Think about how many photos you take on your smartphone in a week. Now multiply that across the year. If you're like the average Brit, you'll end up with around 1,000 photos on your phone. That’s a lot - so it's worth having a phone with a camera you can rely on.
In this guide, we’ll look at the best camera phones in 2026 and what makes each one special. We’ll cover the best all-round camera phone, the top iPhone and Android phones, and the best budget camera phone. We’ll also check out the phone cameraa that are brilliant for zoom, selfies, videos, and low-light photography.
What makes a great camera phone in 2026?
A good phone camera is a mix of hardware and software working together. Megapixels matter, but they’re only part of the story. The sensor, lenses and clever processing all play a big role in how your photos turn out
The camera sensor is one of the biggest factors. A larger sensor can capture more light, which means clearer photos when you’re in a dark room or taking pictures in the evening.
The lenses are just as important. The best camera phones now give you different options for different situations. An ultra-wide camera is handy when you’re trying to fit a huge landscape or group of friends into one shot. On the other hand, macro lenses help you get right up close to smaller subjects like leaves and insects.
A good optical zoom lens magnifies distant subjects to help you capture sharp detail. It’s a step up from digital zoom, which simply enlarges pixels and reduces clarity.
A lot of phones now use AI to improve your photos automatically, helping you get the basics like lighting and framing just right.
Best overall camera phone in 2026 - Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is built for people who like having plenty of camera options to play with. Its 200MP main sensor captures a huge amount of detail, even when you’re taking photos in the evening. And it comes with a multi-telephoto system that gives you 3x, 5x and 10x optical zoom. That extra reach is useful in situations where you can’t move closer to what you want to shoot - like a gig when you’re sitting near the back of the venue.
Best camera phone for Apple fans - iPhone 17 Pro Max
If you already use an iPhone, the iPhone 17 Pro Max camera will feel really familiar. Apple’s image processing keeps photos looking natural, with realistic colours and plenty of detai. And if you like giving your photos to look a certain way, Photographic Styles let you adjust the look of your shots while keeping skin tones looking natural.
Best Android camera phone - Google Pixel 10 Pro
The Google Pixel 10 Pro takes the top spot with the best camera system of any Android phone. Its includes a powerful Tensor G5 chip and advanced AI features, with Google’s clever processing helping you to capture detailed, natural-looking photos in almost any situation.
The 50MP main camera and 48MP ultra-wide camera cope brilliantly with everything from landscapes to low-light shots, while Google's editing tools add extras like Best Take, which helps create group photos where everyone looks their best - no more stifled yawns or blinking eyes!
Best camera phone for zoom photography - Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the best phone around when it comes to zoom. Its 3x, 5x and 10x optical zoom options give you sharp and detailed photos of far off subjects, rather than simply enlarging a normal photo.
The 10x periscope lens is especially useful for long-distance shots, helping you capture more detail when you just can’t get closer. And there’s more. Samsung’s Space Zoom extends things beyond the optical zoom range with hybrid zoom, giving you extra reach when you need it. On the Galaxy S26 Ultra, that means you can snap sharp photos at up to 100x zoom.
Best camera phone for selfies and social media - Apple iPhone 17 Pro
The iPhone 17 Pro is the best option if you use your front camera as much as the cameras on the back. That front camera can record 4K video with stabilisation, so it’s well suited for the likes of TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Autofocus keeps your face sharp as you move around, while Apple’s image processing keeps skin tones looking natural. So, you can quickly record a video or take a selfie without spending time adjusting the settings.
Best budget camera phone in 2026 - Google Pixel 10a
The Google Pixel 10a is a great camera phone for the money. Its 64MP main camera captures plenty of detail, while Google’s software helps balance colours, lighting and sharpness so your photos look great straight away. It’s also packed with clever editing tools that can help fix photos after you’ve taken them, from sharpening blurry faces with Photo Unblur to removing unwanted people or objects with Magic Eraser.
Best camera phone for video recording - Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
The iPhone 17 Pro Max turns everyday moments into videos that genuinely look cinematic. It records in 4K Dolby Vision, capturing incredible detail and a wide range of light and shadows. Everything from bright beach days to evening meals will look much closer to how you remember it.
Apple's advanced stabilisation keeps handheld footage smooth, even when you're walking or filming on the move. And if you enjoy editing your videos, ProRes recording at up to 4K 60fps captures far more image data than standard video. That gives you lots of options to adjust colours and contrast afterwards.
Best camera phone for low-light photography - Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is great at taking photos when lighting condtions aren’t on your side. Its larger 1/1.3-inch main sensor captures more light than most flagship phones, helping it perform better in darker conditions. Google’s Night Sight takes things further by using up to 15 long-exposure frames and combining them to bring out more detail from night scenes. Your photos look closer to what you actually see in the dark - whether that’s a meal in a dim restaurant or a moody city street.
How to choose the right camera phone
The best camera phone for you depends on the photos and videos you like taking. Think about how you use your camera most, then look for the features that will help you capture those moments better.
Share lots of photos online? Don’t forget the selfie camera. If you’re always posting photos, a good front camera can make a big difference. Look for features like portrait modes, smart processing and high-quality selfies to help you capture shots you’ll want to share.
Love photography? Choose a phone that gives you more control. Look for features that let you experiment. RAW shooting, manual controls and advanced editing options give you more ways to fine-tune your photos and get the results you want.
Making videos for TikTok, YouTube or social media? A phone with high-quality video, smooth stabilisation and useful filming tools can make it easier to create share-worthy content.
Love taking photos on holiday? Get a phone with a great zoom to capture details you’d normally miss - without having to get closer.
Just want to point and shoot? Go for a camera that keeps things easy. If you don’t want to spend time changing settings, choose a phone that helps you get great results with just a tap. Google Pixel phones, for example, are known for their smart camera features that help you capture stunning shots without needing to adjust any settings.
FAQs
Which phone has the best camera in 2026?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is one of the best all-round camera phones in 2026, with a versatile camera system, powerful zoom and strong low-light performance. But at the end of the day, the right choice depends on what matters most to you. So shop around first.
Is Samsung or iPhone better for photography?
Both Samsung and iPhones take great looking photos, but they have different strengths. Samsung offers more zoom options and camera flexibility, while iPhone is especially strong when it comes to videos.
What phone has the best zoom camera?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is one of the strongest choices for zoom photography. Its dedicated telephoto cameras make it easier to capture detailed photos from further away, whether you’re at a concert or photographing wildlife.
Which phone is best for night photography?
Google Pixel phones are among the best options for night photography thanks to features like Night Sight and Astrophotography mode. They’re designed to capture brighter, more detailed photos in low light without lots of manual adjustments.
Are Google Pixel phones good for photos?
Yes. Google Pixel phones are brilliant for photography. In fact, it’s something that they’re famous for. Google’s advanced photograhpy software helps create natural-looking photos with balanced colours and good detail. Lots of useful editing features are built-in too.
What’s the best budget camera phone?
The Google Pixel 10a is a great budget camera phone, with features you usually only find on more expensive models. It includes some of Google’s best AI camera tech, with powerful editing options to make every photo look just right.
Do megapixels matter when buying a camera phone?
Megapixels can help capture detail, but they’re only one part of the story. A phone with fewer megapixels can take better pictures if it has a superior sensor, lens, or software.
