iPhone 16 Pro Max moon pictures: Do they beat the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL?

Which telephone is simply a 'star' — haha — astatine taking satellite pictures?

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is simply a "star" arsenic our caller artillery life champ, lasting much than 25 hours connected a azygous charge. But really does it fare erstwhile it comes to a small astrophotography?

I grabbed Apple's astir premium current-gen iPhone 16 and stacked it against nan precocious dropped Pixel 9 Pro XL (Google's champion smartphone offering). The mobility is, which 1 is nan astir stellar astatine taking satellite pictures? Let’s spot if 1 genuinely outshines — aliases should I say, eclipses — nan different successful capturing 1 of nan sky’s astir breathtaking celestial bodies.

iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: satellite capture

Mobile astrophotography experts urge utilizing a assortment of cogwheel to seizure nan satellite astatine its best, including a tripod to stabilize nan device, binocular lenses aliases a mini scope for a clearer position of nan lunar surface, and moreover paid apps to fine-tune camera settings.

However, I decided to spell minimalist and usage some nan iPhone 16 Pro Max and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL — sans the recommended instrumentality — to seizure photos of nan moon. I wanted to spot what each tin do pinch their ain built-in capabilities, relying solely connected their autochthonal camera systems and software.

iPhone 16 Pro Max

Let's commencement pinch Apple's device. It's sewage a triple-lens strategy connected nan rear, including nan 48MP wide camera, 48MP ultrawide sensor, and nan 12MP telephoto lens.

None of those hardware specs matter excessively much, though, because we'll beryllium relying connected nan iPhone 16 Pro Max's integer zoom, which leverages nan package for zoom capabilities beyond 5x.

And I decidedly needed overmuch much than 5x zoom to spot nan satellite successful each of its glory. In fact, I zoomed successful to nan max — 25x to beryllium nonstop — to seizure nan waxing gibbous satellite connected nan iPhone 16 Pro Max.

I besides adjusted nan vulnerability to reside down nan excessive brightness, revealing much of nan moon’s surface, craters, and texture for a clearer, much defined shot.

Here's nan champion shot:

Despite nan limitations of smartphone photography, peculiarly erstwhile it comes to nan astros, nan iPhone 16 Pro Max did OK — I springiness it a 5.5 retired of 10. The image captured immoderate item of nan moon's craters and aboveground texture, showcasing its earthy shadows and contrast.

Mashable Light Speed

Unsurprisingly, there's immoderate softness astir nan moon's edges pinch nan iPhone 16 Pro Max attempting to equilibrium vulnerability successful nan darker areas, but overall, it's much defined than I thought it'd be.

There were worse captures, though. Check retired immoderate of my fails below.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

I expected nan Pixel 9 Pro XL — packed pinch a 50MP wide camera, a 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 48MP telephoto sensor — to excel during this trial because it blew america distant erstwhile we tested its improved Super Res Zoom, which maxes retired astatine 30x.

However, nary matter really overmuch I finagled pinch nan camera settings, I couldn't get overmuch amended than this shot:

Is this nan satellite aliases a fireball zipping done nan sky? This is simply a 4.5 retired of 10.

I moreover tried to usage nan Pixel 9 Pro XL's Night Sight feature, but that didn't do overmuch to amended nan photo.

I experimented pinch nan vulnerability levels and played astir pinch nan zoom accommodation to find a "sweet spot," but nary dice.

Compared to nan iPhone 16 Pro Max, there's a deficiency of opposition pinch nan nighttime entity appearing to beryllium acheronian gray. There's a greater halo effect, too, further detracting from nan image's sharpness and clarity. The ray appears to beryllium excessively intense, washing retired nan finer specifications of nan moon.

Perhaps location is simply a circumstantial mounting request for satellite seizure connected nan Pixel 9 Pro XL to nail that perfect celestial changeable — but I wasn't capable to observe it during my clip pinch nan Google phone.

For "funsies," I besides took a image of nan satellite pinch my Galaxy S24 Ultra.

But this changeable whitethorn beryllium controversial. Why? Samsung has been accused of utilizing AI trickery to make satellite shots look amended than they genuinely are. The Korea-based company, however, denies these claims.

Which satellite changeable was your favorite? Let america cognize successful nan comments below.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is disposable for pre-order now for $1,199.

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