Tech / Technology

iPhone 16: These 3 exclusive AI features rumored for iOS 18

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Apple is reportedly working on some AI features for the next iPhone, but how will they work?
Apple logo

After a couple years of Google playing with generative AI features (for better and worse) on its Pixel phones, Apple is reportedly going to do the same with the next iPhone.

First reported in October by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is experimenting with several ideas involving AI to possibly incorporate into the iPhone 16 hardware, the next version of iOS, or both. Now, tech leaker @Tech_Reve is reporting that Apple is working on turning Siri into “Apple’s most powerful killer AI app” for the next iPhone and beyond.

But what will this look like, exactly? Let’s dig in.

3 rumored exclusive AI features for iPhone 16

In his October report, Gurman offered some specific ideas that Apple might be working on for either iPhone 16 or iOS 16, or both. It’s uncertain right now how many of these features will be on-device iPhone 16 exclusives and how many of them will be somewhat device-agnostic by working in the cloud. Here are some of the main features Apple could be working on:

  1. Improved ability for the Messages app and Siri to field questions and auto-complete sentences.

  2. Auto-generated Apple Music playlists.

  3. Assisted writing in the Pages app or automatically created slide decks in Keynote.

These aren’t quite as comprehensive or powerful as Google’s current slate of AI options on Pixel. For instance, Google lets you quickly generate summaries of news articles and do Photoshop-like edits to photos with just your fingers. Whether or not you like those features (and there are good reasons not to), they are more powerful than what Apple is reportedly working on.

But, as always, we’ll have to wait until at least WWDC 202 before we get a real idea of what Apple’s AI plans look like.

Tech / Technology

Samsung’s ChatGPT rival is coming soon to its devices

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At Samsung’s 2023 AI Forum, the company introduced its own large language model with plans to incorporate it into Samsung devices.

Days after OpenAI announced ChatGPT-4 Turbo, Samsung unveiled its own large language model (LLM).

On Wednesday, during the Samsung AI Forum 2023, the company introduced its generative AI model, Samsung Gauss, with plans to integrate it into its smartphones, tablets, and laptops.

After Samsung developers accidentally leaked confidential data by using ChatGPT to help write code, Samsung banned the use of ChatGPT on company devices and started building its own generative AI tool for employees to use internally. Now, the company is bringing its own LLM to the public. OpenAI has kept the upper hand on generative AI tools amidst fierce competition with models developed by Google and Anthropic, but it lacks the strategic advantage of building its own hardware. With Samsung planning an LLM for its devices, Google adding its AI chatbot Bard to the Pixel, and even whispers of Apple working on a ChatGPT competitor, it could mean a shift in the generative AI landscape.

Actually, Samsung Gauss comes in three specialized models: Samsung Gauss Language, Samsung Gauss Code, and Samsung Gauss Image. The language model works like ChatGPT and will be used for writing text, summarizing documents, and translation. The coding model will be used to help developers write code, and the image model has multi-modal support, meaning it can generate and edit images. Generative AI is poised to revolutionize users’ work and daily lives. Adding LLMs to smartphones would create even more impact and introduce new possibilities for life in the AI era.

Samsung Gauss is currently the model used internally by employees and will expand to “a variety of Samsung product applications to provide new user experience in the near future,” said the announcement.

Tech / Technology

Google Pixel Magic Editor won’t let you edit IDs, faces, other photos

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Google Pixel 8’s Magic Editor app can do a lot, but it won’t let you do certain things that might cause trouble for you (or Google).
Google Pixel 8

Google doesn’t want you potentially breaking laws with its Magic Editor app on Pixel phones.

Android Authority combed through the latest Google Photos update and found strings of code pertaining to Magic Editor, the new Pixel 8 feature that lets you do some light Photoshop-esque things with just a few taps of the finger. To be more specific, the code refers to error messages that would pop up when trying to edit any of the following, per Android Authority:

  • Human faces or body parts

  • Identifiable personal information

  • Selections that are too large for the app to process

  • Photos of IDs or other forgeable documents

This is something that makes a lot of sense, so much so that you wonder why these error messages weren’t already present in Magic Editor at launch. Android Authority said an older version of the app did block it from making some of the above edits, but not all of them.

For what it’s worth, Magic Editor isn’t nearly as good at photo editing as someone with a deft Photoshop hand would be. Any kind of forged document made with it would probably be pretty easy to spot if you looked at it for a few seconds. But Google doesn’t want to take any risks, which is the right move.

If you want to commit fraud, you’ll just have to do it the old-fashioned way.

Tech / Technology

Viture One review: These XR glasses turn your phone into a 120-inch TV

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This Viture One review dives into how it can benefit your everyday life, whether you’re a gamer, a worker bee, a night owl, or a privacy-conscious traveler.
Viture One XR glasses with iPhone 15 Pro Max

I plugged the Viture One glasses into my brand spankin’ new iPhone 15 Pro Max and my jaw dropped.

There it was. One of my favorite shows – Netflix’s Selling Sunset in all of its glory – hovering before my very eyes on a 120-inch virtual TV via a funky pair of XR glasses.

A couple wearing the Viture One XR glasses

Watch your favorite streaming shows and films on the Viture One XR glasses
Credit: Viture

And guess what? Not only can you plug the Viture One into your phone, but you can also connect it to your MacBook and Windows laptop. Hell, you can even stick it into your Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch to enjoy a blown-up gaming experience, which may be particularly useful while traveling.

However, the Viture One XR glasses don’t come cheap.

Viture One XR glasses price and availability

The Viture One XR glasses have an MSRP of $549, but as of this writing, they’re down to $439 on Amazon.

Alongside the XR glasses, you’ll get four nose pads. You can swap ‘em out to test which one feels most comfortable on your honker. 

What's inside Viture One packaging

Check out what’s included the Viture One packaging
Credit: Viture

You’ll also get a USB-C to magnetic connector cable, which lets you plug your XR glasses into your devices. And finally, a spiffy case ships with the Viture One XR glasses, too, so you can keep ‘em protected while you’re on the go.

I don’t typically talk about packaging in my reviews, but unboxing the Viture One XR glasses was a swanky, premium experience. A couple of “oohs” and “ahhs” escaped my lips while unwrapping the spectacles.

The box opens up like French doors and the quality of the black-and-orange case is top-notch. Even when I tried to deliberately scratch it or leave fingerprints, it was resistant to my attacks.

Viture One case

The Viture One XR glasses case
Credit: Viture

The Viture One XR glasses come in two colors: Jet Black and Matte Indigo.

What I love about the Viture One XR glasses

If you wore the Viture One without the cable attached to it, people would be none the wiser that you’re wearing a pair of badass XR glasses that can maximize your viewing experience into a dazzling 120-inch screen.

Sleek, sophisticated, lightweight design

However upon closer inspection, the Viture One looks bizarrely futuristic. It’s what I’d imagine VR glasses to look like in the year 2050 once we’ve reached Ready Player One nirvana. The top-edge of the glasses – the rims – are thick AF to accommodate two adjustment wheels.

Viture One XR glasses

The Viture One XR glasses are sleek and lightweight
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

 

These dual dials allow you to adjust the lenses for crystal-clear clarity. I played around with the dials to see if I could enhance the virtual display, but I didn’t need to – the glasses’ out-of-the-box settings were perfect for me.

The glasses’ temples are thick, too, to accommodate the cool tech that facilitates its XR prowess. On the end of the right temple, you’ll find some pogo pins that invite you to magnetically attach its companion cable.

Viture thought ahead about design flaws

While the glasses itself felt lightweight on my face (it’s only 2.7 ounces), the default nose pad felt uncomfortable – as if the weight of spectacles rested on the bridge. Luckily for me, Viture included three other nose pads. I opted for the largest one – it now feels cushy, snug and weightless.

Viture One pogo pins

Connect the cable magnetically via its pogo pins.
Credit: Viture

I also noticed that, while the glasses were connected to the cable, something kept snagging the wisps of hair that fell around my ears. As it turned out, Viture thought ahead about that, too. The Viture One XR glasses also includes something called an Anti-Clip Hair Cover that surrounds the magnetic pogo pins, which puts an end to all the irksome hair snagging.

Transforms my iPhone 15 Pro Max into a cinematic experience

Apple finally got with the program and added USB-C when it debuted the iPhone 15. This means you no longer need to use an adapter while using any current-generation iPhone (though you will need one for the iPhone 14 and older).

iPhone 15 Pro Max and Viture One

I connected the Viture One XR glasses to my iPhone 15 Pro Max
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I connected the Viture One XR glasses to my iPhone 15 Pro Max, and within seconds, the spectacles mirrored my display. At first, I was concerned – the glasses were mirroring my display in portrait orientation. I thought, “If I launch Netflix right now, will it stay in portrait mode, too?”

Fortunately, that’s not what happened. When I fired up Selling Sunset, the image flipped to horizontal orientation. Before my eyes, I saw reality TV actresses Christelle Stause and Amanza Smith having an emotional conversation on a 120-inch virtual screen, thanks to the micro-OLED screens. The display is 1080p and runs at 60 frames per second.

The show – known for sweeping, drone-facilitated, bird’s eye views of luxurious, million-dollar homes across LA – looked crisp and sharp on the Viture One. It showed off vivid, rich hues of verdant, lush landscaping and textured, colorful roofs.

Viture One worked its magic on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

I plugged the Viture One into my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, too, but it required a few extra steps to ensure it’d work as smoothly as it did with my iPhone 15 Pro Max. First, while the XR glasses were connected, I had to turn off Samsung DeX, which launched by default. The issue with this feature is that it overrides screen-mirroring mode and splashes an unwanted desktop-like experience to your virtual monitor.

Viture One XR glasses on a bench

Viture One XR glasses
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

You also must go to “Media Output,” which you can find by swiping down from the top of the screen, and switch it to the Viture One – or else you’ll find that the audio will play from the smartphone, not the XR glasses.

With these minor tweaks, I fired up The Wolf of Wall Street and watched Leonardo DiCaprio – clear and crisp as ever — cleverly convince a chump to buy junk stocks.

It supports laptops and tablets, too

I typed this very section using the Viture One with my M2 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro — and the experience was seamless.

Viture One XR glasses with MacBook Pro

I connected the Viture One to my MacBook Pro, too.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Unlike my streaming experience, smudges and other blemishes are less forgiving when it comes to reading text on the Viture One’s virtual monitor. As long as you take a microfiber and clean the lenses, the text on these spectacles are crisp.

What’s the use case for plugging the Viture One XR glasses to your laptop? You can work late nights on it without disturbing your partner. For example, I can darken the screen on my MacBook to its lowest setting, but with the spectacles connected, the virtual monitor is still bright and illuminated, allowing me to navigate on the Viture One without any issues.

This bad boy also works on tablets such as the iPad Air and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9.

What’s ‘eh’ about the Viture One glasses

There’s a lot to love about the Viture One glasses, but there’s one thing I’m indifferent about: the sound.

The sound is just OK

Viture boasts that that the XR glasses, packed with Harman-tuned audio, deliver an impressive spatial sound experience – and I concur. While watching The Wolf of Wall Street on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, for example, it felt as if I was sitting in a surround-sound theatre. However, the sound quality is just OK. It’s not remotely terrible, but doesn’t give me an “eargasm” either. However, this is expected because there’s only so much tech you can pack into a tiny pair of XR glasses.

What I don’t like about the Viture One glasses

One of the best use cases for the Viture One is gaming, particularly for those who love to travel with handheld PC consoles like the Steam Deck.

Viture One on a plane

The Viture One is an excellent travel accessory.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Do you know how annoying it is to have to crane your neck over the Steam Deck while you’re on a plane? With the Viture One, you can lay your head comfortably on your reclined seat. No matter where you look, you’ll find the 120-inch display before you while playing your favorite triple-A titles.

I ran Cyberpunk 2077 on my Steam Deck and had a blast picking off enemies one by one while trying to escape goons during a car chase. It’s worth noting that I had to use the adjustment dials to sharpen the display’s clarity, but once I did, I was kicking ass and taking names. I could also see myself using the Viture One for privacy reasons while traveling. Once the smart glasses are connected to the Steam Deck, the screen turns black, so nosybodies can’t see what you’re playing.

Playing Steam Deck with Viture One

The Viture One pairs well with the Steam Deck.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, I discovered one small grievance while gaming with my Lenovo Legion 9i.

Viture should offer longer cables

An ideal gaming session with the Viture One XR glasses would allow me to plug ’em into my Legion 9i gaming laptop that sits on my coffee table. After that, I can lie on my back and play my favorite Steam games like Dishonored and Prey – as if I had a 120-inch TV attached to the ceiling. However, I couldn’t fulfill that dream because the cable is too short.

Final thoughts

Keep in mind that the Viture One XR glasses aren’t compatible with every device. For example, when I plugged ’em into the Xiaomi 13T Pro and the Google Pixel 8 Pro, nothing happened. Check the compatibility list to make sure the Viture One XR glasses support your device of choice.

The Viture One is my favorite tech device I’ve tested this year. It has so many use cases, from transforming your smartphone into a 120-inch TV experience to upgrading your comfort while traveling with your Steam Deck. The only thing I’d change about it is the short cable, but other than that, these XR glasses are totally worth the $500 price tag.

Tech / Technology

4 Google Pixel safety features that help keep users safe

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Google Pixel users have more personal safety tools at their fingertips than they might realize.
Google Pixel logo displayed on a smartphone.

Google‘s diverse range of technological offerings — from the upcoming AI-enhanced homepage and Maps tools to its range of tablets, computers, and phones — is a constantly evolving competitor amid a vast tech market, with companies pitching new devices, tools, and software designed to upend the industry and change lives.

But for every new paid marvel, free and easily accessible technology — like a lot of the Google services you probably use every day — serve just as important everyday purposes to those in need.

New Google upgrades include Maps tools that enhance access for those with disabilities, flood predicting capabilities to address the growing impact of climate change, and new features that help individuals build their digital and news literacy in an age of growing tech-based misinformation. For parents and caregivers, Google search can automatically blur explicit images in Search. The company has even released steps for people to remove personal images and information from its results to combat doxxing and the spread of revenge porn.

Google’s safety offerings go even further — the company’s new guide to personal safety features on Pixel devices, for example, outlines additional ways individual Google users can use their personal tech and the company’s fingertip-focused resources to keep themselves and their community safe.

Here’s a few noteworthy personal device features that utilize Google’s Personal Safety app:

Emergency SOS

Like Apple’s Emergency SOS tool, Google Pixel’s Emergency SOS will dispatch emergency responders or alert a user’s emergency contacts that they need help.

How to use Emergency SOS:

  1. Make sure you have an emergency contact saved to your phone or Personal Safety app.

  2. Go to Settings.

  3. Choose “Safety & emergency.” Users can add an emergency contact here, or scroll directly to “Emergency SOS.”

  4. Use the slider to turn Emergency SOS on.

  5. Adjust alert settings to your liking. Emergency SOS defaults to a soundless, haptic alert. Users can turn on an audio alarm, as well. Users can also choose between pressing and holding a button on your screen for three seconds or starting a 5-second countdown to issue the actual alert.

  6. To issue an Emergency SOS in the future, just quickly press the power button five times or more, and follow the chosen prompt on screen.

Scheduled safety shecks

Safety Checks are Google’s option for individuals wanting some peace of mind while out and about. Released alongside the Pixel Watch 2, the feature lets users set up a timed safety check for themselves and appointed emergency contacts during specific activities, which will then alert the contact if you fail to respond at the end of the safety check or if the safety check is cancelled. Users can also mark themselves safe during a Safety Check.

If a Safety Check goes unmarked, a user’s emergency contacts will get a text that shares their current location on Google Maps. If the phone turns off or loses signal, Safety check will remain active.

How to schedule safety checks:

  1. Make sure you have the Personal Safety app downloaded.

  2. Open the app and tap Safety Check.

  3. Select your activity (or “reason”) and the check’s duration. Checks can last between 15 minutes to 8 hours.

  4. Select the contacts you’d like to be notified. When the Safety Check begins, the contact will get a text with your name, the duration of the check, and the provided reason.

  5. Tap Start.

Car crash detection

Car crash detection can sense and alert emergency responders to a severe car crash. If a user’s phone detects a crash, it will vibrate, ring loudly, and ask if you need help aloud and on your phone screen. Users can then request their phone to call emergency services by saying “Emergency” or taping the emergency button on the screen twice. If the phone doesn’t get a response, it will automatically call emergency services, tell the responder that a car crash occurred, and share the device’s last known location.

Users can cancel the call by saying “Cancel” or tapping “I am ok.”

Car crash detection only works for Google Pixel 3, 4, and later. It won’t activate if a device is on Airplane mode or when Battery Saver is on.

How to turn on Crash Detection:

  1. Open the Personal Safety app.

  2. Make sure you have a SIM added to your phone.

  3. Tap “Features.”

  4. Scroll to “Car crash detection” and tap “Manage settings.”

  5. Turn on Car crash detection.

  6. Follow the on screen prompts to enable device permissions, including access to your physical activity, and record your voice for emergency detection.

Google Pixel Watch users can also turn on Fall Detection, which detects when a user has fallen and hasn’t moved for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds, the watch will vibrate, sound an alarm, and send a notification asking if you’re okay, Google explains. If the watch hasn’t detected movement or received a response after one minute, it will automatically call emergency services and share your location.

Crisis alerts

Google’s crisis alerts uses the Personal Safety app once again to notify users when a public emergency or local crisis, like a flood or other natural disaster, is happening in your area. When a user gets and taps on a crisis alert, they will be taken to additional information from local governments and organizations about the event and how to prepare for an imminent event.

How to turn on crisis alerts:

  1. Go to the Personal Safety app.

  2. Tap “Features.”

  3. Scroll to “Crisis alerts.” Tap “Manage settings.”

  4. Turn on crisis alerts.

  5. Location access has to be enabled for alerts to work.

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Tech / Technology

iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Pixel 8 Pro camera comparison: the results shocked me

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We compared the cameras on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Pixel 8 Pro. Which is better?
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Google Pixel 8 camera shot of Washington Square Arch

This iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Pixel 8 Pro camera face-off came to be because I kept hearing “Pixel phones take the best photos!” among mobile tech enthusiasts.

“Even better than the iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy S series?” I’d ask. “Yes!” they’d often reply.

In the words of Marcia from The Brady Bunch, “Sure Jan.”

Now, I’m not saying I don’t believe ‘em – I’m just skeptical. However, I’m trying to be a little open-minded here. I’m well-versed in the iPhone space as I’ve been reviewing them for several years, but I’m green when it comes to the Pixel line. 

That being said, I managed to secure a Pixel 8 Pro and I pit it against the mighty iPhone 15 Pro Max. See for yourself which phone – the Apple device or the Google handset – takes the best photos.

iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Pixel 8 Pro: Wide photos

Take a look at these two wide shots of the Washington Square Arch in Greenwich Village, NYC. Which one do you prefer?

Google Pixel 8 Pro wide shot of Washington Square Arch

Do you prefer this wide-lens picture?
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

iPhone 15 Pro Max wide shot of Washington Square Arch

Do you like this wide-lens shot?
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I sent these photos to my circle of tech journalists without telling them which smartphone took ’em. Among my network, which includes Mashable’s Tech Reporter Alex Perry, most preferred the top photo (Pixel 8 Pro) over the bottom one (iPhone 15 Pro Max). 

The Pixel 8 Pro processed a brighter, more illuminated photo, which is more pleasing to the eye. However, Jason England, Tom’s Guide’s Computing Editor with years of mobile-tech experience, told Mashable that the Pixel 8 Pro’s wide photo is too bright for his tastes.

“This one,” England said, pointing to the Pixel 8 Pro photo during the blind test, “is too drained of color, and loses some detail by being too bright, so the HDR is not as good.”

England makes a good point. At first glance, the Pixel 8 Pro’s wide shot might be more aesthetically pleasing, but if you take a closer look at the details, the Google phone lost some of the structure’s weathered, time-worn details.

iPhone 15 Pro Max wide shot of Washington Square Arch

Left:
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
Right:
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The rusty, reddish-orange hues that are prominent on the base of the arch – as well as the more intricate carvings on the architectural marble masterpiece – are less conspicuous on the Pixel 8 Pro’s wide photo. 

The Washington Square Arch on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is more true-to-life, capturing more of its aged, weather-beaten details, including its slight yellow tint. And do you see the man with the cap? He’s got a power blue shirt on the Pixel 8 Pro, but on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it’s more teal-like. I was actually there, so I’d argue that the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s shot is more realistic.

When I told England that he was the only one who chose the iPhone 15 Pro Max during the blind test of seven tech journalists, he jokingly said, “They should never be trusted with a camera comparison again. Do they even have eyes?”

It’s worth noting that England owns an iPhone 14 Pro and is a mega Apple fan.


  • iPhone 15 Pro Max wide-camera specs: 48MP, f/1.8,1.22µm

  • Pixel 8 Pro wide-camera specs: 50 MP, f/1.7, 1.2µm


iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Pixel 8 Pro: Selfie photos

I took selfies (Portrait Mode) in Madison Square Park and the winner here, among my tech-journalist circle, was unanimous. Which one do you prefer?

iPhone 15 Pro Max selfie

Which selfie do you prefer? And can you guess which phone took it?
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Google Pixel 8 Pro selfie

Do you prefer this selfie snapshot? Can you guess which phone took it?
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The top photo is the iPhone 15 Pro Max while the bottom one is the Pixel 8 Pro. Every single tech journalist preferred the iPhone 15 Pro Max during the blind test.

I’m disappointed with the Google Pixel 8 Pro here. The lens flaring in the selfie is out of control. At first, I thought there was some smudging on the front-facing camera that was causing the stray-light artifacts, but even after wiping the selfie lens with my microfiber cloth, lens flaring continued to plague our selfies.

iPhone 15 Pro Max selfie

Left:
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
Right:
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

During the Made by Google 2023 event, Google’s Product Management Director Shenaz Zack said the company is continuing to expand its “image equity efforts,” claiming that the Pixel 8 series should now accurately portray the vast range of human skin tones. 

I can’t say I agree. Our skin tones look a bit washed out on the Google Pixel 8 Pro. Perry’s navy-blue hoodie is, well, less blue on the Pixel 8 Pro. Plus, my lipstick – shout out to Fenty Beauty’s H.B.I.C shade – looks less vivid on the Pixel 8 Pro.

England isn’t a fan of the Pixel 8 Pro’s range of colors either. “The software’s trying too hard to balance the light and dark tones,” he said. “It doesn’t look natural.” 

Interestingly, there’s some odd distortion regarding our facial features, too. I theorize this may have something to do with the Pixel 8 Pro’s 20mm focal length, which is less ideal compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 23mm focal length. Longer focal length is better – and more attractive – because it makes your facial features look more proportionate.

Conversely, the iPhone 15 Pro Max selfie doesn’t feature irksome light artifacts that ruin the photo. Our complexions are more accurate, colors are richer and more true-to-life – and there aren’t any awkward shadows that seem to come out of nowhere.

The clear winner here is the iPhone 15 Pro Max.


  • iPhone 15 Pro Max selfie camera specs: 12MP, f/1.9, 23mm

  • Pixel 8 Pro selfie camera specs: 10.8 MP, f/2.2, 20mm


iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Pixel 8 Pro: Zoom

I couldn’t wait to test out the telephoto on both the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Pixel 8 Pro. The former is now capable of 5x optical zoom, and it’s exclusive to the Pro Max, which is an upgrade from its predecessor’s 3x optical zoom.

The Pixel 8 Pro has 5x optical zoom, too, but it isn’t new; it’s been around since Google launched the 7 Pro. The Pixel 8 Pro can zoom digitally up to 30x, which exceeds the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 25x max digital-zoom range.

In Madison Square Park, we zoomed in some yellow flowers at 5x on both phones. Which one do you prefer?

Google Pixel 8 Pro yellow flowers

Zoomed-in photo of flowers at 5x
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

iPhone 15 Pro Max yellow flowers

Zoomed-in photo of flowers at 5x
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The top photo is the Pixel 8 Pro while the bottom one is the iPhone 15 Pro Max. I prefer the latter. The petals appear to be sharper. Colors are richer, too, from the woman’s green jacket to the bright, yellow-orange hue of the eye-catching flowers.

Max-zoom test on iPhone 15 Pro Max and Google Pixel 8 Pro

Spotting the Con Edison building, we decided to zoom in on its funky green steeple. To give you some perspective on how far we were from this edifice, here’s a wide photo of it.

Picture of the Con Edison Building with Pixel 8 Pro

Wide snapshot of the Con Edison building with Pixel 8 Pro
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

We decided to zoom in to the max on both phones. That’d be 25x on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and 30x on the Google Pixel 8 Pro. No, it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison, but I thought it’d be fun to see which results we’d get by capping out their zoom capabilities.

Here we have the iPhone 15 Pro Max:

Telephoto of Con Edison Building steeple with iPhone 15 Pro Max

iPhone 15 Pro Max 25x zoom
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

And this is the Google Pixel 8 Pro:

Telephoto of Con Edison Building steeple with Pixel 8 Pro

Pixel 8 Pro 30x zoom
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

As expected, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is sharper and produces more details. After all, it’s at 25x zoom while the Pixel 8 Pro is at 30x zoom. However, you can see how much further the Pixel 8 Pro can get.

Telephoto of Con Edison Building steeple with iPhone 15 Pro Max

Left:
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
Right:
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

If someone – or if you believe in the supernatural – something was peering out of that window, the Pixel 8 Pro would be better equipped at capturing it.


  • iPhone 15 Pro Max (telephoto specs): 12MP, f/2.8, 1.12µm

  • Pixel 8 Pro (telephoto specs): 48MP, f/2.8, 0.7µm


iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Pixel 8 Pro: Ultrawide photos

Back at the Washington Square Arch, we tested the ultrawide shooters of both phones. Which photo do you prefer?

Ultrawide photo of Washington Square Arch on iPhone 15 Pro Max

Ultrawide shot of Washington Square Arch
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Ultrawide photo of Washington Square Arch on Google Pixel 8 Pro

Ultrawide shot of Washington Square Arch
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The top photo is the iPhone 15 Pro Max while the bottom one is the Google Pixel 8 Pro. The latter’s ultrawide photo preserves more detail, which makes sense considering that it has a 48MP shooter compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 12MP lens. For example, you can see more scratches, rust and other weathering details on the lamp post.

I can say the same for the ground – you can see more cracks, fissures, and erosion on the Pixel 8 Pro’s ultrawide shot. However, the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s ultrawide lens is better at reproducing colors and textures.

Ultrawide photo of Washington Square Arch on Google Pixel 8 Pro

Left:
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
Right:
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

For example, do you see the woman in the funky purple jacket? On the iPhone 15 Pro Max version, it captures more of its metallic material as its rich violet hue. Conversely, on the Pixel 8 Pro’s ultrawide photo, her jacket is slightly more washed out.

However, because the Pixel 8 Pro has a wider field of view (126 degrees vs. 120 degrees), it captures more scenery compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.


  • iPhone 15 Pro Max (ultrawide specs): 12MP, f/2.2, 120-degree field of view

  • Google Pixel 8 Pro (ultrawide specs): 48MP, f/2.0, 126-degree field of view


Final thoughts

Would I agree that the Pixel 8 Pro is better than the iPhone? No. However, I’m surprised at how well it performed in some of our tests, particularly when it comes to shooting ultrawide shots.

If I could build the perfect phone, it’d have the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s selfie camera, the Pixel 8 Pro’s ultrawide shooter, the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s telephoto hardware, the Google Pixel 8 Pro’s 30x zoom, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s wide lens.

If you’re big on selfies and capturing the most realistic version of you, opt for the iPhone 15 Pro Max for uploading to Instagram, Twitter, and more. If you’re a traveler and you love snapping photos of grandiose landscapes, lean toward getting the Pixel 8 Pro.

It’s worth noting that some tech journalists who participated in blind test own iPhones – and they were shocked that their preferred wide photo is a Pixel 8 Pro. To leave you with a rhetorical question, were you shocked by the photos you liked better?