Google Pixel 3 fails to beat the iPhone XR in a smartphone camera battle

Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL released back in November and represent a more incremental improvement over each's respective predecessors.

As is standard with the product line, the Pixel 3 is smaller than the Pixel 3 XL but has all the same features apart from where its battery and screen sizes are concerned.

Pixel 3 comes with a 5.5-inch P-OLED display while the Pixel 3 XL comes with a 6.3-inch P-OLED panel.

Both screens represent a noticeable improvement over the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL thanks to each's vibrant colours and great viewing angles.

Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845 processor, 4GB of RAM and an Adreno 630 GPU.

However, the standout feature of the hardware is once again its single rear camera sensor that is arguably the best on any smartphone at the moment.

The Google handsets come with a 12.2-megapixel lens that harnesses the firm's cleaver algorithms and machine learning technologies to produce stunning shots.

We were huge fans of the Pixel 3 camera at Express.co.uk, stating it "easily fooled" others into thinking we had captured photos on a DSLR in our review.

We said: "Images captured on both the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL easily fooled people into thinking they were from a DSLR.

"The American tech giant's use of software to add bokeh effects and implement HDR are unparalleled, resulting in masterfully crisp and colourful shots that retain glorious amounts of detail.

"Pixel 3 excels when the light is favourable but is incredibly talented at producing shots in the face of direct sun and in the dark."

However, it appears the Pixel 3 has failed to trump Apple's iPhone XR in the camera department, according to DxOMark.

The outlet is renowned for meticulously testing smartphone cameras and awarding them a score based on overall performance.

DxOMark had already tested the iPhone XR, handing it a tally of 101 and saying it was the "top-ranked single-lens phone" at the time.

However, the publication has since delivered its verdict on the Pixel 3 and has given it the same 101 score.

Such a decision means both devices are relatively on a par when it comes to camera performance.

It is worth noting that DXOMark separates its scores into photo and video categories before awarding the phone in question an overall number.

The Pixel 3 was given a photo score of 103 and a video score of 98 while the iPhone XR was handed the same 103 score for photos but 96 for video.

Commenting on the Pixel 3's performance, the outlet said: "With the Pixel 3, Google continues to make impressive gains in image processing using computational imaging.

"The result is a very versatile camera that people can confidently use in most situations without any manual settings or tweaks."

Discussing the iPhone XR's capabilities, DxOMark added: "With the sky-high prices of the latest XS line of iPhones, the less-expensive XR will be desirable to many Apple enthusiasts looking to upgrade their smartphone.

"Implementing a single-cam solution makes the XR more affordable, but it also means you’ll have to accept some compromises when using the zoom function or bokeh mode."

During the unveiling of the iPhone XR and iPhone Xs, Apple was keen to boast about its new "Smart HDR" technologies that "brings more highlight and shadow detail" to photos overall.

Moreover, the firm also added new features such as the ability to manually adjust levels of bokeh after a photo has been taken.

It appears the Cupertino-based firm's concerted effort to improve its camera hardware and software has made it a great alternative to Google's offering.