DxOMark: The Samsung Galaxy Note 9's cameras are better than the Pixel 2's but not quite as good as the Huawei P20 Pro's

Samsung released its top of the line device, the Galaxy Note 9, about a month ago, and the device has made its way to popular photography benchmark website DxOMark. The Note managed to impress there but some would consider its performance to be less than satisfactory, considering the device’s hefty price tag.

According to DxOMark, the Note 9 managed to rack up an overall score of 103, on par with the HTC U12+ and the Huawei P20. In the photo department, the device achieved a score of 107, significantly above the pay grade of the Pixel 2—a device generally considered to be the best still image snapper in the market—but on par with Xiaomi’s Mi 8 and HTC’s U12+. Notable weaknesses include exposure inaccuracies, inconsistent white balance when flash fires, and ghosting.

In the video category, the Note 9 managed a score of 94, significantly worse than its image score but still on par with the industry's bests like the Huawei P20 Pro, Pixel 2, and HTC U12+. Noteworthy weaknesses include loss of detail and visible noise in low light situations.

All considered, the Galaxy Note 9 can very well be considered to be one of the best camera smartphones in the world—at least until the Pixel 3 devices raise the bar again when they are released next month. That said, for buyers looking for the best value camera smartphones, devices like the Huawei P20 Pro, Google Pixel 2, and Xiaomi Mi 8 still offer more value for money.

Do note that DxOMark ratings are far from gospel and should, at best, be treated as reference points.