OnePlus 6 vs Huawei P20 Pro Camera Comparison, Raw and Unedited Photos

Can a PHP 30,990 flagship killer take on a PHP 44,990 high-end cameraphone, which is described by many as the currently best in the world for mobile imaging?

In this TechPinas post, I'm going to try answering that question by doing a side-by-side comparison of raw and unedited photos of various subjects (low light, food, architecture, indoor, among others) taken using the much-talked-about OnePlus 6 versus those snapped using the renowned Huawei P20 Pro -- all with automatic settings.

But before that, let me give you a quick overview about the powerful Rear Camera set-ups of these stellar 2018 Android smartphones.

OnePlus 6

Exclusively available in the Philippines at all Digital Walker stores nationwide, this affordable high-end model sports a Dual Camera Module made up of a 16 MegaPixel primary shooter with Sony IMX 519 sensor - which is known to perform well in low light, wide f/1.7 aperture, Optical Stabilization, and big 1.22 µm pixel size. This is complemented by a secondary 20 MP cam with Sony IMX 376K sensor, f/1.7 aperture, and smaller 1.0 µm pixel size. The two cameras work together to enable virtual bokeh or shallow depth of field when snapping portraits.

Huawei P20 Pro

Crafted in partnership with Leica, P20 Pro's Triple Rear Camera module consists of a 40 MegaPixel RGB camera with a big 1/1.7" sensor that - quite simply - lets in more light, a secondary 20 MegaPixel monochrome or black-and-while shooter, and a third 8 MegaPixel cam with 80mm focal length working as the telephoto lens of the smartphone. Powered by Huawei's AI imaging software that automatically recognizes the subject and tweaks the settings to best capture it, this imaging trio also enables Huawei P20 Pro's 3X and 5X lossless zoom capability and bokeh effect, which can be adjusted after the photo was taken.

Alright! Now, let's go straight to the images. Again, all of these were taken using automatic settings and are presented as is or without cropping or any sort of editing.

Set 1

TechPinas Commentary: This is a comparison of indoor shots with classic leading lines composition. As the person who photographed these images, I think OnePlus 6 captured more natural colors - thanks to the brighter overcast - while Huawei P20 Pro had darker tones. That said, although the browns appeared deeper on the P20 Pro image, this gave the photo a more dramatic look and better dynamic range.

Set 2

TechPinas Commentary: One department where Huawei P20 Pro has clear superiority over the OnePlus 6 in terms of capturing fine details and lines in low light conditions. This set of photos of skyscrapers along Buendia Avenue proves just that.

Set 3

TechPinas Commentary: Again, Huawei P20 Pro obviously captured sharper details and delivered better dynamic range in this low light setting; Just look at the cement pavement. Having said that, I still have to give it to OnePlus 6 for giving me more than decent color replication in this tough lighting condition; Sure, the photo's clarity is not as high as that of Huawei P20 Pro but you can't call it dull or blurry. In fact, it's quite good.

Set 4

TechPinas Commentary: This set is largely the same as the first one. OnePlus 6 delivered a brighter, more natural-looking image while Huawei P20 Pro made the shadows look darker for better contrast and a more punchy look.

Set 5

TechPinas Commentary: Huawei P20 Pro tends to make cream, flesh, and brown hues deeper or slightly more reddish. Some people like that, some don't. In this set, although both phones more or less captured the same level of details, the Huawei photo has a warmer appeal.

Set 6

TechPinas Commentary: Here, I actually prefer the photo taken using the OnePlus 6 because it didn't crush the brown tones. Notice that the line "There's No Place Like Home" above the window looks clearer on the photo taken using Digital Walker's Flagship Killer.

Set 7

TechPinas Commentary: Huawei P20 Pro's AI software automatically figured out that I was taking a "food" shot and applied bokeh effect on the photo. However, I think the virtual shallow depth of field became too aggressive that it made parts of the subject blurry. Again, here, I think OnePlus 6 delivered a far sharper image that's more pleasing to the eyes.

Set 8

TechPinas Commentary: Have you noticed the pattern? In well-lit indoor conditions, I personally think OnePlus 6 can actually stand shoulder to shoulder with Huawei P20 Pro when it comes to sharpness of details. In fact the brighter overcast in OnePlus 6 images, even makes you better appreciate the color palette or range of hues in images as shown above.

Set 9

TechPinas Commentary: Frankly, I was pleasantly surprised with the photo taken using the OnePlus 6 in this set. I was expecting it be thoroughly slain by the Huawei P20 Pro shot because of the low light setting but that didn't happen. In fact, as you can clearly see in the juxtaposed images, OnePlus 6 delivered a slightly brighter rendition of the edifice while brilliantly capturing clear details and vibrant colors on the clock tower.

Conclusion

Studying all of the photo-sets presented, I'd say that Huawei P20 Pro clearly has an edge over the OnePlus 6 in low light conditions. No one's questioning that. At this point, it's already a given. However, in well-lit settings, OnePlus 6 is clearly capable of giving Huawei P20 Pro a run for the money or a big fight. In fact, in some sets shown above, the brighter images snapped using the Flagship Killer - to me - looked more visually pleasing.

Now, for those who are currently trying to choose between these two smartphones, I want to throw this question to you, "Are you really willing to pay PHP 14,000 more just to enjoy all the advantages of Huawei P20 Pro over the OnePlus 6 in terms of mobile imaging? Why or why not?" Share your thoughts with me in the comments section below or on social media. I'll be waiting. Cheers!