The HTC 10 has an excellent camera sensor but critics have been somewhat underwhelmed with it’s performance. HTC obviously knows this, as it’s released a patch that addresses various issues, one of which being the camera. We know that software processing is a big factor in image quality these days so it got us thinking, how much better is the camera after the new update. We took several before and after shots before comparing them below. Before is on the left, while after is on the right.
Landscape
It’s subtle but we did notice a few things on closer inspection. Detail on the edges of the cars is much more defined, with the newer image looking much sharper. Objects in the background also seem to be more in focus on the after image, which leads to greater overall image quality. On the before, the people sat at the tables seem slightly soft in comparison, which blurs the finer details. Exposure on both images is excellent, with nothing excessively blown out and an evenly lit sky that contrasts well with the darker parts of the image.
Medium distance
Colours are immediately more bold in the after image, with the black frame of the bike standing out much better. The before image almost has a washed out appearance to it, while the after looks much more appealing and saturated. Whites appear to be clipping slightly in the before, with a subtle loss of detail in the highlights. Noise in the after image also seems to be less than before, with the dark areas of the image exhibiting a much smoother appearance and less grain.
Colour
This was a pretty challenging photo, with lots of detail, colour and contrast that had to be simultaneously dealt with. In the before image, we can already begin to notice a few problems. A washed out appearance blankets the image, making the colours look extremely dull and lifeless. The highlights are horribly blown out, with the detail in the sky completely absent. Compare this to the after, which almost looks like it was taken on a completely different device. Colours are beautifully vibrant, while the phone does an admirable job of control the incoming light. Highlights are well retained, with the detail in the sky clearly visible in the background. There’s also much more detail as can be seen if you zoom in on the leaves in the center of the image.
Detail
Another subtle one that hides quite a few improvements under it’s unassuming first impressions. Colour on the after image is much fuller, while the level of detail on the brickwork has been enhanced versus the before image. Exposure on both images is pretty similar, though the after version arguably has better control over the white levels.
Close-Up
The colour of the wood is immediately more eye-catching versus the before, with a certain level of vibrancy that the former just can’t compete with. Things are also a lot sharper, as demonstrated when you zoom in hard on the handle. The central piece in particular has more texture on the newer image, while the focus seems to be a little better too. On the before, a lot of the detail on the wood is blurred out, which is completely undesirable unless used as a depth-of-field effect.
Portrait
We’re noticing that in easy lighting conditions, the effects of the update seem to be far less than in challenging scenarios. In these two portrait images for example, there’s little to discern them unless you look really close at the fine details. Colour is again a little more vibrant on the after image with greater depth, while the detail is improved and things seem crisper around the edges. If you look at the text on the Surface Book box, we can see that the before image is quite a bit softer, with a blurred look to the letters.
Low-light
Perhaps the biggest update can be seen in low-light photography, where the HTC 10 has undergone a substantial improvement. These shots were taken in near complete darkness and the before image suffers from a serious noise issue. You can see the potential in the image, as behind the noise there is good amount of detail to be had. In the updated version, we can see the improved image processing working its magic. Noise is very minimal, while the colour and detail pops out of the image.
Our Verdict
We knew that the HTC 10 had the potential to be a great shooter and this newest update has proved that. The software tweaks have pretty much improved all areas of the device, with low-light seeing the greatest enhancement. Great job HTC.
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