These days, you can take great looking photographs with most mobile phones. From epic landscapes to clear night-time shots, you’ve got so many options for making special memories. So, if you’re interested in upping your Instagram game, we’ve rounded up a few phones that are worth taking a shot on…
The best camera phone overall
If you’re looking for one of the best camera phones, you’ll find it below. There’s really no undisputed ‘best of the best’, and lots of people have different opinions. The perfect choice for you will depend on the type of photos you enjoy taking, and the phone brand you’re most comfortable with.
The best iPhone camera phone
If you’re an existing iPhone owner and thinking of upgrading, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has the best mobile camera tech Apple has ever created.
The triple camera setup includes a 48MP sensor that’s capable of capturing huge amounts of detail in each shot. There’s also an improved Night Mode on board, which will give you clear and well-lit photographs in the darkest conditions. Then there’s a new Smart HDR mode improves dynamic range, giving you accurate shots of shadows and bright lights – even when they’re in the same picture together.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has the longest optical zoom on any iPhone ever - 5x at 120 mm. So you’ll have the power to take spectacular close-ups and great wildlife photos. And for another iPhone first, you can take portraits without actually switch to Portrait mode. All you need to do is focus on a shot, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max automatically stores all the depth info you need to turn it into a great looking portrait when you edit it later on.
The best Samsung camera phone
Looking for the best Samsung phone camera around? The Galaxy S23 Ultra is an epic choice, with a 200MP main lens for super-sharp detail. It also gives you the option of cropping a photograph without any noticeable loss of detail, so you can come up with completely different photographs when you come to review and edit them.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra also features a Nightography mode that literally lights up the night. The advanced camera tech includes an adaptive pixel sensor that can combine 16 pixels into one large pixel – exactly what’s needed for brighter and more detailed shots, especially when the light’s lacking.
The camera can also zoom in a massive amount. The dual 10MP telephoto lenses come with 3x and 10x optical zoom, along with a 30x digital zoom option. And if that wasn’t enough, you’ve also got a 100x Space Zoom option – if you use this you can zoom into far away buildings and see more detail than the naked eye can.
The best Android camera phone
A lot of phone owners and experts say that Google Pixel phones have the best cameras, And when you look at the Google Pixel 8 Pro, it’s easy to see why. It’s had a serious camera upgrade compared with the older Pixel 7 Pro, and massive improvements have been made to auto-focus, night time photography and skin tone accuracy.
The new 50MP main camera now lets in 21% more light, the new 48 MP ultrawide lens has better macro focus (for those super close-ups), and the upgraded 48MP telephoto lens that can now zoom right in to far off subjects with 10x optical quality.
Okay, that’s the techie part over with. Let’s talk about the fun features you’ll be able to enjoy.
Magic Eraser has had a serious upgrade on Pixel 8 Pro. You can get now rid of bigger unwanted background images, and AI will fill in the gap.
Best Take improves group photos by taking multiple shots and letting you choose the faces you want.
Magic Editor lets you select different objects in your photo and drag them to where you want.
Audio Magic Eraser can reduce annoying background sounds, leaving the things you actually want to hear. If there’s a dog barking in the background of a cute baby video, you can quieten it right down.
The best budget camera phone
Looking for a budget phone with a solid camera? Then check out the Samsung Galaxy A14 - phone that’s packing some impressive tech at a low price point.
With its triple camera setup, you can take any kind of shots from outdoor landscapes to close-ups of small objects. The main 13MP sensor takes photographs that are well detailed, especially in clear lighting. Portrait mode works well too, separating your subject from the background and creating a professional looking bokeh blur effect. It also has a Night mode to brighten up dark shots, and a solid selfie camera round the front that takes photo with natural looking skin tones.
FAQs
What should I look for in a phone camera?
If you’re thinking of upgrading to a new mobile phone with a great camera, here are some important things to think about:
1. Megapixels. Higher megapixel counts are usually a good thing. It doesn’t guarantee superior image quality (see below for the other factors to consider), but it does give you more flexibility in cropping and zooming without much loss of detail.
2. Aperture. A lower f-number indicates a wider aperture. This lets more light enter the camera, and it’s what you need for good low-light photography.
3. Image Stabilisation. Look for optical or electronic image stabilization to reduce blur in photos and videos, especially in shaky conditions.
4. Sensor size. Larger sensors generally capture better image quality, especially in low-light conditions.
5. AI features. The latest mobile cameras use advanced AI tech to give you the best possible shot in any type of condition. Some come even recognise what you’re shooting (food, dogs, grandmas) and adjust the settings accordingly.
Which brand of phone has the best camera?
Like we said at the start of this article, this is a question that doesn’t have a clear-cut answer to. But if you buy one of the latest flagship Samsungs, iPhones or Pixel phones, then you won’t be disappointed - you’ve got one of the best mobile cameras in the world.
Which phone camera has the best zoom?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra we’ve mentioned above has to be right up there with the best zoom cameras. It’s all thanks to that massive 200MP main sensor, giving it 100x digital zoom capabilities.
Any more questions?
Is there anything else you’d like to know about choosing a new phone? Check out our 10 truths you need to know about your phone, or find out what to do with your old phone. If you want to talk to an expert, feel free to pop into one of our stores for a chat.
Tech now, pay later
If you’re planning on get a few accessories at once – or even a new iPhone - you can buy now, pay later with a flexible credit account. With flexible credit we make spreading the cost of your tech easy to manage. 24.9% APR representative (variable). And you can choose the term that suits your monthly budget, from 12 to 36 months.
You can apply for a Your Plan credit account in-store or online at any time, then buy the tech you want. You’ll be able to view and manage your account online, and use it to buy more tech in future.
