I can't speak to the Sony phones, but for at least a couple of generations (Galaxy S6, S7, Note 5, Note 7, etc.), Samsung phones have been right there with the iPhone in terms of camera quality. The S6 beat the iPhone 6S+ by about the same DxOMark margin as the Pixel is beating the iPhone 7.

Looking at any sort of comparative review, you'll find that on some shots the Samsung produces better results; on others, an iPhone looks better. Each phone may perform a little differently in different situations -- low light, high contrast, whatever. But taken as a whole, at least some Android flagships' cameras have been as good as the iPhone's for a couple of years now.

Nexus phones have been noticeably worse, but they've also tended to cost 60% as much, so it's not exactly an easy comparison to make.

I think what you are trying to say is that maybe some sub-300 android can already beat iphone in picture quality.

what do you think of nexus 5x in that regard?

"Nonsense", to the other responses to your question, the 5X camera (along with the 6P) is outstanding! I consistently "out-shoot" friends with the iPhone in side by side photo situations. This usually involves low light so I can't speak to other scenarios. My 5x camera is one the reasons I love the phone, among quite a few others.

Hmm.. what you said is more in line with the reviews I have seen. Maybe the other posters confuse 5x with the good old 5?

I own a 5x. The camera will be the primary reason I upgrade before I really need to. Its mostly decent but occasionally bad: Out of focus (or incorrect focal point), extremely poor in low light, occasionally crashes (not doing anything fancy here). I think the phone overall is good, and I can't imagine using non-vanilla android. But prior to the Pixel announcement (and after owning this and last gen's Nexus) I'd started considering giving the iPhone a try based solely on the camera.

Well, I though the 5x used the exact same sensor and software as the 6P. I guess I was misinformed.

i've owned both and can verify: iphone camera kills the nexus 5's.

> iphone camera kills the nexus 5's

The Nexus 5X's camera also kills the Nexus 5's. Nexus 5's camera was poor.

Seriously?