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The best camera phones, tested by our expert editors
Whether you're a seasoned professional looking for specific features or just a novice who wants nice photos with ease, we've got you covered with the best picks for taking your pics on your smartphone.
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The camera on a phone is more than just the sum of its megapixels. For that reason, Finder's expert team of reviewers have extensively tested the cameras of every phone on this list. When we're reviewing a phone, we put a special focus on its camera capabilities because it's such a key value area for most smartphones.
Our editorial team chose the phones in this list based on a weighted balance of camera features, quality and our experiences when testing them, compared to other phones available in the market. The selection and order were not based on our overall phone review scores.
Note: Models released prior to 2023 are eligible for inclusion, provided the cameras still hold up and they remain available to purchase.
Google has taken the leap in terms of its camera system this year. Every camera on the Pixel 8 Pro has been upgraded, with wider apertures and upgraded imaging software.
The 50MP main camera also captures better photos in low-light settings compared to its predecessor. In addition, the 48MP ultra-wide lens has a larger sensor and higher resolution compared to the equivalent lens on the Pixel 7 Pro.
Other noteworthy features include improved Macro Focus, a 10x optical zoom and an ability to capture 56% more light with the telephoto lens.
In head-to-head low-light tests, it's equal to or better than the Apple and Samsung equivalents, while providing key AI features that novices will adore.
Indeed, where the camera system really shines is with its editing software, which uses generative AI to help you bring your photos to life.
There is something truly magical about the "Magic Eraser" feature that makes it simple to crop unwanted photobombers out of your shots, and likewise, its Motion features can add fun effects to your shots with ease.
If cost isn't a concern, consider the Apple iPhone 15 Pro (or Pro Max for a larger display). The camera has minor improvements from last year, but 2 standout upgrades are notable.
Low-light shots are sharp and vibrant, as evident in balcony plant, apartment view and street photos taken at night.
Additionally, you can now convert standard photos into portraits after capturing, thanks to depth-sensing technology.
Other enhancements include an ultra-wide lens for better low-light performance and reduced lens flare with a new coating.
For photography enthusiasts, the iPhone offers exceptional low-light capabilities, easy portrait modes and a plethora of camera apps. The 48MP sensor-shift optical image stabilisation and 100% focus pixels ensure high-resolution photos.
Selfie lovers can benefit from the 12MP ultra-wide lens with a 120-degree field of view and 100% focus pixels.
If photography is important to you, it is hard to look past the S23 Ultra, Samsung's top-line model in the Galaxy S range.
It boasts a massive 200MP primary camera which far exceeds any of its competitors. This allows you to take crispy images even in low light. Rest assured, its performance in subpar lighting is at least equal to the very best in the market.
This is bolstered by a new Nightography mode which allows you to capture 30fps 8K video at night without compromise.
Portrait photography is particularly strong on this phone, with better hair detection and more realistic bokeh.
The colour saturation is arguably a little too vibrant, especially if you want absolute realism. But we think most users will like the way their images pop.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra also comes with a 100x "Space Zoom". For nature photographers this level of zoom could prove very handy indeed, although you're going to need a tripod to get the most out of this feature.
All in all, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is an excellent camera phone with an impressive suite of photographic features.
While it doesn't have as good a camera as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the S23+ still packs quite a punch courtesy of a triple camera array in the back. (Namely a 50MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP telephoto lens.)
There's also a 12MP front-facing camera that is great for taking selfies, especially if you prefer vibrant colours in your photos.
The S23+ features an advanced Nightography mode, supposedly powered by artificial intelligence. Regardless of AI's involvement, the results speak for themselves. Low-light photos are clear and full of colour whenever this mode is switched on, even in challenging conditions.
The Samsung Galaxy S23+ was released back in February 2023, so you should be able to find it below the RRP. The Good Guys is currently selling it for $250 off, for example.
The Oppo Find X5 Pro trades heavily on its camera capabilities, with the Chinese maker heavily hyping up its MariSilicon NPU for post-processing effects.
Within the premium space, it has a point because, in most aspects, the Find X5 Pro can shoot very well indeed, whether you're after portrait shots, low-light photography or ultra-wide landscape photos.
Its solid battery life also helps in this regard, allowing you to shoot more and for longer than on some comparable handsets. Like the cheaper Find X5 Lite, battery life is very good and it benefits from fast wired or wireless charging, although you'll need to pay extra for Oppo's astonishingly quick fast wireless charger.
The only reason that the Find X5 Pro doesn't feature higher in our lists is that its telephoto lens really doesn't stand out as much as it arguably should. At anything above 5x zoom, you quickly lose quality – something that competing flagships manage a little better.
It's also a harder sell for camera enthusiasts thanks to its slick rear casing, which can make it a little easier to drop. It's also Oppo's most expensive flagship by a fair margin – well within the price space of the slightly nicer iPhone 13 Pro or Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Most budget phones skimp on camera quality, especially at the lower price range. Even slightly pricier models can struggle in less-than-perfect conditions.
If you want to get great results under $500, one option is to go for an older premium model. (Note: We don't mean a refurbished model, but a pre-2023 phone that you can still buy brand new from select retailers.)
The Google Pixel 6 is our top choice in this category, with superb low-light photography. Plus, you'll enjoy Google's clean Android interface with guaranteed OS updates until the end of 2024.
We're keenly awaiting the arrival of the Oppo Find X5 Pro into our test labs, but while we wait, we can take a close look at anything we like with the Oppo Find X3 Pro. That's because it's unique in the local market thanks to the inclusion of a 3MP microscope camera, capable of capturing the world up close. Really close, giving you a view of everything from sofas to pet hair (or sofas covered in pet hair) in a way that no other camera phone can replicate.
Is that a gimmick? Yes, it is, and you've got to be really sure it's one that you're going to use quite a lot. The rest of the Oppo Find X3 Pro's camera chops are quite good, although it does drop zoom quality relative to its predecessor and low-light quality is likewise not quite up there with the best that Samsung, Google or Apple can offer.
If you want to get in on the ground floor of iPhone photography, the iPhone SE 2022 is your best bet.
While you could buy a refurbished iPhone with a better camera for the same price, you’d be taking a big risk in terms of the battery quality and future compatibility. Stick to the new.
Equipped with a single 12MP camera, the iPhone SE relies on Apple's post-processing for quality. Fortunately, its A15 Bionic processor stands head and shoulders above similarly priced Androids.
A single lens isn't necessarily a drawback, particularly for people who just want to point and click. With only one option available, you don’t need to worry about choosing the right framing or zooming lens for the situation at hand.
What truly elevates the iPhone SE 2020 is the abundance of iOS camera apps, which can effortlessly enhance your photos. Powered by the A15 Bionic processor, it's like an iPhone 8 on steroids, but it does drain the battery quickly.
Oppo's Find X3 Neo was its 2021 entry into the more affordable camera space. It's the phone you might buy if you couldn't meet the asking price of the Oppo Find X3 Pro. That being said, we like it just a little more than the Pro in most respects. Instead of the microscope, you get both telephoto and macro lenses to play with. The 2MP macro lens isn't superb, because nobody's 2MP macro lens is superb, but it's a camera phone that delivers generally pleasing results.
However, it's worth noting that the Neo has been effectively replaced by the Find X5 Lite, a slightly less impressive camera phone. As such, the Neo is recommended only if you can find one at a good bargain price. Also keep it out of heavy rainfall, as there's no stated water resistance on board.
Motorola's more affordable Edge 20 handset benefits in camera terms a great deal by packing in a 108MP sensor, giving the same on-paper muscle as many of Samsung's premium flagship phones for around half the price.
The numbers aren't the whole story of course, but that primary sensor does give the Edge 20 a… wait for it… edge because it's not just about shooting massive pictures, but more about what it can do in terms of cropping, pixel binning and using that big sensor in combination with a 3x telephoto lens and 119-degree ultra-wide lens.
It's a combination that encourages photographic creativity and that's no bad thing. Motorola's not a known camera powerhouse, but the Edge 20 shows that it can make a fine camera phone at a very attractive price point. The caveats here for photography fans relate to the battery life, which could be better, and the lack of storage expansion, so if you do take a lot of photos, you'll need cloud or off-device storage to manage all of it. Finally, while it does have a very fast 144Hz display, very few apps – especially those that relate to photography – are going to make much use of it.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
We've spent thousands of hours testing mobile phones with a particular focus on each phone's camera features and output.
Our editorial team has a combined 60+ years of experience writing about tech and reviewing the latest devices.
The phones on this list are chosen by our editorial team and are not based on commercial relationships.
Why you can trust our picks
The camera is a key component of any smartphone, but in the premium space, it's often the key feature that manufacturers try to convince you is so much better than any other device you might buy. While we test every aspect of a phone in an exhaustive fashion to assess all of its strengths and weaknesses, for cameras, we've got to consider a wide array of shooting scenarios, skill levels and feature sets in a comparative sense.
Each phone's cameras are tested with hundreds and often thousands of photos taken from every available lens and in a variety of situations, taking into consideration both the more manual features that pro photographers desire as well as the more everyday needs of happy snappers who just want to point and click and get a pleasing result.
Comparing camera phones is much more than just balancing up the megapixel numbers and that's especially true given the growth in AI-led post-processing that many phones utilise to improve their imagery. Every camera phone's shots are taken off the phone in question because variable screen technologies, refresh rates and colour temperatures can make a huge difference in the effective "appearance" on a phone that may not play out on a properly calibrated display.
We also assess the real-world experience of using each phone's cameras, paying special attention to details such as comfort when shooting, especially for larger handsets, speed and accuracy in focusing and post-shot processing time depending on each camera mode.
While there are countless camera "apps" on the market for specific effects, we shoot with the manufacturer's supplied camera application in every instance because that's what most consumers will do and also because it's often the only place where specific camera modes are available to test.
For each phone review, we supply a library of images for you to examine as well as contextual information to help you judge whether a camera's capabilities are the right match for your needs.
We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. However, Finder may receive compensation when you click some of the links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners.
Frequently asked questions
The highest megapixel camera is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra. Both phones come with a 200MP camera.
The main sensor on higher-range phones these days will have at least 50 megapixels with some topping out at 200. 50MP will be more than enough for your basic photography needs.
It is no longer the case that the higher a camera's megapixel count, the better the picture. There are other factors such as lens quality, image processing and sensor size that will influence the quality of a photo. With that said, megapixels still play a role and will give you the option to enlarge and crop images without individual pixels becoming visible.
Generally yes, but it all depends on how you want to use your camera. If you're just taking photos for social media for example a Twitter profile picture of 400x400 pixels is just 0.16MP while you'll need just a 2MP camera for a basic Instagram photo.
A good-quality camera phone should have at least 12 megapixels, a large screen for display, HDR, zoom control and a bright aperture.
Camera phones are great for taking photos in a jiffy. They're more compact and more user-friendly. But for quality, DSLR cameras are better. They offer better resolutions because they have larger sensors. DSLR cameras also offer better modification because they have extensive settings that allow for customisation.
To keep your camera phone in tip-top shape, use a high-quality phone case. A case with a durable material such as TPU and silicone can absorb shocks while protecting your phone from dust, dirt and scratches.
A multi-award winning journalist, Alex has written about consumer technology for over 20 years. He has written and edited for virtually every Australian tech publication including Gizmodo, CNET, PC Magazine, Kotaku and more. He has also been the Editor of Gizmodo Australia, PC Mag Australia, CNET.com.au and the Tech and Telco section at Finder. Alex has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New England and a serious passion for retro gaming.
Looking for an alternative to your iPhone? We've rounded up the best smartphone alternatives whether your passion is for better photography or more battery life.
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