Camera shootout - Google Pixel 4 vs Pixel 3 vs Pixel 2 vs Pixel - Android
Google is known for its computational photography advancements, and the Google Pixel 3 managed to keep its title as one of the best camera phones until just recently. The Google Pixel 4 is finally here and of course you want to know how good the camera is. We have already compared the Pixel 4 to its main competitors. In this camera shootout we aim to find out just how much better the Pixel 4 is compared to its own predecessors — or if it’s worth the upgrade at all.
This camera shootout includes the Google Pixel 4, Pixel 3, Pixel 2, and Pixel. We took these phones on a stroll around New York City and snapped identical photos with each, in different environments and lighting situations. Read on to find out how the Pixel 4 stacks up against the rest of the Pixel family!
Also read: Photography terms explained: ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and more
It’s hard to rate daylight images, as even affordable smartphones can produce great photos when there is ample lighting to work with. The differences are in the details. We need to pay very close attention to exposure, color, white balance, dynamic range, detail, and texture to spot what separates the field.
Google Pixel 4 Google Pixel 3 
Google Pixel 2 Google Pixel 
Keep in mind that Pixels use similar software. All these images look great, but there are some slight differences you might want to keep an eye on. HDR Plus improvements even out exposure, as well as expand dynamic range. There are clearly more details in the Pixel 4 image’s shadows. Take a look at cars under the bridge, for example. There is also more detail in the buildings’ window outlines and textures.
Google Pixel 4 Google Pixel 3 
Google Pixel 2 Google Pixel 
Google’s software, which is the line-up’s most powerful asset, ensures that these images look similar. There is, however, more detail in the shadows in the tree to the right of the frame. The Pixel 4 seems to handle white balance better, as the Pixel 3 shows a purple tint, while the Pixel 1 displays a warmer hue. Also, if you look very closely you can see a wider color gamut in the trees across the lake.
Google Pixel 4 Google Pixel 3 
Google Pixel 2 Google Pixel 
There is a surprisingly bigger difference among these images in the color department. The Pixel 4 displays a wider color spectrum, with the different colors in each individual flower readily more apparent to the eye and displaying more vibrance. The latest Pixel also seems to deliver better white balance, as the Pixel 3 has a slight purple tint and the Pixel 2 has a cooler hue.
Google Pixel 4 Google Pixel 3 
Google Pixel 2 Google Pixel 
All four devices measured light differently. Lighting changing in the real-world environment may have been a factor, but in this section we are focusing on detail, so let’s not worry too much about exposure.
The Pixel 4 goes above and beyond here. Take a look at the lounge area in the terrace (lower-right corner) and you will see flowers pop more in the Pixel 4 image. Further, the wooden sidewalk cover across the street displays much crisper and detailed wood. Zooming into the walls across the street we also see finely detailed bricks and improved textures. Even the Pixel 3 struggles to match the latest Google phone.
Google Pixel 4 Google Pixel 3 
Google Pixel 2 Google Pixel 
Differences in exposure aside, we can see the Google Pixel 4 reveals more texture on building walls, as well as detail in the trees in the distance. Needless to say, shadows and highlights, as well as color and white balance, are better handled by the Pixel 4 than its predecessors.
To better understand dynamic range, you can read our dedicated post. In a nutshell, dynamic range refers to a camera’s ability to pick up detail at the exposure extremes in a scene, from the darkest to the brightest areas. Cameras with bad dynamic range will more easily either blow out highlights or black out shadows.
Google Pixel 4 Google Pixel 3 
Google Pixel 2 Google Pixel 
In this image, we can see how dynamic range from Pixel phones has improved over time. Take a close look at the wooden posts in the tunnel’s ceiling and the bright area at the end of the tunnel. The first Pixel blows out the highlights and has less detail in the shadows. Exposure balance gets better progressively, from the Pixel 2 through the 3 and 4, with the 4 offering the best dynamic range.
Google Pixel 4 Google Pixel 3 
Google Pixel 2 Google Pixel 
This specific image is very hard to shoot because the scene has both extremely bright and very dark areas. The camera and software must perform a lot of processing to balance exposure. Take a look at the trees across the lake and buildings in the distance to spot the differences in exposure, contrast, detail, and improved dynamic range. Again, the improvements per generation here are obvious, with the Pixel 4 trumping its predecessors.
It’s after the sun goes down that we start to see the real differences between these four cameras. The tiny sensors struggle to capture light in order to get as much detail as possible. Software then takes the image and makes some hard decisions. Do you remove all the noise and risk softening a photo too much? White balance is also something to keep in mind, and most phones fail to get true hues and tints in the process. The device must also figure out what to expose for.
Google Pixel 4 Google Pixel 3 
Google Pixel 2 Google Pixel 