iPhone 17 Pro tops video rankings, but Vivo X200 Ultra stays king of photos
If you’re a video-first creator, the iPhone 17 Pro just became the phone to beat. In the latest DxOMark camera evaluations, Apple’s flagship moved into first place for video, edging out last year’s iPhone 16 Pro Max. Testers praised its accurate exposure, reliable white balance, and wide dynamic range that holds up even in low light. They also highlighted minimal image artifacts, pleasing bokeh, and impressively smooth transitions when switching between its three cameras.
For pure photography, though, the story flips. The Vivo X200 Ultra pulls ahead with a Photo sub-score of 173 compared to the iPhone 17 Pro’s 166, while the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra also remains a top pick for stills. If your priority is the best smartphone for photos, these devices continue to lead the current photo-focused rankings.
The iPhone 17 Pro’s video excellence isn’t without a few caveats. The report notes occasional minor focus and white balance instability on moving subjects, a drop in fine texture detail around certain zoom presets, and slight noise when shooting indoors or in dim lighting.
Early comparison shots featuring the Pura 80 Ultra, Vivo X200 Ultra, and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL reinforce a clear takeaway: the iPhone 17 Pro is a powerhouse for video, but it won’t always deliver the strongest still image quality in every scenario.
The full test is expected soon, but the buying advice is already clear. Choose the iPhone 17 Pro if you want the best smartphone video performance with accurate exposure, clean colors, and strong low-light results. Opt for the Vivo X200 Ultra or Huawei Pura 80 Ultra if still photography is your top priority and you want maximum detail and photo consistency.
