[Google Pixel Guides, News, & Discussion] Nitemare3219:
You need to learn a little more about camera hardware dude. The sensor seems bad? You are wrong.

It is using a 1/2.3" size sensor. A sensor that size is something that some DEDICATED point and shoot cameras use. It is one of the largest sensors in a smartphone available. The 2016 Samsung phones are using a 1/2.5" sensor, which is inferior comparatively. The Pixels will have larger pixels (heh) to take in more light, resulting in better detail capture and low light photography. This combined with HDR+ (the newest iteration which is really yet to be seen) is going to be incredible.

HDR+ captures RAW images and uses software processing to combine the best of these images into a single JPEG. What does this mean for you? It means incredible dynamic range, the likes of which no other smartphone can compete. Why? Because HDR+ is EXCLUSIVE to Google. Nobody can process HDR as well as them in 99% of cases. I even did a comparison of my 6P against a $1,000 Sony RX100 IV (top of the line point and shoot camera). The 6P had better exposure and far better dynamic range in the vast majority of photos, straight out of the camera. Obviously the RX100 is much more capable and can certainly take better photos, but from a point and shoot perspective, the 6P was superior in terms exposure and dynamic range except in extreme low light. It blew my mind, pissed me off, and made me return that camera because I realized for my purposes, a smartphone camera is all I really need.

The Samsung phones having f/1.7 over f/2.0 is an advantage in some ways, yes, but not an outright advantage. It results in better bokeh (depth of field) effects, but also a more narrow focus range. If you want a lot of stuff in the frame in focus, especially if it's a close-up shot, you're not going to have a good time with Samsung's camera. With f/1.7 there are times you can't even get full focus on an entire object up close, because the focus range is so narrow. It also means the lens itself allows more light in, which can result in a better nighttime photo. But look up some night comparisons of 2016 flagships (including Samsung) vs the 6P. Here is one: http://www.androidheadlines.com/201...galaxy-s7-vs-htc-10-vs-lg-g5-vs-nexus-6p.html

Despite the 6P having f/2.0, it had better night photos in most cases. How? Because of its larger sensor. But wait - the HTC 10 has the same sensor, AND f/1.8 - how did it beat the HTC 10 in most cases? Because of HDR+. I will say it again - no other company beats Google's HDR+ processing in the vast majority of cases. It is incredible. Turn off HDR+ and you will regret it. The downside of using it on the 6P is processing time and shutter lag. That is no longer a problem with the Pixels. Leave it on all the time.

The only advantage I see Samsung truly having is autofocus. The dual pixel AF system is ABSURDLY fast and accurate. Also DxOMark is a very reliable and thorough source...

This is just not true. The Pixel camera will absolutely not disappoint. Samsung also does not have anything close to perfectly accurate colors. Samsung has been known to oversaturate, which can look better to most peoples eyes, but it is not going to be always accurate to the scene. I'm not saying Samsung hasn't been destroying the camera competition this year, because they absolutely have been... but to down talk the Pixels already is shortsighted and unfair. The lack of OIS a letdown. It means you will need to try to be as steady as possible when taking photos, especially at night. I think they either did this to avoid the camera bump (which would be a terrible reason to omit OIS), or because their software EIS is so gyroscope dependent that OIS would inhibit its effectiveness... but the V20 uses EIS and OIS quite well, so I sort of doubt this. Google could be using their own, different EIS method though, so we'll have to wait and see just how good it is. I don't think EIS will apply to photos, but it could - Sony does it with their Xperia cameras.