Pixel 7a, 8 Pro, and Fold sweep blind camera test [Video]

After taking the top two spots last year, the Pixel Camera swept — in order: 7a, 8 Pro, and Fold — the MKBHD 2023 Blind Camera Smartphone Camera Test. 

Marques Brownlee posed for three pictures: Standard (regular daylight), Night (low light), and Portrait with 20 of the year’s smartphones.

20 smartphones have been randomized and assigned a letter. All of them take the same photo. You’ll be shown a comparison side by side, and you pick the better photo until a statistically significant winner emerges.

Voting page

This produces an ELO rating, which is most famously used in chess but also basketball and other sports. In terms of average ELO, the 2023 family of Pixel devices swept the blind camera test. Brownlee noted how it amusingly went from cheapest to most expensive ($499, $999, and $1799).

In regular daylight, the Pixel 7a (1735 ELO) won the top spot followed by the Pixel Fold (1721) and the OnePlus Open (1690). The OnePlus 11 was 4th (1686) and the Pixel 8 Pro came in fifth (1672). The iPhone 15 Pro had the lowest ELO rating (1187) with an overall darker photo, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 came in 19th (1203) with an overexposed shot. 

The iPhone 15 Pro won the low light test (1651), while the Pixel 8 Pro came in second (1625) and the Pixel 7a third (1608). The Pixel Fold was in sixth place (1544). 

In terms of portrait modes, Pixel 8 Pro won (1668) followed by the Z Fold 5 (1663) and iPhone 15 Pro (1651). The Pixel 7a was fourth (1638) and the Pixel Fold 10th (1574).

You can see each of the three sets in the full video — day, night, and portrait — (Tip: increase the resolution and pinch-to-zoom using the YouTube mobile apps).