benchmarks

There are still debates on the usefulness not to mention the accuracy of benchmarking apps but now AnTuTu has an even bigger problem to deal with. One of the most popular benchmarking tools on mobile, especially on Android, the AnTuTu is repeatedly getting kicked out of Google's ecosystem. After it got removed from Google Play Store earlier this year, the Android maker's Play Protect security platform is now treating the app as something dangerous, effectively scaring off users from trying to install it.

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For the past few months, the biggest threat to the Android smartphone market isn't any of the iPhone 10 models. The launch of the newest iPhone SE proved to be more successful than even Apple expected, combining iOS' best features with a price tag to die for. But while the iPhone SE 2020 proved to be "just right" for budget-conscious iPhone buyers, there might have been some lingering doubts about performance in one of the most popular uses of smartphones these days. DxOMark puts both front and back cameras of the smaller iPhone through the wringer to finally answer those questions.

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There's no mistaking that the selling feature of foldable phones like the Galaxy Z Flip is, of course, their foldable screen. Their exorbitant price tags, however, might make many think they're getting that on top of your usual premium flagship features. That may be true for things like processors and storage but something has to give somewhere. And when it comes to compromises, that one that almost always gets the short end of the stick is the front-facing camera.

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For the first time in a long while, Motorola has finally put out a premium flagship to compete on the high-end market. It is asking for quite a lot of faith and trust in the brand given its immediately high price. Some might be disappointed in that fact alone while other bemoan its Verizon exclusivity. Those that will be able to get their hands on one, however, might not have much to worry about when it comes to photography as even DxOMark seems a bit satisfied with the phone's camera performance, at least when taken in isolation.

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Smartphones have become pretty impressive especially in performance and photography. It's quite telling when even the likes of Xiaomi and OPPO find their way to the top of DxOMark's list. Of course, there will still be the best of the best in any list and DxOMark has one, too. Unfortunately, that praise might be lost on many consumers who might not be able to even get their hands on the site's top-rated smartphone camera.

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The Galaxy S20 Ultra has some of the most advanced camera features you'd see on a smartphone. The 3x3 "nona-binning" 108 megapixel sensor is the first and so far only one of its kind in the market and the 100x "Space Zoom" is a catchy marketing strategy. Fortunately, Samsung's most expensive non-foldable smartphone does also deliver impressive photos and videos. Unfortunately, DxOMark doesn't think they're enough to justify the price tag, especially when there are 6 other smartphones better than it.

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Qualcomm is arguably the biggest name in the mobile processor market. Although Apple may actually best it in benchmarks and in practice, that victory is pointless for anyone outside of Apple's ecosystem. So when Qualcomm's name gets dragged into any scandal, the mobile market definitely takes a closer look. Unsurprisingly, the US-based chipmaker isn't keeping quiet and is categorically denying it is doing any sort of whitelisting to cheat benchmark apps.

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A few years ago, a scandal broke out in the smartphone market on how once trustworthy benchmarking tools have become suddenly unreliable because smartphone manufacturers were apparently cheating their way to high numbers. That resulted in massive changes to those tools and even a few lawsuits. Other than that, though, it seems that nothing has really changed because when MediaTek was reported to be doing this kind of cheating, it gave the same response Huawei did two years ago: everyone's doing it anyway.

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Every year, Huawei takes the top spot on DxOMark's list for the best smartphone when it comes to camera performance. Unlike before, it doesn't get to hold that spot very long when other new phones arrive, especially now that OPPO and Xiaomi have risen to the top. That back and forth between Huawei and other phone makers have happened again with the Huawei P40 Pro. This time, however, it might be falling on deaf ears outside of China.

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OPPO has recently become more aggressive in demonstrating its innovation in the mobile camera arena and its hard work may finally be paying off. The OPPO Reno 10x Zoom may not have been at the top of its class but it was enough for people to take notice. The OPPO Find X2, on the other hand, just skyrocketed to the top of DxOMark's score, putting other manufacturers, especially Huawei, on notice.

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LG has definitely seen better days and has been largely outpaced by its rivals in many key aspects of the mobile market. It has, however, still held strongly to a few traits, like its ability and courage to make risky innovations short of foldable phones and its audio acumen. Unfortunately, those may no longer be enough to keep it from sliding down even further, especially when its most prized audio features on the LG G8 ThinQ may not be cut out for the job.

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One of the tragedies of Huawei's absence in many markets, especially after losing access to Google Play Store, is the absence of one of the best smartphone cameras in the market, at least by DxOMark's standards. Even Apple and Samsung and especially Google have been outshone by the latest Huawei flagships that you can't get. There might be less regret and envy now that Xiaomi has taken the top spot on that list but, of course, you still can't get the new Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro directly in some markets.

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