Wow, hold onto your camera straps—I'm stunned by this revelation: Apple's iPhone 17 Pro might just boast the superior camera system, and Google should definitely sit up and take notice with its Pixel 10 Pro. As someone who's deeply entrenched in the Android world, I never thought I'd say that, but after pitting these two titans against each other in a rigorous photo shoot-off, my loyalties are seriously wavering. Let's dive into why this showdown has me rethinking my smartphone allegiance.
I'm not ready to make a final call on whether the iPhone 17 Pro could finally lure me away from Android for good—you can check out my initial thoughts on that here—but one thing is crystal clear: Apple is elevating its still photography game to unprecedented heights. They've introduced innovative Photographic Styles that let you tweak your shots for a personalized vibe, revamped the camera app for a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and upgraded the hardware with a dramatically better 4x telephoto sensor. For beginners, think of a telephoto sensor as the part of the camera that zooms in closely without losing quality, ideal for capturing distant subjects like wildlife or architectural details up close.
All these enhancements have me picking up the iPhone more often than usual, sparking doubts about whether the Pixel 10 Pro still reigns as my top camera choice. To resolve this once and for all, I embarked on a comprehensive test, snapping photos at various common focal lengths—those measurements that determine how wide or narrow your shot appears—to evaluate if Google's image processing still holds the crown. The results? Eye-opening, to say the least.
But here's where it gets controversial: It's a clash of cutting-edge hardware against software wizardry powered by Google's Tensor chip. Picture this matchup like two heavyweight champions in the ring. On the Android side, championing open-source freedom and adaptability, stands the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Its specs remain identical to last year's model, featuring a powerful trio of high-res cameras: a 50MP main sensor that handles most of the work, a 48MP 5x telephoto lens for zooming, and a 123-degree ultrawide sensor for sweeping landscapes. If you're new to this, ultrawide sensors capture expansive scenes, perfect for group photos or scenic vistas without distortion.
Underneath it all, the Pixel 10 Pro XL wields the new Tensor G5 chipset, bringing fresh features to the table. These include Camera Coach, which guides you to better compositions, Help Me Edit for creatively transforming your photos, and the impressive 100x Pro Res Zoom. This year's upgrade emphasizes AI algorithms from Gemini that refine and enhance zoomed-in images—though, fair warning, steer clear of using it on people to avoid ethical hiccups.
That said, software alone can't outpace shiny new hardware forever, so let's spotlight the iOS contender: the iPhone 17 Pro. It's Apple's boldest redesign yet, ditching the classic glass layers for a sleek unibody aluminum frame and expanding the camera bump into a raised plateau—reminding me a bit of Google's own camera bar, though perhaps not as sleek. And this isn't just about looks; they've leapfrogged from a modest 12MP telephoto to a whopping 48MP one, sacrificing some zoom range (from 5x to 4x) for superior detail. This allows for cropping the center of the image without quality loss, delivering up to 8x effective zoom before any digital tricks kick in. Paired with Photographic Styles and a refined Clean Up tool, the iPhone is primed for superb stills like never before.
Now, onto the shots themselves—let's break it down step by step.
Starting with ultrawide photography, I captured two scenarios using each phone's 48MP ultrawide lenses. Topping the list is a majestic tall ship docked in Baltimore's harbor, fitting snugly into the frame on both devices. But that's where the similarities fade. Apple's rendition leans darker and moodier, with a subtle blue-green tint on the vessel and the brick walkway. Surprisingly, it captures the overcast morning light more authentically, while the Pixel 10 Pro XL shines in color accuracy. Flip to the pumpkin scene below—where I aimed to exaggerate their roundness—and the tables turn: Apple's brighter tones, especially on the central orange gourd, pop vividly, whereas Google's warmer hues on the steps and house background feel cozy but maybe not entirely true-to-life. Plus, there's a hint of blur on the white pumpkin in the Pixel's shot that's absent on the iPhone, a quirk worth noting if you're shooting from awkward positions. For newcomers, ultrawide shots are great for emphasizing surroundings, like in travel photography where you want to include the full environment.
Moving to macro mode, both sensors deliver crisp close-ups, though I wish more brands adopted telephoto-based macro like Nothing's approach for even sharper results. Here, the Pixel edges out with more of the leaf in focus, while the iPhone zooms closer at a slight sharpness cost. Colors look fantastic on both, but Google's version adds an extra sheen to the leaf that Apple's keeps more natural.
And this is the part most people miss: Zoom photography, the real thrill of this test. Previously, both offered 5x optical zoom, making it a tight race. Now, Apple's telephoto defaults to a versatile 100mm equivalent (4x), while the Pixel's sits at 113mm (5x), resulting in a broader view from the iPhone that I find incredibly appealing. Take the book basket shot: the iPhone frames more of the brick wall and bench, plus extra flexibility for cropping the red brick tower at Lancaster's Central Market. The Pixel prompts 2x or 3x for portraits, giving a wider angle around a sticker-covered sign, but Apple's 100mm feels more organic. Color-wise, Apple's greens are richer and images brighter, though you can tweak exposure for drama. Overall, the results are neck-and-neck, but Apple's 4x consistency wins me over.
To go deeper, I compared their full zoom ranges from 1x to max, revealing a stark difference. They match up beautifully from 1x to 8x (10x for Pixel) in detail and color, but beyond that, the iPhone lacks preset focal stops—no handy haptic feedback for 20x or 40x zooms. You rely on steady hands and luck. Meanwhile, Google's AI-driven Pro Res Zoom excels at 30x and 50x, sharpening the cross on a nearby steeple's spire with warmer tones, and even capturing birds more clearly—though at 100x, artifacts creep in as Gemini pushes to recover tiny details. For example, imagine zooming in on a distant concert stage; Google's tech pulls out more info, but it might introduce digital noise.
Honestly, I'm floored, but I have to admit: The iPhone 17 Pro's camera outshines for stills among Android rivals. Sure, it falls short on extreme zoom compared to the Pixel 10 Pro XL, but for daily use, it's my go-to. Hitting Apple's preset zooms guarantees solid results, and its warm color palette is Instagram-ready. With the Pixel, I can reach far-off scenes like Baltimore harbor at 30x-plus via Gemini, which is cool, but do I really need that? My typical max is 10x-15x, say at a live event.
When not zooming, the Pixel's edge in processing has narrowed; its video lags behind iPhone, and Apple's Clean Up is closing the gap on Magic Editor.
For the first time in my Android Authority journey, I'm considering keeping an iPhone handy longer post-review.
What do you think? Is Apple's focus on practical, everyday zoom the smarter move, or does Google's AI-powered extremes give it the real advantage? Do you side with hardware upgrades or software smarts in camera battles? Share your opinions in the comments—we'd love to hear if this flips your smartphone preferences too!
