I put the new Pixel 11 Pro XL astrophotography mode to the test against this $3,000 proper astro camera setup — and the difference is surprising
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
Google’s Pixel 11 Pro XL was pitted against the $2,500 OM SYSTEM OM‑3 Astro mirrorless camera equipped with a fast 12 mm f/2 Olympus lens to evaluate its new Night Sight engine for astrophotography. The Pixel’s updated computational pipeline claims up to 4.5 times faster capture than previous models, and the test focused on side‑by‑side image quality, ease of use, and processing speed. While the dedicated camera required manual exposure, ISO, and focus adjustments, the Pixel operated in fully automatic Astrophotography mode after being mounted on a tripod, detecting stillness and handling all processing internally. Results showed the phone producing surprisingly competitive star fields and detail, narrowing the gap between smartphone convenience and specialist equipment despite the stark price disparity.
💡 Why It Matters
- · The test demonstrates that advanced computational photography can deliver near‑professional night‑sky results without the technical expertise or expense traditionally required.
