I Tested 2 Of The Years Best Camera Phones — It Was Brutal Admin May 18, 2023 I tested two of the best camera phones of the year, it was brutal Digital Trends Skip to main content Menu: Leica and Zeiss are the most established and respected names in photography, although they are mostly known for their different products. Leica is known for its cameras and Zeiss has made a name for itself in optics. In recent years, they have worked with various smartphone manufacturers to improve their camera systems. Now Fate combines the two with a 1-inch Sony IMX989 huge sensor in the names of phones that are still rare in the industry. This creates a comprehensive camera review platform to find out which brand is currently leading the phone world. What kind of phones do we use? Leica is currently working with Xiaomi and recently unveiled the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, following the already impressive Xiaomi 13 Pro. Zeiss has partnered with Vivo and the latest from the duo is the Vivo X90 Pro. You won't find the phones in US stores, but they are available worldwide. The main camera on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is a 1-inch 50-megapixel Sony IMX989 sensor with a variable aperture that you can manually switch between f/1.9 and f/4.0. The camera is equipped with optical image stabilization (OIS) and is complemented by a 50MP wide-angle camera, a 50MP telephoto lens with 3.2x zoom and a 50MP telephoto lens with 5x zoom. Leica has worked on the lens, tuned its performance and provided various filters and settings. The Vivo isn't quite as packed though, with a 50MP 2x telephoto lens with OIS and a 12MP wide-angle camera. It also lacks a physical dynamic opening feature. There is another big difference between them. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor powers the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, while the Vivo X90 Pro uses a MediaTek Dimensity 9200 processor, which will inevitably change the way photos look and the performance of phone cameras. Main camera There are a lot of similarities between the Vivo X90 Pro and the Xiaomi 13 Ultra as they both use the same primary camera sensor and both undoubtedly take great photos. It's fun to experiment with the amazing depth of field both offer, and you can get natural effects that other phones can't. However, you need to be an experienced and knowledgeable photographer to get the most out of Xiaomi's variable aperture. Many of them may not use the feature at all and still be happy with the automatic setting we used in our testing. 1. Xiaomi 13 Ultra 2. Vivo X90 Pro Our first photo shows well the difference between the cameras in terms of color accuracy and focus. Even when not taken in portrait mode, the Xiaomi's photo has more precise focus and edges than the Vivo phone, and it's better aware that the cake and cup area needs to be sharp. The Vivo camera knows where to focus, making the photo a little more thoughtful. 1. Xiaomi 13 ultra 2. Vivo X90 Pro The second photo shows a particularly small and delicate flower. I clicked it on the viewfinder to make sure the camera knew what I was looking for, but the Xiaomi 13 Ultra focused better than the Vivo X90 Pro. It's also worth noting that the Vivo phone generally doesn't like taking very close-up photos, and I disabled Xiaomi's auto macro mode. However, Xiaomi's photo looks a bit fake and the colors aren't very natural. 1. Xiaomi 13 ultra 2. Vivo X90 Pro As for color, the car's red interior photo makes Xiaomi look deadlier, while Vivo blurs things out further to create a more natural look. The natural tone continues through the black center console and shades, while the Vivo camera captures the best image from all angles. 1. Xiaomi 13 ultra 2. Vivo X90 Pro The Xiaomi 13 Ultra struggles with color elsewhere, as the device is black instead of blue in the photos above. There are big differences between the two cameras here, the Vivo X90 Pro offers better color balance and accuracy, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra falls short. This image shows the impressive depth of field possible with both cameras. 1. Xiaomi 13 ultra 2. Vivo X90 Pro Round colors don't always go well with the Vivo X90 Pro, as seen in this picture of beach huts. It was a windy busy day, but the Xiaomi 13 Ultra still managed to hold its own in an attractive and attractive way, while the X90 Pro's photo was a bit washed out and lacked character. Realism is great, but not if it makes your photos look boring. 1. Xiaomi 13 Ultra 2. Vivo X90 Pro Less sunny? I really like the photos from both cameras, and as we've seen, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra prefers rich colors, while the Vivo X90 Pro prefers a more natural look. Both have some noise in the sky and clouds, but it's only noticeable when zoomed in. I am happy to share each picture. 1. Xiaomi 13 Ultra 2. Vivo X90 Pro Our last photo shows why it's so hard to pick a winner here. In the Vivo Still panel photo, the Vivo phone creates more noise on a faded background, while Xiaomi's colors are more attractive. Both are hit and miss with different shots, and both sides have their strengths and weaknesses, leading to an even outcome. Winner: Draw Wide angle camera You can see the difference in the Vivo's 12-megapixel wide-angle camera in the first photo of the beach hut below, but note that despite the extra megapixels, there isn't much of a difference in detail. 1. Xiaomi 13 ultra 2. Vivo X90 Pro You'll also notice a big difference between the two cameras in how they both handle exposure, white balance, and color. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra's sharp wide-angle shot is relatively dull, while the Vivo X90 Pro delivers a brighter, brighter image that's happier and brighter. If you zoom in, the Vivo photo will be clearer. Narrow field of view Vivo. The church is a little lost in Xiaomi's photo, it is clearly visible in the image of Vivo X90 Pro. And it still takes up more space than a photo taken with the main camera. 1. Xiaomi 13 Ultra 2. Vivo X90 Pro Again, the Vivo's better colors and white balance help make the photo more attractive and interesting, just as many details and areas are clear. However, in Vivo's photo, the edge enhancement is more noticeable, especially in the upper part. However, in all other respects, the X90 Pro outperforms the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. Winner: Vivo X90 Pro Television cameras It's not fair to directly compare telephoto lenses as they both have very different specs, but the category remains a mystery. Xiaomi made the mistake of including a 2x shortcut in the camera app in addition to the 3.2x and 5x optical zoom modes, but the 2x resolution doesn't quite compare to the Vivo X90 Pro's 2x mode. The bottom line is that Vivo doesn't include shortcuts for low-quality zoom settings, so there's no temptation to take ugly photos. 1. Xiaomi 13 Ultra 2. Vivo X90 Pro The Vivo X90 Pro's 2x zoom is not only better than the Xiaomi 13 Ultra's 2x zoom, but it's also pretty good overall. Like the rest of the camera, photos have a nice bright, colorful tone with plenty of detail. The size of the sensor also makes it easy to get great depth of field, and that makes photos look really amazing. 1. Xiaomi 13 Ultra 2. Vivo X90 Pro Switching to 3.2x and 5x modes on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra changes things. Xiaomi's camera is more versatile in these modes, but many will be happy with the Vivo X90 Pro's simple 2x zoom, especially when capturing great looks. However, as you can see from the 5x comparison, the Vivo phone doesn't shy away from high-magnification shots. Winner: Draw Night mode Cameras handle low light differently and so the results are completely different. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra's images don't make them bright enough to look like they were taken in daylight, but at the same time, it doesn't enhance the scene to make the image attractive or always representative of the surrounding environment. 1. Xiaomi 13 Ultra 2. Vivo X90 Pro The first photo of the dam shows this well. It was darker to the eye than these two photos, so this isn't an exact real life example. And here is the photo of Vivo. 1. Xiaomi 13 ultra 2. Vivo X90 Pro The second photo from the road again shows how the Vivo X90 Pro brings out the details without sacrificing the atmosphere. Trees and grass have color, and there are details on the road and signs on buildings that don't appear in the Xiaomi image. Also much less noise. There's no point trying to make a low-light photo look like daylight, and the Vivo never goes over the top. 1. Xiaomi 13 ultra 2. Vivo X90 Pro The last photo was taken in the dark and very low light of the street. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra's photo is blurry and the software was clearly struggling to cope with the environment. The Vivo X90 Pro's photo is crisp and clear, with plenty of detail in the brick and shield. Both cameras used shutter speeds of two or three seconds to capture this shot and did so manually. The MediaTek powered Vivo X90 Pro and Zeiss easily wins in this important category. Winner: Vivo X90 Pro Special features of the camera Each camera app has different modes, including those designed by Zeiss and Leica. When it comes to customization, the Leica has an edge over the Zeiss with the ability to switch between the Leica Vibrant and Leica Authentic looks, which are a bit like filters. In all of these pictures, the Zeiss is in Natural Color mode and the Leica camera is in standard Leica Vibrant mode. 1. Xiaomi 13 Ultra "Leica Authentic" 2. Vivo X90 Pro "Zeiss Natural Color" However, if you use the Leica Authentic, you can create some really nice images. There are great Leica black and white filters that I think are the best you can find on a phone. There are some long exposure modes that are fun and work really well. I took the photo below with my phone on the couch, so I'm still technically holding it, and Vivo makes it easy with a standard four-second shot. The Xiaomi is less intuitive as it allows full control over exposure time. Portrait mode is mostly unnecessary because the sensors are good enough to create their own depth, and when you use it, the camera doesn't work either. The results are evenly distributed in the center, and if the Xiaomi 13 Ultra excels in one shot, it fails in the next, and the same goes for the Vivo X90 Pro. However, while the Leica adds value with its filters and customization options and becomes more attractive to those willing to try it out or those already experienced, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is here. Winner: Xiaomi 13 Ultra Selfie camera Vivo and Xiaomi's selfie cameras are packed with beauty settings that can dramatically change how you look in photos. The effects are powerful, and if you like that level of customization, you'll be happy with any phone. I turned off all enhancements for the test selfies (sorry) and it became clear that the main images needed to be enhanced. 1. Xiaomi 13 Ultra 2. Vivo X90 Pro While both have superior selfie cameras, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra has slightly more detail and is definitely more effective at rendering skin tones. At least I personally prefer the skin tones in the Xiaomi selfies to the very bright colors that the Vivo X90 Pro produces. Winner: Xiaomi 13 Ultra A toss-up between Leica and Zeiss, Xiaomi and Vivo Our test is really close, as Leica and Xiaomi have two wins, Zeiss and Vivo have two, and the two categories are tied. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra's main camera takes colorful and bright photos, while the Vivo may have more zoom modes, but the X90 Pro's cameras take great photos. It is very difficult to distinguish between the two. However, Vivo's wide-angle camera can't come close to Xiaomi's despite the Leica setup and Snapdragon processor. It takes better selfies, Leica's additional filters and settings, and variable apertures make the camera more interesting and versatile. It's a picture after all, but special attention should be paid to the 1-inch Sony IMX989 sensor used by both cameras. You can take great photos and the natural depth of field can be really amazing. I hope to see this in other phones in the future, because no matter how you slice them, these are two of the best camera phones out there today. Editor's recommendations Andy is a senior writer for Digital Trends and focuses on mobile technology, subject... 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Leica and Zeiss are the most established and respected names in photography, although they are mostly known for their different products. Leica is known for its cameras and Zeiss has made a name for itself in optics. In recent years, they have worked with various smartphone manufacturers to improve their camera systems. Now Fate combines the two with a 1-inch Sony IMX989 huge sensor in the names of phones that are still rare in the industry. This creates a comprehensive camera review platform to find out which brand is currently leading the phone world. What kind of phones do we use? Leica is currently working with Xiaomi and recently unveiled the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, following the already impressive Xiaomi 13 Pro. Zeiss has partnered with Vivo and the latest from the duo is the Vivo X90 Pro. You won't find the phones in US stores, but they are available worldwide. The main camera on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is a 1-inch 50-megapixel Sony IMX989 sensor with a variable aperture that you can manually switch between f/1.9 and f/4.0. The camera is equipped with optical image stabilization (OIS) and is complemented by a 50MP wide-angle camera, a 50MP telephoto lens with 3.2x zoom and a 50MP telephoto lens with 5x zoom. Leica has worked on the lens, tuned its performance and provided various filters and settings. The Vivo isn't quite as packed though, with a 50MP 2x telephoto lens with OIS and a 12MP wide-angle camera. It also lacks a physical dynamic opening feature. There is another big difference between them. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor powers the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, while the Vivo X90 Pro uses a MediaTek Dimensity 9200 processor, which will inevitably change the way photos look and the performance of phone cameras. Main camera There are a lot of similarities between the Vivo X90 Pro and the Xiaomi 13 Ultra as they both use the same primary camera sensor and both undoubtedly take great photos. It's fun to experiment with the amazing depth of field both offer, and you can get natural effects that other phones can't. However, you need to be an experienced and knowledgeable photographer to get the most out of Xiaomi's variable aperture. Many of them may not use the feature at all and still be happy with the automatic setting we used in our testing.
