| Camera Specs | ||||
| HTC U Ultra | LG G6 | Galaxy S7 edge | iPhone 7 Plus | |
| Resolution, aspect ratio | 12MP@4:3 4096x3072px | 13MP@4:3 4160x3120px | 12MP@4:3 4032x3024px | 12MP@4:3 4032x3024px |
| Sensor and pixel size | 1/2.3" 1.55μm | 1/3" 1.12μm | 1/2.5" 1.4μm | 1/3" 1.22μm |
| Aperture | F1.8 | F1.8 | F1.7 | F1.8 |
| Focus and stabilization | PDAF Laser AF OIS | PDAF Object track OIS | Dual-pixel AF Object track OIS | PDAF OIS |
Looking at megapixels alone, the 13MP LG G6 might appear to be a step ahead of the rest, but as we've said many times before, megapixels are far from all that matters in a camera. The HTC U Ultra, for example, has the advantage of packing the largest sensor with the physically largest pixels. In plain words, this should let it absorb more light more easily and with less noise. At the same time, the Galaxy S7 edge has the widest aperture, which should give it a boost in low-light performance. And af ter that theoretical overview, let us proceed by examining some actual samples.
A few disclaimers:
The photos in the galleries below have been scaled down from their full resolution to make them load faster. Full-resolution images are available at the end of this article. The LG G6 used in this comparison is a pre-production unit running close-to-final software. The Galaxy S7 edge is running the Android 7.0 Nougat update.
Scene 1: The rusty ride
This is a scene I wanted to include because it visualizes a common conflict – realistic images aren't always the ones that look best to the average viewer. To be more specific, the image out of the HTC U Ultra appears bland compared to what the other three cameras deliver, even though it is a more accurate represent ation of what my eyes could see then and there. Looking at the images out of the Galaxy S7 edge and LG G6, I see that contrast, saturation, and sharphess have all been given a boost, and honestly, I'd be okay with that if I was simply sharing that photo on social media for the likes (as most people surely would). The iPhone has taken things a step further by adding a dose of warmth to the image – something that Apple's cameras tend to do.
So all in all, the HTC U Ultra is off to a good start, even though its image isn't quite as attention-grabbing as the others. But it looks like it will be facing some serious competition throughout the rest of this comparison.
| Scene 1: score | |
| Galaxy S7 edge | 7.5 |
| LG G6 | 7.5 |
| HTC U Ultra | 7.0 |
| iPhone 7 Plus | 6.5 |
Scene 1 Photos
Scene 2: The darling daffodils
It is easier to pick a favorite in this next scene, and that would be the iPhone 7 Plus. The reasons: first of all, colors are spot-on, with the natural warmth of the morning sun captured quite well. Also, I really like how the phone managed to capture the whole flower in focus, while parts of it are blurry in other shots due to the shallower depth of field of the other cameras. As for the HTC U Ultra, it is also delivering great results, especially when it comes to color reproduction. While the photos out of the Galaxy S7 edge and LG G6 are okay, I see an excessive amount of green in them.
| Scene 2: score | |
| iPhone 7 Plus | 8.5 |
| HTC U Ultra | 8.0 |
| Galaxy S7 edge | 7.0 |
| LG G6 | 7.0 |
Scene 2 Photos
Scene 3: The monolithic mansion
Remember that part in the beginning where I said that larger camera sensors with larger pixels could prove an advantage in low light? Here's a set of shots that support my words. Zooming in on the photo out of the U Ultra and S7 edge, both of which lead in that respect, reveals more detail, as can be seen more clearly in the draperies and the ornaments on the building's facade. But as a whole, all four images look more than acceptable.
| Scene 3: score | |
| Galaxy S7 edge | 7.5 |
| HTC U Ultra | 7.0 |
| iPhone 7 Plus | 6.0 |
| LG G6 | 6.0 |
Scene 3 Photos
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