Google Pixel 2 Tops DxOMark Smartphone Camera List

The Pixel 2 is now the highest rated smartphone camera on the market, according to DxOMark. The device beats out the iPhone 8 Plus by about one week and the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 by just one day. DxOMark has given the Pixel 2 a rating of 98, while the iPhone 8 Plus and Galaxy Note 8 are rated at 94.

Google introduced the Pixel smartphone like in 2016 and at that time, the Pixel had the DxOMark rating of 90. Since then several smartphones have released vying for the number one spot. Other devices to top the list include the iPhone 8, with a rating of 92 and the HTC U11, which also has a rating of 90. Notably, the Pixel and Pixel 2 are both reportedly manufactured by HTC.

The Google Pixel 2 features a single 12.2-megapixel lens with a f/1.8 aperture, HDR, OIS and a new autofocus mechanism. The device also introduced to the Pixel line, Portrait Mode, which allows users to take stylized photos with sharp foregrounds and blurred backgrounds. Many devices, including the iPhone 8 Plus and Galaxy Note 8 use a dual-camera system to achieve this effect. The Pixel 2 users a single lens with a dual pixel sensor and machine learning to create Portrait Mode. Google notes the feature on the Pixel 2 works well for focusing on objects as well as people. The feature is also enabled on the front-facing camera of the Pixel 2, allowing for Portrait Mode selfies.

Other features on the Google Pixel 2 camera include fused video stabilization, which allows the camera to utilize optical image stabilization (OIS) and electronic image stabilization (EIS) at the same time. This allows the camera to capture video with less disruption even it if the handset is not steady. Motion Photos captures a few seconds of video before and after a still photo to create an animated gift, similar to Apple’s Live Photos.

Google announced during its launch event Wednesday that the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will come with free unlimited storage for all images and video taken with the devices.

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are currently available for preorder and will be available Oct. 19. The 5-inch Pixel 2 will sell for $649 starting and the 6-inch Pixel 2 XL will sell for $849 starting.