Who would have thought the Anant Ambani wedding would reignite the Android vs iPhone camera debate? But that’s exactly what has happened. By now, I’m sure your feeds on various social media platforms have been flooded by countless videos and memes from the Anant Ambani pre-wedding celebrations. For tech enthusiasts, one video has caused quite a reaction. That’s of Rihanna performing ‘All of The Lights’, shot using an iPhone 13 Pro Max.
For those who don’t know, this video appears pretty regular – that’s what I thought. I had no clue why this thread was being reposted and discussed on X (formerly Twitter). Then, I watched the video and saw that the person who shot this performance zooms out towards the end. And zooms out way, way back. This person was nowhere near the stage – though the video made it appear that they were right next to Rihanna. Naturally, everyone assumed this was shot on the Samsung Galaxy S24 or S23 Ultra, given these phones sport an amazing 100X zoom feature.
View this post on Instagram
One of the viral tweets called this the best ad for Zoom capabilities on Android phones. Except, this was an iPhone 13 Pro Max, as Joh Masse, the person who shot it, confirmed. Oh, and he came with receipts eventually. Because nobody was ready to believe this claim.
I TOOK THE VID WITH AN IPHONE 😡 https://t.co/zEsXgtrusB
— Joh (@joh_masse) March 2, 2024
As someone who has been an iPhone user for years, that video is incredible. It is also the best ad for Apple and its camera prowess—an area where many of us have long believed that Androids outperformed iPhones. The Ambani wedding video proves that even a three-year-old iPhone can easily outperform the top Android phones.
The footage is perfect. It doesn’t look grainy, there’s no jerkiness; it just works.
Of course, we don’t quite know if a tripod was used to achieve this level of stability. I do want to know how this was made possible.
Because as an iPhone user, I know there’s no way I can replicate such results. And I say this as someone who firmly believes that iPhones are still ahead regarding video recording capabilities. If Masse would be kind enough to hand out tips, I will be waiting.
But the video is another reminder of how Apple’s iPhones work with no frills attached and often go beyond what is advertised. Apple’s devices have always delivered the best possible results on the camera front. As a user, you can just point and shoot, and the iPhone will ensure a photo or video is perfect for social media. You don’t need to be an expert to achieve ‘good’ photos or videos.
More importantly, the results are often more natural-looking than what Android phones typically offer, as Apple’s colour tones have always been muted. In contrast, Samsung tends to add more vibrancy. Sure, Apple now lets users customise and select the colour tones, but the default has always been very natural.
Apple’s iPhones have hidden capabilities. Perhaps most impressive is that the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 12MP camera at the back. Oh, and it supports 9x digital zoom for videos. Apple only switched to 48MP lenses with the iPhone 14 Pro series. Unlike most Android manufacturers, it has never played the specifications game.
None of this is to say that Android phones are far behind. I’ve seen Android phones beat the iPhone hollow in some aspects of smartphone photography. There’s no doubt that Samsung, Pixel, vivo, and OnePlus have all pushed the boundaries on what we expect from a smartphone camera. Samsung, in particular, with the Galaxy S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra, has shown incredible results with the zoom. I remember using the Galaxy S23 Ultra on a boat in Kolkata to take pictures of a statue far away on the shores. And yes, I got some detailed photos despite my shaky hands. However, I did not think the same clarity was possible with the iPhone when zooming in. I was wrong.
Apple has never advertised or promised such terrific results. More importantly, Apple never compares its iPhones to any phone during launch presentations. While almost every other company – especially if showcasing a camera-focused flagship – will highlight how they outdo Cupertino, the spaceship office folks are unbothered. And evidently, they have a good reason for this confidence.
The whole fanboy debate aside, it is safe to say that the iPhone is still capable of some impossible feats – as long as you know how to achieve them.
