I camera tested the latest Samsung, Google, and Honor phones in the air – this model won the most

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One of many key elements of a modern-day phone is the digital camera setup. Most telephones have a number of cameras, and their high quality can fluctuate, which is why, once we get the chance, we prefer to take a number of telephones out and shoot aspect by aspect. 

Whereas photographs and picture 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 one of the crucial scenic locations on this 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 gadgets off my bucket record (and get somewhat work finished alongside the way in which). 

Dana, our very succesful pilot whose playlist recreation can be extraordinarily on level, flew us on our 80-mile round-trip at about 120 mph and 1,800 toes.

Meet the contenders

The telephones I introduced are the Honor Magic 8 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, and the Pixel 10 Pro XL. All of those telephones have glorious photographic reputations, so I wished to see how they examine. For its half, the Honor is packing 50-megapixel sensors for its predominant, ultrawide, and selfie cameras, whereas the 200-megapixel telephoto sensor affords 3.7x optical zoom. 

The Samsung goes a distinct manner, with a 200-megapixel predominant digital camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide digital camera, a 5x optical zoom digital camera, and a 10-megapixel 3x optical zoom digital camera, plus a 12-megapixel selfie digital camera 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 predominant digital camera, 48-megapixel shooters for the ultrawide and telephoto lenses, and a 42-megapixel selfie digital camera on the entrance. However cameras are extra than simply megapixels, as we have now discovered prior to now.

Since this was a helicopter tour, a few of these photographs had been clearly shot by the helicopter’s home windows. For some motive, they only would not let me crank down the window and shoot usually — bizarre, I do know. Whereas which photographs got here from contained in the helicopter ought to be self-evident, I will remember to word them. If I do not, you possibly can 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 cellphone). All three photographs are nice, however (as you will see later) the Pixel handles HDR significantly 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 on 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 photographs 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 photographs, general, I most popular the look of the Samsung S25 Extremely. The Magic 8 Professional photographs seem extra washed out and do not seize the wealthy earth colours of the encircling panorama. I admit which may be as a result of change in angle, however I nonetheless left the dam extra happy with Samsung’s shot.

Testing digital camera versatility within the canyon

We continued on our manner and finally arrived within the Grand Canyon. That is an space within the Grand Canyon that may solely be reached by helicopter — or a number of rope and ache. I began off by taking a couple of full picture units — principally, I held the cellphone and snapped a photograph at each default zoom degree from ultrawide as much as most zoom. 

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The ultrawide digital camera on the Honor Magic Professional 8 produced, in my view, the extra enticing picture, however Samsung makes a powerful case as properly. Google, nonetheless, doesn’t.

Each the Honor Magic Professional 8 and the S25 Extremely seize a number of element. The colours on the Samsung appear extra correct to what I keep in mind of the day, whereas the Honor picture feels a bit “punchier”. The Pixel picture is moderately drab and borderline monotonous.

The acute zoom on the telephoto lens has related outcomes. I want to say, the Pixel 10 Professional XL would not zoom previous 30x, and, being in the course of the Grand Canyon, I could not do an web search to determine why. I knew there was a situation underneath which it could cease at 30x — stability or decision settings — however strive as I’d, I could not discover it, and neither may anybody else in our group. 

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That mentioned, 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 cellphone captured rather more element, and the Honor cellphone punched up the colours. I most popular the Samsung picture right here, too, although Honor is properly represented.

Flip the cellphone round, and also you get the alternative impact. On this case, the Pixel has one of the best picture 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 hassle.

Lastly, for macro photographs, 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 cellphone captures much more depth than the opposite two. I am not so certain that is for one of the best. Somewhat foreground delicate focus could make a photograph crisp, and I get pleasure from that.

Movement capturing

Whereas making our manner again to town, I seen 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 transferring factor at 120 mph, and at 10x zoom, by the way in which. Let’s simply say that was predictable, however all shouldn’t be misplaced. 

Typically, in the event you’re wanting on the different helicopter and wish to learn the “Honor” emblem on the aspect, Honor did one of the best job. By way of whole composition, I might give the nod to Samsung. The main target is a bit sharper, and general judder is much less. This was about as difficult a shot as I’d try, so general, I am fairly happy.

Winding down

Lastly, as we flew again into town, we had been handled to a fully exceptional sundown and an excellent view of the strip by the window. To be sincere, all three are exceptional photographs. 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 photographs, although we had been transferring fairly rapidly. For the ultimate shot, Honor got here to play. This remaining 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 one of the best colours. It was an effective way to complete off the night.

My verdict

All three telephones did a exceptional job capturing this journey, and every had its personal strengths and weaknesses. I wasn’t thrilled with the Pixel 10 Professional XL general, so given a alternative, I might most likely depart that one at house. Of the remaining two, I choose the flexibility of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely — there is a motive we picked it because the best overall Android phone.

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That mentioned, the Honor Magic 8 Professional can sustain fairly properly. The 200-megapixel telephoto sensor permits the cellphone to seize an extended zoom vary, although each are excellent as much as 30x. Each are priced equally as properly. 

The wild card within the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely, which could be very probably launching within the subsequent month or two, in line with rumors and the same old timeline. Whether or not the S26 Extremely could have a greater set of cameras is theory, nevertheless it’s additionally a reasonably good guess. It is perhaps smart to attend and see on this case.