Pixel 7 Pro: Super Res Zoom compared with other smartphones
12.10.2022
Translation: Eva Francis
Google is full of praise for the new Super Res Zoom the Pixel 7 Pro is equipped with. Is it really that good? Let’s compare with other smartphones.
At the unveiling of the Pixel 7 Pro, Google spent a lot of time explaining how they’ve improved the zoom. The telephoto camera doesn’t always use its full resolution, but merges four pixels into one to deliver photos with 12.5 megapixels. This means that it can only work and zoom with the 12.5 megapixels in the centre. On top of this, the software also improves the result with image processing.
I visit Hamburg’s fish market to try out how well this works by taking pictures of sights in the harbour from a distance. I compare the result with that of other top smartphones, which I also expect to offer good image quality when zooming. Which devices? The OnePlus 10 Pro, the Huawei P50 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 and the Xiaomi 12T Pro.
5x zoom: good results throughout
At first glance, all photos taken of Blohm & Voss’s Dock 11 look good on the smartphone displays at five times zoom.
On the PC or notebook screen, it becomes obvious that the blue crane is completely blurred on the picture taken with the P50 Pro while the OnePlus 10 Pro captured the details in the crane frames very sharply and without colour fringes – however with a lot of image noise when viewed at full size. In the picture taken with the Pixel 7 Pro, the font on the floating dock looks a bit sharper and the grain on the crane superstructures is more visible. It turns into a yellow area on the photo taken with the Xiaomi 12T Pro and Huawei P50 Pro. The Galaxy Fold 4 performs inconspicuously well.
10x zoom: obvious quality differences
The differences become clearer at tenfold zoom.
When capturing the Elbphilharmonie, the pictures taken with the Pixel 7 Pro and the Huawei P50 Pro are better than the others. When viewed in original size, the picture taken with the P50 Pro looks like an oil painting. That one captured with the Pixel 7 Pro doesn’t look like a painting and is somewhat sharper, but also more pixelated. However, you won’t be able to tell with the image size displayed here on the website without enlargening it. In this size, the photo taken with the Xiaomi 12T Pro is the only one that stands out.
30x zoom: the best among the bad
The Xiaomi 12T Pro offers no more than ten times zoom and therefore doesn’t take part in the challenge of capturing the «Rickmer Rickmers» sailing ship.
Maybe it’s better that way. Why? The Pixel 7 Pro clearly outclasses the competition when it comes to 30x zoom – but still delivers a poor photo.
Good, but not at maximum zoom
My verdict? Google doesn’t make empty promises when it comes to the Super Res Zoom. Compared with the competitors I chose in this article, the Pixel 7 Pro performs best. However, don’t use more than ten times zoom if you want to get presentable pictures.
If you want to see the photos in full resolution, you can download them here.
Smartphones
Returned & Tested
EUR1000,46
Google Pixel 7 Pro
256 GB, Hazel, 6.70", SIM + eSIM, 50 Mpx, 5G
EUR631,79
Google Pixel 7 Pro
128 GB, Hazel, 6.70", SIM + eSIM, 50 Mpx, 5G
Google Pixel 7 Pro
128 GB, White, 6.70", SIM + eSIM, 50 Mpx, 5G
EUR510,51
Google Pixel 7 Pro
128 GB, Obsidian, 6.70", SIM + eSIM, 50 Mpx, 5G
Returned & Tested
EUR1000,46
Google Pixel 7 Pro
256 GB, Hazel, 6.70", SIM + eSIM, 50 Mpx, 5G
EUR811,99
Google Pixel 7 Pro
256 GB, White, 6.70", SIM + eSIM, 50 Mpx, 5G
Google Pixel 7 Pro
256 GB, Obsidian, 6.70", SIM + eSIM, 50 Mpx, 5G
When I was but a young student, I'd sit in my friend's living room with all my classmates and play on his SuperNES. Since then I've had the opportunity to test out all the newest technology for you. I've done reviews at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, and have now arrived at Galaxus.de.