Sony Xperia X vs HTC 10: which has the better camera?
Make a quick guess: what do people photograph the most? Themselves, maybe? Or landmarks and artifacts like the Eiffel Tower or the Mona Lisa? Or perhaps we now mostly take photos of food and cutesy animals? Or of fingers accidentally placed in front of the lens? Whatever the answer, we're pretty sure that smartphones have helped us get there. Every model now has a decent camera that anyone can use, and boy, do people use their phones' cameras! Not all cameras are made equal, however, which is why we often do comparisons to find out which phone shoots best.
Two of our last camera comparisons put the Sony Xperia X against a couple of formidable opponents, namely the iPhone 6s and the Galaxy S7. Alas, Sony's new top phone lost both races, but we're now giving it another chance to prove itself. Today, we'll compare the Xperia X vs the HTC 10. Here's a quick overview of what the two phones have to offer in terms of camera specs:
| Camera Specs | ||
| Sony Xperia X | HTC 10 | |
| Resolution and aspect ratio | 23MP @ 4:3 5520 x 4140 pixels | 12MP @ 4:3 4000 x 3000 pixels |
| Sensor and pixel size | 1/2.3" 1.12 μm | 1/2.3" 1.55 μm |
| Focal length and aperture | 24 mm F2.0 | 26 mm F1.8 |
| Focus and stabilization | Phase detection AF Object tracking Optical stabilization | Laser AF Optical stabilization |
Looking at specs alone, it seems like the HTC 10 could have the upper hand in low-light situations thanks to its larger pixels and wider aperture. On the other hand, the Xperia X has the megapixel advantage, with almost twice the megapixels to work with. However, it should be noted that while Xperia X boasts a 23MP camera sensor, we've taken the photos at 8MP of resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio. This is the default shooting mode set on the device and the one most people are likely to use. As for the HTC 10, it shoots 12MP stills by default.
We must also point out that the slide-over galleries used below contain cropped, scaled down photos for easier general comparison. The original, full-resolution photos can be found in a gallery at the very bottom of this article. With all of this cleared up, let us comment on some photos.
Scene 1: The mansion
One thing's clear: these two cameras have their own opinions as to how things should appear in this particular scene. The Sony Xperia X has gone for a slightly overexposed look, and its photo has this cold tone to it, which we don't find pleasing. In contrast, the HTC 10 has delivered a warmer image. Neither of the two is spot-on when it comes to color and tone accuracy – the truth is somewhere in the middle between the two photos.
Detail appears to have been captured better by the HTC 10. If we zoom in on its photo, we see that there's a bit too much sharpening going on, but it still looks better compared to what the Xperia X has managed to preserve. Sony's phone seems to be having trouble resolving fine detail, which is why things might look smudged across many areas of the photo, especially if go you go further away from the center. At the end of the day, we'll give this one to the HTC 10 since its photo looks less bad overall.
Winner in Scene 1: HTC 10
Scene 2: At the flower shop
Again, the Sony Xperia X is treating us to a slightly colder image, just like it did in the previous scene. This is why we lean towards liking the HTC 10's photo better – it is more natural, more pleasant to look at. From up close, details in the Xperia X's picture are smudged. The HTC 10, on the other hand, adds plenty of sharpening to enhance them, which is not the best approach, but the results are still better compared to those from the X.
Winner in Scene 2: HTC 10
Scene 3: After the rain
In all honesty, we find this pair of images really nice to look at, but then again, there's something likable in pretty much every close-up shot. These two photos, in particular, contain plenty of detail that we can explore by zooming in. If there's anything we would change about them, we'd probably reduce the amount of sharpening added by the HTC 10. Overall, for this scene, we're calling it a draw.
Winner in Scene 3: Tie
Scene 4: The cozy corner
The original, full-resolution photos can be found in the gallery below.
This is the spot in the office where we can stretch our legs and chill out, but it also makes a great subject for camera testing. The results don't come as surprising: The Sony Xperia X is once again leaning towards colder tones, which scores it negative points in our book. The HTC 10, on the other hand, delivers much more accurate colors – the red firetruck is actually red, not pinkish red, as it appears on the X's image. And again, the HTC 10's picture is more detailed. We don't even have to zoom in to see that.
Winner in Scene 4: HTC 10
Scene 5: The cathedral at night
The original, full-resolution photos can be found in the gallery below.
Things aren't looking good for the Xperia X. Its detail resolving abilities are poor in low light despite the high resolution of its sensor. Seriously, we don't even have to zoom in to see that the HTC 10's photo is sharper, with more detail present in it. Color accuracy, however, leaves room for improvement. And that goes for both phones' cameras, actually.
Winner in Scene 5: HTC 10
Scene 6: Our old pal
The original, full-resolution photos can be found in the gallery below.
Our last pair of photo samples include our friend, who was more than happy to pose for us. As far as image quality goes, we see that the HTC 10 has given us more detail and sharpness across the entire frame. However, the Sony Xperia X is now more faithful when it comes to color reproduction. We're calling this one a draw because of this.
Winner in Scene 6: Tie
Conclusion: strike three, you're out
We don't mean to say that the X's camera is bad. In fact, it has its strengths, including its super-fast autofocus and the extremely wide field of view. But when it comes to actual image quality, the Xperia X just isn't as good as one would expect it to be, especially when it costs about as much as Samsung's flagship. Is it because of the lens used in the Xperia X? Or could its software be in dire need of improvement? We're not exactly sure. What we're sure about is that Sony can – and should – do better. Here's to hoping that Sony's next flagship will finally deliver the killer Sony camera we've been hoping for.
The gallery below contains all of the photos used in this comparison – uncompressed, in their original resolution. On PCs, use double-click to zoom and the fullscreen option to get a closer look at the images.
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