Camera performance has always been one of the highlight features of Google's Pixel phones, and so there is a lot of focus on the Pixel 4's rear cams, especially since there are two of the first time. Now a well-known camera testing group has come out with its verdict on the Pixel 4's camera performance.
DXOMark has released its report on the Pixel 4, giving it an overall score of 112. That puts it in the top 10 of smartphone camera scores according to DXOMark, but behind devices like the Huawei Mate 30 Pro, Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G, Galaxy S10+, and OnePlus 7 Pro. In case you're wondering about how the Pixel 4 compares to Apple's new phones, DXOMark hasn't rated the iPhone 11 or iPhone 11 Pro yet.
In its report, DXOMark says that the Pixel 4 offers fast and accurate autofocus, a good level of detail in both indoor and outdoor shots, and a zoom that is a "key strength" because it offers good exposure, color, and detail. Bokeh simulation is good, too, and Google's new Night Sight gets "pleasant exposures with nice color and good detail." The report also praises the Pixel 4 for producing "vivid and pleasant colors in bright light".
When it comes to video, the Pixel 4 is described as keeping noise under control in all conditions, vivid colors and a pleasant white balance, and a "fairly effective stabilization".
DXOMark does knock the Pixel 4 for having some loss of detail as well as visible noise when taking photos and some occasional depth estimation artifacts when you're taking portrait mode shots. The Pixel 4's video capabilities are also dinged for lacking some fine detail in low light.
The report also states that while the Pixel 4 is a step ahead of the Pixel 3 when it comes to photos, it's still behind devices like the Mate 30 Pro and Note 10+ 5G due to its lack of an ultra-wide camera and Time of Flight (ToF) sensor.
Focusing specifically on the Pixel 4's front-facing camera, DXOMark gave the phone a selfie score of 92. That's the same score that the Pixel 3 got and is behind phones like the Note 10+ 5G, ZenFone 6, Galaxy S10+, and Mate 30 Pro. The report says that the Pixel 4 can capture nice selfies with good exposure and pleasant colors in most conditions, but it does say bokeh mode isn't as good as the Pixel 3 since it's only got a single selfie cam and that there can be some image noise in shadow areas.
While it may not be the absolute best-of-the-best smartphone camera on the market, the Pixel 4's camera appears to be a pretty solid performer. Since the Pixel 4's introduction, lots of people have bemoaned Google's decision to include a telephoto rear camera and not an ultra-wide angle or both, and it sounds like that decision affected its DXOMark score, too. So long as you don't mind the lack of an ultra-wide angle cam, though, it sounds like you'll be happy with the Pixel 4's photo and video-taking abilities.
