Iphone Xr Camera Vs Galaxy S8 Plus Is The Newer Iphone Really That Much Better 2

When comparing smartphones, camera performance often makes or breaks a decision. The iPhone XR, released in 2018, represents Apple’s mainstream flagship approach with a single-lens rear camera. The Samsung Galaxy S8+, launched a year earlier in 2017, was a premium Android device featuring a dual-camera setup on its sibling model (S8 Note), but the standard S8+ carried a capable single 12MP sensor. On paper, the newer iPhone should have a clear edge—but is the reality that simple? Let’s break down the real differences in image quality, low-light performance, video capabilities, and user experience to see if time and tech advancements truly make the iPhone XR a definitive winner.

Camera Hardware: Specs Tell Only Part of the Story

The iPhone XR features a 12MP f/1.8 wide-angle rear camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and Smart HDR. It lacks a telephoto lens, relying on digital zoom and computational photography for portrait mode effects. In contrast, the Galaxy S8+ uses a 12MP f/1.7 Dual Pixel rear sensor—also with OIS—but no secondary lens. While both devices use single rear cameras, their imaging philosophies differ significantly.

Feature	iPhone XR	Galaxy S8+
Rear Camera	12MP, f/1.8, OIS, Smart HDR	12MP, f/1.7, Dual Pixel AF, OIS
Front Camera	7MP, f/2.2, Portrait Mode	8MP, f/1.7, Auto Focus
Video Recording	4K @ 60fps, extended dynamic range	4K @ 30fps, HDR10 support
Low-Light Performance	Moderate improvement via Smart HDR	Solid for its time, but no Night Mode
Software Enhancements	A12 Bionic chip enables advanced processing	Exynos 8895 / Snapdragon 835, less AI integration

While the S8+ has a slightly faster aperture (f/1.7 vs f/1.8), the iPhone XR benefits from a more modern image signal processor and machine learning capabilities. This allows it to process scenes more intelligently, especially in mixed lighting. However, hardware alone doesn’t determine photo quality—software tuning and user expectations play equally important roles.

Tip: In low light, stabilize your phone against a surface—even on older models like the S8+, this can reduce blur and improve detail.

Photo Quality in Real-World Conditions

In daylight, both phones produce sharp, well-exposed images, but their color science diverges. The Galaxy S8+ tends to oversaturate colors slightly, favoring vibrant, punchy results popular with social media users. The iPhone XR, by contrast, delivers more natural tones, preserving accurate skin colors and subtle gradients in skies and foliage.

In backlit scenarios, the XR’s Smart HDR outperforms the S8+ significantly. The latter often struggles with blown-out highlights or shadow crushing, while the iPhone maintains detail in both bright and dark areas. This is largely due to Apple’s improved tone mapping and local contrast adjustments processed in real time.

“By 2018, computational photography had shifted from enhancement to necessity. The A12 chip allowed Apple to extract more data from each pixel, giving even a single-lens system an edge over earlier flagships.” — David Lin, Mobile Imaging Analyst at TechVisuals Lab

Portrait mode is another area where the gap widens. The iPhone XR uses facial depth mapping powered by the TrueDepth front camera and machine learning to simulate bokeh. While not perfect, edge detection around hair and glasses is far more consistent than the S8+’s software-based portrait attempts, which rely solely on focus data and lack depth sensors.

Low-Light and Night Photography: Where Age Shows

Neither phone has a dedicated Night Mode—the feature Apple introduced with the iPhone 11 series. However, the iPhone XR still manages better low-light results thanks to longer exposure stacking in “dark” mode and noise reduction algorithms tuned for its sensor.

In dim indoor lighting or evening outdoor shots, the XR preserves more shadow detail and applies less aggressive sharpening, resulting in cleaner textures. The S8+, while capable in moderate low light, begins to show luminance noise and color smudging as ISO climbs. Its Dual Pixel autofocus helps with subject clarity, but without multi-frame processing, fine details get lost.

This isn’t just about sensor size—it’s about how the entire imaging pipeline works together. The A12 Bionic’s Neural Engine allows the iPhone XR to analyze scenes before capture, adjusting white balance, exposure, and focus points with greater foresight than the S8+’s older chipset can manage.

Video Capabilities: A Clear Generational Leap

If you shoot video regularly, the iPhone XR offers a decisive advantage. It supports 4K recording at up to 60 frames per second, along with extended dynamic range for video (up to 120 fps in 1080p). Audio zoom and stereo recording further enhance production value.

The Galaxy S8+ maxes out at 4K@30fps and lacks advanced stabilization in higher resolutions. While its video quality was excellent in 2017, today it feels limited—especially when capturing fast motion or editing footage in post.

• Stabilization: iPhone XR uses advanced electronic + OIS hybrid stabilization.
• Dynamic Range: The XR captures more highlight and shadow detail during video.
• Editing Flexibility: Higher frame rates and bitrate give iPhone footage more versatility.

For vloggers or casual creators, this difference matters. Even three years after release, iPhone XR footage holds up better in side-by-side comparisons with S8+ clips under similar conditions.

Practical Tips for Maximizing Each Camera

Regardless of which device you’re using, technique plays a crucial role in output quality. Here are actionable ways to get the most from either camera:

Tip: Tap to set focus and exposure separately. On both phones, long-press to lock AE/AF, ensuring consistent exposure when moving.

1. Clean the lens regularly. Smudges dramatically affect HDR and low-light performance.
2. Use grid lines (enable in camera settings) to apply the rule of thirds for balanced composition.
3. Avoid digital zoom—step closer instead to maintain resolution.
4. Shoot in RAW (if supported via third-party apps) for greater editing headroom.
5. Leverage natural light. Position subjects facing windows or open shade for best results.

Mini Case Study: Travel Photography in Marrakech

Photographer Lena Tran used both the iPhone XR and her old Galaxy S8+ during a week-long trip to Morocco. Shooting souk scenes, desert sunsets, and street portraits, she found the XR consistently handled high-contrast environments better. In narrow alleyways with patchy sunlight, the S8+ produced harsh shadows and clipped highlights, while the XR preserved texture in both stone walls and fabric stalls.

Her only complaint? The lack of a telephoto lens on the XR made distant architectural details harder to capture. She resorted to cropping, which reduced quality. Still, after reviewing hundreds of shots, she concluded that the iPhone’s consistency across lighting conditions outweighed the flexibility of the older Samsung’s manual Pro mode.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the iPhone XR camera better than the Galaxy S8+ overall?

Yes, in most real-world conditions. The combination of a modern processor, improved HDR, better low-light handling, and superior video specs gives the iPhone XR a measurable edge, despite having similar megapixel counts.

Can the Galaxy S8+ still take good photos today?

Absolutely. For casual use, social media, and well-lit environments, the S8+ remains competent. Its color vibrancy and Dual Pixel focus make it fun to shoot with, especially for portraits in daylight. But it shows its age in challenging light or complex scenes.

Does software updates affect camera performance?

Indirectly, yes. Apple continues to refine camera processing through iOS updates, even on older devices like the XR. Samsung ended major OS updates for the S8+ after Android 9, limiting future improvements. This means the iPhone gains small refinements over time, while the S8+’s camera behavior remains frozen.

Conclusion: Progress Isn’t Just About Megapixels

The iPhone XR isn’t just “newer”—it represents a shift in mobile photography driven by silicon efficiency and computational intelligence. While the Galaxy S8+ was a top-tier device in its day, the gap between 2017 and 2018 brought meaningful advances in how phones interpret and render images.

The answer to “Is the newer iPhone really that much better?” is nuanced: for everyday users who value reliability, video quality, and consistent results, the iPhone XR delivers noticeable improvements. Enthusiasts who enjoy manual control may miss some Pro mode features on the S8+, but they’ll gain more in automation and final output quality.

💬 Have you switched from an older Galaxy to an iPhone—or vice versa? Share your camera experience below. Your insights could help others decide what truly matters in mobile photography.