Best android smartphone camera

The best smartphone cameras

At DXOMARK we test a large number of smartphone cameras every year, covering many brands and models across the spectrum, from budget to high-end. If you want to find out about a specific model’s overall camera performance compared to the competition, you can simply check our DXOMARK Camera ranking. For those who have more specific imaging requirements, it’s best to dive deeper and have a closer look at the sub-scores as well. And that’s exactly what we’ve done in compiling the list below (which we will update on a continuous basis). So without further ado, here are the currently best smartphone cameras, by category:

Best for Photo: Huawei P40 Pro

With a Photo score of 140, the Huawei P40 Pro is currently the top device for still image capture in our database. The score is based on top-level photo performance across all test categories, without any real weaknesses in sight. Images captured on the P40 Pro’s main camera show a very wide dynamic range and class-leading texture/noise balance. This means the Huawei is a great option even in challenging conditions, such as high-contrast scenes or very low light.

The camera’s zoom capabilities are impressive, too, and the 5x tele-camera in combination with the main camera, along with innovative computational methods, achieves outstanding detail and low noise levels across all tested zoom factors. At an equivalent focal length of 18mm, the Huawei’s ultra-wide camera doesn’t let you squeeze quite as much scene into the frame as some rivals, but image quality is excellent, with wide dynamic range, very good detail, and low noise.

In addition, bokeh mode captures natural-looking portrait shots, with good subject isolation, pleasant bokeh shape, and a wide dynamic range; and the autofocus system is one of the best we have seen on a smartphone, performing flawlessly in lab and real-life conditions alike. Overall, the Huawei P40 is currently the device of choice for mobile users with a focus on still photography.

Also consider: Both the Honor 30 Pro+ and Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G come pretty close to the P40 Pro across a range of test categories, but lag behind a little more noticeably for Zoom and Night photography. Still, both devices are excellent options for mobile photographers.

Best for Video: Huawei P40 Pro

The Huawei P40 Pro isn’t only the best phone we have tested for photo capture, it also tops our ranking for Video with 105 points. Like for stills, the camera does not show any real weaknesses in any of the test categories, and is either the best or among the best in all of them. Video footage shows good exposure and wide dynamic range, with only some minor clipping in challenging high-contrast scenes; and as long as you are not recording under low tungsten light, white balance and color rendering are mostly accurate.

The P40 Pro renders detail pretty well, but we occasionally saw a loss of fine textures. Noise is very well under control in good light, but temporal noise becomes visible under low tungsten illumination. Video autofocus works as well as that for stills, delivering quick and reliable focus with good tracking, and the stabilization system effectively keeps things steady when walking or holding the camera still in your hands, making the P40 Pro a true mobile video powerhouse.

Also consider: Competition at the top of our Video ranking is fierce and the differences between devices are pretty small. Both the Honor 30 Pro+ and the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro are almost on the same level as the Huawei P40 Pro and are definitely worth a closer look for any budding mobile cinematographers.

Best for Wide: Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

At 47 points, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra tops our Wide category, thanks to an ultra-wide camera that delivers excellent exposure and color, as well as very effective geometric distortion correction. Although the specs list a 13mm lens, we measured it closer to 14mm, but even so, the S20 Ultra offers a very wide field of view and allows you to fit more scene into the frame than many competitors. Artifacts commonly associated with ultra-wide shots such as color fringing and ringing are slightly visible, but are not overly problematic. Anamorphosis, or stretching of elements towards the edges of the frame, is sometimes slightly noticeable, but the Samsung controls geometric distortion better than many of its rivals, with straighter lines and less barrel distortion.

On the downside, detail deteriorates noticeably when you zoom in just a little bit, so it’s best to stick with the native focal length when shooting with the Galaxy S20 Ultra’s ultra-wide.

Also consider:

It looks like ultra-wide cameras are a bit of a Samsung specialty, with the Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy Note 10+ 5G following right in the S20 Ultra’s slipstream, offering equally wide fields of view and overall image quality that is not far off the top-ranked device. At 18mm, the Huawei P40 Pro’s ultra-wide camera is noticeably less wide than the Samsung devices. However, it offers the best dynamic range and detail/noise trade-off of all ultra-wide cameras we have tested. So if you can live with the slightly longer lens, the Huawei is a great ultra-wide option, too.

Best for Night: Huawei P40 Pro

The current ne plus ultra for night and low light photography is, again, the Huawei P40 Pro. Its 70-point top score in this category is based on outstanding performance across all sub-tests—flash-on, flash-auto, flash-off, and night mode.

With the flash forced on, images show a very good texture/noise balance, good exposure, and accurate white balance, making the Huawei device a good option for flash portraits in dark settings. Both exposure and white balance are also very consistent across a series of images.

When shooting in flash-auto mode, the flash usually triggers for portraits and images show good exposure and dynamic range. Exposure is not only good on the subject’s face but also for the background, which indicates Huawei might be using a frame-stacking algorithm with flash shots.

With the flash switched off, night shots show accurate exposure and a wide dynamic range, resulting in good highlight detail, even in difficult night cityscapes. In addition, it still renders fine textures nicely in low light and controls image noise very well. When using its dedicated Night mode, the P40 Pro is capable of achieving better exposure and color than most rivals, but there is some room for improvement in terms of texture and noise.

Also consider: Just as ultra-wide angle cameras are a Samsung domain, Huawei is currently ahead of the pack in terms of low-light performance. In our ranking, the P40 Pro is followed by two models from Huawei’s sister brand Honor, the V30 Pro and 30 Pro+. Both come pretty close to the Huawei flagship but cannot quite match it, with the P40 Pro maintaining a small advantage in all sub-tests.

Best for Zoom: Huawei P40 Pro

Camera-wise, the Huawei P40 Pro is a step ahead of its rivals, and that’s particularly clear for the Zoom category, where the Huawei flagship blows the rest of the competition out of the water, thanks to a 5x optical tele-lens and improved processing and software over last year’s P30 Pro.

When zooming, the Huawei camera is capable of recording higher levels of detail than competing devices at all zoom ranges while keeping image noise well under control. The advantage is most visible at longer zoom distances, where the Huawei camera manages to maintain good detail on fine textures, while most rivals show a strong loss of detail. In medium-range shots, the Huawei also records excellent detail at the center of the frame, but there is a noticeable loss of detail towards the edges, caused by the image fusion algorithm. Overall, there is no way past the Huawei P40 Pro, though, if you frequently rely on your smartphone’s zoom function.

Also consider: The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro comes with not one but two tele-lenses for optimized image quality across the zoom range. This allows for excellent zoom results that come pretty close to the P40 Pro’s, especially at medium range.

Best for Bokeh: Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G

Samsung devices have always been a great option for shooting portraits with a background-blurring simulated bokeh effect, and the current top-ranked device for this category, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 5G, is no different. Bokeh results are outstanding, with excellent subject isolation, spotlight rendering, and blur gradient. Texture on faces is particularly good. Noise is also well controlled, giving the Samsung an advantage over the competition for indoor bokeh shots.

In addition, HDR processing in bokeh mode works very well in high-contrast scenes, maintaining good brightness on faces when the background is much brighter. Spotlights in the background have a good shape and contrast, too.

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The best camera phones you can get

Smartphones have effectively replaced point-and-shoot cameras, and many outperform them. These portable computers have become our primary cameras, prioritizing photo quality when picking a new smartphone. That’s why we made a list of the very best camera phones currently available.

The best camera phones are all stunning performers, but different factors put them on this list. Some are better in some ways but fall flat in others. Today we are here to find out which best suits your needs.

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What makes a good camera experience?

Before we get into the actual list, there are a few things to consider when looking for a great smartphone camera experience. We’ve got an entire guide if you need a comprehensive rundown, but here are a few topics you should consider.

How many cameras do you need?

It’s not uncommon to see three or four rear cameras on phones. Some of the more popular extra cameras today include ultra-wide lenses (giving you a wider perspective), telephoto cameras for zooming, periscope cameras for longer-range zoom, macro cameras for close-up snaps, depth sensors for portrait mode and depth effects, and monochrome sensors for proper black-and-white shots.

You generally want main, telephoto/periscope, and ultra-wide cameras for the most versatile experience, as we see on the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra. This gives you the most consistent image quality across a variety of ranges. We’ve also seen some phones like the OnePlus 9 and Xiaomi Mi 11T ditch the telephoto/periscope cameras, sometimes in favor of depth sensors and/or macro cameras.

This practice gets worse as you go down in price, with devices like the Poco M3 and OnePlus Nord N100 having three rear cameras, but two of them are macro and depth sensors, which may be less valuable to many. In this case, a phone like the Pixel 5 would be a better option as it only has two rear cameras, but both are practical (main and ultra-wide). In other words, more isn’t always better when it comes to cameras.

Megapixels don’t tell the whole story

When it comes to smartphone cameras, having more megapixels doesn’t automatically equate to better image quality. You shouldn’t assume that a 108MP camera is better just because it has a higher megapixel count. In fact, some of the best Android smartphone cameras are equipped with 12MP sensors or thereabouts.

This is because the sensor and pixel size are generally more important than the megapixel count. Larger pixels and sensors usually result in better low-light image capture, less noise in general, and better dynamic range. That’s not to say that there aren’t upsides to more megapixels, though.

The main benefit of more megapixels is that you can get much more detail, so you can print or display the image much larger without sacrificing quality. Not to mention some of these higher MP cameras take advantage of pixel binning, which could improve overall image quality. Another benefit is that 8K recording requires 33MP+ cameras (much like 4K recording requires

8.3MP cameras), so 48MP+ cameras comfortably support this video quality option.

Nevertheless, sensor size, pixel size, and megapixels are essentially a trifecta for smartphone photography, and they all depend on each other. You can have plenty of megapixels on a small sensor, but then you won’t have large pixels. One can also have large pixels on a small sensor, but that would mean losing out on megapixels. Alternatively, you can also have large pixels on a large sensor with loads of megapixels, but then you’ve got a huge camera bump. So balancing these three factors is an essential task for phone makers.

Software is important too

Another crucial element is software. In fact, a recent poll of Android Authority readers found that almost two-thirds of respondents felt that camera software was more important than hardware.

Smartphone makers differ in terms of their image processing software, even when the same camera hardware is used. For example, Samsung and Oppo tend to deliver images with saturated colors, while LG and Sony opt for more realistic hues.

Camera apps from various brands also tend to differ in terms of features. Samsung offers a neat Single Take feature, Huawei offers reflection removal functionality, and Sony offers a comprehensive Pro camera app. Which is better comes down to personal preference in many cases.

The best camera phones:

Editor’s note: We’ll regularly update this list of the best camera phones as new Android devices launch.

1. Google Pixel 5 series

The Pixel lineup has been known for sporting the best specs, including the latest processors and all the features you need. The Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 5a take another approach by cutting some corners and making the phones more affordable (especially the latter). The good news is Google didn’t skimp out on the camera department, something the Pixel lineup is also very famous for.

You still get a pretty basic camera selection compared to other flagships, featuring a dual-camera set-up in the back. These are a 12.2MP primary camera and a 16MP ultra-wide shooter. There’s a notable change here, as the Pixel 4 series used to have a telephoto lens instead of that ultra-wide one.

The camera specs aren’t exactly impressive, but Google is known for its software enhancements and computational photography. Its images shine compared to most other competitors. By the way, you may want to wait a bit longer for the launch of the Pixel 6 series, which is expected to come very soon.

The Pixel 5 and 5a are very similar phones, although the Pixel 5 offers a bit more overall. It comes with wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, a metal body instead of a plastic one, and more RAM. But on the other hand, the Pixel 5a does feature a larger battery and a bigger display.

Google Pixel 5 specs:

• Display: 6-inch, Full HD+
• SoC: Snapdragon 765G
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 128GB

• Cameras: 12.2 and 16MP
• Front camera: 8MP
• Battery: 4,080mAh
• Software: Android 11

Google Pixel 5a 5G specs:

• Display: 6.34-inch, Full HD+
• SoC: Snapdragon 765G
• RAM: 6GB
• Storage: 128GB

• Camera: 12.2 and 16MP
• Front camera: 8MP
• Battery: 4,680mAh
• Software: Android 11

2. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series

The Samsung Galaxy Note line has always been known for its excellent performance, striking designs, and outstanding camera quality. It’s no surprise the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra are also some of the best camera phones the industry has to offer.

If money is no object, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the obvious choice. It sports a massive 6.9-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 12GB of RAM. The cameras on this model are also top of the line, with a triple camera set-up led by a wide-angle 108MP sensor. This phone also has a 12MP periscope zoom camera and another 12MP ultra-wide shooter.

Meanwhile, the regular Samsung Galaxy Note 20 has 12MP wide and ultra-wide cameras, while a 64MP sensor provides zoom capabilities. Of course, the difference here is that the standard Note 20 uses hybrid zoom instead of optical zoom. Regardless, these are both great options, and are considered among the best camera phones around.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 specs:

• Display: 6.7-inch, Full HD+
• SoC: SD 865 Plus or Exynos 990
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 128/256GB

• Cameras: 12, 12, and 64MP
• Front camera: 10MP
• Battery: 4,300mAh
• Software: Android 10

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra specs:

• Display: 6.9-inch, WQHD+
• SoC: SD 865 Plus or Exynos 990
• RAM: 12GB
• Storage: 128/256/512GB

• Cameras: 12, 12, and 108MP
• Front camera: 10MP
• Battery: 4,500mAh
• Software: Android 10

3. Samsung Galaxy S21 series

The Galaxy S21 family arrived as expected at Samsung’s January Unpacked event, and the three models have set the tone for phones throughout 2021. You get everything you’d expect, and, in the case of the Galaxy S21 Ultra, you get even more. Most importantly, these are definitely among the best camera phones available on the market.

The Samsung Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, and S21 Ultra are all great phones, but if you want the ultimate photography experience, you will go for the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. It comes with four cameras, making it the most versatile of the trio. This device also features laser autofocus and 100x hybrid zoom! Not to mention it’s also a beast in terms of all other specs.

Furthermore, these are some of the best phones, speaking in general terms. Samsung’s flagship trio features great designs, powerful specs, and all that Samsung offers in terms of software.

Samsung Galaxy S21 specs:

• Display: 6.2-inch, QHD+
• SoC: SD 888 or Exynos 2100
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 128GB or 256GB

• Cameras: 12, 12, and 64MP
• Front camera: 10MP
• Battery: 4,000mAh
• Software: Android 11

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus specs:

• Display: 6.7-inch, QHD+
• Chipset: SD 888 or Exynos 2100
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 128GB or 256GB

• Cameras: 12, 12, and 64MP
• Front camera: 10MP
• Battery: 4,800mAh
• Software: Android 11

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra specs:

• Display: 6.8-inch, QHD+
• Chipset: SD 888 or Exynos 2100
• RAM: 12 or 16GB
• Storage: 128GB, 256, or 512GB

• Cameras: 12, 10, 10, and 108MP
• Front camera: 40MP
• Battery: 5,000mAh
• Software: Android 11

4. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra presents a unique use case and design that makes it one of the best camera phones, at least in some ways. For starters, it comes with a small screen in the rear, which can be used as a preview for the main cameras. Selfie shooters will love this, and the camera system happens to be a pretty good one too.

We had a bit of an issue with yellow color reproduction during our full review, but that was the only minor problem we encountered. Otherwise, it’s an excellent camera phone with versatility and quality in mind. We also love that Xiaomi ditched the macro camera for a telephoto lens, proving much more helpful for most users.

Just know this phone is also pricey and is on the heavier and bulkier side. It’s also an excellent option, though. The device features a gorgeous screen, a solid battery life, and a build many manufacturers envy.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra specs:

• Display: 6.81-inch, QHD+
• SoC: Snapdragon 888
• RAM: 8/12GB
• Storage: 256/512GB

• Cameras: 50, 48, and 48MP
• Front camera: 20MP
• Battery: 5,000mAh
• Software: Android 11

5. OnePlus 9 Pro

OnePlus didn’t make the best camera phones, but things have been changing with the latest generation of handsets. If you liked the OnePlus 8 Pro’s camera, you will love the shooters in the OnePlus 9 Pro. It comes with a versatile lens selection and great hardware.

This device is the product of a partnership with photography goliath Hasselblad. This is one of the best-known companies in the photo industry. The Swedish company has been around since 1841, and their brand loyalty goes on par with their product quality. How does all this help the OnePlus 9 Pro, though? This phone takes advantage of Hasselblad’s natural color calibration, which is applied at the sensor level.

You also get plenty of versatility with this camera system. It has the zoom range trifecta, featuring ultra-wide, standard, and telephoto lenses. In addition, you get a monochrome camera that, aside from taking moody black and white images, can also help capture more detail than standard color shooters.

OnePlus 9 Pro specs:

• Display: 6.7-inch, QHD+
• SoC: Snapdragon 888
• RAM: 8/12GB
• Storage: 128/256GB

• Cameras: 50, 48, 8, and 2MP
• Front camera: 16MP
• Battery: 4,500mAh
• Software: Android 11

6. Sony Xperia 1 III

The Sony Xperia 1 II has been on our list of the best camera phones for long, and now it’s time for its successor to take its place. The Sony Xperia 1 III comes busting doors, shooting some of the “best-looking pictures out of all the phones we’ve tested,” according to our full review.

Our very own Robert Triggs reports great image quality, with colors and white balance that are “among the best in the business.” The main camera provides plenty of detail, and processing is much more subtle than the competition’s, making for more natural photos. Consistency has also been improved, though we wish the camera did a bit better in low-light conditions.

It’s not all about photos, though, and Sony excels in the video department. This phone can shoot 4K video at up to a whopping 120fps. Quality is excellent, and stabilization is decent.

Also, consider looking into the Sony Xperia 5 III if you want similar camera quality for a lower price.

Sony Xperia 1 III specs:

• Display: 6.5-inch, 4K
• SoC: Snapdragon 888
• RAM: 12GB
• Storage: 256/512GB

• Cameras: 12, 12, 12, and 3D ToF
• Front camera: 8MP
• Battery: 4,500mAh
• Software: Android 11

7. Huawei P50 Pro

It’s hard to recommend any current Huawei phones because of their lack of support from Google. Living without the search giant’s services can be a daunting idea, given many of us are so invested in the ecosystem. With all that said, it’s also hard to put together a list of the best camera phones without mentioning Huawei. It has been known as the smartphone photography king for years.

As expected, the Huawei P50 Pro is worthy of its name and line’s reputation. The partnership with Leica continues, ensuring significant software enhancements and general help from one of the most respected brands in the photography industry. Every photographer dreams of owning a Leica camera!

The P50 Pro makes no compromises. It comes with 4 cameras: color, mono, ultra-wide, and telephoto. All with stunning resolution and great color accuracy. I mean, take a look at the phone’s back, and you’ll realize Huawei was serious about this camera system. The phone is a little hard to find in most countries, but it’s definitely one of the best camera phones available.

Huawei P50 Pro specs:

• Display: 6.6-inch, 2,700 x 1,228
• SoC: Snapdragon 888
• RAM: 8/12GB
• Storage: 128/256/512GB

• Cameras: 64, 50, 40, and 13MP
• Front camera: 13MP
• Battery: 4,360mAh
• Software: HarmonyOS 2.0 (Based on Android 10)

8. Apple iPhone 13 series

Love it or hate it, there’s no denying Apple makes some of the best camera phones you can buy. The iPhone 13 series is no exception. This year they have four phones to show for: the iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max. We haven’t tested them first-hand yet, but we’re working on that and are sure these are still some of the best camera phones the market has to offer.

On paper, it looks like the iPhone 13 devices have the same cameras as their direct predecessors. While specs seem the same, that doesn’t mean there are no upgrades to be found. The ultra-wide camera on the Pro and Pro Max has been upgraded from an ƒ/2.4 aperture to ƒ/1.8, giving it better shooting in low light.

On the software side, Apple has added support for Cinematic Mode, bringing bokeh effects to video. There’s also Night Mode support for all lenses, which was only a treat the main lens got in the iPhone 12 series. ProRes is also coming to the Pro models “later this year.” The upgrades may not be drastic, but these are still some of the best camera phones you can have.

iPhone 13 specs:

• Display: 6.1-inch, 2,532 x 1,170
• SoC: Apple A15 Bionic
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 128/256/512GB

• Cameras: 12 and 12MP
• Front camera: 12MP
• Battery: 3,240mAh
• Software: iOS 15

iPhone 13 Mini specs:

• Display: 5.4-inch, 2,340 x 1,080
• SoC: Apple A15 Bionic
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 128/256/512GB

• Cameras: 12 and 12MP
• Front camera: 12MP
• Battery: 2,438mAh
• Software: iOS 15

iPhone 13 Pro specs:

• Display: 6.1-inch, 2,532 x 1,170
• SoC: Apple A15 Bionic
• RAM: 6GB
• Storage: 128/256/512/1024GB

• Cameras: 12, 12, and 12MP + ToF
• Front camera: 12MP
• Battery: 3,095mAh
• Software: iOS 15

iPhone 13 Pro Max specs:

• Display: 6.7-inch, 2,778 x 1,284
• SoC: Apple A15 Bionic
• RAM: 6GB
• Storage: 128/256/512/1024GB

• Cameras: 12, 12, and 12MP + ToF
• Front camera: 12MP
• Battery: 4,373mAh
• Software: iOS 15

Photograpgy FAQs

Q: What is Zoom?
A: Zoom is the action of changing the focal length to make an object appear closer or further away in a photo. Learn more here!

Q: What are symbols like ƒ/2.4 or ƒ/1.8?
A: These standards refer to a camera’s aperture. This would be the size of the opening through which light enters the camera. The smaller the number, the wider the aperture, and the more light that can enter. Learn more here!

Q: What is macro lens?
A: We aren’t huge fans of macro lenses in smartphones, but you’ll probably encounter a macro lens at some point. Macro refers to the ability to shoot a subject at at least a 1:1 ratio, or real-life size. This means you have to focus on your subject very up close and make it appear much larger. Ever seen images of a fly’s eyes? That’s a macro shot. Learn more here!

Q: What is a megapixel (MP)?
A: Simply put, it’s a way to measure the number of pixels an image has. One MP equals one million pixels. Each pixel is a small dot in an image. Put together, different colored pixels turn into images.

Q: What are ToF cameras?
A: You’ll often see this term being thrown around on camera system specs. ToF refers to “time-of-flight.” These cameras are there to measure distance by recording the time it takes for infrared light to exit the camera system and return. Just like its name entails, it measures the time it took to fly there and back. By measuring distance, the ToF sensor can help the camera decide what to blur out when creating artificial bokeh.

Q: And what is “bokeh”?
A: Bokeh is a Japanese term that refers to the quality of out-of-focus areas in a photograph. It describes how good background blur looks. Learn more here!

Also, keep in mind that having a great camera smartphone is only half the battle. Getting familiarized with the fundamentals of photography and training your skills will go a long way. Check out our guides below for more tips on how to capture the perfect photo!

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