Best camera phones for photography in 2024

Picking the best camera phone is a tougher challenge than it ever has been, iPhone, or Android? Apple, Google or Samsung? But, if you’re looking for the best, then this guide is for you. As more and more major manufacturers release more advanced camera phones, it’s getting harder to choose, don’t worry though, as we only include the best camera phones on this list.

• Ahead of Black Friday, there are some cracking deals available, like half price off the Google Pixel 8 Pro!

You are utterly spoiled for choice, as the prospective smartphone snapper – as there are options at various price points from Apple, Samsung, Google, Honor, Xiaomi, and Vivo. There are better features, higher resolutions and sharper lenses, more cameras, as well as options at budget prices. Aren’t you lucky?

At AP, we take reviewing smartphones as seriously as we do testing the best mirrorless cameras – after all, far more images are now shot on smartphones than anything else. We look at image quality, video quality, editing features, handling, durability, battery life, ease of use, and more, looking at each camera lens and feature in detail. To know more about our testing criteria and what to look for in a smartphone camera, we’ve put together an explainer on how to choose one at the bottom of this page.

For most users looking for something for day-to-day photography though, the best smartphone cameras will achieve all that they need, often beating cheap compact cameras. See our smartphone camera photo of the week for inspiration.

• Looking for something cheaper? Check out the best budget and mid-range phones for photography.

So, let’s get stuck into the best camera phones you can buy and don’t forget to download one of the best editing apps for smartphones.

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The best camera phones: our quick list

Looking for the best deal on premium camera phones? Not only will you find the best camera phones, but you’ll also find some of the best camera phone deals, as our ‘Buy now’ buttons are setup to automatically take you to the best prices, from trusted retailers, plus you’ll also find a list of other retailers below each phone, so you can find the right deal for you.

If you want to cut right to it, here’s a quick-reference list of the top rated camera phones our team recommends, along with links to get the best prices:

• Best Samsung camera phone: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Buy now
• NEW: Best Apple camera phone: iPhone 16 Pro / Max: Buy now
• Best Apple camera phone (2023): iPhone 15 Pro: Buy now
• Best Google camera phone: Google Pixel 9 Pro XL and 9 Pro: Buy now
• Best value flagship Google camera phone: Google Pixel 8 Pro: Buy now
• Best iPhone with long zoom (2023): iPhone 15 Pro Max: Buy now
• Best Honor camera phone: Honor Magic 6 Pro: Buy now
• Best Xiaomi camera phone: Xiaomi 14 Ultra: Buy now
• Best for close-ups and macro: Vivo 100 Pro
• Best iPhone 14: Apple iPhone 14 Pro: Buy now
• Best small flagship Samsung: Samsung Galaxy S24: Buy Now
• Best value Google Phone: Google Pixel 8: Buy now
• Second best Samsung Phone: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Buy Now
• Best second hand Samsung camera phone: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G: Buy now
• Best second hand iPhone for photos: Apple iPhone 13 Pro: Buy now

Read on to learn more about each of these phones, including key specs and the results of our review team’s testing…

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Best Samsung camera phone: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Specifications at a glance:

• 200MP f/1.7 main camera, with OIS, 1/1.3inch, 23mm
• 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle camera (0.6x), 13mm
• 10MP f/2.4 3x telephoto camera, with OIS, 69mm
• 50MP f/3.4 5x telephoto camera, with OIS, 115mm
• 12MP f/2.2 PDAF selfie camera (same on all S24 models)
• 8K 30fps video, 4K 120/60/30fps
• From $1299 / £1084 (256GB)

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra succeeds S23 Ultra as Samsung’s flagship model. Its main camera has the same headline-grabbing 200MP sensor that uses pixel-binning technology as its predecessor. However, the telephoto camera has been upgraded to a new 50MP 5x telephoto zoom from the previous 10MP 10x telephoto seen on the S22/S23 ultra.

A new generation of AI technology is introduced with the S24 series, utilised during image capture and said to improve night photography, noise performance, zoom quality and HDR imaging among others. AI is also relevant in the new on-device and cloud-based editing features like its new Reflection removal tool. Speaking of reflection removal, which is really useful, the S24 Ultra also has one of the best screens on any phone, thanks to the anti-reflective coating on the screen.

The S24 Ultra records video up to 8K 30fps, and with AI can also be used to create slow-motion videos by generating interim frames in a video, letting you create slow-motion videos after you record them.

Following our full review, we noted the incremental improvements to the cameras and features in Samsung smartphones, but there were some areas where we’d like to see some additional improvements, namely in macro. We did conclude, though, that the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is one of the best camera phones currently available in the mainstream, and we stick by that.

If you’d like one of the newest Samsung phones, but don’t want to spend top dollar, then the Samsung Galaxy S24 offers a compelling option, but with three rear cameras, is considerably cheaper.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review to see what this smartphone is cable of.

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Best Apple camera phone: iPhone 16 Pro and Max

Specifications at a glance:

• 48MP wide camera, f/1.78 aperture, 24mm equivalent
• 48MP ultrawide camera, f/2.2 aperture, 13mm equivalent
• 12MP 5x telephoto camera, f/2.8 aperture, 120mm equivalent
• Pro Max: 6.9inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen
• Pro: 6.3inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen
• iOS 18
• Prices: from $1,199 / £1,199 (Pro Max), $999 / £999 (Pro)

Whether you go for the iPhone 16 Pro or the 16 Pro Max, you’re getting the same camera system, the only differences being the phone size (including the screen and battery). This years iPhone update sees the ultra-wide-angle camera updated, as well as a new photo control button on the side that helps give quicker access to photo settings (such as zoom, etc). Hardly as ground-breaking as Apple would make out, but a welcome addition.

We reviewed the phone, and found the new controls useful, but would have liked to see Apple improve the macro performance, which has been overtaken by Android phones, and we’d also like Apple to improve the selfie camera, which struggles in low-light.

These updates may not be enough to persuade people to upgrade from the 15 Pro Max, but if you want the newest, then the 16 Pro / Pro Max is the one to go for.

The iPhone 16 Pro / Max offer some of the best iPhone cameras, and if you prefer the Apple way of doing things then this is a great choice. The main choice now, will be whether you want the larger phone, or the more compact phone.

Read our full iPhone 16 Pro review, as well as our 16 Pro Max review. JW

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Best Apple camera phone: iPhone 15 Pro

Specifications at a glance:

• 48MP wide camera, f/1.78 aperture, 24mm equivalent
• 12MP ultrawide camera, f/2.2 aperture, 13mm equivalent
• 12MP 3x telephoto camera, f/2.8 aperture, 77mm equivalent
• 6.1” Super Retina XDR OLED screen
• iOS 17 (updates to 18)
• Price: from $1,149 / £1,266

While not the biggest iPhone on the block – that being the iPhone 16 Pro Max – the iPhone 15 Pro offers a balanced set of features that make it realistically the best option for most users. It’s no great jump from the previous year’s iPhone 14 Pro, but the iPhone 15 Pro makes several clever usability upgrades that improve the experience for the smartphone photographer and videographer. Now that the 16 Pro is out (see above), this phone should be available for less, while stocks last.

For instance, portrait mode can now kick in automatically when the facial recognition system detects a human subject (or a pet, for that matter). What’s more, an image can also be turned into a portrait post-capture. Video shooters get new Log profiles, which allows for much more flexibility when it comes to colour-grading footage. And Apple has finally relented on the port and given us the widely used USB-C connection, rather than its proprietary Lightning port. At last!

In our full review, we concluded that the improvements to the iPhone 15 Pro over the iPhone 14 Pro are relatively marginal, and that it was another excellent device. Neither this model nor its bigger Pro Max cousin has quite done enough to dethrone the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, the current king of the hill when it comes to smartphone imaging.

However, this is a credible effort and an excellent camera phone nonetheless. If you prefer the Apple way of doing things and want a fantastic smartphone for taking pictures, here it is.

Read our full iPhone 15 Pro review, as well as our comparison piece on the iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro to learn more about this excellent camera phone. Plus read our comparison of the iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

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Best Google camera phone ever: Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Specifications at a glance:

• 50MP main camera, f/1.68, OIS
• 48MP ultra-wide, f/1.7, with macro AF
• 48MP telephoto, f/2.8, 5x telephoto, OIS
• 42MP f/2.2 selfie camera with AF 
• 4K video recording, up to 60fps
• 6.8inch screen, 1-120hz, 2000/3000nits, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 
• Advanced AI features including Add-me

The Google Pixel series has long been a choice for those who put the photography features before everything else. The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL continues that tradition with improvements being made to the camera hardware as well as shooting features.

There’s a great triple camera setup on the back with an ultra-wide camera with AF, a main camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS), and a 5x telephoto camera, also with OIS. The phone also provides a 2x zoom, and a 10x zoom, that uses Super Resolution Zoom to provide ‘optical quality’ zoom, and in my testing, I found this actually worked really well!

Google now give you a choice of size, with the larger 9 Pro XL, and smaller Google Pixel 9 Pro, both featuring the same impressive camera system, so check out the full Google Pixel 9 Pro review, if you want a smaller phone.

There’s also an updated selfie-camera, with 42MP, which uses pixel-binning to give 10.5MP images. There’s auto-focus, and the selfie camera is now wider than the previous model, meaning you can get more in the shot. The ultra-wide-angle camera has been updated as well, with a brighter f/1.7 aperture, compared to the f/2.0 aperture on the Pixel 8 Pro.

As a Google phone, the HDR shooting has been updated, and is now even more impressive than ever, with the phone coping with high dynamic range situations incredibly well, whether that’s outdoors, or in low-light conditions. There are improvements made to the AI features on offer as well, with Add-me being a particularly useful feature for people who want to be in the shot when taking group photos. Other AI features have been enhanced as well, including the addition of ‘Video Boost’ which is a cloud based feature that can upscale 4K video to 8K video, once you’ve backed up your video to the cloud.

Unfortunately the phone doesn’t record 8K video on the phone directly, maxing out at 4K 60fps, so if high-resolution (8K) video is what you’re looking for, other phones do this better. There are also others that also offer 120fps 4K video. Other negatives, include the macro performance of the phone, which is lacklustre. Using the ultra-wide-angle camera and cropping into the shot gives an image lacking in detail.

Read our full Google Pixel 9 Pro XL review to get all the details. JW.

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Best value flagship Google camera phone: Google Pixel 8 Pro

Specifications at a glance:

• Triple camera setup
• 14mm, 25mm, 113mm equivalent
• Android operating system
• 30x Super Res Zoom
• 10.5MP f/2.2 selfie camera with autofocus
• Price: $999-$1179 / £999-£1179 – regularly on offer

While Google’s Pixel smartphones don’t get the same level of press as the flagship phones from Apple and Samsung, the Pixel phones have quietly been building a reputation among those in the know as some of the best camera phones money can buy. The Pixel 8 Pro is the 2023 flagship – it was the best Google phone on sale (until the 9 came out) and made a case for itself as one of the best camera phones, full-stop. If you don’t want the latest, this phone is great value for money.

This phone retains a similar triple-lens setup to its predecessor, the Pixel 7 Pro. There’s the tried-and-tested trio of a wide lens, an ultrawide, and a telephoto. Google has improved the maximum aperture on the telephoto lens this time around, expanding it to f/2.8, so low-light performance has been kicked up a notch. There’s also now a “Pro” mode for those who like to take manual control of exposure settings.

However, the headline is that Google has gone all-in on AI, with powerful features like “Best Take” and “Magic Editor” that let you do futuristic, postmodern things like swap out faces in group shots.

Our original review found the combination of excellent hardware and advanced software further improves the Pixel 8 Pro over previous models in the range. We reckoned it was one of the best smartphone cameras around, when released.

Read our Google Pixel 8 Pro review to find out why we gave this camera phone the full five stars. See how it fares against one of its biggest rivals in our Google Pixel 8 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro Max camera comparison.

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Best iPhone with long zoom: iPhone 15 Pro Max

Specifications at a glance:

• 48MP wide camera, f/1.78 aperture, 24mm equivalent
• 12MP ultrawide camera, f/2.2 aperture, 13mm equivalent
• 12MP 5x telephoto camera, f/2.8 aperture, 120mm equivalent
• 6.7” Super Retina XDR OLED screen
• iOS 17
• Price: $1299/£1199

While we feel that the iPhone 15 Pro provides the best balance for most users, if you have a bit more cash to spend or prefer a larger phone, the iPhone 15 Pro Max could be the better choice. The display is a glorious 6.7” Super Retina XDR OLED, with a resolution of 2556 x 1179 pixels, at 460ppi and 120Hz – however that isn’t the only difference between the Pro Max and the Pro. You see, where the iPhone 15 Pro has to make to with a 3x optical zoom lens, the iPhone 15 Pro Max ups this to a 5x optical zoom lens, providing better telephoto reach.

Elsewhere, the iPhone 15 Pro Max includes many of the same improvements as the 15 Pro – which is all to the good. So once again we’ve got USB-C charging rather than just Lightning, as well as an effective resolution of 24MP (double that of previous generations). Image quality is excellent across the board; it’s only when you start pushing the limits of the digital zoom that quality starts to suffer.

Apple claimed upon its release that the iPhone 15 Pro Max was the best iPhone yet. So one would hope. Our original reaction to testing its cameras broadly agrees with that view, although its upgrades are relatively gentle. Some will be matters of personal preference and taste; and perhaps what else you need from a phone beyond its cameras.

Read our iPhone 15 Pro Max review, and check out our comparison piece on iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro/Max: Should you upgrade to get 5x zoom?

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Best Honor camera phone: Honor Magic 6 Pro

Specifications at a glance:

• Triple camera system – two 50MP, one 180MP
• 13mm, 23mm, 68mm equivalent
• Magic OS 8.0, based on Android 15
• 4K 60p video
• Price: $1390 / £1099 

Honor has been creating good-value smartphones for some time now, and the Magic 6 Pro is a refinement of a formula that already impressed us in previous iterations. While it’s not what anyone would call cheap, it delivers premium image and video quality that can stand shoulder to shoulder with some much more expensive rivals. Whereas the previous Magic 5 Pro had three 50MP sensors, this new version ups the ante by converting one to a 180MP sensor, sat behind a 2.5x periscope lens. While you’re unlikely to be shooting many 180MP images, it gives you a great deal of latitude for cropping and digital zooming.

In testing, we found that the Honor Magic 6 Pro would deliver consistently excellent results in a variety of shooting situations. The best results, as is typical, come from the main camera, but the ultra-wide and the telephoto zoom also put in a good shift, and you’re unlikely to be disappointed by any of them. The zoom works well in its 5x and 10x settings – but the 100x zoom that’s proudly printed on the side is quite simply a gimmick. There’s just no reason to bother with it, save curiosity.

In use, this handset consistently impresses. Its 6.8-inch display delivers terrific brightness, and the various camera modes like Macro and Portrait deliver exactly the kind of results you hope for and expect. The 4K 60p video looks good and benefits from the ability to switch between lenses. Sure, there’s no 8K, but it’s a tiny percentage of users who are realistically going to be bothered about this.

Read our Honor Magic 6 Pro review.

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Best Xiaomi camera phone: Xiaomi 14 Ultra

Specifications at a glance:

• 50MP main camera with 1inch sensor and f/1.6-4.0 aperture
• 50MP f/1.8 ultra-wide (12mm equiv)
• 50MP f/1.8 3x telephoto (75mm equiv)
• 50MP f/2.5 5x telephoto (120mm equiv)
• Leica branded lenses
• 8K 30fps / 4K 120fps video
• Price: £1299

There’s an awful lot to like about the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, starting with the Leica branded camera system. It’s packed with a great range of features, including a one-inch main sensor, putting it ahead of most rivals. It even lets you set the aperture on the main camera, something you rarely find outside of DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras. You can shoot using all four lenses in 50MP mode. Video performs pretty well and it has a slew of options including slow motion, night video, video pro mode and a tracking mode.

While the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is not cheap, it fares well when compared to competing flagship models. It is also likely to drop in price more quickly – on the second-hand market too – compared with the likes of the bigger name (at least in certain markets) Samsung and Apple phones. Keep an eye out for an emerging gap in prices.

Our review found it to be an extremely capable smartphone which produces excellent results in a wide variety of different shooting scenarios, with some impressive close-up macro performance as well. In our opinion, it even gives the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra a run for it’s money, which is saying a lot! The only thing lacking is in the selfie-camera, which doesn’t feature auto-focus.

Read our full Xiaomi 14 Ultra review.

To find out how does the Xiaomi 14 Ultra weighs up against other flagships read our comparison reviews of Samsung S24 Ultra vs Xiaomi 14 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

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Best value for close-up photography: Vivo X100 Pro

Specifications at a glance:

• 50MP f/1.75 main camera with 1inch sensor, OIS, 23mm, AF 
• 50MP f/2.0 ultra-wide-angle camera, 15mm, AF
• 50MP f/2.5 4.3x telephoto camera, with close focus, 100mm, OIS, AF
• 32MP f/2.0 selfie camera, fixed focus
• 8K 30fps, 4K 60/30fps, 1080p 240fps video 
• 6.78inch AMOLED screen with 3000nits 
• Android 14 
• Priced at €1199 (EURO) or INR 89999 (in India) but Limited availability in UK £780-£900

This flagship smartphone by Vivo comes with an impressive triple set of cameras created in collaboration with Zeiss. All cameras are equipped with a 50MP sensor with auto-focus and OIS (optical image stabilisation), and the 4.3x periscope camera gives macro features. These specs make the Vivo X100 a formidable competition for the well-known flagships.

The main 23mm f/1.75 camera features a 50MP 1inch sensor, which is amongst the largest you’ll find on a phone. It delivers consistently impressive results with plenty of detail, excellent colour reproduction, and reliable exposure. Moreover, the dynamic range is great with HDR automatically turning on when needed.

The Zeiss APO floating telephoto camera 100mm f/2.5 is a periscope design, and it gives you amazing looking close-up photos, even in poor lighting, with plenty of detail. It is also backed by a 50MP sensor, in a smaller but still competent half-inch size. Even though the last ultra-wide-angle 15mm, f/2 camera doesn’t come with Zeiss branding it still provides nice results, with good colour and exposure, as well as good levels of detail.

In use, the Vivo X100 Pro proved a highly capable camera phone that more than justified its flagship price tag. The larger sensor on the main camera means the high-ISO performance is excellent, making the phone immensely capable in low light. We noted in our review that the selfie camera is a little weak and lacks autofocus. It’s also worth noting that this phone is currently only available in some markets. If you can get hold of one though, it’s an amazing performer with highly capable cameras.

Best for: Macros and close-up as well as low-light

Read our full Vivo X100 Pro review.

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Best Small Samsung flagship: Samsung Galaxy S24/S24+

Samsung Galaxy S24

Samsung Galaxy S24+

If your budget is a bit tighter but you still want to get most of the S24 Ultra specs, the S24 or the S24+ is an ideal choice. The biggest differences from the S24 Ultra are the lack of headline grabbing 200MP super-high resolution main sensor, no dedicated macro mode, and only three lenses instead of four. But in reality both are very capable and well performing camera phones.

Both S24 and S24+ features an identical camera set-up, with a 12MP Ultra-wide camera, a 50MP main Wide camera, 10MP Telephoto, and 12MP Front Selfie camera, and Android 14 operating system.

The only difference between these two flagships are their size. Both have a smaller body than the S24 Ultra, however the Samsung Galaxy S24+ measures 158.5 x 75.9 x 7.7mm and features a 6.7″ Dynamic AMOLED screen which is not far off from the S24 Ultra’s 6.8″size. If you want to go for a smaller version opt for the Samsung Galaxy S24 with 6.2″ screen, it sits more comfortably in the hand, however its smaller size means smaller battery too.

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Best iPhone 14: Apple iPhone 14 Pro

Specifications at a glance:

• Triple-camera setup
• Ultra-wide with AF, main camera, and 3x telephoto
• 2x telephoto option available from main camera
• iOS operating system
• Two sizes: Pro and Pro Max
• Price: from $999 / £1,099

The iPhone 14 Pro is a commendable – if somewhat iterative – upgrade to Apple’s flagship smartphone. If you want the best Apple smartphone for photographers, this is definitely it.

With a new 48MP sensor as part of its camera array, the iPhone 14 Pro reliably produces excellent images, and specialist modes like Macro and Portrait help out the user in various different shooting situations. It’s already pricey, though if you have the budget you can go for the larger iPhone 14 Pro Max. This model has an identical camera array, just a larger display.

When it came out, we liked a lot about the iPhone 14 Pro, and it undeniably produces some excellent imagery. In truth, it was a small turn in evolution from the iPhone 13 Pro before it. Only those with a 12 Pro or older would find a leap to the 14 Pro worthy of the outlay.

Read our Apple iPhone 14 Pro review to find out more. Or take a look at our comparison review of the iPhone 14 Pro vs Samsung S23 Ultra to see how it performs against its contemporary.

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Best value small Google Phone: Google Pixel 8

Specifications at a glance:

• Dual camera setup
• AI powered computational photography features
• 4K 60fps video from rear and front cameras
• Uses Android operating system
• Price: $699 / £699

The Google Pixel 8 is a compelling option for those who want to take advantage of Google’s latest AI bells and whistles, but don’t want to pay a four-figure price for a top-end flagship smartphone. Using a dual main camera setup, with a wide lens and an ultra-wide, the Pixel 8 consistently delivers impressive images. Like the Pixel 8 Pro, and 9 series, it offers the latest AI magic like Magic Editor and Best Take, and it also gains a Macro Mode, which the Pixel 7 didn’t have. Even though the Pixel 9 has come out, the price increase makes it difficult to recommend.

In use, the Pixel 8 is intuitive and versatile. You can shoot long exposures, night images and astro photographs by flicking between modes, and the 4K 60p video looks great. While there’s no telephoto module, the Digital (Hybrid) Zoom does surprisingly well, and if you try to keep it to 2x you’ll consistently get good-looking results. All modes consistently deliver images with great, punchy colours that aren’t oversaturated. The selfie camera produces attractive results, though it does lack autofocus.

The Google Pixel 8 is an excellent camera phone with some very impressive photography features. Even without using these features, the cameras produce some beautiful images with excellent exposure, good detail, and pleasing colour reproduction.

The advanced photographic features and consistently good results from this phone make it a real contender to Samsung and Apple. It’s also priced very competitively, and gives other phones a serious challenge. The real question will be whether to buy the Pixel 8 or the new Pixel 9.

Read our Google Pixel 8 review to learn more about this impressive camera phone.

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Best Samsung Phone for zoom: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Specifications at a glance:

• 200MP wide camera, 1/1.3” sensor, f/1.7 aperture
• 12MP ultra wide camera, 1/2.55” sensor, f/2.2 aperture
• 10MP telephoto camera, 1/3.52” sensor, f/2.4 aperture
• 10MP telephoto camera, 1/3.52” sensor, f/4.9 aperture
• 8K video 30fps, 4K video 60fps
• Price: $1,683 / £1,399

With an impressive 200MP main camera sensor, which is a first for Samsung (although it’s made such large resolution sensors for other makers before). In comparison, the S22 Ultra had a 108MP device, so it’s a big leap forward.

Before getting too excited, remember that images are not output at 200MP by default, although it is possible to shoot in super high resolution mode if you really want to. Rather, the new phone makes use of pixel-binning technology so the images come in at a more practical 12.5 megapixels, with enhanced lighting and detail.

The main camera features a f/1.7 stabilised lens, backed up by a 12MP ultra wide f/2.2 combination. Then there are two telephoto lenses, both with 10 megapixel sensors. One has 3x zoom and an f/2.4 lens, while the other offers a a 10x zoom with an f/4.9 aperture. Digital zoom goes as far as 30x or 100x if you need it (though as with the phone’s predecessor, digital zoom should only be used as a last resort). So the S23 Ultra has jumped ahead of the iPhone 14 Pro and the Google Pixel 7 Pro, which only have three lenses.

The previous model, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra was so good, that we knew that the company would have to go some way to topping it. The good news is that it has done so – but less good is that you have to really examine the pictures to see the difference. The S23 Ultra, like the S23 and S22 series, have now been updated with the same AI features as the S24 series, for free, which is a nice bonus.

In conclusion, you could be left a little disappointed by upgrading if you expect much difference to your photography. Images directly from the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s main (200MP) sensor show slightly more detail than last year’s S22 Ultra main (108MP) sensor. But, that’s really only obvious if you’re comparing like-for-like images shot at the same time and you zoom in closely.

If you’d like one of the newest Samsung phones, but don’t want to spend top dollar, then the Samsung Galaxy S23 offers a compelling option, but with three rear cameras, is considerably cheaper.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review to see what this smartphone is cable of.

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Best second hand Samsung camera phone: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G

Specifications at a glance:

• Quad-camera rear setup
• Two telephoto lenses (3x and 10x)
• Uses Android operating system
• Pro mode available with raw shooting
• Refurbished price: $600 / £600 or less

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra was Samsung’s 2022 flagship smartphone, the one you saw on TV, YouTube, and billboard adverts worldwide, boasting an incredible 100x “Superzoom” that uses a combination of it’s 10x optical zoom telephoto lens, and digital zoom to give you a 100x view of your subject.

While we weren’t so impressed by the image quality of the 100x feature, however the other cameras on offer are very good. The ultra-wide angle lens (13mm equivalent), the ultra-wide (24mm equivalent), the 3x telephoto (72mm equivalent), or the 10x telephoto (240mm equivalent), all produce fine looking images. The selfie camera also puts in a good performance with auto-focus, which will help make your photos and videos look better.

Images directly from the camera are very good, with vibrant and bright results produced by the standard “Photo” mode and images with good scope for editing produced by the “Pro” mode. Other shooting modes, such as Portrait and Night mode also produce good results. The phone also benefits from the latest AI updates, improving your photo shooting features with things like reflection removal, that was first seen on the S24 Ultra.

Take a look at our full Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra review.

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Best second hand iPhone for photos: Apple iPhone 13 Pro

At a glance:

• Triple 12MP camera setup
• 13mm, 26mm, 77mm equivalent
• iOS operating system
• Two sizes: Pro and Pro Max
• Price: $938 / £717

The Apple iPhone 13 Pro offers an improvement over the iPhone 12 Pro, with brighter lenses, a new 2cm macro mode, and more telephoto reach. The main camera and telephoto camera both feature optical image stabilisation, and there’s a new cinematic video mode. If you’ve wanted to shoot macros with an iPhone, or interested in video recording then there’s a lot of reasons to choose the iPhone 13 Pro.

In our review we wrote: “When shooting stills, the iPhone 13 Pro does a great job of identifying the subject and focusing on it quickly even in very low light. It also manages create natural-looking shallow depth of field effects in many instances, even dealing with fuzzy subjects like fur and hair effectively in many cases.”

Read our full iPhone 13 Pro review to see what the smartphone is cable of. Check out how it compares to the iPhone 14 Pro.

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How to choose the best camera phone

Sensors and image quality

Comparing the headline specs of camera phones can be a useful way of getting a sense of how they perform, and which ones might be better than others. Digital photography enthusiasts may gravitate towards comparing camera resolution (megapixels or MP for short), however this often doesn’t tell the whole story.

Does megapixel count matter on a camera phone?

In short, no, not really. Most smartphones will use a higher resolution sensor, whether that’s a 50MP, 64MP, 108MP or 200MP sensor, and still give you a 12 or 16MP image. Nobody wants to get 108MP or 200MP photos emailed or shared to them anyway, so no, megapixel count doesn’t really matter on a camera phone, despite what the marketing might claim. There are some benefits to higher resolution sensors, in the form of cropping and zoom, but beyond that, there are also some disadvantages.

Smartphone cameras generally use very small sensors, due to their physical size and shape, and this can mean a lot of image noise in high-resolution shooting, however, some use larger 1inch sensors. If a camera phone has a high megapixel count, it also needs a capable image processing system to ensure it’s capable of producing pleasing images. Modern phones make up for this by taking multiple shots, allowing for lower noise, and greater dynamic range, so a small sensor isn’t as much of a disadvantage as it once was.

When we talk about a smartphone’s main cameras (i.e. the rear cameras), we’re really talking about more than one, as modern smartphones use a camera array made up of multiple lens modules. This is what allows smartphones to shoot at different perspectives; generally there will be a standard wide lens, an ultra-wide-angle lens, and then sometimes a telephoto lens or a macro-lens for close-ups.

The different lenses use their own sensors, and as such will tend to have different megapixel counts. Some of the latest smartphones even use quad camera arrays with four modules, while other manufacturers are experimenting with optical zoom lenses, though this tech is in its early days.

Battery life

You should also consider battery life, as some phones last the day while others do not. Most flagship phones have a battery with 5000mAh which should give a good amount of longevity, however, smaller phones often have smaller batteries, so it’s something to be aware of.

Video

The top video resolution will be of interest, almost all flagship phones will offer 4K video, but do they also offer it from the selfie camera? The best phones for video also offer 8K video, or 4K video at high frame rates of 120fps. You’ll also want advanced lens options and good quality audio recording. If you’re shooting video, battery size is particularly important, as it tends to eat away at a phone’s battery faster.

Check out the best smartphones for video if that’s your priority, but otherwise, continue reading.

Is iOS or Android better for photography?

One big thing to think about is whether you want to use a phone that runs iOS vs Android as its operating system. Both systems have their own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to smartphone photography, as well as general use as a smartphone.

If you already use a lot of Apple products like MacBooks then an iPhone will integrate better into your system. However, Android phones offer a lot more choice and flexibility with third-party apps. These days, Android phones from market leaders like Google and Samsung have some of the best cameras in the business.

When choosing a phone, whether Android or iOS, it’s worth checking how many years of updates you’ll get, as some phones give much longer than others, meaning better value for money for you.

You can check out our guide to iPhone vs Android: which is better for photography for a detailed comparison.

Is there a DSLR-quality camera phone?

With smartphone camera technology continually advancing, you may be justified in wondering whether they have equalled or even surpassed the quality of traditional interchangeable-lens cameras like DSLRs or mirrorless models. However, for the time being and the foreseeable future, the answer is no, and this is largely to do with physical hardware limitations.

A premium digital camera can pack in a physically larger imaging sensor, which allows it to produce images with higher quality, and lower noise without multi-shot processing. In bright sunny conditions, the difference may not be as noticeable, but in low-light conditions, this is where you’re more likely to notice it. The majority of mirrorless and DSLR cameras also provide more resolution, with 24MP, 40MP, 47MP and 61MP (etc) sensors giving the full-resolution, without pixel-binning.

Cameras also have the advantage of interchangeable lenses – being able to swap on an 85mm f/1.4 lens is always going to give you better results than a smartphone’s portrait mode. Granted, if you were to look at the two images side by side on a small phone screen the differences might not be so obvious. But the moment you try to view the image on a larger display, or even print it, the difference in quality will be immediately apparent.

The acceleration of progress in smartphone cameras has certainly raised the question of whether they can replicate the quality of digital cameras and DSLRs. Ultimately, with their interchangeable lenses, larger sensors, and raw imaging capability, the answer is: not yet. Some genres and shooting situations, such as portrait photography and macro photography are certainly better served by a camera than a smartphone, but phones are catching up quickly.

And, smartphones have their advantages, of course, they’re convenient, they’re always online, and they’re the camera you always have on you. If you’re still not sure which is right for you, then have a look at our guide to Smartphone vs Digital Camera: Which is better?

Why isn’t Sony Xperia on the list?

We reviewed the flagship Sony Xperia 1 VI phone, and whilst we have seen a number of improvements in the newest phone from Sony, we found that the telephoto zoom camera on the phone gave disappointing images, and the portrait and low-light images couldn’t match other flagship phones. There are some unique features on the phone, such as a manual focus close-up macro mode, and a lot of manual controls, but for most people, this could end up being a frustrating shooting experience. However, if you do need a phone with a headphone jack and MicroSD slot, this is one of very few flagship phones with these features. Check out our full Sony Xperia 1 VI review to see if it’s right for you.

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Now you know the best camera phones for photography, check out our guide to the best camera phone accessories and best camera phone tripods and mounts.

Related reading:

• Best smartphones for macro
• Best smartphones for street photography
• Best smartphones for portrait photography
• Best smartphones for low light

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