We’ve picked the best camera phones photographers should buy, based on reviews of the top-rated Samsung, Google, Apple iPhone and more.

The title of best camera phone is fiercely contested. Major manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, and Google are constantly competing to offer better features, higher resolutions, and sharper lenses. Other manufacturers like Oppo, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Honor also offer affordable options.

At AP, we take smartphone reviews as seriously as we do testing the best mirrorless cameras. After all, more images are now taken with smartphones than with anything else. We look at image quality, video quality, usability, durability, battery life, ease of use, and more. If you want to learn more about our testing criteria and what to look for in a smartphone camera, we’ve put together a guide on how to choose at the bottom of this page.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – Samsung’s best camera phone ever?

As smartphone cameras continue to improve at an accelerated pace, the question arises as to whether they can replicate the quality of a digital camera. With smartphones offering interchangeable lenses, larger sensors, and RAW imaging capabilities, the answer is “not yet.” In some genres and situations, such as portrait photography, a camera is better than a smartphone. But for most users, the best smartphone cameras will accomplish everything you need to.

Best Camera Phones: A Quick List

For those who want to get straight to the point, here is a quick reference list of the top rated camera phones recommended by our team:

• Best Samsung Camera Phone: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• Best Apple Camera Phone: iPhone 15 Pro
• Best Google Camera Phone: Google Pixel 8 Pro
• Best iPhone with Long Zoom: iPhone 15 Pro Max
• Best Honor Camera Phone: Honor Magic 5 Pro
• Best Xiaomi Camera Phone: Xiaomi 14 Ultra
• Best for close-ups: Vivo X100 Pro
• Best iPhone 14: Apple iPhone 14 Pro
• Best small Samsung flagship: Samsung Galaxy S24
• 2nd Best Google Smartphone: Google Pixel 8
• Second Best Samsung Phone: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
• Best camera phone under $500/£500: Google Pixel 7
• Best looking camera phone: OPPO Find X5 Pro
• Best Used Samsung Camera Phone: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
• Best used iPhone for photography: Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Read on for more details on each phone, including key specs and our review team’s testing results.

Best Samsung Camera Phone: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Pros:

• Improved image quality
• Vastly improved screen (less reflections and better scratch resistance)
• Added AI features including handy reflection removal

Cons:

• Macro mode lags behind other modes
• Shutter lag for fast moving subjects
• 45W charging is slower than competitors

Main Specifications:

• 200MP f/1.7 main camera with OIS
• 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle camera
• 10MP f/2.4 3x telephoto camera with OIS
• 50MP f/3.4 5x telephoto camera with OIS
• 12MP f/2.2 PDAF selfie camera
• 8K 30fps video, 4K 120/60/30fps
• From $1,299/£1,084 (256GB)

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is Samsung’s flagship model with a 200MP sensor with pixel binning technology. The telephoto camera has been upgraded to a new 50MP 5x telephoto zoom. The S24 series’ AI technology improves night photography, noise performance, zoom quality, and HDR imaging.

Best Apple Camera Phone: iPhone 15 Pro

Pros

• Improved photo and video capture modes
• Strong and sturdy construction
• USB-C port

Cons:

• A minor upgrade from the iPhone 14 Pro
• Main Specifications:
• 48MP wide camera, f/1.78 aperture
• 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, f/2.2 aperture
• 12MP 3x telephoto camera, f/2.8 aperture
• 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen
• iOS17 Update
• Price: From $1,149 / £1,266

The iPhone 15 Pro also offers usability improvements like auto portrait mode and post-capture portrait conversion, as well as a new log profile and USB-C connectivity for video capture.

Best Google Camera Phone: Google Pixel 8 Pro

Pros:

• High-resolution sensor
• Advanced Calculation Functions
• Pro Control Options

Cons:

• Price increase from previous model
• No 1TB storage option
• Main Specifications:
• Triple camera setup: 14mm, 25mm, 113mm equivalent
• Android Operating System
• 30x super-resolution zoom
• 10.5MP f/2.2 selfie camera with autofocus
• Price: $999-$1179 / £999-£1179

The Google Pixel 8 Pro is known for its superior hardware and advanced software, including AI features like “Best Take” and “Magic Editor,” as well as improved low-light performance and a new “Pro” mode that gives you manual control over exposure settings.

Best iPhone with Long Zoom: iPhone 15 Pro Max

Pros:

• 5x zoom lens
• Excellent display quality
• USB-C connection

Cons:

• Might be too large for some users
• A minor upgrade from the previous model, but at a high price
• Main Specifications:
• 48MP wide camera, f/1.78 aperture
• 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, f/2.2 aperture
• 12MP 5x telephoto camera, f/2.8 aperture
• 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen
• iOS17 Update
• Price: $1299/£1199

The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 5x optical zoom lens for increased telephoto reach, and shares many improvements with the iPhone 15 Pro, including USB-C charging and 24MP effective resolution.

Best Honor Camera Phone: Honor Magic 5 Pro

Pros:

• High-resolution triple camera
• High-end features at an affordable price
• Great screen

Cons:

• Portrait mode could be better
• Standard Video Options
• Main Specifications:
• Triple 50MP camera system
• 13mm, 23mm, 90mm equivalent
• Android 13 operating system
• 4K Video
• Price: $1099 / £949

The Honor Magic 5 Pro has a triple array of 50MP cameras, excellent low-light performance, and a super macro mode for close-ups. It also has a 100x digital zoom mode, but it’s more of a novelty than a practical tool.

Best Xiaomi Camera Phone: Xiaomi 14 Ultra

Pros:

• 1 inch main sensor
• 50MP Quad Camera
• RAW shooting and Pro mode
• Photography kits available

Cons:

• Expensive
• Selfie camera has no autofocus
• Limited availability in the market
• Main Specifications:
• 50MP quad camera system with Leica lenses
• 12mm, 23mm, 75mm, 120mm equivalent
• Android 14 operating system
• 8K Video
• Price: £1299

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra comes with a 1-inch main sensor, adjustable aperture on the main camera, and great video options, making it a strong contender in the high-end smartphone market.

Vivo X100 Pro: A smartphone with flagship cameras

Main Specifications:

• Main camera: 50MP, f/1.75, 1-inch sensor, OIS, 23mm, AF
• Ultra-wide camera: 50MP, f/2.0, 15mm, AF
• Telephoto camera: 50MP, f/2.5, 4.3x, 100mm, OIS, AF
• Selfie camera: 32MP, f/2.0, fixed focus
• Video: 8K 30fps, 4K 60/30fps, 1080p 240fps
• Display: 6.78″ AMOLED, 3000 nits brightness
• OS: Android 14
• Price: 1199 EUR (EUR), 89999 INR (INR), 780-900 GBP (UK)

Camera Performance:

The Vivo X100 Pro’s camera system was developed in collaboration with Zeiss and delivers excellent photography performance. With a 1-inch sensor and f/1.75 aperture, the main camera excels in detail, color reproduction, and dynamic range. The Zeiss APO floating telephoto camera with periscope design offers impressive close-up photos even in low light conditions thanks to its 100mm focal length and f/2.5 aperture. The ultra-wide-angle camera is not Zeiss-branded, but its color and exposure performance is good.

Review Summary:

Joshua Waller highlights the Vivo X100 Pro as a very capable camera phone, especially noting the low light performance due to the large sensor. However, the selfie camera is less impressive due to the lack of autofocus. Overall, the Vivo X100 Pro is worth its flagship price tag due to its outstanding camera capabilities.

Samsung Galaxy S24/S24+: High-resolution all-rounder

Main Specifications:

• Camera setup: 12MP ultra-wide, 50MP main, 10MP telephoto, 12MP front
• Video: 8K video
• OS: Android 14
• Price: High, but varies by model

Camera Performance:

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24+ are great all-around cameras, with a high-resolution main camera and an autofocus selfie camera. They lack a dedicated macro mode and have lower-resolution ultra-wide and telephoto cameras compared to the S24 Ultra, but they perform well in most scenarios.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro: The best iPhone for photographers

Main Specifications:

• Camera configuration: 4 cameras, 3x and 2x telephoto, 48MP main sensor
• Video: 4K 60fps
• OS: iOS
• Price: From $999 / £1,099

Camera Performance:

iPhone 14 Pro features a new 48MP sensor for excellent low-light performance and flexibility, with a range of specialist modes including Macro and Portrait, making it a versatile choice for photographers.

Google Pixel 8: AI-powered photography at an affordable price

Main Specifications:

• Camera setup: Dual camera, wide and ultra-wide
• Video: 4K 60fps from rear and front cameras
• OS: Android
• Price: $699 / £699

Camera Performance:

The Pixel 8 delivers consistently superior photos with better exposure, detail and colour reproduction thanks to Google’s advanced computational photography features, and includes an improved ultra-wide module with autofocus and a new macro mode.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: An all-round flagship

Main Specifications:

• Main camera: 200MP, 1/1.3″ sensor, f/1.7
• Ultra-wide camera: 12MP, 1/2.55″ sensor, f/2.2
• Telephoto camera: 10MP (3x zoom, f/2.4), 10MP (10x zoom, f/4.9)
• Video: 8K 30fps, 4K 60fps
• Price: $1,683 / £1,399

Camera Performance:

The S23 Ultra’s 200MP main sensor uses pixel binning to enhance detail and lighting, and it has a versatile camera system with four lenses, although clarity may be lacking at the 10x telephoto.

Google Pixel 7: The best phone under $500/£500

Main Specifications:

• Camera setup: Dual camera, 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide
• Video: 4K 60fps
• OS: Android
• Price: $594 / £526

Camera Performance:

The Pixel 7 has great photography features, including night photography and up to 8x digital zoom, but it lacks the Pro mode and macro capabilities.

OPPO Find X5 Pro: Stylish and powerful

Main Specifications:

• Camera setup: Triple camera system, Hasselblad branded
• Video: 4K 60fps
• OS: Android
• Price: $889 / £749

Camera Performance:

The Find X5 Pro has good image quality and excellent low-light video performance, although its short telephoto lens is a slight drawback.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G: Best Used Samsung

Main Specifications:

• Camera configuration: 4 cameras, 2 telephoto lenses
• Video: 8K
• OS: Android
• Price: $600 / £600 (refurbished)

Camera Performance:

The S22 Ultra’s multiple lenses offer great flexibility and good image quality, but the 100x digital zoom is very much a gimmick.

Apple iPhone 13 Pro: The best used iPhone for photography

Main Specifications:

• Camera configuration: 3 x 12MP cameras, 13mm, 26mm, 77mm equivalent
• OS: iOS
• Price: $938 / £717

Camera Performance:

The iPhone 13 Pro improves on the 12 Pro with a faster lens, a new macro mode and a longer telephoto shooting range, enabling better image stabilization and cinematic video.

The post Best Camera Phones For Photography in 2024 appeared first on Review Products.

Another year has passed, and a brand-new GoPro is finally available to help you “go pro.” I’ve had the GoPro Hero 12 Black for about a week, despite the fact that it recently went on sale everywhere. We had the opportunity to test the Hero 12 Black in its environment thanks to a fun event GoPro organized for some of the media in India. As usual, the older Hero 11 Black will remain accessible in India, although at a reduced cost. The new Hero 12 Black is available for Rs. 45,000 for the base kit and Rs. 65,000 for the Creators Edition.

Here are my initial thoughts on the new action camera from GoPro, albeit the complete review will take some time.

Comparing the GoPro Hero 12 Black to the Hero 11 Black, not much has changed, especially in terms of hardware. It has a 1/1.9-inch image sensor that supports the larger 8:7 aspect ratio, the same GP2 CPU as the Hero 11 Black, and many of the same capabilities. It still mostly resembles its predecessor in terms of appearance, but the body now has blue flecks. Since the dimensions are identical to those of the Hero 11 Black, any attachment designed for that model will likewise fit the Hero 12 Black.

The body of the GoPro Hero 12 Black has blue flecks.

With an extra shell, the GoPro Hero 12 Black can remain waterproof up to 10 meters. It has a larger 2.27-inch touch screen on the back and a smaller, non-touch, color screen in the front. The Max Lens Mod 2.0 is now supported by the lens cap, which is detachable. Additionally, there are mounting fingers at the bottom, but now there is also a universal tripod thread mount located in-between the two foldable feet.

A tripod thread is added to the GoPro Hero 12 Black.

The Hero 12 Black has a difficult-to-open battery flap on the right side that is still difficult to open and close. Come on GoPro, don’t you think we all deserve a flap with better engineering by this point? The microSD card slot and USB Type-C port are located underneath.

The record button and microphone are located on top of the camera. A mode button is located on the left side, and a second microphone is located below the mounting feet. The new GoPro Hero 12 Black comes with the Enduro battery, which promises longer battery life, much like the Hero 11 Black did. GoPro now asserts that the new Hero 12 Black can provide up to twice the battery life compared to the older model because of more effective hardware and software optimizations. I’ll have to put this claim to the test, however during my initial use, I was able to record for roughly 7-8 hours continuously while also shooting a 30-minute continuous video in 4K 8:7 mode.

Max Lens 2.0 Mod for the GoPro Hero 12 Black

A new HDR video mode is now available on the GoPro Hero 12 Black when it comes to filming videos. Up to 5.3K resolution HDR video is possible, but only when the aspect ratio is 16:9. The HDR video can only be 4K at 24 or 30 frames per second in an 8:7 aspect ratio. Slow motion movies can only be made in 2.7K at 240 frames per second. You may experiment with a ton of new video recording options, such as timelapse, night video, and Star Trails, which now enable 8:7 recording.

In the complete review, I’ll put each of these to the test. While you may export 24.7-megapixel stills from films, photos are taken at a resolution of 27 megapixels. A vertical capture mode, GP-Log with LUTS support, and TimeWarp 3.0 are also included.

Example of a GoPro Hero 12 Black HDR image

In addition to the new HDR video mode, the GoPro Hero 12 Black has a popular function that enables you to record audio with any Bluetooth earpiece or headphone. This is a great feature, in my opinion. You can now wirelessly record audio by connecting your AirPods or any other Bluetooth headphones. Both internal microphones and Bluetooth headphones can record audio on the Hero 12 Black.

Along with the Auto Boost feature that debuted with the Hero 11 Black, HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilization is now included with the GoPro Hero 12 Black. The new Hero 12 Black holds true to GoPro’s reputation for having some of the best stabilization in the business. The majority of the functions from the Hero 11 Black have been carried over into the new action camera, but they have been enhanced.

I’ll be using the GoPro Hero 12 Black more frequently and experimenting with its additional functions, including HDR video, Bluetooth audio recording, and others. Will it truly be an improvement over the Hero 11 Black? I suppose the entire evaluation will reveal the answer.

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