Google Nexus 6P Vs iPhone 6s Plus

2015-10-20T14:28:19.000Z

Both of Google's new phones, the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, have the same 12.3 megapixel camera, and today, they compete against the iPhone 6s Plus' upgraded 12-megapixel shooter.

The Nexus camera has a few tricks, like super-fast laser auto-focusing and huge 1.55 micron sensors that should allow the Nexus to dominate in poorly lit situations. But the iPhone 6s Plus has optical image stabilization (OIS), which takes care of any vibrations that could blur a shot.

This is a straight up Google versus Apple fight, so check out the following pictures and see which has the best camera.

To the casual user who wants to "shoot n' show," the Nexus shoots a better, more dramatic photo with deeper, if saturated, colors. But to anyone who wants to apply filters on apps like Instagram or edit their photos, the iPhone is better as it's more accurate and well exposed.

The Nexus can saturate bright, vibrant colors a little too much, which robs subjects of detail. For example, it's harder to see individual petals in the Nexus shot. The iPhone shot looks washed out, like it has a mist in front of the camera, but you can see more detail.

The Nexus can over expose, as seen in the featureless clouds above the building. The iPhone captures more cloud detail while maintaining good lighting throughout the picture.

New nexus vs iphone camera comp building 2

Over-exposure in bright outdoor environments is a problem on the Nexus, as you can barely see any of the building's detail on the sunlit surface. So far, the iPhone performs better in bright, outdoor environments.

New nexus vs iphone camera comp building

The edges of the building look much sharper in the Nexus shot. The iPhone seems to soften them a bit.

New nexus vs iphone camera comp building closeup

In this mixed shade/sunlight situation, I'd be glad to have the iPhone. Colors are deeper on the Nexus shot, but the sky through the trees in the middle is again overexposed. The sky through the trees is clearly blue in the iPhone shot.

New nexus vs iphone camera comp building in woods

Same thing here with the sky's blue color piercing through the leaves. There's more over-exposure in the Nexus photo while you can clearly see blue sky in the iPhone photo.

New nexus vs iphone camera comp yellow leaves

But the iPhone isn't immune to over-exposure, either. Just check out the leaves on the very left hand side on each photo. The overexposure in the iPhone shot washed away their detail. I'd rather have the Nexus for darker subjects, even in bright outdoor situations.

The iPhone triumphs in flat outdoor light, as there's better contrast between the darker and brighter parts of this burnt log.

The Nexus gains the upper hand indoors. It captures the flower's deeper colors while capturing all the detail.

New nexus vs iphone camera comp flower closeup

The iPhone colors look paler and almost washed out compared to the Nexus, and there's more purple fringing around the leaves in the bright spot on the top right.

New nexus vs iphone camera comp indoor plants

And while the iPhone captures a better blue on Frida Kahlo's pyramid, the yellows and reds are washed out. I'd rather show my friends the Nexus picture in this case.

And there's no contest in dark environments. Nexus wins flat out, as the iPhone photo is grainy while the Nexus' photo is not.

New nexus vs iphone camera comp dark fruit

The Nexus photo's colors are richer here.

New nexus vs iphone camera comp indoor gourd

And the Nexus captures much sharper detail.

The Nexus is far sharper, which is especially noticeable in the details of the wet and mossy rocks. The Nexus also handled the running water better in this shot.

The iPhone seems to process this naturally lit indoor shot more than the Nexus does, as it's compensating for the lack of light. You can't see as much detail in the iPhone shot, but the lighting is much better.

New nexus vs iphone camera comp skin natural light

The Nexus' new laser auto-focus did a poor job here. But it deals well with artificial lighting and makes for a more even skin tones across my face. The iPhone captures brighter patches.

New nexus vs iphone camera comp skin tone indoor

The final word.

It's a tough call because the iPhone did best outdoors and the Nexus was generally better for indoor situations. But the iPhone is still has the best camera in a smartphone you can get because you can compensate for its deficiencies with filters or editing.

The Nexus generally takes pictures with that compensation already added, which makes it difficult if you didn't want that compensation in the first place. It's better and easier to have a picture you can add to rather than take away from. Still, for $450, the Nexus has a pretty stunning camera.

The Nexus put up an excellent fight, and it's the best camera on an Android smartphone I've seen so far.

The cameras in Google's new smartphones are seriously impressive

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

The cameras in Google's new smartphones are seriously impressive

To the casual user who wants to "shoot n' show," the Nexus shoots a better, more dramatic photo with deeper, if saturated, colors. But to anyone who wants to apply filters on apps like Instagram or edit their photos, the iPhone is better as it's more accurate and well exposed.

The Nexus can saturate bright, vibrant colors a little too much, which robs subjects of detail. For example, it's harder to see individual petals in the Nexus shot. The iPhone shot looks washed out, like it has a mist in front of the camera, but you can see more detail.

The Nexus can over expose, as seen in the featureless clouds above the building. The iPhone captures more cloud detail while maintaining good lighting throughout the picture.

Over-exposure in bright outdoor environments is a problem on the Nexus, as you can barely see any of the building's detail on the sunlit surface. So far, the iPhone performs better in bright, outdoor environments.

The edges of the building look much sharper in the Nexus shot. The iPhone seems to soften them a bit.

In this mixed shade/sunlight situation, I'd be glad to have the iPhone. Colors are deeper on the Nexus shot, but the sky through the trees in the middle is again overexposed. The sky through the trees is clearly blue in the iPhone shot.

Same thing here with the sky's blue color piercing through the leaves. There's more over-exposure in the Nexus photo while you can clearly see blue sky in the iPhone photo.

But the iPhone isn't immune to over-exposure, either. Just check out the leaves on the very left hand side on each photo. The overexposure in the iPhone shot washed away their detail. I'd rather have the Nexus for darker subjects, even in bright outdoor situations.

The iPhone triumphs in flat outdoor light, as there's better contrast between the darker and brighter parts of this burnt log.

The Nexus gains the upper hand indoors. It captures the flower's deeper colors while capturing all the detail.

The iPhone colors look paler and almost washed out compared to the Nexus, and there's more purple fringing around the leaves in the bright spot on the top right.

And while the iPhone captures a better blue on Frida Kahlo's pyramid, the yellows and reds are washed out. I'd rather show my friends the Nexus picture in this case.

And there's no contest in dark environments. Nexus wins flat out, as the iPhone photo is grainy while the Nexus' photo is not.

The Nexus photo's colors are richer here.

And the Nexus captures much sharper detail.

The Nexus is far sharper, which is especially noticeable in the details of the wet and mossy rocks. The Nexus also handled the running water better in this shot.

The iPhone seems to process this naturally lit indoor shot more than the Nexus does, as it's compensating for the lack of light. You can't see as much detail in the iPhone shot, but the lighting is much better.

The Nexus' new laser auto-focus did a poor job here. But it deals well with artificial lighting and makes for a more even skin tones across my face. The iPhone captures brighter patches.

The final word.

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Read next

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know