Key Takeaways
1. The iPhone 17 Pro features an advanced telephoto lens, potentially shifting the smartphone camera rankings.
2. The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL currently outperforms the iPhone 16 Pro Max, according to DxOMark evaluations.
3. The Pixel 10 Pro XL received high scores for its ultra-wide camera and video quality, including a top score of 145 points in video tests.
4. The camera excels in exposure, dynamic range, white balance, and detail from its 5x telephoto lens.
5. Areas for improvement include enhancing the bokeh effect in portraits, medium-range zoom detail, and reducing flare in outdoor images.
When Apple reveals its top-tier iPhone 17 Pro, featuring what is claimed to be the most advanced telephoto lens in any smartphone to date, the leaderboard for the best camera phones could shift. Yet, as of now, Google’s latest camera flagship has surpassed the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The freshly released DxOMark camera evaluation of the Pixel 10 Pro XL is very favorable, even though last year’s Pixel 9 Pro had snagged the second position, just behind the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra.
2025 Rankings and Performance
In 2025, it managed to take the fourth position, which is still impressive as it sits within the top 5, trailing the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra, Oppo Find X8 Ultra, and Vivo X200 Ultra. It may come as a surprise that the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s ultra-wide camera got the highest score in the video test with 145 points, outdoing the X200 Ultra. Vivo’s flagship, equipped with a 1/1.28-inch sensor and 4K120 support, should theoretically perform better than the Pixel 10 Pro, but this is only true in the photo category. It’s puzzling why the Pixel 10 Pro is deemed the best in this segment, and this isn’t the first time DxOMark has faced some backlash regarding its smartphone camera rankings.
Camera Quality Insights
The review highlights the excellent exposure and dynamic range of images and videos captured with the Pixel 10 Pro XL, emphasizing its accurate white balance and natural skin tone rendering. In comparison to other models, it showed a low propensity for artifacts and a reliable autofocus system. The impressive detail from the 5x telephoto lens was also commended.
Areas for Improvement
There were not many drawbacks noted. Nevertheless, Google could enhance the bokeh effect in portrait mode and medium-range zoom shots, which currently lack a bit of detail. Furthermore, reviewers observed some flare in outdoor images, and low-light captures miss some detail when compared to rival devices. You can view the complete camera assessment here. Below are three comparison images shared on X, illustrating how the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL stacks up against its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
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