Camera Shootout: Galaxy S9+ vs. Pixel 2 XL

We’ve got the Galaxy S9+ in the building, and while we’re working to have our complete review up this week, we’d like to take a bit to focus on a primary aspect of Samsung’s latest, that of course being the dual rear-facing cameras.

Samsung has been known to release some great mobile cameras, with the Galaxy S9+ being the first to feature dual shooters on the backside in the Galaxy S lineup. The Galaxy Note 8 launched with dual cameras last year, and on this phone, it’s nearly the same setup. On the S9+, there is a wide-angle 12-megapixel with dual aperture functionality (F1.5/F2.4), as well as a telephoto 12-megapixel sensor (F2.4). Both sensors feature optical image stabilization (OIS), which means better shots when you’re moving around.

To get a sense of just how good the Galaxy S9+ can shoot, we’re putting it up against another one of the best mobile photography experiences, the Pixel 2 XL. As we all know, the Pixel 2 XL is capable of great shots, with very fast auto focus and impeccable color accuracy. In terms of raw point and shoot capability, it doesn’t get much better than the Pixel 2 XL, so putting these two devices against one another only seems right.

For software, the S9+ has a lot more going on than the Pixel 2 XL. There is a comprehensive Pro mode for tweaking individual values for shots, Hyperlapse, a mode for shooting food exclusively, as well as live filters for setting the mood in a shot. This is much more than the Pixel 2 XL offers, but that’s not so surprising.

As for simply pulling the camera out and shooting, which is what this shootout mainly focuses on, both cameras perform very well. The S9+ is quick to focus and I found that you can get a lot of shots off in a small amount of time should your lighting be alright. The less the camera has to think, the faster it is. I’ll get more in the nitty gritty of the camera later this week, but it’s really safe to say that probably any flagship smartphone this year will have a solid camera experience.

I’ll let the photos speak for themselves. No editing besides resizing has been done to them.

Galaxy S9+ (left), Pixel 2 XL (right)