I tested the iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Pixel 10 Pro XL in a 10-round macro photography shootout — here’s the winner

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iPhone 17 Pro Max(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)Pixel 10 Pro XL(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)

Looking at the overall picture, I like how both phones add just that right amount of background blur to accentuate the zinnia in the middle.

While both pass for their excellent results, the iPhone 17 Pro Max gets the nod for its sharper details. Not only are the edges of the pink petals more defined, but the iPhone also has a sharper look.

Winner: iPhone 17 Pro Max

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iPhone 17 Pro Max(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)Pixel 10 Pro XL(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)

Right away, I prefer the stronger contrast look of the Chinese aster captured with the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The way the shadows blend with the strong light makes the image pop, while the phone’s balanced exposure ensures all details of the flower are visible.

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I still like the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s macro shot, but it seems to overexpose the highlights just a bit — especially near the middle of the flower. I can see detail loss due to how it over-exposes that area.

Winner: Pixel 10 Pro XL

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iPhone 17 Pro Max(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)Pixel 10 Pro XL(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)

Despite looking a bit barren due to the chillier fall temperatures, I like all the sharp details both phones capture of the wild teasel above. It’s hard to tell which looks better from a quick glance, but I notice a difference as I begin to zoom into various parts of the shot.

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I begin to see the smaller, more fine looking spikes all around each spiny stem coming out from each prickly branch with the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s shot. The Pixel 10 Pro XL also manages to capture this detail, but not to the same degree because it’s a smidge softer.

Winner: iPhone 17 Pro Max

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iPhone 17 Pro Max(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)

I don’t know why, but this wilting zinnia reminded me of a pineapple — which is why I shot it. Just as before, there’s a nice amount of bokeh applied to the background, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s stronger detail capture delivers the better, overall shot.

If you zoom into the florets in the middle of the flower, you’ll be able to see some of the pollen stuck onto them in the parts in yellow. At the same time, the edges of the details are again more defined versus the blurrier look of the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Winner: iPhone 17 Pro Max

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iPhone 17 Pro Max(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)Pixel 10 Pro XL(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)

Yes, it’s not as colorful as the other macro photographs I took, but this silver spurflower illustrates how well the macro shots on each camera retain their focus.

Shooting at about the same angle and distance, the iPhone 17 Pro Max performs much better here as it’s in sharp focus throughout the shot, while zooming in reveals its fabric-esque looking leaves.

In contrast, the Pixel 10 Pro XL has a tougher time keeping its focus locked on. Only the top portion of the flower is in the focus, while the middle area is blurred.

Winner: iPhone 17 Pro Max

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iPhone 17 Pro Max(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)Pixel 10 Pro XL(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)

With the sun hitting it slightly off to the side, the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s dynamic range performance has a habit of trying to even out the exposure throughout the scene, which I don’t think works to its favor here. That’s because the tibouchina urvilleana’s purple petals look overblown, despite the Pixel drawing out the veins in those petals.

Instead, I prefer the stronger contrast look of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which is more true-to-life because of how the petals look like they’re in the shade. I can also tell the iPhone has better details capture, which seems to be one of its strengths overall.

Winner: iPhone 17 Pro Max

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iPhone 17 Pro Max(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)Pixel 10 Pro XL(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)

Thanks to its stronger contrast, I like how the Pixel 10 Pro XL makes this geranium look way more dramatic. This time it’s the iPhone 17 Pro Max that’s trying to balance out the exposure throughout the shot, whereas the Pixel 10 Pro XL catches my eye more with its contrast.

When it comes to capturing the details, however, I will say that both phones do a good job at detailing those spiny leaves.

Winner: Pixel 10 Pro XL

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iPhone 17 Pro Max(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)Pixel 10 Pro XL(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)

I’m really torn with these shots of the orange tithonia, but I think the Pixel 10 Pro XL does a better job here. If you look at the petals, you can see how it again looks more dramatic thanks to the contrast of the petals — while the green leaves to the right have just the right amount of color saturation.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro Max also pulls off a slick looking macro shot of the tithonia, but it doesn’t have nearly the same level of contrast that the Pixel 10 Pro XL applies. On top of that, the green leaves appear over-exposed.

Winner: Pixel 10 Pro XL

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iPhone 17 Pro Max(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)Pixel 10 Pro XL(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)

For some reason, the Pixel 10 Pro XL was having trouble adjusting its focus — and as a result, I couldn’t get it as close to the lantana. Despite this, I still like the contrast of the Pixel’s shot, which makes the yellow and pink really pop out.

Since I’m able to get closer with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, it has the advantage of capturing finer details of the lantana’s petals. I know most people will like the iPhone’s brighter picture, but I think it’s just a bit much here and mutes some of the colors in the process.

Winner: Pixel 10 Pro XL

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iPhone 17 Pro Max(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)Pixel 10 Pro XL(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)

And for my final macro shot, I pointed both phones at this leafy silver spurflower. Unlike before, I’m able to get both cameras to properly focus. The amount of fine detail they capture appears to be identical, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max does better at keeping the edges much sharper.

However, it’s the way the Pixel 10 Pro XL handles the contrast of the scene that wins me over. Quite simply, it pops out more due to the way the darker green lines throughout the leaf complement the fuzzier and lighter sections.

Winner: Pixel 10 Pro XL

Who would’ve thought this one would come down to a tie. The iPhone 17 Pro Max came out on top with most of the shots early on, but the Pixel 10 Pro XL came roaring back with a vengeance.

Based on my time shooting macro photos at the botanic garden, I can say that the iPhone 17 Pro Max does a better job of capturing all the finer details, while the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s stronger contrast makes its shots look way more dramatic. Frankly, you can’t go wrong using either phone.