Camera sensor rating

The DXOMARK Sensor Score measures several important image quality metrics of the RAW image^[8] captured by the camera's sensor.^[9] The overall score is a confidential combination of three sub-scores:^[9][10]

• Colour depth, measured in bits, called a Portrait score;
• Dynamic range, measured in stops of dynamic range, called a Landscape score;
• Low-light performance, measured in an ISO equivalent, called a Sports score.

Another metric, the Perceptual MegaPixel (P-MPix), defined as 'the unit of a sharpness measurement', is used to rate the resolution a camera produces when paired to a particular lens.^[11] DXOMARK claims that P-MPix is a more accurate and relevant value for photographers to consider than alternate measures of sharpness when evaluating camera and lens image quality.^{[11][12][13][14][15]} As of December 2015, the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens mounted on a Canon EOS 5DS R has the highest measured P-MPix (45 P-MPix), followed by the Carl Zeiss APO Sonnar T* 2/135 ZE (41 P-MPix on Canon EOS 5DS R and 36 P-MPix on Nikon D800E).^[16]

Camera lens rating

The DXOMARK Lens Score provides ratings for camera lenses, as tested using its proprietary tool-set in combination with various camera models.^[8][10][17] As with the DxOMark Sensor Score, the DXOMARK Lens Score is an aggregation of five separate sub-scores; namely: sharpness, distortion, vignetting, transmission, and chromatic aberration.^[17]

Smartphone camera rating

As smartphones began to overtake point-and-shoot cameras,^[18] DXOMARK began testing smartphones and other mobile devices in 2011, and introduced DXOMARK Mobile^[7] in 2012.^[19][20][21] A major update was made in September 2017, adding tests designed to stress the capabilities of current-model smartphones, including those with dual lenses; such as lower-light shooting, telephoto zoom, depth effect, and bokeh.^{[5][19][20][22]} In September 2019, the DXOMARK Mobile score was renamed DXOMARK Camera.^[7][19][23]

DXOMARK Camera Overall Score is the headline number reported for each tested device, and consists of a proprietary combination of DXOMARK Camera Photo, and DXOMARK Camera Video category scores.

DXOMARK's Camera Photo score is a proprietary combination of nine category sub-scores:^[23]

• Exposure and contrast
• Colour
• Auto-focus
• Texture
• Noise
• Artifacts
• Night (enhanced from Flash, September 2019)^{[19][22][23][24]}
• Zoom^[22]
• Bokeh^[22]
• Wide (added September 2019)^[19][23][24]
• Preview (added October 2020)^[25]

DXOMARK's Camera Video score includes six of the same sub-scores as DXOMARK's Mobile Photo score (Exposure, Colour, Auto-focus, Texture, Noise, and Artifacts), along with Stabilisation.

DXOMARK's tests are conducted by the company's technical staff under a variety of lighting conditions; ranging from low-light 1 Lux, to bright daylight outdoors.^[22] Sub-scores are combined using a proprietary and confidential mapping into an overall score. Tests are also confined to default modes, except for Zoom and Bokeh, which has caused reviewers to be cautious when using them.^[4]

Selfie-camera rating

On 22 January 2019, DXOMARK started to release the results of a new metric; testing the front-facing 'selfie' cameras on smartphones.^[19][26][27] These new standalone DXOMARK Selfie tests are undertaken for both Photo and Video, though the 'headline' DXOMARK Selfie score will combine both.^[27] For DXOMARK Selfie Photo, there are sub-scores for Exposure, Colour, Focus, Texture, Noise, Artifacts, Flash, and Bokeh. For DXOMARK Selfie Video, sub-scores include Exposure, Colour, Focus, Texture, Noise, Artifacts, and Stabilisation.^[27]

Smartphone audio rating

On 10 October 2019, DXOMARK introduced a new Audio benchmark for smartphones.^[28] Phones are tested for playback using their internal speakers, and for recording using their built-in microphones.^[29] DXOMARK Audio tested categories include:^[28][29]

• Timbre (frequency response, treble/mid-range/bass, total balance, volume dependency)
• Dynamics (attack, bass precision, punch, volume dependency)
• Spatial (wideness, balance, distance, localisation)
• Volume (maximum, minimum, user volume consistency)
• Artifacts (noise, pumping, clipping, user artifacts, other artifacts)

For recording only:^[28][29]

• Background (directivity, noise profile, artifacts)

Smartphone display ratings

In October 2020, DXOMARK introduced a rating system for mobile device displays (screens). DXOMARK Display tests over 400 measurements, and more than 20 hours of laboratory evaluations and real-life scenarios. The result includes six sub-scores: Readability, Colour, Video, Motion, Touch, and Artifacts.^[30]

Wireless speaker ratings

In November 2020, DXOMARK introduced a rating system, DXOMARK Sound, for wireless speakers, based on factors including both lab tests using sound-level meters and calibrated microphones, as well as 20 hours of perceptual assessment. Customized music clips, created by DXOMARK in collaboration with professional musicians and recording studios, include those in the styles of jazz, hip-hop, classical, pop, rock, Latin, electronic, and alternative genres.^[31]

Battery ratings

DXOMARK started smartphone battery testing on 10 May 2021. DXOMARK's battery test protocol is based on 70 measurements and takes 150 hours to test.^[32]