Pixel 4A vs iPhone SE: The Battle of the Budget Camera

I am asked almost weekly what is the best budget camera system for someone who doesn’t know much about photography, and my answer is always the same: which phone do you have? Thanks to smartphones, you no longer need to learn camera system to take great photos, the ins and outs of image editing and photography.

In the latest episode of our YouTube series Full Frame, I’ve put together the top two cameras you can buy for under 400 for testing. It’s an all-out camera battle between the $ 350 Pixel 4A and the iPhone 400 iPhone SE in NYC.

The iPhone SE’s 12MP single rear camera is the same single camera found on the iPhone 8, while the Pixel 4’s 12.2MP single rear camera is the same system that Google uses from the Pixel 2, although this camera has a very different processor, both Are very capable in full light conditions, and separating them seems neat.

One notable difference, however, comes out where the pixel comes in contact, the iPhone is not afraid to capture the shadows and create more contrast. You can see it most clearly in the dark lines of the mural and the shadows of the trees on the concrete. I like this level of contradiction, especially if it means I don’t have to apply and mess up when I’m going to post Instagram filters.

When you take a portrait mode photo you start to notice more of the differences between these two systems. On the pixel, the frame crops in 1.5x, while on the iPhone, there is no cropping.

Sounds like putting a long lens using the pixel’s portrait mode, which, in general, I’d do to take a portrait on a camera with interchangeable lenses. But on the phone, it always forced me to back up to get a better frame of the subject and I preferred the wide angle portrait mode of the iPhone. Both of his subjects ’camera cutouts are worth going through, not with the occasional choice of dropping wacky software in the foot or cutting hair well around. Getting an excellent portrait mode photo still feels lucky.

Night shooting is what gives the pixel its upper edge – because SE, well, is not night mode. I’m still blown away by Pixel’s night site feature. There are times when a pixel camera can see my can object in the dark more than me. But, like the iPhone, not equipped with software, leaving the photos black and needing a bright boost.

When the pixel wins at night, the iPhone dominates the processing power. Apple’s latest A13 chip is inside the SE, and it’s fast – just like Evil Fast. I caught working on the images for a while after taking the Pixels Snapdragon 730G processor. When it comes to how fast you can open the camera app, take a photo and then review it, the iPhone wins.

For less than $ 400, both cameras are small powerhouses that create sharp, balanced photos. But if you want my choice for many more samples, NYC’s beautiful B-Roll and the best budget phone camera, you’ll have to approach this full frame episode.

Photography by Becca Farsase / The Verge