the iPhone sweeps a simple win right here. The Xiaomi’s picture is surprisingly darkish and it is wrestled the highlights on the neon signal so exhausting that it appears to be like plain bizarre in the scene. The iPhone’s picture has maintained that vibrant glow coming from the signal and the neons hanging in the window on the left.
I additionally desire the iPhone’s picture right here, because it’s maintained rather more natural-looking shadows, whereas the Xiaomi has lifted the shadows to a fairly unrealistic extent. As a end result, I really like the temper the iPhone has captured right here, together with the hotter tones seen on the buildings.
The iPhone’s picture on this nighttime scene is barely sharper than the Xiaomi’s. However, I typically desire the hotter tones the Xiaomi has captured, particularly in the crimson banner, which has a extra magenta shift in the iPhone’s model that I’m much less eager on.
At 5x zoom, the iPhone has clearly produced a brighter picture right here, with rather more shadow element general. But it is not a transparent win simply but…
Zooming in on the particulars, it turns into clear that the Xiaomi’s 5x zoom has captured a a lot sharper picture. It’s even potential to learn the phrase “certificates,” which is an incomprehensible blur on the iPhone’s picture.
iPhone 16 Pro vs. Xiaomi 14 Ultra: Which takes higher images?
It’s been an extremely shut name in all of my exams, with the iPhone popping out forward in some scenes and the Xiaomi delivering higher pictures in others. The actuality is that each telephones pack exceptionally good cameras, and selecting between the two telephones will definitely come right down to your choice in iOS or Android slightly than which takes higher pictures.
But general, I’ve to offer the slight edge to the Xiaomi in these exams. Its out of doors pictures — particularly the allotment and ivy-covered candle graffiti examples — look significantly better on the Xiaomi, and I typically discovered its 5x zoom lens supplied higher element. But it is a slim win, and a few of my selections will come right down to my private choice in what I’m searching for in a picture. As a end result, you may have one other scroll by way of the check pictures right here and see when you provide you with your individual conclusion.