I put the Pixel 8a’s digital camera in opposition to the Honor 200 Professional — here is who received

On the subject of judging the very best Android digital camera telephones, the Google Pixel sequence is often on the prime. Because of Google’s picture processing and the varied AI and ML optimizations over time, Pixels provide dependable digital camera efficiency in any lighting situation. In reality, Android Police’s Will Sattelberg mentioned the Pixel 8a nonetheless gives the very best digital camera high quality on a $500 smartphone.

Nevertheless, within the US, we miss out on many smartphones accessible in different markets at an analogous value level, like the most recent Honor 200 Professional. Launched final month in a number of European and Asian markets, Honor positions the 200 Professional as a camera-focused mid-range cellphone with a “studio-level portrait digital camera,” and has even partnered with Studio Harcourt Paris to imitate black-and-white superstar portraits utilizing AI.

So, to place these cameras to the take a look at, I took a whole lot of pictures utilizing the Honor 200 Professional and the Pixel 8a to see if Honor is absolutely able to problem Google on this division. The outcomes had been fairly stunning.

A more in-depth have a look at the digital camera {hardware}

Honor has a transparent benefit right here

Earlier than we dive into the digital camera comparisons and try some pictures, let’s go over what each telephones really provide. On the Honor 200 Professional, you will discover an f/1.9 50MP major digital camera that helps each PDAF and OIS. Alongside that, you will discover a 50MP telephoto sensor with 2.5x optical zoom and a 12MP ultra-wide lens.

As compared, the Pixel 8a incorporates a fairly modest set of rear cameras: a 64MP essential digital camera with twin pixel PDAF and OIS, and a 13MP ultra-wide lens. Sure, the Pixel 8a lacks a devoted telephoto lens, which could seem to be an obstacle for portrait and zoom pictures, however then, it is a Google Pixel; the magic of this digital camera is in its software program, not the {hardware}.

The rear digital camera showdown

Which smartphone comes out on prime?

Earlier than we start, there are some things to know. I’m solely evaluating the rear cameras of those telephones, not their front-facing selfie cameras. Secondly, all of the pictures on this take a look at had been straight point-and-shoot; I did not tweak something, together with publicity or white stability, and did not use Professional mode, since most individuals use their smartphone in the identical manner.

Within the picture galleries beneath, you’ll discover pictures from the Honor 200 Professional first (left), adopted by the Google Pixel 8a (proper), for consistency and ease of comparability.

HDR and coloration science

Proper off the bat, you’ll be able to see an enormous distinction in coloration science and HDR between the 2 smartphones. The above shot exhibits a major distinction in how the 2 telephones deal with colours and HDR processing. Google Pixels are often wonderful with HDR, however within the shot of the Mumbai airport above, the Pixel fails to point out the tiles beneath the window. The Honor 200 Professional, alternatively, handles it simply effective.

Within the shot above, you’ll be able to see the totally different coloration processing of the 2 smartphones. Within the shot of the car parking zone, which wasn’t taken in broad daylight, however as a substitute within the night on a hazy day, the Honor 200 Professional retains a barely hotter tone, whereas the Pixel 8a tends towards a cooler shot. Nevertheless, the precise scene was nearer to what the Pixel captured, not the Honor 200 Professional.

Listed below are another examples exhibiting the distinction in processing between each telephones, albeit taken in synthetic lighting. Within the first shot, the Honor 200 Professional opts for extra vivid colours, whereas the Pixel 8a has barely muted, pure tones.

Equally, within the shot beneath — showcasing the portray of the Gateway of Mumbai — the Pixel 8a produces a considerably muted picture, whereas the Honor 200 Professional opts for a brighter and extra colourful look.

Portrait pictures

Shifting on to the portrait pictures, let’s begin with daylight pictures first. You would possibly assume that with its telephoto sensor, the Honor 200 Professional would have a bonus in depth and bokeh, however that is not the case — at the very least in daylight.

Right here, the Pixel 8a does simply effective blurring the background, regardless of missing a devoted depth sensor. And once more, you’ll be able to see the distinction in coloration science, with the Honor going for a extra vibrant look whereas the Pixel 8a opts for extra pure colours.

Nevertheless, in synthetic or low lighting, the Honor 200 Professional’s telephoto sensor helps, producing clearer and sharper portraits. The pictures from the Pixel 8a look effective, however lag behind when it comes to readability, depth, and coloration accuracy.

Movement pictures

Shifting onto our subsequent class: movement pictures. Most cameras both produce a blurred picture or simply fail to seize it. I attempted taking a shot of my pet canine with each telephones — though I form of failed at it since he was darting round — however we will clearly see that each telephones are able to taking wonderful movement pictures, with each strand of hair sharply detailed.

Pores and skin tone accuracy and indoor lighting

Taking a look at how the cameras carry out in indoor and synthetic lighting, there’s a noticeable distinction. As seen within the picture beneath, the Honor 200 Professional produces a hotter shot with barely exaggerated colours, whereas the Pixel 8a — as constant as this digital camera is — delivers a extra natural-looking shot with toned-down colours. I can not say I favor both shot general, however the Pixel 8a comes nearer to my pores and skin tone when it comes to accuracy than the Honor 200 Professional.

Taking a look at some extra indoor lighting pictures, the variations between the telephones persist. Within the restaurant shot beneath, the Honor 200 Professional once more opts for vibrant colours, whereas the Pixel 8a gives extra true-to-life colours. The Honor 200 Professional is a bit too vibrant for my style, particularly in synthetic lighting, whereas the Pixel 8a does an incredible job retaining all the colours with out making the scene look overly vibrant or vivid.

Night time mode

For low-light testing, I took the telephones to Mumbai’s well-known Marine Drive, which was dimly lit with solely distant streetlights, constructing lights, and automobile headlights. Surprisingly, the Honor 200 Professional dealt with it higher than the Pixel 8a, retaining the feel of the rocks with out overexposing the sky’s darkish coloration.

Whereas the Pixel 8a overexposed the sky, it dealt with the distant streetlights properly. I do not love both picture, however the Honor 200 Professional’s picture appears arguably higher, although it is barely hotter than the precise circumstances.

This shot of the Apple Retailer exhibits comparable outcomes. The Pixel overexposes the lights, whereas the Honor 200 Professional handles the HDR and general publicity a lot better. You possibly can clearly see the Apple brand within the Honor’s picture, whereas it is barely blown out within the Pixel’s picture. Moreover, the vegetation in entrance are higher dealt with by the Honor, though the Pixel is arguably higher at processing the wall above the Apple brand.

To prime it off, let’s take a look at a shot of a dangling mild I took the opposite day. As you’ll be able to see, the Honor 200 Professional once more handles the publicity properly, capturing each strand of the netted mild hanging and even the filament of the bulb intimately. In distinction, whereas the Pixel captures the netted hanging clearly, it overexposes the bulb’s filament.

Which digital camera is healthier?

Each telephones are wonderful for his or her value; you will not be disillusioned with both one. Sure, regardless that the Pixel 8a lacks a devoted telephoto lens, it processes pictures equally to the Honor 200 Professional (at the very least in good mild). Additionally, you will not miss out on zoom high quality because the Pixel 8a’s essential 64MP sensor can crop in 2x and nonetheless get a crisp shot.

The Pixel 8a is in no way a nasty digital camera cellphone, however with its barely smaller sensor (1/1.73″ in comparison with the 200 Professional’s 1/1.3″), it struggles to seize sufficient mild, which impacts its general picture sharpness and dynamic vary.

That mentioned, there is a clear winner right here, and it is the Honor 200 Professional. Whereas the 200 Professional’s picture processing is barely too vibrant and hotter for my style, it captures higher pictures with nice element, readability, and depth, and is simply all-around higher with dynamic vary. If in case you have the choice to choose up Honor’s new funds champ, you will not be disillusioned.