Recent DxOMark evaluations have revealed a surprising trend: Chinese smartphone manufacturers are rapidly closing the gap on Apple in terms of camera performance. While the iPhone 16 Pro Max remains a formidable contender, it has been outshone by rivals like the vivo X100 Pro, Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and HUAWEI Pura 70 Ultra in key areas like telephoto and ultrawide photography.
Telephoto Triumphs for Chinese Phones
When comparing telephoto capabilities, Chinese devices excelled in capturing detail, especially at long distances. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra and vivo X100 Pro, in particular, impressed with their ability to preserve skin tones and minimize noise.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the other hand, struggled with noise and softer details.
Ultrawide Woes for iPhone
The iPhone 16 Pro Max’s ultrawide camera also fell short. Compared to the sharper and cleaner images from HUAWEI and vivo, the iPhone’s ultrawide shots appeared softer and noisier. Even Xiaomi’s ultrawide, though slightly oversaturated, offered more detail than Apple’s.
Software and Hardware Advantage for Chinese Brands
These results highlight the significant strides made by Chinese smartphone manufacturers in image processing. While the iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts powerful hardware, it seems that software optimizations and superior sensor resolutions are giving Android flagships the edge in certain areas.
The days of Apple’s undisputed dominance in smartphone photography may be numbered. Chinese brands are rapidly closing the gap and, in some cases, surpassing their American counterpart. As the competition intensifies, consumers can expect even more impressive camera performance from top-tier smartphones in the future.
