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How we test phone cameras: the 12-scene checklist our reviews follow

Every phone gets the same daylight, low-light, motion and video scenes, so scores can be compared.

How we test phone cameras: the 12-scene checklist our reviews follow
Photo: Illustration: Kernel Tech (synthetic)

Camera scores are only useful if every phone gets the same test. Ours has twelve scenes shot on a tripod and by hand.

  • Four daylight scenes: landscape, portrait, close-up and a backlit window.
  • Three low-light scenes: street, room and a candle-lit table.
  • Two motion scenes: a child running and a passing bus.
  • Three video clips: walking, panning and low-light.

We shoot each scene with default settings, then with night mode, and score sharpness, colour, noise and speed. Scores come from three editors working blind, so a favourite brand cannot sway the result.

This is a demo story: every name, place, organisation and figure in it is fictional.

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