Sony Xperia X vs Samsung Galaxy S7: which has the better camera?
Remember how back in the old days people took pictures of their dinner, brought the film to Wallgreens to have it developed, then sent dozens of copies to their friends over the mail? No, of course you don't because nobody was crazy enough to bother. Then smartphones came along, and all of a sudden, we started sharing more than just food photos. We now document every major and not-so-major event – be it a birthday party, an exercise routine, or the act of walking the dog in the morning – all accompanied by the appropriate #hashtags, of course. This is why camera quality is of utmost importance to most smartphone buyers. This is also why we do camera comparisons all the time.
The Sony Xperia X is now the star of another camera comparison. On its back resides one of its key stand-out features – a 23MP camera with super-fast autofocus and extra-wide lens. In the opposite corner, the Samsung Galaxy S7 will be standing its ground with its 12MP shooter. Samsung's flagship is known for its excellent camera and image quality, but who knows, perhaps the Xperia X might give it a run for its money. That's what we're here to find out.
Here's an overview of what these two phones have to offer in terms of camera specs:
| Camera Specs | ||
| Sony Xperia X | Samsung Galaxy S7 | |
| Resolution and aspect ratio | 23MP @ 4:3 5520 x 4140 pixels | 12MP @ 4:3 4032 x 3024 pixels |
| Sensor and pixel size | 1/2.3" 1.12 μm | 1/2.5" 1.4 μm |
| Focal length and aperture | 24 mm F2.0 | 26 mm F1.7 |
| Focus and stabilization | Phase detection AF Object tracking Optical stabilization | Dual Pixel AF Object tracking (off by default) Optical stabilization |
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.
Scene 1: Ivy
We've said it before and we'll say it again: more pixels don't always translate to a better camera. The Xperia X is an ideal example of that. Despite the higher megapixel count, its camera has not resolved details very well, especially if we look at areas far from the center of the frame. Of course, the image is perfectly usable, but the better detail captured in the Galaxy S7's photo should be easy to see. As far as color accuracy goes, it could have been better with both cameras. The warmer hue presented by the Galaxy S7 looks somewhat artificial, while the Xperia X has gone for a colder, somewhat overexposed look. Overall, the Galaxy S7 scores a point this round for its clearer, sharper image.
Winner in Scene 1: Galaxy S7