Smartphone camera showdown: Exploring London with two of the best camera phones of 2025

Our two contenders are high-end smartphones from Google and Apple. Both devices sport a compact 6.3-inch display, yet still deliver impressive camera technology:

• The Google Pixel 9 Pro features a 50-megapixel main camera, complemented by a 48-megapixel ultra-wide and a 48-megapixel periscope zoom lens, forming a powerful camera system. Optical zoom is available up to 5x. The Pixel smartphone is priced at around €950 on amazon.de.
  
  
• The Apple iPhone 16 Pro boasts the same camera system as the larger iPhone 16 Pro Max, currently holding the top spot on our list of best camera smartphones. Its 48-megapixel main camera is complemented by an equally high-resolution ultra-wide camera, while a telephoto lens offers up to 5x magnification. The Apple smartphone is available for just under €1,200 on amazon.de at the time of writing.

We step out onto the balcony of our hotel room, where we can clearly see the iconic London Eye – the giant Ferris wheel that has been standing on the banks of the Thames for 25 years, offering breathtaking views of central London from its towering 135-metre height. We take a shot with both phones. At first glance, the image from the Google Pixel 9 Pro appears clearer and more contrast-rich, allowing us to make out the outlines of the people in the gondolas more easily when zooming in. However, the fine spokes of the Ferris wheel are rendered sharper on the Apple device.

Don’t worry, we’ll soon be heading to the heart of the city, around Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus.

But first, it’s worth taking a closer look at the once-neglected areas south of the Thames. In recent decades, these neighbourhoods have undergone significant transformation. Pedestrian zones with bustling market stalls invite you to linger and, in the formerly gloomy tunnels beneath Waterloo Station, the vibrant graffiti and stencils of the street art scene tell a completely different story.

In the distance, the skyscrapers of the City of London rise, their ongoing construction marked by cranes dotting the skyline. In the photo, Apple iPhone 16 Pro appears slightly mistier, which, admittedly, suits the typical February weather in London. However, the details in the crane booms and the sky are more distinct. When it comes to the high-rise buildings, sometimes the Google Pixel reveals more detail, while, at other times, the Apple device comes out on top.

When looking at the bustling street, the photo on the Apple device initially appears brighter. However, upon closer inspection, it’s clear that the image lacks the sharpness and detail of the Google phone. The text on the banner across the street blurs slightly when zoomed in on the Apple device, and even the people on the street appear more pixelated and less defined. 

In our hotel, various vintage machines are displayed as part of the decor. One of them is captured by the Google Pixel 9 Pro with a slightly warmer colour tone – making the image appear more vivid – including the challenging expression of the bulldog. However, the level of detail in both shots is striking – scratches around the display are clearly visible, as are the delicate hand-painted numbers.

At the Thames riverside, a stunning view opens up to some of London’s historic landmarks: the Houses of Parliament and the world-renowned clock tower, Big Ben. Officially, it’s called Elizabeth Tower, named after the late Queen Elizabeth II, and Big Ben refers specifically to the largest bell inside.

We zoom in step by step with both smartphones to see which camera delivers the better results. In general, the Google Pixel 9 Pro offers a wider zoom range, reaching up to 30x digital zoom, while the Apple device tops out at 20x.

Without digital zoom, both phones allow for up to 5x magnification, with the Apple smartphone providing a clearer, more detailed image. However, once we venture into digital zoom, the Google Pixel takes the lead, offering significantly sharper details. Even at 30x zoom, the Google phone still delivers a surprisingly usable image, as long as it’s not stretched too far.

Right next to the fish-and-chips stand, a carousel with brightly painted horses adds to the vibrant scene. Both smartphones capture this moment beautifully, though the shot from the Google Pixel stands out just a bit more, offering a greater sense of depth and a touch more intricate detail.

The vibrant heart of London beats in the West End, around Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, and Oxford Street, where the streets are always bustling with energy and life. The expansive Trafalgar Square, home to the National Gallery – where world-renowned artworks can be admired for free – is the perfect place to pause and, of course, snap some photos.

When we take a shot of the towering Nelson’s Column, the dim weather and the canyon-like streets surrounding the square don’t provide much light for photography. The high contrasts present a challenge for the camera smartphones. Both handle the task well, but the iPhone’s details appear a bit softer.

The iconic underground signs, marking the entrances to the Tube, are a staple of London’s landscape. The image captured by the Google Pixel 9 Pro has vibrant, almost over-saturated colours, making the sign pop with intensity. In contrast, the iPhone 16 Pro opts for a warmer colour balance, with a more restrained saturation, offering a more natural feel.

Is it possible to capture more of London in a single photo? An iconic red telephone box, a classic pub, spherical street lights and brickwork – it’s a quintessential scene. Once again, the Google Pixel delivers a sharper overall image with more vivid colours, though this adds a slightly artificial feel. The Apple shot, while slightly less detailed, captures a more natural and true-to-life atmosphere.

Soon, we’ll have to leave London, but not before one final walk along the Thames. We’re set to capture the city’s glowing lights and neon signs by night.

The Young Vic Theatre already looks stunning, with the Apple iPhone 16 Pro doing a better job of brightening darker areas. However, this comes at the cost of slightly overexposed lights, making the image a bit hazy in places. Overall, we prefer the clearer shot from the Google Pixel 9 Pro, which delivers a more balanced and sharper result.

At Southwark Station, we’re treated to another iconic underground sign, this time accompanied by beautiful reflections. The iPhone opts for a brighter exposure, making the sign pop, though it causes the information sign below to be slightly overexposed. Meanwhile, the Google Pixel captures a darker, more muted shot, offering a subtler look, but the vibrant impact of the scene is somewhat lost.

When you’re spending around €1,000 or more on a smartphone, you expect to bring home some impressive holiday photos. With both the Google Pixel 9 Pro and the Apple iPhone 16 Pro, that expectation is certainly met: both phones boast high-quality camera systems that captured our London memories beautifully.

For those who prefer the automatic settings, we feel the Google Pixel 9 Pro edges out slightly, delivering sharper, more detailed shots. However, this sometimes comes at the cost of slightly oversaturated colours. Google’s phone also offers a wider digital zoom range, with images still looking quite good at smaller sizes.

For those who like to fine-tune their images, both devices offer high-quality RAW files, though some post-processing sharpening will be needed to bring out the best details.

Overall, we had a fantastic time on our London trip and highly recommend the British capital to any fans of city breaks, high culture, pop culture or the quintessential British way of life.