When it comes to smartphones, people often have a bias toward their favorite brands. A loyal iPhone user, for instance, will always find a reason to stick to Apple’s lineup. Similarly, there are loyal Samsung and Vivo fans who always upgrade to newer phones from the brands. However, bias often restricts people from looking at things objectively.
Camera results are similar, as users often make up things to appreciate their smartphone. However, what if we place pictures clicked by different handsets side-by-side without telling people about the phone they were clicked with? Will it make a difference? This is essentially what a blind test is: you get to see different pictures and choose your pick without any biases or prejudices.
Blind tests like these help us get a clear idea of what seems the best from a bunch of available options. The participants in this test had no choice but to vote for a picture, which led to some very interesting results. So, without any further ado, let’s dive into the Vivo X100 Pro vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max blind camera test.
We’ll go through five different scenarios, depicting what the flagships can click in ultrawide mode and the 1x, 2x, 5x, and 10x zoom options, discussing which phones performed the best and which got the most votes. So, there’ll be a people’s choice winner (based on the number of votes) and an editorial choice winner (the phone that clicks the most accurate colors and retains details in shadows/bright parts).
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Blind Camera Test: iPhone 15 Pro Max Is The Popular Choice For Ultrawide
- Vivo X100 Pro: 4.7 MB JPG
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: 4.1 MB JPG
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: 2.2 MB HEIC
For the blind camera test, we went to the largest shopping mall in Lucknow, Lulu. To click the ultrawide shot, we chose a scene that contains the vast roofline. The four pillars are located at least 15 to 20 steps away from each other, while the ceiling is about 20 to 25 feet high. Now that you have an idea of what’s in the scene, let’s discuss the pictures clicked by the flagships.
In this particular blind test, it was the iPhone 15 Pro Max that came out on the top. Out of the 611 votes, a whopping 44 percent were for the image from the phone’s 12MP (f/2.2, 120-degree) ultrawide shooter. Looking at the collage, it’s clear why Apple’s latest flagship takes away the medal. First, it has maintained an excellent dynamic range. Notice how the ceiling at the top looks the brightest of all three images.
At the same time, the phone has retained some detail in the interiors of the Adidas showroom, which is visible in the background. In fact, the ultrawide shot from the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the closest to what was visible to the naked eye. With 34 percent votes, the Galaxy S24 Ultra (review) took the second spot in the ultrawide blind test. For what it’s worth, the handset’s 12MP (f/2.2, 120-degree) ultrawide camera also retained excellent details in the darker areas.
The Vivo X100 Pro received 21 percent of the votes in this comparison, mostly because it chose a more contrasty look. Giving credit where due, the picture would have looked great if it was isolated. However, the other two phones did a better job of maintaining the dynamic range.
Blind Camera Test: S24 Ultra Is The Popular 1x Choice
- Vivo X100 Pro: 5.9 MB JPG
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: 4.5 MB JPG
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: 3.6 MB HEIC
For the regular 1x shot, the Korean tech giant’s Galaxy S24 Ultra emerges as the winner. Out of the 771 votes, the Samsung flagship got 41 percent, primarily because it produces the most accurate colors, rendering the most accurate depiction of what one could see with one’s eyes.
The image signal processor on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and the pixel-binned 200MP (f/1.7) primary camera has managed to strike the perfect balance between producing accurate colors and maintaining some contrast to add a sense of background/foreground separation.
Surprisingly, it was a close call between the S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The latter secured 40 percent of the votes (three less than the former) to secure second place, which is a bit odd, given that the picture accentuates the blue and green tones in the image. We believe the Vivo X100 Pro and the Galaxy S24 Ultra did a better job of reproducing the most accurate colors in this scenario.
Nonetheless, people prefer the 15 Pro Max’s 48MP (f/1.8) image over the X100 Pro’s 50MP (f/1.8) image. It is worth mentioning that the X100 Pro did a fantastic job of retaining details in the slightly darker area in the background, where the cafe’s staff member is standing. However, it still ended up getting 19 percent votes in the 1x blind camera test.
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Blind Camera Test: Vivo’s Turns The Tables In A Slightly Zoomed-In Picture
- Vivo X100 Pro: 4.5 MB JPG
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: 3.3 MB JPG
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: 1.6 MB HEIC
For the third sample, we decided to zoom in a little on the shoe outlet in the mall. The pictures were taken from the in-sensor crop all the phones provide, thanks to their high-resolution primary cameras, and the results speak for themselves. Out of 852 participants, 39 percent voted for the Vivo X100 Pro (review), and here’s why we think that happened.
Notice how the corridor in the front of the outlet appears brighter (even though there are brighter areas where the sunlight hits directly). Second, look inside the Skechers outlet, and you’ll notice that the Vivo X100 Pro has maintained some exposure in the more far-fetched areas captured in the image. Last but not least, it is the most accurate rendition of what was visible from the vantage point, making the X100 Pro both the popular and the editorial choice.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max gave Vivo tough competition but missed the top position by five votes. It came in second, with 38 percent of participants voting in favor of it. While the picture is more contrasty, what’s phenomenal is how the handset packs in so many images in a picture that’s half the size of others, thanks to the HEIC format. Upon close observation, the shadows appear slightly on the warmer side.
The S24 Ultra gets 23 percent votes. Notice how the showroom area appears dull compared to the Vivo X100 Pro. The ISP went for higher contrasts in the image, which resulted in lower exposure and dynamic range. Anyways, 23 percent is not a small number, indicating that there are people who prefer Samsung’s picture over others.
Blind Camera Test: iPhone’s 5x Optical Zoom Lens Wins By A Landslide
- Vivo X100 Pro: 7.7 MB JPG
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: 4.8 MB JPG
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: 2.3 MB HEIC
For the first time in a test, a phone has won a scenario with more than 50 percent votes, and that’s the iPhone 15 Pro Max. To test the 5x optical zoom test, we went to one of the most popular locations in Lucknow, the Jaineshwar Mishra Park. Notice how I am standing with my back facing the sun, creating a shadow in the front, making it tricky for the camera to balance the colors and the overall dynamic range.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max came in first place, winning the test with a whopping 58 percent of the votes (out of 675). And yes, we would agree that it is the most vibrant, sunny picture. The 12MP (f/2.8) periscope telephoto lens has done a fantastic job capturing all the minute details, such as the facial hair, the trees in the background, etc. However, the prevailing warm tone has made the blue stripes on the shirt disappear. Further, it has also added a yellowish tint to the facial skin.
Further, the cemented pavement wasn’t as yellow as the picture shows. From an editorial standpoint, the Vivo X100 Pro has done a better job. It also secured the second position with 30 percent of the votes. Whether it is the trees in the background, the true-to-life skin tone, or the visible blue lines on the shirt, we believe that the X100 Pro produced more accurate colors.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra took a very similar picture to the X100 Pro. However, the change in pose could have been the reason the picture didn’t get many votes. In isolation, it does a pretty good job of reproducing the colors and managing the stark difference between the light on the front and the back. Further, the subtle blue lines on the shirt are also visible.
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Blind Camera Test: Vivo X100 Pro Steals The 10x Show
- Vivo X100 Pro: 4.7 MB JPG
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: 2.3 MB JPG
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: 1.7 MB HEIC
Returning the favor, the Vivo X100 Pro came out on top in the 10x blind camera test. Of the 692 participants, 63 percent voted for the Vivo X100 Pro’s 10x shot; we can clearly tell why. Even with no direct light, the X100 Pro’s 50MP (f/2.5) periscope sensor clicked a crisp picture of the bowling rules board, which was at least 20 to 25 feet away from where I was standing. Even at 10x, the picture’s overall colors, definition, and tone are true to life.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max comes in second, capturing 23 percent of the total votes. However, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra only got 14 percent of the votes, which could be attributed to the dullness of the picture, which reduces the legibility of the text. The editorial pick for this particular round is the iPhone 15 Pro Max, as it accurately reproduces the colors (that of the board and the lights in the background).
Blind Camera Test: Bonus Shots
Moreover, in the battle of flagships, the Vivo X100 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max emerged as the popular choices in the blind flagship camera test, not just in these images but five other images that we clicked and floated through my personal Instagram account.
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Ithink Vivo provides best deal with affordable budget.