Summary
- The Motorola Signature 27 scores 173 points and ranks second in DXOMARK.
- Both photo and video are rated at 173.
- Portraits and medium-range zoom are key strengths.
- Long-distance zoom and extremely dark scenes still present limitations.
The Motorola Signature 27 has climbed to second place in DXOMARK’s global camera ranking with 173 points, ahead of even the iPhone 18 Pro.
In the test published on November 5, 2026, the phone finished just two points behind the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra (175), while the iPhone 18 Pro follows at 172. Motorola may not have taken the top spot, but it now has one of the highest-ranked smartphone cameras.
The Motorola Signature 27’s 200MP telephoto camera and Sony LYTIA 910 sensor were major talking points at its initial unveiling. Independent measurements now show how that hardware translates to actual shooting results.
Camera scores and where it ranks
DXOMARK awards the Signature 27 an overall Camera Score of 173, with 173 for photography and 173 for video. Its main still camera receives 178, bokeh 175, ultra-wide 166 and telephoto 157. These category scores are not simply added together to calculate the overall result.
As of November 13, 2026, the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra leads with 175, followed by Motorola at 173, Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro at 172 and the Vivo X300 Pro at 171. Rankings can change as more devices are tested. DXOMARK also cautions that results from different protocol versions are not always directly comparable.
Photography and portrait strengths
The evaluation highlights accurate exposure, wide dynamic range, natural white balance and dependable autofocus. Static subjects retain plenty of fine detail in daylight and indoor scenes. For group portraits, image processing helps keep several faces looking sharp, while skin tones are generally pleasant.
Portrait mode produces attractive background blur and convincing subject separation. It is not flawless, however: intricate outlines or moving subjects can lead to depth-estimation errors. Strong backlighting can occasionally introduce veiling glare that reduces contrast.
The 200MP telephoto: strong at 3x, less convincing at distance
The Signature 27 pairs a 50MP 1/1.28-inch main camera with a 23mm-equivalent f/1.6 lens, a 50MP 12mm-equivalent ultra-wide, and a 200MP periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom. Both the main and telephoto cameras feature optical image stabilization.
At its native 3x setting, the telephoto camera produces strong detail and consistent exposure. A sensor-mode switch helps improve clarity at 6x. Beyond that, distant detail falls behind competing devices with dedicated longer-focal-length telephoto modules. A 200MP sensor does not automatically guarantee superior results at every zoom setting.
What the video tests revealed
With a video score of 173, the Signature 27 does particularly well at smooth exposure transitions, stable color, reliable autofocus and effective stabilization while walking or making moderate camera movements. DXOMARK did observe occasional small frame shifts during camera movement.
In dark scenes, noise becomes more visible in shadows and around moving subjects, and motion blur can reduce sharpness. Switching between camera modules while zooming can also produce a small framing jump or a refocusing moment. For creators filming uninterrupted sequences, that behavior matters more than a single headline score.
Price and availability
Motorola lists a starting MSRP of $1,599 in the markets where the Signature 27 will be sold. No verified Greek retail price was found. The official Greek product page is live, but local pricing and the exact release date still require confirmation.
More information here.
What we think
Motorola has good reason to be pleased with this result. The 173 points are more than an impressive marketing figure: the test shows consistent performance across portraits, everyday photography and handheld video. For many creators, that reliability is worth more than a camera that excels only under perfect lighting.
The 200MP telephoto is where we would look most closely. Native 3x and 6x shooting are genuinely useful for travel, street details and portraits. But if distant subjects are your priority, sensor resolution alone is not enough. Optics, focal length and processing still determine what detail survives.
For video, it is encouraging to see autofocus, color and stabilization perform well together. When switching lenses during a take or filming in near darkness, the small jumps and visible noise are worth considering. A professional buying decision would also call for separate information on codecs, manual controls and sustained recording time — none of which can be inferred from this overall camera score alone.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Motorola Signature 27 first in DXOMARK?
No. On November 13, 2026, it ranks second with 173 points, behind the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra at 175.
How good is its 200MP telephoto camera?
Detail is strong around native 3x and remains impressive at 6x, but very long-range zoom captures lose detail compared with specialized long-telephoto competitors.
