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Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
John Velasco

I shot the same 25 photos with a $329 budget phone and $1,199 flagship — here's the results

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Ask almost anyone why they upgrade their phone, and you’re likely to get this answer: the camera. We’ve been conditioned to believe that if you want rich colors, sharp details, and crisp low-light shots, you need to shell out four figures for the latest flagship. In contrast, even the best cheap phones carry the stereotype of taking cheap-looking photos that look awful as physical printouts.

However, the dynamics have changed because people are mostly sharing photos on social media. The canvas where they’re shown remains small, so those deficiencies don’t look as glaring. Yet, the price gap between budget and ultra-premium handsets has never felt wider — and this TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max photo shoot out is further proof.

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