Best camera phones for photography in the World in 2025

Picking the best camera phone is a tough challenge with more choice than ever, iPhone, or Android? Apple, Google or Samsung? However, 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.

At AP, we take reviewing smartphones as seriously as we do testing the best 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.

---

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 overall camera phone: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Buy now
• 2nd Best camera phone: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Buy now
• Best iPhone camera phone: iPhone 16 Pro / Max: Buy now
• Best flagships for sports and action: OnePlus 13: Buy now
• Best value iPhone camera phone: 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 value iPhone with long zoom: iPhone 15 Pro Max: Buy now
• Best for advanced photographers: Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Buy now
• Best for close-ups and macro: Vivo X200 Pro
• Best used iPhone: Apple iPhone 14 Pro: Buy now
• Best small flagship phone: Samsung Galaxy S24: Buy Now
• Best value Google Phone: Google Pixel 8: Buy now
• Best with 10x zoom: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Buy Now

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

---

Best overall camera phone: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Specifications at a glance:

Rear cameras	200MP f/1.7 main camera, with OIS, 1/1.3inch, 23mm 50MP f/1.9 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
Selfie camera	12MP f/2.2 PDAF selfie camera (same on all S25 models)
Video	8K 30fps video, 4K 120/60/30fps
Screen	6.9-inch 3120×1440 pixel AMOLED, 2600 nits peak brightness, Corning Gorilla Armor 2
Battery	5000mAh battery with wireless charging

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a minor update to the S24 Ultra with an updated design, new ultra-wide camera and updated screen. The main camera has the same headline-grabbing 200MP sensor that uses pixel-binning technology as its predecessor.

The S25 Ultra builds on the AI introduced with the S24 Ultra, with a range of additional features for searching, including inside the photo gallery. There’s also been some improvements to video recording, with the ability to use AI to improve the audio quality as well as Log tools.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a great performing device, and it produces excellent photos and videos. It’s a big device, which will be to the tastes of some, but perhaps put off others – I’d love Samsung to introduce a smaller Ultra variety, but perhaps it believes the market isn’t there.

The native camera app has a lot going for it, including the AI editing suite which can really help to improve your photographs. Whether you’re shooting stills or making video content, the S25 Ultra is hard to beat.

If you’d like one of the newest Samsung phones, but don’t want to spend top dollar, then the previous model is well worth looking at.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review to see what this smartphone is cable of.

---

2nd Best Samsung camera phone: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Specifications at a glance:

Rear cameras	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
Selfie camera	12MP f/2.2 PDAF selfie camera (same on all S25 models)
Video	8K 30fps video, 4K 120/60/30fps
Screen	6.8inch screen, 1-120Hz, 2600nits, with Corning Gorilla Glass Armor
Battery	5000mAh battery with wireless charging

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra succeeds S23 Ultra as Samsung’s flagship model, and is Samsung’s top dog in terms of photography, until that is, the S25 Ultra came out (see above). 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. Now that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has been announced, look out for S24 Ultra deals.

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.

---

Best Apple camera phone: iPhone 16 Pro and Max

Specifications at a glance:

Rear cameras	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
Selfie camera	12MP f/1.9, with AF
Video	4K up to 120fps
Screen	Pro Max: 6.9inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen Pro: 6.3inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen
Battery	Pro: 3582mAh battery, Pro Max: 4685mAh battery

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

---

Best flagships for sports and action: OnePlus 13

Specifications at a glance:

Rear cameras	50MP main camera, f/1.6, OIS, 1/1.4″ sensor 50MP 120° ultra-wide-angle camera, f/2.05, 1/2.75 sensor 50MP 3X Triprism Telephoto camera, f/2.6, OIS, 73mm focal length, 1/1.95″ sensor
Selfie camera	32MP front camera, f/2.45, fixed focus, 1/2.74″ sensor
Video	4K 60fps on all cameras including front, 8K 30fps video recording available to rear cameras
Screen	6.82inch screen, 1-120Hz dynamic, 1600/4500 nits, Ceramic Guard glass
Battery	Silicon NanoStack 6,000mAh battery

This flagship phone from OnePlus features an impressive array of specs that make it a worthy contender for the likes of Apple, Samsung and Google. And it does this at a significantly lower starting price of $899 / £899. It has everything you would expect from a high-end phone with AI features, a generous 6.82” screen, sturdy battery life and of course a capable triple-lens rear camera setup.

There is a 23mm wide angle, a 15mm ultra-wide angle and a 73mm triprism lens that provides approximately 3x optical zoom. All three lenses have a 50MP sensor, however, the main wide angle lens uses a larger, 1/1.4inch sensor whereas the others are smaller. Thanks to the firm’s continuing partnership with Hasselblad there’s a 1x, 2x, and 3x Portrait mode that emulates the look from Hasselblad camera lenses.

You can record up to 8K resolution at 30fps but keep in mind the space these videos will occupy, there’s also a 4K 60fps option and of course slow-mo at 1080p 240fps. The OnePlus 13 currently holds the position of highest peak brightness smartphone screen on the market with an incredible 4500 nits, so you can not just record high-quality video but enjoy watching even in very bright sunlight.

Thanks to a dual exposure algorithm that merges a regular and a long exposure shot, photos are sharp with very minimal motion blur, this makes the OnePlus13 ideal for shooting sports, action and fast moving subjects. Combine this with the Burst function in the dedicated Action mode and you won’t miss a shot.

Read our full review of the OnePlus 13

---

Best Apple camera phone: iPhone 15 Pro

Specifications at a glance:

Rear cameras	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
Selfie camera	12MP f/1.9, with AF
Video	4K up to 120fps
Screen	6.1inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen
Battery	Pro: 3274mAh battery

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.

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.

---

Best Google camera phone ever: Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Specifications at a glance:

Rear cameras	50MP main camera, f/1.68, OIS 48MP ultra-wide, f/1.7, with macro AF 48MP telephoto, f/2.8, 5x telephoto, OIS
Selfie camera	42MP f/2.2 selfie camera with AF
Video	4K video recording, up to 60fps
Screen	6.8inch screen, 1-120hz, 2000/3000nits, Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Battery	5060mAh battery with wireless charging

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.

---

Best value flagship Google camera phone: Google Pixel 8 Pro

Specifications at a glance:

Rear cameras	50MP main camera, f/1.68, OIS, 25mm 48MP ultra-wide, f/1.7, with macro AF, 14mm 48MP telephoto, f/2.8, 5x telephoto, OIS, 113mm
Selfie camera	10.5MP f/2.2 selfie camera with AF
Video	4K video recording, up to 60fps
Screen	6.7inch screen
Battery	5050mAh battery with wireless charging

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.

---

Best iPhone with long zoom: iPhone 15 Pro Max

Specifications at a glance:

Rear cameras	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
Selfie camera	12MP f/1.9, with AF
Video	4K up to 120fps
Screen	6.7inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen
Battery	Pro: 4441mAh battery

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?

---

Best for advanced photographers: Xiaomi 15 Ultra

Specifications at a glance:

Rear cameras	50MP main camera with 1inch sensor and f/1.63 aperture 50MP f/2.2 ultra-wide (14mm equiv) 50MP f/1.8 3x telephoto (70mm equiv) 200MP f/2.6 4.3x telephoto (100mm equiv)
Selfie camera	32MP f/2.0 camera without AF
Video	8K 30fps / 4K 120fps video
Screen	6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED, 3200 x 1440 pixels, 120Hz, 3200nits (peak)
Battery	5410mAh battery (international)

There’s an awful lot to like about the Xiaomi 15 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. You can shoot using all three lenses in 50MP mode, and the telephoto camera has been upgraded to a 200MP unit for improved telephoto zoom. 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 15 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 S25 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 15 Ultra review.

---

Best value for close-up photography: Vivo X200 Pro

Specifications at a glance:

Rear cameras	50MP f/1.6 main camera with 1/1.28inch sensor, OIS, 23mm, PDAF  50MP f/2.0 ultra-wide-angle camera, 15mm, AF 200MP f/2.7 3.7x telephoto camera, with close focus, 85mm, OIS, AF
Selfie camera	32MP f/2.0 selfie camera, fixed focus
Video	8K 30fps, 4K 120fps video
Screen	6.78inch AMOLED screen with 4500nits
Battery	6000mAh battery

This flagship smartphone by Vivo comes with an impressive triple set of cameras created in collaboration with Zeiss. All cameras are equipped with high resolution sensors with auto-focus and OIS (optical image stabilisation), and the 200MP 3.7x periscope camera gives macro features. These specs make the Vivo X200 Pro a formidable competition for the well-known flagships.

The main 23mm f/1.75 camera features a 50MP 1/1.28inch sensor, which is larger than many other phones. 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 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 200MP sensor, helping capture even more detail. Finally, the last ultra-wide-angle 15mm, f/2 camera provides nice results, with good colour and exposure, as well as good levels of detail. The camera app gives you quick access to 0.6x, 1x, 2x, 3.7x and 10x making it feel like you’ve got way more cameras than there actually are.

In use, the Vivo X200 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. Hopefully next years update will be more widely available.

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

Read our full Vivo X200 Pro review.

---

Best Small Samsung flagship: Samsung Galaxy S24/S24+

Samsung Galaxy S24 (4000mAh battery)

Samsung Galaxy S24+ (4900mAh battery)

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.

---

Best used iPhone: Apple iPhone 14 Pro

Specifications at a glance:

Rear cameras	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
Selfie camera	12MP f/1.9, with AF
Video	4K up to 60fps
Screen	6.1inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen (Pro), 6.7inch on Pro Max
Battery	Pro: 3200mAh battery

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.

---

Best value small Google Phone: Google Pixel 8

Specifications at a glance:

Rear cameras	50MP main camera, f/1.68, OIS, 25mm 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.2, with macro AF, 14mm
Selfie camera	10.5MP f/2.2 selfie camera – fixed focus
Video	4K video recording, up to 60fps
Screen	6.2inch screen
Battery	4565mAh battery with wireless charging

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.

---

Best phone for zoom: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Specifications at a glance:

Rear cameras	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 10MP f/4.9 10x telephoto camera, with OIS, 230mm
Selfie camera	12MP f/2.2 PDAF selfie camera (same on all S25 models)
Video	8K 30fps video, 4K 60/30fps
Screen	6.8-inch display, Quad HD+ (3088 x 1440) AMOLED at 500ppi, 120Hz
Battery	5000mAh battery with wireless charging

At the time, the 200MP main camera sensor was a first for Samsung (although it’s made such large resolution sensors for other makers before). The 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 S23 Ultra is getting a bit old now, but is one of very few phones to offer an actual 10x telephoto camera, with the newer S24/S25 Ultra phones switching to 5x. So if you’re a purist, and really need or want a 10x telephoto camera, then the S23 Ultra is the only choice.

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).

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 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 from the S22 Ultra, 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 a cheaper Samsung phones, 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.

---

How to choose the best camera phone for the best photos

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 small benefits to higher resolution sensors, in the form of cropping and lossless zoom, but beyond that, there are also 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. Modern phones make up for this by taking multiple shots and merging them together into one photo, 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, with mixed results.

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 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, 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 put 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 print it, the difference in quality will be obvious.

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.

---

---

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

---

Follow AP on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.