Smartphone Camera Showdown: LG G5, Samsung Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6s
The days of carrying around a point and shoot camera are long gone for most.
— -- With smartphone cameras now able to produce high-quality photos, the days of carrying around a point-and-shoot camera are long gone for most people.
We took some of the newest smartphones on the market out for a quick spin to see how they compare for the average user. No fancy settings or tricks: Just a simple point and shoot of the same objects, at the same time, from the same vantage point.
Here's how the newest smartphone, the LG G5, stacked up against Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge released last month. Our third comparison uses the iPhone 6s. While the device was released last year, it has the same camera specifications as the new 4-inch iPhone SE.
LG G5
The star of the newly released LG G5 smartphone is undoubtedly its camera options.
The sleek smartphone has front and dual rear cameras. There's a 16-megapixel camera with a standard 78-degree wide lens, while an 8-megapixel camera option lets photographer capture more space with a 135-degree lens.
Having those options to play with can turn any photography aficionado into a voracious shooter.
LG also introduced a series of “friends” for its new modular device, including a CAM Plus camera grip that also brings with it physical buttons for power, shutter, record, zoom and a better grip, among other features, letting them take even better photos. The camera add-on also boosts the phone's battery capacity, allowing users to snap away without worrying about draining their battery.
For this photo of a church, we took a wide-angle view to capture more of the scene.
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Samsung's goal with its latest built-in camera is to take great photos in any circumstance. We took the Galaxy S7 Edge inside a dark control room at ABC News and were pleasantly surprised by the vibrant photo we got despite the low light.
The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge have 12 megapixel cameras that excel in low light situations. The reason: The camera has a 25 percent wider aperture than the previous generation, allowing it to take in more light. Each pixel is also 56 percent larger, creating a more professional-looking image -- or at minimum, one you'd be proud to post on Facebook. Super-fast auto-focus also makes it easy for almost anyone to take a halfway decent photo with little effort.
iPhone 6s
Apple's iPhone 6s took the company's camera technology to a whole new level. The iPhone 6s and the newly released 4-inch iPhone SE pack the same 12-megapixel camera specifications. An improved sensor, coupled with the new A9 processor, allows Apple to add pixels without degrading the quality of an image.
The result: Crisp photos with even more vibrant colors.
Live Photos are a standout feature on the newest iPhones. Users can snap a photo and then press on the screen after it was taken to experience the moments just before and after it was taken, providing a unique way to capture a memory.
Bottom Line
Unless you're a serious photography buff, all three smartphones pack impressive cameras that continue to get better with each generation. If you're loyal to an Android device, LG's G5 or the Galaxy S7 may be for you. But Apple users who love the iOS ecosystem will likely be pleased with an upgrade to the iPhone 6s or iPhone SE.