Apple's iPhone cameras have recently taken a back seat to the likes of the Google Pixel 3, Huawei P20 Pro and Galaxy S10. The iPhone XR literally couldn't hold a candle to the Pixel 3 in low light in our camera face-off. What a difference the iPhone 11 makes.Take a look at this image of a flower and vase shot indoors in near darkness. The image from last year's iPhone XS is a dim blob of petals, while you can make out the individual petals and colors in the new iPhone's shot (even though there is noticeable noise).Thanks to a new wide camera sensor with 100 percent Focus Pixels and smarter software, the iPhone 11 does a much better job snapping pics in little to no light. And the Night Mode kicks in automatically, so you don't have to swipe or tap to activate it as you do with the Android competition. With the iPhone 11, you just have the hold the phone steady for up to 3 seconds as you shoot.
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We didn't need Night mode on the iPhone 11 or Pixel 3 for this shot taken inside a dim bar, but it still proved to be a good challenge for both phones. The iPhone 11 triumphed in this case, as it delivered a brighter overall image, especially in the overhead lights. You can also make out more detail in the woman's hair in the iPhone 11's photo, and the Pixel 3 has more trouble with the light shining behind the bottles in the upper left corner.
The other big improvement comes from the iPhone 11's new 12-MP ultra-wide camera, which joins the standard 12-MP camera. This feature lets you fit in up to four times more scene without having to back up, thanks to a 120-degree field of view. In a clever move, the redesigned camera interface gives you a sneak preview of what you could squeeze into the frame if you engaged the ultra-wide lens.
