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.

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