Sony Xperia X vs iPhone 6s: which has the better camera?

If in 1876 someone told Mr Alexander G. Bell that the telephones of the future would also take photographs, he would have probably laughed at their silly prediction. Yet here we are, 140 years later – everyone and their grandma now owns a phone with a camera. In fact, smartphones have long surpassed point-and-shoot cameras in popularity. That's likely why our smartphone camera comparisons draw the attention of so many of our readers and tend to spark heated discussions in the comments.

Today's camera comparison isn't likely to be any different. The star of the show is the Sony Xperia X – the company's latest leading phone. One of its key highlights is the 23MP main camera with super-fast autofocus, object tracking capabilities, and extra-wide field of view. Sounds great on paper, but its opponent, the iPhone 6s, is not one to be underestimated. Its 12MP camera is loved by millions of users for its ability to take great photos with ease, without the need to mess around with settings. 

Here's an overview of what these two phones have to offer in terms of camera specs:

It should be noted that while Xperia X boasts a 23MP camera sensor, we've taken the photos at 8MP of resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio. This is the default shooting mode set on the device and the one most people are likely to use. Also, the slide-over galleries used below contain cropped-scaled down photos for easier general comparison. The original, full-resolution photos can be found in a gallery at the very bottom of this article. With all of this cleared up, let us comment on some photos.

Someone got really wet soon after they took these photos, but the view of the storm cloud stampede was worth the discomfort. Anyway, right from the start, it becomes clear that the two cameras may have a strikingly different way of "seeing" things. The Sony Xperia X has gone for a colder tone, which is actually fitting for this particular scene, while the iPhone leans on the warmer side, as it tends to do. Overall, the Xperia's image gets closer to reality, while the iPhone's photo appears a tad forced and artificial in tone. As far as detail quality goes, both cameras have captured plenty of it, allowing us to zoom in and explore the images from up close.