Glory Magic3 to Zhen version vs iPhone 13 Pro Max image experience

Last month, Glory and Apple held a press conference in the same week. Glory released the new multi-camera fusion image technology of the new HONOR Image Engine computing photography platform for Magic3 series, claiming to open a new era of computing photography with AI algorithm; Apple released the iPhone 13 Pro series with the strongest imaging ability in history.

In previous articles, we have compared the imaging capabilities of Glory Magic3 to Zhen Edition and iPhone 13 Pro Max. In this article, we will give more proofs and compare the image ceilings of the two Android and Apple camps in depth to see which one has better camera ability.

In today's era of "computational photography", various mobile phone manufacturers have adopted certain algorithms to improve image performance. IPhone has always used smart HDR technology. In the past, iPhone can manually turn on HDR mode, and then quickly take photos with different exposures, one is normal exposure, and the other two are exposures of the brightest and darkest parts of the scene, and then automatically merge these three photos to form a HDR photo with better colors and details. In the latest iOS 15, this technology has been upgraded to the latest "smart HDR4". Instead of providing a manual switch, it is integrated into daily shooting and realizes a non-inductive algorithm.

The technical route of glory is different. Glory's multi-camera fusion image technology is to fuse black-and-white lens and color lens photos by learning tens of thousands of machines and using powerful AI computing power. This scheme is adopted because the black-and-white lens has no filter and can sample more texture details. This idea of integration was first seen in Huawei P9' s black-and-white dual camera, and now it is passed down in the glory Magic3 series. Of course, due to the rapid development of AI computing power, the actual synthesis effect is not the same. It should be noted that this main camera fusion mode is more suitable for use in a fixed scene with sufficient light, and the 64MP mode needs to be manually turned on to be activated.

In the past, if you need to shoot with a focal length of 0.5- 1 times, you can only use ultra-wide angle cutting; If you need to shoot with a focal length of 1-3.5 times, you can only use the main camera to intercept it. But these focal segments are commonly used by us, so in most cases, the photos we may take are residual blood.

This glory also provides a more insensitive algorithm for ultra-wide-angle fusion and telephoto fusion. Just press the shutter, Magic3 will automatically turn on multiple cameras for synthesis, achieving better image quality than a single lens. After this algorithm, there is no blind spot between the focal segments of the mobile phone, just like installing a zoom lens.

In order to verify whether the above algorithm is a gimmick, we cover the auxiliary lens separately and see how much the glory algorithm can improve. The first is the main camera fusion. Let's block the black and white lens in the middle and then zoom in to see the details. It can be seen that the image quality on the left is obviously higher than that on the right. It seems that the main camera fusion really played a role.

The left picture is normal, and the right picture is blocked.

Next, let's look at the performance of the telephoto fusion algorithm. The telephoto and ultra-wide angle will merge with the main camera, so we directly block the main camera to see the effect. You can see that there are obvious jagged lines on the iron frame covered on the right, while the normal lens on the left looks sharper. It seems that the multi-camera fusion system really played a role.

The left picture is normal, and the right picture is blocked.

Theory belongs to theory, and we will see how it actually behaves. First, let's test the performance of the main camera. Our glory version of Magic3 to Zhen is equipped with imx700 main camera, 50 megapixel color11.28 inch outsole and 64 megapixel black and white lens.

On the iPhone 13 Pro Max side, there is a12 megapixel f/ 1.5 large aperture main camera. Both mobile phones are excellent in hardware and well-fought, but they still have their own advantages in specific performance.

The following set of proofs is a great test of picture resolution. It can be seen that the resolution can be significantly improved after the integration of Glory Magic3 to version.

Glory Magic3 ultimate edition

iPhone 13 Pro Max

You can see more obvious differences when you zoom in. The glory sample on the left is obviously sharper and brighter.

Let's take a look at the following two sets of proofs. It can be seen that the iPhone has stronger light and more pleasing colors, and the glory algorithm is obviously more suitable for use on sunny days.

Glory Magic3 ultimate edition

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Glory Magic3 ultimate edition

iPhone 13 Pro Max

After we changed a suitable lighting environment, the details of the dark part of glory were more fully displayed, and the shadow part under the ladder could also be well displayed.

Glory Magic3 ultimate edition

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Next is the endurance competition. Judging from the following two proofs, Glory Magic3 is more tolerant of the version, and the dark details are still retained, without overexposure.

Glory Magic3 ultimate edition

iPhone 13 Pro Max

The above is a comparison of the main lens fusion proofs. Let's take a look at the contrast between telephoto fusion and super wide-angle fusion. Glory Magic3-Edition is equipped with a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto lens, which supports OIS hardware image stabilization and can achieve stable imaging.

IPhone 13 Pro Max is 3x telephoto lens,1200,000 pixel f/2.8, and OIS anti-shake is not supported.

The first is 2-3.5 times the telephoto. Under this embarrassing multiple, the traditional independent telephoto lens is difficult to play a role and can only be intercepted by the main camera. Glory adopts dual-lens fusion calculation, which can greatly improve the clarity and resolution of the picture.

Glory Magic3 ultimate edition

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Let's look at the contrast between the two groups of telephoto, both of which are excellent levels; Glory can call the main camera and the color and resolution are better, while the iPhone has more light, indicating that the intelligent HDR4 has produced an effect.

Glory Magic3 ultimate edition

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Glory Magic3 ultimate edition

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Let's take a look at the contrast of ultra-wide angle fusion. In all kinds of algorithms, the author thinks that super wide-angle fusion is the most practical, because we often have the situation that the angle of the main camera is too narrow and the wide angle is too wide, and then we need a wide angle of 0.7-0.9 times. Glory's ultra-wide-angle fusion algorithm allows the main camera to participate in the shooting of this focal segment, greatly improving the image quality. The following two models can be said to be close, and both mobile phones are excellent.

Glory Magic3 ultimate edition

iPhone 13 Pro Max

But the difference can be seen from the following two pictures. The glory algorithm has the intervention of Ai, which is obviously the direction of blue sky and green grass, which is more pleasing to the eye, and the iPhone side is slightly lighter.

Glory Magic3 ultimate edition

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Generally speaking, Glory Magic3 to Zhen Edition has been able to beat iPhone 13 Pro Max in many scenes, especially in terms of resolution, which is called the first echelon of mobile phone images. In contrast, the advantage of iPhone lies in the better shooting experience: short production time, WYSIWYG and smoother zoom, which domestic Android phones need to learn.

Both Glory Magic3 and iPhone 13 Pro Max have reached a limit. In the foreseeable future, mobile phone manufacturers will continue to deepen the algorithm of computational photography. Glory's multi-camera fusion image technology is such an advanced technical route. Only by continuing to organically combine multiple cameras through algorithms is the correct way to make full use of the limited space of mobile phones.