I’m currently testing the Pixel 11 Pro XL and sharing some interesting findings ahead of my full review. One of the features I was most excited to try is the new option to shoot portraits with the 5X telephoto camera.
Pixel phones have offered a 5X telephoto camera for several generations now (from the Pixel 7 Pro in fact), but only the 11 Pro series allows you to use that camera in portrait mode.
That matters because in previous years portrait mode specifically was one of the Pixel's weaknesses. For some reason, possibly because of some strange processing, portrait photos had less detail than regular photos. The Pixel 10 Pro XL made some improvements last year, but it still couldn't match the Apple and Samsung rivals.
Every photo in this comparison was taken with the native telephoto lens: 5X on the Pixel and Galaxy, and 4X on the iPhone. That explains the slightly different framing that you can see in the shots.
I also used the default background blur/bokeh setting.
At first look, the three portraits look remarkably similar. The Pixel captures a slightly colder image than the iPhone and Galaxy, but I actually think that was the right call for this scene.
Look closer, though, and you will notice quite a bit of a difference.
The Galaxy clearly captures more detail than the other two. The Pixel comes in a close second, while the iPhone appears lacking detail significantly (maybe the different focal distance played a role).
For the next shot, I stepped way back for more of a full-body shot, and this is where things become even more interesting.
The iPhone was the only one to fail with background blur in this test | Image by PhoneArena
The iPhone was the only phone that struggled with background separation, leaving a few spots unblurred. Both the Pixel and the Galaxy handled this much better.
In the third portrait, it's clear that the Pixel prefers a slightly darker exposure. I honestly don't mind this, as the result still looks natural and well-balanced.
100% Crops
Zoom in, though, and you see that the Galaxy once again wins this round easily. It just preserves more facial detail. The Pixel is definitely not as detailed, while the iPhone appears downright blurry when you look up close.
If you ask me, the Galaxy wins this round by a landslide.
Which phone do you prefer: the Pixel, the iPhone or the Galaxy?
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Victor, a seasoned mobile technology expert, has spent over a decade at PhoneArena, exploring the depths of mobile photography and reviewing hundreds of smartphones across Android and iOS ecosystems. His passion for technology, coupled with his extensive knowledge of smartphone cameras and battery life, has positioned him as a leading voice in the mobile tech industry.
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