Skip to main content

The HTC 10 has an amazing camera, and shares the top spot with the Galaxy S7 Edge

htc 10 camera review news 1714
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
No one can deny that HTC has made some of the most beautiful phones, but they always came up short in many ways. The camera was one of these deficiencies, as it was always several steps behind Samsung’s flagships. However, HTC promised the HTC 10 would have a “world class” camera this time around.

One of the most popular camera review sites, DxOMark, was able to get its hands on the HTC 10 to find out just how good the camera is. We’re happy to say that HTC delivered on its promise, but the HTC 10 will have to share the crown.

The HTC 10 touts very similar camera specs as the Galaxy S7 Edge, but each phone uses different technology to achieve greatness. The HTC 10 boasts UltraPixel 2 tech, which is more of a marketing term than anything else. Its main rear camera is 12 megapixels and sports an aperture of f/1.8 and a large pixel size of 1.55μm.

On the other hand, the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge also sport 12 megapixels, but the aperture of f/1.7 is better. On the flip side, the 1.40μm pixel size is smaller.

The lower the aperture is and the larger the pixel size, the more light the camera lens can capture. Samsung has a lower aperture, but HTC has a larger pixel size.

Both phones sport laser autofocus, but Samsung’s dual-pixel technology uses 100 percent of the pixels to offer faster, more precise focusing. How much faster it is than the HTC 10 remains to be seen.

When you add up all of these features, both phones have top-notch specs, but it’s probably difficult to pick a clear winner. DxOMark seems to agree with that interpretation as it gave the HTC 10 an overall score of 88, the same exact score the Galaxy S7 Edge received last month. This means that both phones share the top spot, and that each of them obliterates the iPhone 6S Plus and 6S, which scored 84 and 82, respectively.

DxOMark found the HTC 10 to have a fast and accurate autofocus, along with good exposure, white balance, and noise reduction in low light situations. The camera also preserved good details in all conditions, which means that you should be able to crop out images and maintain quality.

On the downside, the HTC 10 showed a loss of sharpness in the corners and highlights were slightly blown out in outdoor shots.

When it came to videos, the HTC 10’s score of 86 was actually lower than the 88 score given to the Galaxy S7 Edge. DxOMark says the HTC 10 experienced an accurate and fast autofocus, along with good stabilization, exposure, and white balance. However, residual motion was present in walking movements and the autofocus failed occasionally.

While both phones share the crown, it doesn’t mean that they are identical. One phone might perform slightly better in one situation, but not as good in another. But the bottom line is that you can’t go wrong with either of them in terms of the camera. You’re getting the best of the best either way.

Editors' Recommendations

Robert Nazarian
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Robert Nazarian became a technology enthusiast when his parents bought him a Radio Shack TRS-80 Color. Now his biggest…
The best Samsung Galaxy S10 cases and covers for 2022
Samsung Galaxy S10 cases - Totallee Thin Case

The Samsung Galaxy S10 may no longer be Samsung's top phone, but you might not know that by looking at it. It's a gorgeous piece of design, with an almost seamless glass design, all-encompassing display, and powerful specs that show you can have beauty and brains at the same time.

The Samsung Galaxy S10 is all about maximizing screen space with its edge-to-edge display and lack of bezel. The 6.1-inch Super AMOLED display and high screen-to-body ratio are ideal if you use your phone to watch videos or read news stories. Unfortunately, it's the Samsung Galaxy S10’s attractive design that makes it susceptible to damage. Protecting your phone’s display with a case or cover is a simple and effective way of preventing scratches and cracks. Using a phone case or cover for your Samsung Galaxy 10 is also a fun way of personalizing your device.

Read more
The best Samsung Galaxy S10e cases and covers
Samsung Galaxy s10e hands-on

The Samsung Galaxy S21 range may be the newest S-range on the block, but that doesn't mean that the Galaxy S10 line isn't still a tempting option. With enough power to run anything you throw at them and good looks to turn heads for years to come, the Galaxy S10 line is still a fantastic choice if you're looking for a new smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy S10e is the smallest and cheapest of the S10 line, but it packs the same level of high performance as its bigger brethren. Plus, the dual-camera system produces some exceptional shots.

To serve you faithfully, it's going to need some protection. Smartphones risk a lot of everyday damage, and even the hardiest of phones can risk broken screens, scuffs, and device-ending drops. While you can't keep your device protected against everything, a protective case can reduce the damage from impacts and scratches, making it more likely your phone makes it to your next upgrade. Here's a list of the best Samsung Galaxy S10e cases available right now.

Read more
The Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G tablet has a low price, but at the expense of the screen
The colors of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE.

Samsung has announced the Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G tablet, a new version of the existing Galaxy Tab S7 Plus tablet released in August 2020. It’s the latest entry in Samsung’s growing range of “FE” devices, which includes the Galaxy S20 FE and started out with the Galaxy Note 7 Fan Edition. FE, as is now clear, stands for Fan Edition, and indicates Samsung has made some changes to the original non-FE model.

What’s new here? The Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G is a new version of the S7 Plus, rather than the 11-inch S7 tablet, meaning it has a 12.4-inch screen with a 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution. Unfortunately, it’s a TFT screen and not the wonderful 120Hz refresh rate Super AMOLED display from the Tab S7 and S7 Plus. The 608-gram metal tablet is very thin at just 6.3mm, and comes in a selection of colors — black, silver, green, or pink. The Galaxy Tab S7 Plus came in the attractivemystic bronze, which is unfortunately missing here.

Read more