Nexus 6P review

Google's second-generation phablet now runs Android Oreo

Nexus 6P review
Nexus 6P review

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Google claims that the Nexus 6P takes excellent low light photos, and it does, when there's a good amount of light involved. It actually looks stunning for a smartphone camera. These trivia night photos during Back to the Future day are keepers.

However, turn down the lights too much, like at a karaoke bar and you'll see much different results.

Nexus 6P

Nexus 6P

View original Nexus 6P photo

Nexus 6P

Nexus 6P

View original Nexus 6P photo

All of your awkward dancing during karaoke looks worse when moving in low light on a photo captured by the Google Nexus 6P. There's no hiding its inability to catch up with moving subjects.

Nexus 6P

View original Nexus 6P photo

Nexus 6P

Nexus 6P

View original Nexus 6P photo

If everyone stays still, it looks passable for social media posts, but still not good enough compared to what I've experienced from Samsung and LG phones. The same noisy results occurred in outdoor nighttime shots.

Nexus 6P

Nexus 6P

View original Nexus 6P photo

Nexus 6P

Nexus 6P

View original Nexus 6P photo

Selfie photos

Like it or not, selfie photos are becoming more of an everyday habit, and front-facing cameras have to look as good as possible. The Nexus 6P default app doesn't have as many nifty tricks as Samsung or LG and the 8MP here has varying results. It's loads better than the Nexus 6, but there's still room for improvement.

Nexus 6P

Nexus 6P - again great with medium light

View original Nexus 6P photo

Nexus 6P

Nexus 6P: Clearly no OIS on the front facing camera

View original Nexus 6P photo

Nexus 6P

Nexus 6P: too much light, however, can overexpose shots

View original Nexus 6P photo

Nexus 6P

Nexus 6P: The same thing with too much white

View original Nexus 6P photo

Nexus 6P

Nighttime selfies in medium light still look great

View original Nexus 6P photo

Matt Swider