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Google Pixel 5’s wimpy camera is driving me to the iPhone 12

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Google’s Pixel 5 smartphone has ultrawide and wide-angle cameras, but no telephoto for more distant subjects.

 


Stephen Shankland/CNET

I’ve used Google Pixels and Apple iPhones for my daily smartphone photography needs for years. I’ve mostly relied on Pixels because of Google’s pioneering computational photography software, which wrings superior image quality out of limited hardware. My current iPhone, the XS Max, has been relegated to occasions when I’ve needed a telephoto lens. But two recent smartphone launches — of Google’s Pixel 5 and Apple’s iPhone 12 lines — have changed my mind. The midrange camera hardware on the Pixel 5, and the high-end array of cameras on the iPhone 12 Pro Max, along with the gadget’s large image sensor and new software options, are pushing me to the Apple camp.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. I’ve been impressed by Google’s ability to convert cutting-edge image processing research into superior smartphone photos. Google demonstrated how profoundly computers can modernize cameras, as it surpassed smartphone rivals and traditional-camera makers.

Google’s decision to build a midrange phone with just two cameras feels like an abandonment. There’s just no way to make up for the multiple cameras that rivals like Samsung, Huawei and Apple employ. Sure, rivals haven’t necessarily matched all of Google’s camera software, but Google isn’t close to their hardware.

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To be clear, the Pixel’s cameras are good, as my colleague Lynn La details in her Pixel 5 review. From my perspective as a serious photographer, though, I’m looking for more.

 

Telephoto vs. ultrawide cameras

In 2019, Google’s Pixel 4 took a step up by adding a second rear-facing camera, a telephoto option for distant subjects. That was the same year Apple added a third camera to its higher-end iPhone 11 Pro models, an ultrawide camera that sat alongside its main and telephoto cameras.

The Pixel 5 photo at 2X telephoto, shot here with Google’s computational raw format, is fine viewed small but has only a 3 megapixel resolution. At right, the 12 megapixel image from a 2-year-old iPhone XS Max, shot as an HDR raw photo with Adobe’s Lightroom app, offers more detail and editing flexibility. Clicking to enlarge reveals the superior iPhone detail, though it’s scaled down to match the Pixel 5 photo.

 


Stephen Shankland/CNET

Google tried to match Apple’s prowess this year by replacing the telephoto camera with an ultrawide camera in the Pixel 5. But Apple made major camera improvements with its iPhone 12 Pro, including a bigger image sensor, a longer-reach telephoto lens, improved image stabilization to counteract shaky hands, Dolby Vision HDR video at 60 frames per second and Apple’s more flexible ProRaw format. It’s clear Apple is sinking enormous resources into better photography.

Google may have made the right call for the broad market. I suspect ultrawide cameras are better for mainstream smartphone customers than telephotos. Ultrawide cameras for group shots, indoor scenes and video are arguably more useful than telephoto cameras for portraits and mountains.

But I want both. I enjoy the different perspectives. Indeed, for a few years I usually carried only telephoto and ultrawide lenses for my DSLR.

In response to my concerns, Google says it’s improved the Super Res Zoom technique for digital zooming on the Pixel 5 with better computational photography and AI techniques that now can magnify up to a factor of 7X.

“We studied carefully to determine what’s really important to folks, and then we focused on that — and shaved off literally hundreds of dollars in the process,” said camera product manager Isaac Reynolds. Having a telephoto camera would have helped image quality, but Google’s priority this year “was to produce a phone that compared well to the top end but at a much lower price — and we did that.”

I’m not so convinced. When shooting even at 2X telephoto zoom, my 2-year-old iPhone XS Max and my 1-year-old Pixel 4 both offer far superior imagery compared with the Pixel 5.

What I do like so far about the Pixel 5 cameras

I want to be clear: Google’s new phone has its merits, and I’ve experienced some of its strengths while testing the Pixel 5 cameras over the past few days. Here are a handful:

  • Google’s computational raw offers photo enthusiasts the best of both worlds when it comes to photo formats. It marries the exposure and color flexibility of unprocessed raw photo data with the exposure range and noise reduction of the multishot HDR+ processing ordinarily used to make a JPEG.
  • The ultrawide camera really is fun. It also dramatically improves video options, particularly indoors.
  • Based on earlier Pixel phones, I share my colleague Lynn La’s concern that Google’s video stabilization can be “drone-like,” but my early tests of video I shot while walking looked more natural.
  • Double-tapping the phone’s power button launches the camera app fast. It’s not new with the Pixel 5, but it’s so much faster than the iPhone’s lock screen icon.
  • Night Sight, particularly astrophotography mode, still is amazing for low-light shots.

Google also pointed to other Pixel 5 perks, including a portrait light ability to control the apparent light source brightening a subject’s face; portrait shots that work in Night Sight mode; 4K video that now works at a fast 60 frames per second, more advanced high dynamic range processing called HDR+ that’s now boosted by exposure bracketing for better shadow details like a backlit face, and better video stabilization.

Here’s the rub, though: As Google slips in hardware, rivals are improving their software.

Google’s rivals in computational photography are catching up

Apple didn’t comment on its photography plans for this story, but it spent more than 11 minutes touting the iPhone Pro photo and video abilities, and its actions speak volumes.

Pixel 5 portrait modePixel 5 portrait mode
The Pixel 5 offers a useful if not unique portrait mode that blurs the background for smooth “bokeh.”

 


Stephen Shankland/CNET

Last year, Apple matched most of what was best about Google’s HDR+ for challenging scenes with bright and dark elements. This year’s Pixel 5 boosts HDR+ with bracketing technology into the multishot blending technique. Apple’s Smart HDR alternative, however, is now in its third generation of refinement. Apple is improving the iPhone’s nighttime photos, too. And by using special purpose processing engines on its A14 chip, Apple’s Deep Fusion technology to preserve detail in low-light shooting works on all four of the iPhone Pro cameras.

Photo enthusiasts like me prefer unprocessed, raw photo formats so we can fine-tune color balance, exposure, sharpening and noise reduction. That’s great for when the camera doesn’t make the right choices when “baking” raw image data into a more convenient but limited JPEG image. Google’s computational raw blended HDR processing with raw’s flexibility, but now Apple plans to release its answer, ProRaw, in an update coming later this year to iPhone Pro models.

“We want to give our pros even more control over the images they capture,” said Alok Deshpande, Apple’s senior manager of camera software engineering, during Apple’s launch event.

Relatively few people use Pixel phones, and that weighs on Google too. Imaging software powerhouse Adobe calibrates its Lightroom photo software to correct lens problems and adapt its HDR tool for some cameras and lenses. No surprise that Pixel phones aren’t on that list. “We tend to provide support based on the popularity of the devices with our customers,” Adobe said in a statement.

In contrast, Adobe is “partnering closely with Apple” to tap into ProRaw abilities. And a Google computational photography guru, Marc Levoy, has left Google and is now at Adobe, where he’s building photo technology into Adobe’s camera app.

Selling a midrange smartphone like a Pixel 5 or Pixel 4a 5G might well make sense when the COVID-19 pandemic has cost millions of jobs and made a $1,099 iPhone Pro Max unaffordable. But for people like me with a photography budget and appreciation for Google’s computational photography smarts, it’s tragic that Google has lost its lead.

Source: – CNET

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Vizio Launches New 86-Inch 4K TV – For Just $999 – Forbes

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Perhaps because it’s been a bit busy signing itself over to retail giant Walmart, things have of late been a little quieter than usual on the Vizio product front. Today, though, Vizio has broken its silence with a big – literally – announcement that seems to confirm that its long-running tradition of delivering lots of TV for surprisingly little money isn’t set to change under its new ownership.

This big news is that Vizio will be adding a new 86-inch model to its current range of 4K TVs – and will only be charging $999 for it. That’s a remarkably low launch price for such a colossal TV, and could have home cinema fans falling over themselves to get hold of one if it follows in the footsteps of many of its Vizio predecessors by performing better than its price would lead you to expect.

Set to hit US stores from April 29, the unmemorably named V4K86C-0804 is, unsurprisingly for its price, built on a fairly basic core – namely an IPS panel that doesn’t have any local dimming to bolster its contrast performance. No Quantum Dots are involved in the screen’s colour creation, either.

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It also, though, has a few features up its sleeve that suggest it’s got more going on than your typical entry level 4K TV. For instance, its high dynamic range video support includes both of the premium Dolby Vision and HDR10+ formats, with their extra scene by scene picture information, as well as the basic HDR10 and HLG formats. This means it can take in the best version of any picture source you care to play into it.

Unlike some of the other TVs in Vizio’s 4K range, the new 86-inch addition can support 120fps gaming signals – albeit at only 1080p resolutions. There doesn’t appear to be any support, though, for other HDMI 2.1 gaming features such as variable refresh rates or auto low latency game mode switching. The only HDMI 2.1 feature confirmed is eARC, enabling the TV to pass lossless multi-channel audio out to ARC-capable soundbars and AV receivers.

Other value-added features of the new Vizio 86-inch TV include DTS:X audio decoding and Dual-Band WiFi 6 connectivity, while its operating system is the revamped Vizio Home Screen system the brand introduced in 2023. Powered by SmartCast, Vizio Home Screen offers helpful smart TV features such an app ‘row’ with an easily customisable running order, support for AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, genre-based content browsing, and access to many of the most popular streaming services.

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“We’re thrilled to be able to evolve our lineup of 4K, Full HD and HD TVs, which have been a staple of at VIZIO for years and to continue to bring unprecedented value and quality to our customers,” said John Schindler, Vice President of Product Management at VIZIO. “With even more sizes and display ranges to select from, customers can enjoy precise picture quality and built-in entertainment content no matter what room in the home they are in.”

Vizio’s new 86-inch screen joins a host of affordable new king-sized arrivals from the likes of TCL, Hisense, LG and Samsung (see my recent review of the 98-inch Samsung 98Q80C) seeking to cash in on the sudden post-Covid surge in demand for cinematic experiences at home.

Related reading

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LG G4 First Look: A Promising Tale Of The Unexpected

Pioneer Unveils Two New PS5 and Xbox Series X-Friendly AV Receivers

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Record low prices hit Apple's M3 MacBook Pro 14-inch, now on sale from $1,399 – AppleInsider

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B&H has dropped MacBook Pro prices further as March comes to a close. Pick up an M3 MacBook Pro with 16GB RAM for just $1,549 — or opt for the M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14-inch for $1,699. Both are record-breaking deals.

14-inch models

16-inch models

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There are numerous MacBook Pro deals on upgraded configurations, so if you’re looking for an M3 Max configuration or extra storage, it’s worth checking out our Mac Price Guide to shop the latest sales.

Even more month-end deals on Apple

Best Apple prices

Aggressive savings are in effect now on nearly every current Mac. You can also find discounted prices on streaming services, closeout models and software. Here are a few of the top deals going on now:

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Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) New iPad Pro and iPad Air to Hit Markets Soon – TipRanks.com – TipRanks

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Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is likely to introduce its new iPad Pro and iPad Air as soon as May. The much-anticipated product launch will come just ahead of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.

End to a Long Wait

As the much-awaited moment draws near, Bloomberg reports that the tech giant’s suppliers have already ramped up production of the devices. For Apple’s devout customers, the introduction of the revamped iPads marks the end of a nearly 18-month drought of major new releases from the company. The iPads are expected to boast features such as new OLED displays for the Pro model and an option for a 12.9-inch screen for the Air model.

Revamped iPads Unleashed

The long wait for new iPad models has resulted in sluggish tablet sales for Apple in recent times. Consequently, the company will likely look to the revamped versions to boost demand. Additionally, Apple is introducing more processing power to the new versions. The Pro models will feature a new M3 chip. Similarly, the iPad Air is also receiving an upgrade with a new processor, moving from its last version’s M1 chip to the latest technology.

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What to Expect in June

Importantly, the product launches are scheduled just before Apple’s highly anticipated annual Worldwide Developers Conference. This event is slated for June 10. The iPhone maker is widely expected to unveil its AI strategy as well as software updates for its range of products at the event. 

Is Apple a Buy, Sell, or a Hold?

Apple’s share price has corrected by nearly 11% year-to-date. The Street has a cautiously optimistic stance on the stock with a Moderate Buy consensus rating. Furthermore, the average AAPL price target of $203.40 points to an 18.6% potential upside in the company’s share price.

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