The Best Smartphone Cameras for Android and Apple

Which phone is equipped with the best camera? We put the latest Android and Apple smartphones to the ultimate test to determine the ultimate champion.

Each year, we test hundreds of smartphones for xyz. We run a series of pretty rigorous benchmarks to ensure we have the most up-to-date information, from the most expensive flagships to the budget handsets you purchase out of necessity. The upshot is that each phone that passes through our doors has been tested, allowing us to decide which phones have the finest cameras for Instagram food/pet/holiday pictures.

If you’re interested in photographing or filming with your phone or want to know that you have a smartphone ideal for holiday snaps, you’ve come to the right place. If you’re in the market for a new camera, check out our list of the top smartphones currently on the market and a helpful camera buying guide.

How to choose the best smartphone camera for your needs

• Megapixels alone are not sufficient.

To begin, keep in mind that megapixels are not everything. If you visit Carphone Warehouse, you’ll notice the megapixel count next to the phone, which is not a reliable indicator of a smartphone’s camera quality. Increased megapixels may appear to be a bonus, but it all comes down to the technology inside.

• The aperture is critical.

What should you be on the lookout for? Aperture. A number preceded by an f/ may appear confusing, but it reveals a great deal about the camera you’re holding. For example, an f/1.4 aperture is wider than an f/2.0 aperture, which means that the camera will let in significantly more light and thus provide more detail.

• Bear in mind the pixel and sensor sizes.

The pixel and sensor sizes are equally as critical as the f-number. In a nutshell, the size of each pixel (measured in um) dictates the image’s quality. In contrast to aperture, larger pixel and sensor sizes are better. How large is the sensor on your digital camera? Current smartphones can achieve increased dynamic range and reduced visual noise thanks to extensive research on the software. At the same time, a larger pixel size allows for more light to enter, resulting in improved low-light performance.

1. Google Pixel 6

The Pixel 6’s cameras are simply incredible. The Pixel 6’s photographic talents have risen to the top thanks to a new 50MP sensor (combined with a 12MP ultrawide). And there’s no reason to go with anything else when the pricing is this low.

Because of its large f/1.9 aperture, the Pixel 6 is excellent for taking pictures in low light conditions. In bright light, the Pixel 6’s dynamic range and colour saturation were superb, and the white balance was correct.

Additionally, with Google optimising the performance of its HDR+ processing algorithms, image capture is faster. Unwanted items and individuals can easily be erased using Magic Eraser, and “Face Unblur” effectively reduces blur on a moving subject.

Portrait mode is another feature that makes this phone apart. Both the front-facing and rear-facing cameras produce excellent portraits, with softened backgrounds and clearly defined outlines surrounding the subject. According to reviewers, the Pixel 6 has the most outstanding camera for Instagram self-portraits. A 4x optical zoom sensor is missing from the regular Pixel 6 model, yet it sets a new bar for smartphone photography.

2. Apple iPhone 13 Pro

iPhone 13 Pro, Apple’s most costly smartphone, can take stunning images and shoot smooth, steady 4K video at 60 frames per second.

The rear of the 13 Pro Max (and the price of the 13 Pro Max) features three cameras. The primary camera, which features sensor-shift stabilisation for the first time on a smartphone – ensuring that your videos are as steady as possible – is a 12MP unit with a wide f/1.5 aperture. Only two cameras have been announced: a 3x telephoto zoom camera with 12MP (f/2.8) and optical image stabilisation (OIS), which has an equivalent field of view to that provided by a full-frame sensor with an aperture of 77mm, and an ultra-wide camera with 12MP (f/1.8), which has the same field of view as that provided by a full-frame sensor with an aperture of 13mm.

While the still image quality is excellent – the 13 Pro builds on Apple’s perfect portrait mode – the iPhone 13 Pro’s video capabilities are unmatched. Once again, no other smartphone’s video efforts come close to this level of quality when it comes to 4K resolution at a maximum framerate of 60fps and support for Dolby Vision. Without a doubt, it’s an expensive option, but that’s the price you pay for high-quality video on the go.

3. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

As with its predecessor, the Galaxy S22 Ultra raises the bar for smartphone photography expectations.

In addition to being the only smartphone capable of 8K video recording (with stunning quality), the Galaxy S22 Ultra has unrivalled zoom capabilities. With a hybrid zoom range of up to 100x, the Galaxy S22 Ultra excels at telephoto photography, and the 108 MP primary camera is out of the world and striking. Our tests discovered that the Galaxy S22 Ultra could capture images with exceptional detail in well-lit environments, with a wide dynamic range and vibrant, bold colours that appear to leap off the screen. Additionally, the phone’s night mode boosted the image’s brightness without adding annoying visual noise or blowing out street lights.

An added bonus is the Expert RAW app, which is available on the Galaxy Store and allows users to capture images in JPEG and DNG formats while simultaneously capturing a picture from each frame of an 8K video. As a result, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is a wonderful pick if you’re searching for a premium smartphone that can do it all in the camera department and blow away the competition with telephoto photos.

4. Apple iPhone SE 3 (2022)

The iPhone SE 3 (2022) has a lesser price in the photography section than the iPhone 13 (Apple prefers people to spend more on the iPhone 13). Although the iPhone SE only has a 12MP rear-facing camera, the quality of the images it produces is outstanding for the price.

Apple’s Deep Fusion and Smart HDR 4 technologies are now included, allowing the camera to recognise and adjust exposure for individual faces in group photographs taken in low light. With the iPhone SE, the quality of the photographs we’ve taken has been consistently high.

Once again, Apple’s portrait mode brings the 12MP sensor to life, with crisp details and a vibrant colour palette. Indeed, the iPhone SE 3 can compete with the iPhone 13 Pro Max in low-light situations. A15 Bionic can record crisp 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR 4K video at 60 frames per second, providing more consistent exposure levels.

At this pricing point, there are few viable alternatives to the iPhone SE 3. The camera of the iPhone SE 3 is impressive despite the lack of a zoom lens and an ultra-wide-angle lens.

5. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro

Xiaomi’s reign of technological wizardry continues with the Redmi Note 10 Pro launch. Xiaomi has managed to launch a budget phone with a massive 108MP camera, which is truly remarkable for a phone at this price, and it performed admirably in testing.

For a fraction of the price of the latest iPhones and Samsungs, this phone holds its own against the competition, taking Instagram-worthy photos in various lighting conditions and environments. While video recording is limited to 1080p at 30 frames per second, for £249, the Redmi Note 9T barely misses a beat elsewhere.