The best camera phones are usually the best phones overall, and you will mostly find flagships listed in this category – the likes of the newest Galaxies and iPhones typically deliver the highest image quality of the time. Huawei’s top dogs have also been consistently great camera performers which haven’t changed, but as of mid-2019, they are doing accompany caveats when it involves their software usability and future.
From more lenses to more megapixels, improved software, better zoom, greater low light performance, and more, it seems as if almost every high-profile phone has something camera-related to shout about.
These days, mobile cameras are more sophisticated than they’ve ever been and far more capable than your average point-and-shoot. The finest cameras in phones meld intricate optics and sensors with software algorithms that depend on math and science to extract the simplest possible light, color, and detail out of every scenario. It’s not almost the amount of lenses on the rear, either — some phone makers are even leveraging AI to form their post-processing even better.
All this is to say there’s much more that goes into a great smartphone camera than a nice lens and a high-megapixel sensor. With that in mind, and after many hours of testing, we’ve rounded up this list of the simplest camera phones for various use cases, and at a variety of price points.
What is the best camera phone to buy in 2022?
1. iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 13 Pro Max specifications
- CPU: A15 Bionic
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128, 256, 512, 1TB
- Rear camera: Pro 12MP (Telephoto, Wide, Ultra Wide)
- Front camera: 12MP TrueDepth
- Battery: 4352 mAh
- Screen: 6.7 inches
- Resolution: 2778 x 1284 (458)
| REASONS TO BUY | REASONS NOT TO BUY |
|---|---|
| Best cameras in a phone | Cinematic mode capped at 1080p |
| Cinematic video mode | Could use faster charging |
| Brighter display | |
| Superior performance |
Each iPhone comes with a surprise of its own, the iPhone 13 is not different, especially in terms of camera. The iPhone 13 comes with some jaw-dropping features we’ve never seen before in a phone camera.
The bigger camera array on the iPhone 13 Pro Max is for a reason. The main wide camera is the largest we’ve ever seen from Apple, at 1.9μm pixels (up from 1.7μm) while offering an f/1.5 aperture, which produces 49% more light than the iPhone 12 Pro Max. And the ultrawide camera gives a larger f/1.8 aperture (was f/2.4 for iPhone 12 Pro Max) for brighter pics while offering a wider view.
The Cinematic video mode on the iPhone 13 Pro Max is very great that you’ll feel like a super Photographer. That is certainly how you’ll feel after shooting several video clips that apply a bokeh effect to your footage and automatically switch the focus to multiple subjects depending on what’s going on in the frame.
- Read our full iPhone 13 Pro Max review
2. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Galaxy S22 Ultra specifications
- CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- OS: Android 12, One UI 4
- RAM: 8GB, 12GB
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
- Rear camera: 108MP (f/2.2) main, 12MP (f/2.2) ultrawide, 10MP (f/2.4) 10x telephoto, 10MP (f/2.4) 3x telephoto
- Front camera: 40MP (f/2.2)
- Battery: 5,000 mAh
- Screen: 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED QHD+
| REASONS TO BUY | REASONS NOT TO BUY |
|---|---|
| Super bright display | Less RAM than the previous model |
| Cameras offer better low light performance | Shorter battery life than S21 Ultra |
| Faster S Pen built-in |
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is determined to top our best camera phone list, forget the arrangement on here. Our testing shows that the S22 Ultra is a very good camera phone, producing one of the best camera zooms we’ve seen in a smartphone.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra sports a larger 2.4um pixel sensor for grasping more light and data, as pleasingly as a Super Clear Glass lens for capturing nighttime videos without flares. It also comes with a 12MP ultrawide lens, plus dual 10MP telephoto cameras that integrate to offer 10x optical zoom and 100x space zoom.
Samsung has also doubled down on computational photography with its camera system. There’s an adaptive pixel technology that combines 9 pixels into one for better images in low light, enhanced AI high-res processing, and 4x faster multi-frame processing.
3. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Galaxy S21 Ultra specifications
- CPU: Snapdragon 888 / Exynos 2100
- OS: Android 11
- RAM: 12GB / 16GB
- Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB
- Rear camera: 108MP + 10MP + 10MP + 12MP
- Front camera: 40MP
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Screen size: 6.8-inch
- Resolution: 1440 x 3200
| REASONS TO BUY | REASONS NOT TO BUY |
|---|---|
| The best camera zoom | Expensive at any level |
| Mesmerizing design | No microSD card slot |
As with everything within the S21 Ultra, the camera is top-end, with a 108MP f/1.8 main snapper, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide one, and – during a move that’s just about remarkable on phones – 2 exposure cameras. These are each 10MP, however, one has an f/2.4 aperture and permits for 3x optical zoom, whereas the opposite has f/4.9 aperture and permits for an enormous 10x optical zoom.
Non-zoomed footage looks nice too, even supposing typically they don’t seem to be nearly as good as some other rivals. However together with a wealth of camera modes, together with new additions like Director’s read (which permits you to shoot video with each of the front and rear cameras simultaneously), together with an extremely capable 40MP front-facing camera, this makes for a smartphone photographer’s dream.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review
4. iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 12 Pro Max specifications
- CPU: A14 Bionic
- OS: iOS 14
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB
- Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP + 12MP
- Front camera: 12MP
- Battery: 3,687mAh
- Screen size: 6.7-inch
- Resolution: 1284 x 2778
| REASONS TO BUY | REASONS NOT TO BUY |
|---|---|
| Long battery life | Feels too large |
| Powerful rear camera | Very, very expensive |
iPhone 12 Pro Max is not outrightly the best smartphone, but it is very close to being the best camera phone. It includes a 12MP f/1.6 main snapper, a 12MP f/2.2 telephoto one (with 2.5x optical zoom), a 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide one, and even a LiDAR scanner, which enables Night Mode portraits.
In fact night – and low light generally – are some things the iPhone 12 Pro Max has far less issue with than most smartphones, thanks partially to a large sensor that will absorb tons of sunshine. Night Mode is additionally usable with both the most and ultra-wide sensors, so you’re not limited within the sorts of photos you’ll take in the dark.
Smart HDR 3 meanwhile maybe a new feature for the range that mixes multiple exposures to shoot the best picture possible – which are some things that will benefit your shots no matter what the light is like. The onboard editing options are also wonderful, and with Dolby Vision support for videos, it does not just still that the iPhone 12 Pro Max excels at.
All in all, it’s a superb set up, with every lens performing well. This is only a rather better camera phone than the iPhone 12 Pro, but it still has the sting, making it the best iPhone for photography.
5. Huawei Mate 40 Pro
Huawei Mate 40 Pro specifications
- CPU: Kirin 9000 5G
- OS: Android 10
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256/512GB
- Rear camera: 50MP + 12MP + 20MP
- Front camera: 13MP
- Battery: 4,400mAh
- Screen size: 6.76-inch
| REASONS TO BUY | REASONS NOT TO BUY |
|---|---|
| Great camera | Limited apps |
| Excellent design |
You might be surprised to see the Huawei Mate 40 Pro here – after all, it’s a phone that many won’t rate high, and it’s nowhere near our best smartphone list. But the reason we can’t rank it higher, in general, is everything to do with its limited app situation (due to not having access to the Google Play Store) and nothing to do with its cameras.
Its cameras are exceptional. it’s a 50MP f/1.9 main camera, a 12MP f/3.4 optical instrument one (with 5x optical zoom), and a 20MP f/1.8 ultra-wide one and what else does one have to be compelled to get your best camera phone ;). From portrait shoots to wide landscapes, zoomed photos, and shut-up subjects, we discovered that the Huawei Mate 40 Pro can cope bright with almost all kinds of ikon. It even will do a good job in low-light conditions.
And whereas our focus is that the rear snappers, the Huawei Mate 40 Pro conjointly house a good setup on the front, with a 13MP f/2.4 camera joined by a time-of-flight (ToF) device for sensing depth. There are many photography modes and tools on the market on the Huawei Mate 40 Pro moreover, from a lightweight painting feature to a frenzied moon photography mode.
6. Xiaomi Mi Note 10
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 speifications
- CPU: Snapdragon 730G
- OS: Android 9
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Rear camera: 108MP + 12MP + 5MP + 20MP + 2MP
- Front camera: 32MP
- Battery: 5260mAh
- Screen size: 6.47 inches
| REASONS TO BUY | REASONS NOT TO BUY |
|---|---|
| Plenty of detail from the main camera | Midrange power |
| Loaded with shooting modes | No expandable storage |
| Wide choice of focal length |
Xiaomi’s Penta-camera Mi Note 10 is also a phone with a 108MP device, created by Samsung and expected to feature at intervals the Galaxy S20 Ultra, it’s is also a world-first, falling resolution records and packing additional pixels than nearly the other DSLR or mirrorless cameras – together with any smartphone.
Similar to all or any of the 48MP cameras listed here, the Mi Note 10 uses quad-pixel technology, or ‘pixel binning’ to grab normal shots. This method combines four pixels into one, therefore a 12MP image would be created with a 48MP device, and thus the 108MP device on the Mi Note 10 produces a 27MP image. Once the sunshine is true, however, you may build up the resolution and capture full 108MP pictures for jaw-droppingly careful shots – nothing else comes on the brink of the Mi Note 10 during this respect.
The most camera sums it, in smart light-weight, outshines the competition in several respects, albeit with a perfectly cool shot. The reason this megapixel stocked phone isn’t higher on our list is as a result the additional cameras are typically inconsistent. whereas we tend to love the fact it packs an optical 2x zoom, 5x zoom associated an ultra-wide angle, conjointly as a zealous macro camera, if quality if your focus, shoot with the foremost 108MP module most of the time.
7. OnePlus 8 Pro
OnePlus 8 Pro specifications
- CPU: Snapdragon 865 5G chipset
- OS: Android 10
- RAM: RAM: 8GB/12GB
- Storage: 128/256GB
- Rear camera: Main camera 48MP (f/1.8), telephoto 8MP (f/2.4), ultra-wide 48MP (f/2.2), depth 5MP (f/2.4)
- Front camera: 16MP
- Battery: 4510 mAh
- Screen: 6.78 inches
| REASONS TO BUY | REASONS NOT TO BUY |
|---|---|
| Stunning screen | No expandable storage |
| Stacks of power | No periscope camera |
If you’re one amongst those that don’t like sensational photograph imaging or 512GB storage, the OnePlus eight Pro may be a fantastic various to the much-loved Oppo X2 Pro. Running with the same screen and power – a 120Hz 6.78-inch QHD+ Fluid display panel and a Qualcomm SnapDragon 865 – the 8 Pro could also be a real flagship. It conjointly sports the constant main camera device, Sony’s new IMX 689 device.
Thus whereas it doesn’t get you as getting ready to the action as some superzooms out there, it still boasts in a concert of the most effective camera phones out there, with a primary 48MP device with an f/1.78 aperture lens, a 3x photograph with 8MP resolution, a 48MP ultra-wide, and a replacement Color Filter Camera, which can capture attention-grabbing shots that distort reality.
The OnePlus eight Pro can also capture pets, and keep their faces sharp! notwithstanding it isn’t essentially the best smartphone at one factor particularly, the OnePlus eight Pro is an all-embracing corker that brings Sony’s latest smartphone camera device to a fresh cheap worth.
8. Google Pixel 5
Google Pixel 5 specifications
- CPU: Snapdragon 765G
- OS: Android 11
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Rear camera: 12.2MP wide (ƒ/1.7); 16MP ultrawide
- Front camera: 8MP (ƒ/2.0)
- Battery: 4,080 mAh
- Screen: 6-inch OLED (2340×1080; 90Hz)
| REASONS TO BUY | REASONS NOT TO BUY |
|---|---|
| Gorgeous compact design | Underwhelming performance |
| Excellent camera, now with an ultrawide lens | Expensive for what it is |
| Useful software features | Storage cannot be expanded |
Like Google’s phones tend to be, the Pixel 5 isn’t the most stunning camera phone from a hardware perspective but it’s still on this list of best camera phones due to its software perks. Mountain View swapped out the Pixel 4’s telephoto lens for an ultrawide at the behest of critics and users, but that’s the only measurable hardware change in store for this Pixel flagship.
The rest, as is usually the case with pixels, is finished in code and post. And boy, will the pixel five churns out some wizard pictures. the amount of detail, notably in mid-and low-light shooting situations, on the show with this device, is class-leading. Google’s Night Sight feature places Apple’s Night Mode on the iPhone eleven Pro to shame in our side-by-side comparisons; sure as shooting, the iPhone twelve Pro has answered back, however, that does not remove from the fact Google has raised the stakes once more.
9. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Galaxy Note 20 Ultra specifications
- CPU: Snapdragon 865 Plus / Exynos 990
- RAM: 12GB
- OS: Android 10
- Storage: 128/256/512GB
- Rear camera: 108MP, 12MP, 12MP
- Front camera: 10MP
- Battery: 4,500mAh
- Screen size: 6.9-inch
- Resolution: 1440 x 3088
| REASONS TO BUY | REASONS NOT TO BUY |
|---|---|
| Useful S Pen features | Slow charging |
| Great-looking screen | Ultra-expensive |
The Samsung Galaxy Note twenty ultra includes a high-spec camera that places it on this list of best camera phones, but it’s the exposure camera that truly stands out. This will be a 12MP f/3.0 snapper with 5x optical zoom and 50x digital zoom.
Both of those specs are spectacular, and whereas the S20 Ultra offers 100x digital zoom, that was little or no over a gimmick, with the Note twenty Ultra extremely bettering that snapper because of a wider aperture and greater pixels. And whereas the exposure camera is the highlight, the Samsung Galaxy Note twenty Ultra’s 108MP f/1.8 main camera and 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide one too both perform well.
The Note twenty Ultra’s camera is incredibly easy and fun to use, and its blessings from extras like 8K video and Single Take mode, which takes a bunch of photos and videos at constant time exploitation, the numerous lenses, and modes, to increase the prospect of you capturing beautiful images. Low-light photos aren’t quite as detailed as the variety of the competition, just like the iPhone twelve, but otherwise, this will be an exceptional camera setup.
10. Huawei P40 Pro
Huawei P40 Pro specifications
- CPU: Kirin 990 5G
- OS: Android 10
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB
- Rear camera: 50MP + 12MP + 40MP
- Front camera: 32MP
- Battery size: 4,200mAh
- Screen: 6.58 inches
- Resolution: 1200 x 2640 pixels
| REASONS TO BUY | REASONS NOT TO BUY |
|---|---|
| Phenomenal battery life | Frustratingly limited software |
| Brilliant cameras | Big camera bump |
The Huawei P40 Pro is one of the best camera phones you may acquire for below $1,000 / £900, it’s that straightforward. In fact, for a precise quiet creator – one who values an exposure camera – it’s merely the foremost effective camera phone around, period.
Recommending this phone comes with its own set of caveats given the Huawei/Google situation though. That’s why despite its exhaustive list of stellar choices, you really ought to be compelled to scan our P40 skilled review before selecting one up. despite its package limitations though, its camera will knock your socks off.
The P40 Pro’s Leica-branded imaging system is spearheaded by an innovative 50MP sensor, that uses RYB (red yellow blue) sub-pixel formation, similar to the 40MP P30 Pro before it. Huawei claims this makes its cameras higher able to handle dark scenes kind of a champion, which can|we’ll|we are going to} attest to the fact the P40 skilled fully will.