Entry № 041-2 / V-426 · 0:00 synced

The Blind Smartphone Camera Test 2021!

Marques Brownlee@mkbhd2.3M viewsDec 17, 202111:31
Source
YT
Views
2.3M
Subscribers
21M
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Promos

16 smartphones. You chose a winner. This is what you picked! Sponsor: The first 1,000 people to click the link can get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: skl.sh Studio Channel BTS: youtu.be MKBHD Merch: shop.mkbhd.com Tech I'm using right now: amazon.com Intro Track: youtube.com Playlist of MKBHD Intro music: goo.gl ~ twitter.com @MKBHD @MKBHD

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AI OverviewDefault language

The Blind Smartphone Camera Test 2021 adopts a bracket style, blind voting format to remove branding bias and determine which phone delivers the best photo. The video explains the reasoning behind removing labels, placing 16 phones into competition, and letting viewers vote to move winners through successive rounds. It emphasizes that perception of brightness often drives gut reactions in side-by-side image comparisons, and it reveals that many people value the most finished, readily shareable photo produced by smartphone cameras rather than deeper technical attributes. The host walks through the setup and explains how each round was judged, highlighting the dynamics of exposure, color, and dynamic range as decisive factors in matchups such as the Galaxy S21 Ultra versus the Axon 30 Ultra and the Pixel lines. The grand final crowns the Google Pixel 5a as the people’s champion, though the host notes that the Pixel 6, OnePlus 9 Pro, and other devices showed strengths in different scenarios. The video closes with reflections on statistical patterns across rounds, including how price did not reliably predict victory, and contemplates potential future formats while inviting viewers to share their own camera picks. Overall, the presentation blends quantitative bracket results with qualitative observations about how people interpret smartphone photography in social media contexts. It also invites interest in accompanying content on The Studio channel and a Skillshare class about making MKBHD videos, reinforcing the creator’s multi-platform approach. The narrative frames the test as both a rigorous comparison and a celebration of viewer participation, culminating in a widely discussed winner and a set of actionable takeaways for future experiments.

Topics · technology · photography · mobile_technology · consumer_electronics · bracket_format · blind_test · smartphones · video_review

Questions answered

Which phone won the Blind Smartphone Camera Test 2021?
The winner was the Google Pixel 5a.
How was the testing format conducted in this video?
16 phones were tested in a bracket style, blind voting format where labels were removed and winners advanced through rounds.
What surprising trend did the host highlight about phone price and voting outcomes?
Price had almost nothing to do with whether a phone won or lost; the cheaper phone won the final in this edition.