Google Pixel 2 vs. iPhone 8: Which Phone Has the Better Camera and Portrait Mode?

By Edward Leano, Christian Post Contributor Friday, October 20, 2017

Google Pixel 2 is now out and ready for some real-world user reviews. One of the first things that users and media outlets did is to check out the new camera, especially compared to the dual-camera iPhone 8 Plus.

The result is a tight race, which only says great things about what Google was able to achieve with just a single lens and sensor on the rear. That said, there are some details that Google can stand to improve in the Pixel 2's imaging system, particularly when it comes to the Portrait Mode.

Portrait Mode, a feature that blurs the background of photos to separate the main subject better, was one of the things tested by CNET using the Pixel 2 and the iPhone 8 Plus.

The new Pixel's Lens Blur mode, as Google calls its version of the effect, makes use of image processing software to blur the background captured by a single f/1.8 aperture lens. The result can be a hit or miss, with hair strands and arms blurred in what seems like a haphazard manner.

The iPhone 8 Plus does better with its f/1.8 wide-angle lens combined with a f/2.8 telephoto in this mode, as BGR notes. Apple's new handset just has more raw data to use for a more accurate background blur, and the result is a more consistent DSLR-like effect.

The other strong points of the iPhone 8 Plus camera comes in shots where an extreme close-up of the subject is needed. Once again, the extra lens helps a lot with that. The new dual-camera setup also does well in low-light photography, provided that flash is used.

The Pixel 2, meanwhile, just offers sharper photos in most situations by default. The difference is most noticeable in landscape and scenery shots, with the new Pixel delivering more detail.

Color accuracy of photos taken with the new Pixel is spot-on, as well, compared to the iPhone 8's extra saturated shots. On the traditional strong suit of the Pixel series, the low-light shot, the Pixel 2 simply beats the iPhone 8 Plus hands down.

The Google Pixel 2 has been available for retail on Verizon, the exclusive carrier of the new flagship phone, since Thursday, Oct. 19. Pre-orders should have also been arriving since that date as well.