DXOMARK has given the Motorola Signature 27 a camera score of 173. That puts it second in the lab’s smartphone camera ranking. It sits one point ahead of the iPhone 18 Pro (172) and two points behind the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra (175).
US pre-orders open on November 19, and for buyers the detail behind the score matters more than the rank. DXOMARK found a strong 3x telephoto, weaker long-range zoom and visible noise in low light.
Motorola Signature 27 in the DXOMARK camera ranking
Here is how the top of DXOMARK’s smartphone camera ranking looks as of November 6:
- 1. Huawei Pura 80 Ultra: 175
- 2. Motorola Signature 27: 173
- 3. Apple iPhone 18 Pro: 172
- 4. Vivo X300 Pro: 171
The original Motorola Signature, from January 2026, scored 164 on the same list. On paper, that is a 9-point gain in one generation.
Treat the 1-point lead over the iPhone 18 Pro as close to a tie. DXOMARK also warns that its ranking mixes results from versions 5 and 6 of its test protocol. It says scores from the two versions are not directly comparable. That caveat applies to the iPhone gap and the generational gain alike.
What DXOMARK liked about the Signature 27 camera
DXOMARK calls the overall performance balanced, with good results in both photos and video. Portraits are the standout. The lab praises natural skin tones, good exposure and convincing fine detail.
Zoom also holds up well from the periscope’s native 3x to roughly 6x. In that range, image quality stays relatively good.
Where the Signature 27 camera falls short
Past that range, the results drop off. In its Signature 27 camera test, DXOMARK writes:
“However, long-range zoom performance falls behind that of competing devices equipped with dedicated telephoto modules, with fine details becoming more difficult to preserve at greater distances.”
Low light is the other weak spot. DXOMARK saw visible noise in dark areas and near the corners of ultrawide shots. Noise also becomes more obvious in low-light video when there is movement.
The lab flagged a few more issues:
- Skin tones: deep skin tones can render inaccurately, and colors can drift in low light
- Portrait motion blur: more pronounced than on rival Vivo and Huawei phones
- Video panning: some frame shift is visible
- Backlit scenes: veiling glare can lower contrast and flatten the image
Signature 27 camera hardware
DXOMARK lists three rear cameras on the Signature 27:
- Main: 50MP, 1/1.28-inch sensor, f/1.6, OIS
- Ultrawide: 50MP, 12mm, 122-degree field of view
- Telephoto: 200MP periscope, 3x, OIS
Signature 27 US price and what the score means for buyers
The Signature 27 costs $1,599.99 in the US, with sales starting November 26. Our US price and release coverage has the full details.
A lab score is one input, not a verdict. If long zoom or night photos matter most to you, the cons list deserves as much weight as the 173. Before you pre-order, also check Motorola’s hedged software update promise for the phone.
Sources: DXOMARK camera test, DXOMARK smartphone ranking
This post was written with AI assistance from public sources and published under the editorial responsibility of AndroidPure’s editor. How we work.
