In an in-depth review, DxO Mark, a leading camera and lens review site, declared that iPhone 8 Plus has the best smartphone camera that it has ever tested.

Dx0 Mark gave the new iPhone 8 Plus a mobile score of 94, the highest yet that it has given any smartphone camera, including prior iPhone models, Google Pixel and HTC smartphones. Both iPhone 8 models feature a 12MP camera with a larger sensor, color filter, deeper pixels and optical image stabilization for both photos and videos.

Apple continues to improve upon its popular iPhone camera. Last year's iPhone 7 model introduced dual cameras with independent lenses. Apple consistently helps popularize emerging new technologies such as multitouch displays, accelerometer motion sensors, gyroscopes and depth-sensing cameras that are often developed elsewhere first, but Apple refines and targets for useful, real-world applications prior to launch. In fact, one of the earliest researchers of multi-touch sensing, Jeff Han, known for helping create large conference room screens that Microsoft bought and relabeled as Surface Hub, was thrilled when Apple launched the first iPhone in 2007. Han said, "iPhone is absolutely gorgeous, and I've always said, if there ever were a company to bring this kind of technology to the consumer market, it's Apple."

Through these beautiful cameras, Apple also helps educate users on concepts like distance-aware imaging, color range and how to take great portraits, in addition to how everyone communicates or takes photos or videos. Here's some pro tips from Apple for everyday use.

Some of the key differentiators include:

better capture of HDR scenes with more detail preservation and overall exposure
strong performance in low light scenarios and with flash, recognizing and exposing faces properly even in dimly lit, indoor environments
portrait photography
zoom capabilities with a dedicated telephoto camera lens
bokeh for effective depth effects, more blur effects like a typical optical blur with more natural lighting
more accurate exposures
more accurate contrast
pleasing, brilliant color for both outdoors and indoors
wide color gamut
good white balance, with a slighter warmer tone via TrueTone technology for some situations for better viewing experience and presentation
dual‑domain pixels for great views of the screen from almost any angle
avoids visible color shading completely, even in low-light scenarios
remarkably accurate autofocus (though longer time to focus initially)
excellent detail capture, ideal for landscape photography
very low noise
few artifacts
flash-only photos show accurate white balance and excellent color rendering.

Comparison between iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 8 and Google Pixel in outdoor photography with a single subject

iPhone 8 Plus Image Capture via DxO Mark

Foreground Detail Capture and Accurate Color in Landscape Photographs

Accurate Color Capture

Accurate Optical Zoom with Rich Color

The wide‑angle and telephoto lenses available on the iPhone 8 Plus enable optical zoom, with a digital zoom of up to 10x for photos and 6x for videos.

Portrait Mode Offers Range of Photo Options

Showcased earlier at WWDC, the new Portrait Mode available on both the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus models makes taking portrait photos better and easier to shoot with sharper foregrounds, naturally blurred backgrounds. With dual cameras and new facial landmarking tools, both iPhone 8 models make it easy to create dramatic studio lighting effects.

Both iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus benefit from the new processing power of the A11 Bionic chip. You can capture an image and create a lighting effect in the foreground in addition to the background bokeh effect. This creates the effect of a light bounce, offering highlights for the face of your subject and options to dramatically light the jawline or even completely black out the background similar to the clean, crisp shooting of studio photography on a stage.

Professional Photography with Rich Color and Detail Shot on an iPhone

Taking intimate, powerful photographs with the iPhone has grown increasingly popular as Apple has improved and refined iPhone cameras over the years.

Apple and TBWA\Media Arts Lab 'Shot on iPhone 6' campaign 2016.

Apple and TBWA\Media Arts Lab 'Shot on iPhone 6' series in 2016.

This is evident in TIME magazine's 2017 photo shoot using only iPhones. TIME director Kira Pollack hired Brazilian photographer Luisa Dörr to shoot portraits of women for magazine covers for their upcoming "Firsts: Women Who Are Changing The World," documentary magazine series and book. Dörr's bare-bones approach with just her iPhone and a few lighting props, was disarming, friendly and made it easier to shoot. The portrait quickly came into focus with more subtlety of expression and body movement.

Luisa Dörr, left, shoots Oprah Winfrey on her iPhone in Los Angeles, Oct. 2016. Image via TIME.

Photographer Luisa Dörr reviews a picture edit at the TIME offices with the project team (l-r): Spencer Bakalar, Diane Tsai, Luisa Dorr, Justine Simons, Tara Johnson (front center), Kira Pollack and Natalie Matutschovsky. Image via TIME.

New iPhones Benefit from Stronger Processing Power and Built-in Software

The new iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus both benefit from stronger processing power via the A11 Bionic chip, new and enhanced software ability to combine multiple frames into a single image and AutoHDR technology to render high-dynamic range scenes. The A11 Bionic uses Apple's Image Signal Processing core to understand sensor data detected by the cameras. The powerful new Neural Net processing capabilities in both iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus can recognize and understand faces, bodies and objects, even in motion.

Improved Video Capture Capabilities

Both iPhones also are better at capturing video though not as effective as the Google Pixel, but significantly better than prior Apple models. iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus both offer better video quality and stability while panning or walking as well as face tracking for proper exposure.

Excellent Choice for Smartphone Photographers

In summary, the Apple iPhone 8 Plus is an excellent choice for a smartphone photographer with its superior image quality, optical zoom, industry-defining Portrait mode, high dynamic range, face and object recognition for optical lighting and processing power.

Apple released its latest iOS iteration, iOS 11 Sept 19th as a free download with useful tips and how-to videos. We love the increased productivity and entertainment options for the iPhone and iPad - a significant leap forward in mobile technology. Here are six of our favorite updates in iOS 11 for the iPhone and iPad.

Slide over functionality on the iPad. Image via Apple.com

1. Slide Over and the New Dock - Multitasking on the iPad

iOS 11 makes the iPad more powerful and useful with multitasking. It is easy to open up a second app quickly from the Dock. Both apps stay active in Slide Over, new functionality available in iOS 11 with Split View, enabling you to see both simultaneously. There's a new Dock for faster access to apps and documents.

2. Drag and Drop

Drag and Drop finally comes to iPad. This is huge as you can quickly move photos, files and text from one app to another, anywhere on the screen.

3. Files

It is easier to find all your files now on your iPad especially with a new Files app that organizes all your files in one place, including your files in iCloud as well as third-party apps such as Box and Dropbox.

4. Instant Markup with the Apple Pencil

Using the Apple Pencil on the iPad Pro just got to be more fun and useful simultaneously with iOS 11. It is easier to take notes, mark up images and files quickly. Combining these four features together - instant markup, drag and drop, file organization and multitasking turns your mobile device into a very powerful standalone productivity tool.

Do Not Disturb Notification via Apple.com

5. Do not Disturb Feature While Driving

In testing out this feature, we can attest to its usefulness. It can keep you from distractions such as texts, calls and other notifications. Anyone who sends you a message too will get a quick notification that you are driving. The notification also popped up however, during continuous motion such as exercise or just walking fast. Turning off the notification is fast, but we like having this option.

Augmented Reality (AR) now available via iOS 11. Image via Apple.com

6. Augmented Reality Offers Endless Possibilities for Creativity and Reimagining Environments, Spaces and Experiences

We've saved the most exciting update of all for last. As we wrote about earlier in the summer after WWDC, Augmented Reality (AR) is now available on iOS 11. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities in terms of graphics, design, gaming, apps and the imagination. Augmented Reality can be useful in industrial design, home decor, for architectural models and in any scenario where you would like to test out virtual objects in real-world scenes. Apple builds upon the high resolution built-in cameras and powerful motion sensors and processors to provide high quality, immersive AR environments.

Augmented Reality in action on the iPad. Image via Apple.com

AR Kit in action on the iPad. Image via Apple.com

With the new powerful A11 Bionic chip that provides faster graphics performance and new machine learning, Apple now offers an incredible platform for high end immersive 3D games and AR apps. We're excited to explore all this and build them out!

Through the new AR kit and Apple's line of high resolution iPhones and iPads, we now have the opportunity to imagine new possibilities for any environment (travel, entertainment, shopping, residential and more). We are excited to build immersive, fluid experiences on iOS, the world's largest augmented reality platform and using the new iPhone 8 and iPhone X. Happy creating!

Photography and iPhone 8 Plus: Powerful Smartphone Camera Makes Photography Easier, Lighter and More Intimate