On paper, the camera specifications of the iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone 7 Plus might seem very similar to each other. Apple did mention during the iPhone 8’s launch event that it is using a newer sensor on the handset for improved imaging performance, though given how little the company talked about it, most users expected the improvement to be incremental. Turns out, that is not the case. DxOMark has just put the dual-camera system of the iPhone 8 Plus through its paces and gave it a rating of 94, beating the likes of the HTC U 11 and Google Pixel XL by a fair margin.

As their detailed camera review shows, Apple has made tremendous improvements to its image processing algorithms and along with improvements in the sensor technology, the iPhone 8 Plus is able to capture photos with more details, better dynamic range, and lower noise levels. The difference in certain scenarios is downright impressive especially when one considers the fact that the iPhone 8 Plus has the essentially the same camera setup as the iPhone 7 Plus.

DxOMark praises the HDR performance of the iPhone 8 Plus and calls it among the best they have seen in a smartphone they have ever tested. They also praise Apple for properly using face detection to expose faces properly. Finally, while the performance of the telephoto lens can still be improved, it still offers the best zoom and bokeh in a mobile device. Overall, from a photography viewpoint, the iPhone 8 Plus got a score of 96, with its autofocus performance and color cast in low-light scenarios being the only notable weaknesses.

In terms of video recording, DxOMark praised the video stabilisation, exposure, face tracking, and color rendering aspects of the iPhone 8 Plus. However, they did notice some noise creeping up in low-light scenarios and exposure issues in certain scenarios.

Overall, the Apple iPhone 8 Plus is an excellent choice for the needs of nearly every smartphone photographer. It features outstanding image quality, zoom for those needing to get closer to their subjects, and an industry-leading Portrait mode for artistic efforts. It is at the top of our scoring charts in nearly every category — and in particular, its advanced software allows it to do an amazing job of capturing high-dynamic range scenes and images in which it can recognize faces.

It will be interesting to see now just how well the iPhone X does in DxOMark’s ranking when it launches in early November. While the handset uses the same primary camera as the iPhone 8, its secondary telephoto lens features a wider f/2.4 aperture and OIS, both of which should help in greatly improving its imaging performance further.

Are you now reconsidering your decision of not buying the iPhone 8 Plus?