iPhone XS and XS Max vs. iPhone X: Camera Shootout

The XS iPhone and XS Max pack great cameras, but on paper they can not seem like big enough over the iPhone X. Think again. The addition of Smart HDR, a pair of the powerful A12 Bionic processor, which improves the quality of photographs taken by Apple's new iPhones.

We decided to pit the new iPhones against the old one in a camera shootout to highlight these improvements. We interchange the iPhone XS and XS Max, because the cameras are exactly the same.

Strong lighting conditions

We're going to be mentioning Smart HDR a lot, so let's first break down what it means. It's a new feature enabled in the XS iPhone and XS Max camera, and it uses the power of the A12 Bionic processor inside. How? The camera takes a wide variety of photographs from seconds to seconds after you tap the shutter icon. These are taken at numerous exposures and speeds, and the best of each other is combined to form a well-balanced photo (the speed at which all of this is barely noticeable thanks to the A12 processor). Doing all this means the iPhone can now handle high-contrast scenarios, such as when you have a bright sky and a dark foreground, much better than before.

For example, take a look at the picture of the clouds. It's a good comparison showing the differences between the iPhone X and the iPhone XS. The sky looks a little overexposed on the iPhone X Photo, enough to mask intricate cloud patterns. Those patterns are visible on the iPhone XS photo, and you can see the sky as well, and the clouds more defined. More importantly, the buildings in the foreground are brighter, delivering a much more balanced photograph.

This is even more apparent in the photograph of the woman in the middle of a New York City street. This is a Fashion Photo Portrait, but a regular shot. XS fares – the colors are more accurate, especially the skin tone, but what really shines is Smart HDR again. Take a look at the woman's forehead, nose, and the background of the iPhone X Photo: It's all overexposed. The difference when you then glimpse at the iPhone XS photo is startling.

The differences between the XS and XS Max over the iPhone X can be subtle, but in almost every case, the iPhone XS wins out thanks to Smart HDR. Case in point are the following two photos:

These are two great-looking photos, but the one we'd pick to share is from the iPhone XS. The iPhone X Photo Shoots Overexposed overall, from the clouds reflecting on the glass to the amber lights inside the building. Zoom in closer, and you'll also read more on the iPhone X photo. Smart HDR can be turned off, but we've got a good reason to do that.

Low light

The XS iPhone and XS Max also have larger image sensors than the iPhone X, which means you should be better exposed to low-light photographs with less noise. Smart HDR also helps work wonders here. In both these photos of the New York City skyline, it's easy to see how quickly the iPhone X lights up, and even the billboard on the bottom of the photo with the World Trade Center.

Better yet, look at the color of the sky in the photos with the water tank on the top left. The iPhone X photo has a yellowish hue, but the XS 'photo is bluer and it looks more natural. There's also much less noise in the XS picture. All of this can be applied to the second photo that has the World Trade Center in it.

These next few photos are mostly taken in low light, which is the scenario we try to test the most, as many flagship smartphones can handle bright environments well. XS camera is better, and how. The photo of the subway entrance is one of our favorites – the iPhone XS got the color tone right, but it did not overexpose the subway sign. The next photo from the High Line is another testament to the benefits of Smart HDR. Everything is much brighter, and if you zoom in on the cars, you can see how much more XS photo offers.

The changes in the last photo are a little more subtle, but they still have to do with light. You can see the film on the XS photo, while it's too overexposed on the iPhone X photo. This also applies to the lanterns, they are too bright on the iPhone X photo.

Food

It's not always an easy win for the iPhone XS, though. In this food photo, while we do think the iPhone XS takes the photo we want to share, we would not be surprised if you opted for the iPhone X photo brighter. The focus is on the iPhone – the wooden spoon is more in focus – but neither are too grainy. Both work well, but the iPhone XS is more true to reality; the scene was definitely not as bright as the iPhone X picture makes it out to be.

Portrait Fashion

There have been improvements to Portrait Mode, especially with its accuracy in identifying subjects and applying bokeh, or blur, around them. The accuracy of the cutout is the subject of the camera, but you can see how Smart HDR vastly improves the iPhone XS Portrait Mode photo. It does not overexpose the sunlight hitting the woman's forehead or in the background; instead, skin tone is much more realistic and natural, and the iPhone X delivers a stronger photo.

It's not all perfect. XS still makes mistakes. In the iPhone X photo, the picture is more accurate than the iPhone XS photo (look at the right of the XS photo). However, Smart HDR does make the XS photo the one we want to share. Look at the digital billboards in the background – they're all completely blown out on the iPhone X photo.

Zoom in closer to the subject, and you will notice there is a stronger level of detail on the iPhone X photo. The iPhone XS is slightly softer portraits, but we do not think this is a "beauty fashion" as some have suggested. Instead, it looks like the softer image – it's more about noise reduction – look at the subject's shirt, and you'll notice it does not matter as much as it does in the iPhone X photo. We believe it's because of Apple's new stronger noise-reduction technique, and there also seems to be a slight dip in contrast.

We snapped a few photos from the iPhone 6S, the iPhone 8 Plus, the iPhone X, and the iPhone XS to compare selfies from the front-facing camera (including two Portrait Fashion Selfies with the X and the XS). Despite the face, the XS photos are the best overall. The lack of Smart HDR on the other phones mean a blown-out background, though you can see a stronger stronger level of contrast.

We still prefer the end result of the iPhone XS – Smart HDR is worth it. If it's not for you Settings> Camera and toggling off Smart HDR.

The XS iPhone and XS Max cameras are much improved over the iPhone X. Do we still think you should upgrade? No, unless you're serious iPhone photographer or you just want the latest and greatest. You can learn more about iPhone and iPhone XS Max reviews.