Best Camera Phones 2023: Apple and Google generally go head to head in the contest for best camera phone, but that’s on hold for now.
Google is now in the midst of updating its smartphone lineup, while all four of Apple’s new iPhones have been released and thoroughly tested.
A phone’s camera quality isn’t just determined by the number of lenses on the back; some brands even use AI to enhance the editing process after you take a picture.
These camera phones were chosen as the best on the market after hundreds of hours of research and comparisons with other models.
Best Camera Phones 2023
1. iPhone 14 Pro Max
Superior to any other mobile device in terms of camera quality
SPECIFICATIONS
PROS
- Best-in-class cameras
- Excellent battery life
- Immersive 6.7-inch display
- Impressive Action mode for video
When it comes to smartphones, the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max has everything a user could want, including top-tier specs and imaging capabilities. The new primary sensor has a whopping 48 megapixels, allowing for stunningly detailed photos with accurate color and exposure. As a result of the size increase, more light may enter the ultrawide lens. We feel that the telephoto’s maximum magnification of 3x is too low in light of the alternatives available.
2. Google Pixel 7 Pro
Competing head-on with Apple.
SPECIFICATIONS
PROS
- Incredible cameras
- Awesome Tensor features
- More powerful chipset
CONS
- Colors are a bit dull in telephoto
- Subpar battery life
See Also: Before You Buy A Used IPHONE, Do This!!
The Pixel 7 Pro is Google’s latest flagship device, and it follows the iPhone 14 Pro Max very closely. The telephoto lens on this phone can be zoomed in 5 times optically, making it a vast improvement over its predecessor (the battery life is still a downer, though). It’s OK that the Pixel 7 Pro has the same 50MP primary and 12MP ultrawide sensors as the Pixel 6 Pro.
Both the main and ultrawide cameras produce excellent images, on par with or even surpassing those of the iPhone 14 Pro (with which it shares its camera hardware) in many situations. Even though it can only achieve a maximum of 3x optical zoom, Apple still wins when it comes to color reproduction in telephoto shots.
3. Google Pixel 6a (Best Camera Phones 2023)
Best camera phone on a budget
SPECIFICATIONS
PROS
- Excellent cameras for the price
- Enhanced Magic Erase tool
- Bright display
CONS
- Poor battery life
- Noticeably cheap materials
The Pixel 6a is an excellent option if you’re searching for a high-quality camera phone without breaking the bank, as it costs hundreds less than the Pixel 6 Pro yet still offers impressive specs.
While the Pixel 6a lacks a telephoto lens, it makes up for this by using computational photography to take stunning photos that easily outclass those taken by rival devices.
The Pixel 6a shares a shared component with Google’s more expensive Pixel 6 smartphones: the Tensor processor. This allows the budget handset to access the same machine learning-powered capabilities as the more expensive Pixel 6 devices.
That includes the Magic Eraser, a feature of many photo editors that allows you to quickly and easily remove unwanted subjects and objects from photos. You can now reduce the volume of background noise and other distractions with the updated Pixel 6a.
While the Pixel 6a’s battery life could be improved, it’s hard to beat for the price when it comes to smartphones with capable cameras.
4. iPhone 14 Pro
It has the same cameras as the iPhone XS Max, but it’s smaller.
SPECIFICATIONS
PROS
- Gorgeous and bright 120Hz display
- Incredible performance
- Spectacular cameras
- Dynamic Island is a good notch replacement
CONS
- Still just 20W charging
The iPhone 14 is a great option if you’re not interested in the Pro’s additional features but still value a high-quality camera. This phone is a beast, despite its smaller 6.1-inch screen. On addition, the new 48MP primary sensor in the iPhone 14 Pro allows for stunning images.
In order to capture more light, the ultrawide camera was also improved. While the telephoto lens is limited to a maximum of 3x (and we’d prefer at least 4x to keep up with the competition), the primary camera includes a 2x optical zoom of its own. If you’re looking for a tiny camera phone, go no further than the iPhone 14 Pro.
5. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Best Camera Phones 2023)
Samsung’s best camera phone
SPECIFICATIONS
PROS
- Excellent dual telephoto lenses
- Improved low-light photography
- Big, bright display
CONS
- Battery life takes a step back
- Expensive
Even though Samsung didn’t radically alter the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s camera arrangement, the improvements over the S21 Ultra are much appreciated. The 108MP main camera, for starters, has a bigger sensor that can take in more light.
For low-light or nighttime photography, a Super Clear Glass lens protector is an absolute must. The Galaxy S22 Ultra’s Night mode produces higher-quality shots even in dim lighting.
The software behind the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s camera has also been upgraded. Improved artificial intelligence high-resolution processing and 4x faster multi-frame processing join the previously mentioned adaptive pixel technology for integrating 9 pixels into one as benefits.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) Stereo Depth Maps improves portrait mode by helping to isolate the subject from the backdrop. In addition, the video’s Auto Framing function can identify up to ten individuals and lock focus on them while you shoot.
6. iPhone 14
All versions of the iPhone have fantastic cameras.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Impressive dual cameras
- Incredible performance
- Comprehensive 5G coverage
- New Photonic Engine
CONS
- Slow charging
Even though it doesn’t have the latest 48MP sensor found in the Pro models, the iPhone 14’s camera is excellent. It has an improved ultrawide sensor and a quicker aperture for enhanced lighting. In a nutshell, the iPhone 14’s output images are an improvement over last year’s.
When compared to other phones in its price bracket, including the Galaxy S22, the iPhone 14 stands out thanks to its superior attention to detail and wider dynamic range. However, the Samsung phone is superior in terms of zoom. However, for $799, Apple’s iPhone 14 provides an excellent photographic experience.
7. Google Pixel 7 (Best Camera Phones 2023)
Tensor-powered photo features for less
SPECIFICATIONS
- Excellent cameras
- Tensor G2 powers new features
- Starts at less than $599
CONS
- No telephoto lens
- Subpar battery life
The Pixel 7 may lack a telephoto lens, but it offers everything else that the Pixel 7 Pro does at a lower price. The Pixel 7 begins at $599, making it $300 cheaper than the Pixel 7 Pro and $200 less than similarly equipped flagship phones.
The Pixel 7’s new Tensor G2 processor offers a slew of photography-centric enhancements, like as a more detailed Super Res Zoom that lets you get closer to your subject without distorting the image.
8. iPhone 14 Plus
Apple’s latest flagship smartphone with a massive screen and a high-quality camera
SPECIFICATIONS
- Excellent cameras
- Long-lasting battery
- A 6.7-inch iPhone for $200 less than the iPhone 14 Pro Max
CONS
- No telephoto lens
- No adaptive refresh rate on the display
With its larger screen, the iPhone 14 Plus is just like the iPhone 14 when it comes to the device’s dual camera, but better.
Aside from the larger sensor on the primary camera to let in more light, the Plus has the same camera technology as its smaller sister.
Therefore, those who prefer large displays may rest assured that the iPhone 14 Plus is also an excellent camera phone.
9. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (Best Camera Phones 2023)
Superb imaging capabilities in a foldable device
SPECIFICATIONS
- Display: 7.6-inch AMOLED (2176 x 1812), interior; 6.2-inch AMOLED (2136 x 904), exterior
- CPU: Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage / Expandable: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB / No
- Rear cameras: 50MP wide (f/1.8), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 10MP telephoto (f/2.4) with 3x optical zoom
- Front camera: 10MP cover (f/2.2), 4MP under-display (f/1.8)
- Weight: 9.3 ounces
- Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 8:19 (adaptive), 9:28 (60Hz)
- Much improved main camera
- Longer battery life
- Improved multitasking with taskbar
CONS
- Under-display selfie cam is still lackluster
- The priciest phone you can buy
Even with the greatest foldable phones, you shouldn’t expect a high-quality camera. With the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Samsung upgraded the main camera to address a major flaw in its otherwise excellent folding series.
The Galaxy Z Fold 4’s 50MP wide-angle camera allows it to compete with other top-tier smartphones on our list of the best photography phones. In certain cases, it even outperformed the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The color reproduction in images taken with the Galaxy Z Fold 4 was really impressive.
Compared to the better 10MP camera on the phone’s cover display, the 4MP under-display camera still takes blurrier photographs, therefore we don’t recommend using it.
The Galaxy Z Fold 4’s multitasking capabilities are also noteworthy; for example, you can easily upload photographs from the camera roll to Google Drive with just a single tap.
10. iPhone SE (2022)
Apple’s best low-cost camera phone
SPECIFICATIONS
- Display: 4.7-inch LCD (1344 x 750)
- CPU: A15 Bionic
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage / Expandable: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB / No
- Rear camera: 12MP (f/1.8)
- Front camera: 7MP (f/2.2)
- Weight: 5 ounces
- Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 9:05
- Very good photo quality
- Compact and easy to use with one hand
- Powerful performance
CONS
- No Night mode for camera
- Dated design with big bezels
Although the iPhone SE (2022) just has a single camera, Apple’s entry-level iPhone is nevertheless capable of doing a lot. The A15 Bionic chip within the SE is partly responsible for this, as it is the same one used in the iPhone 13 series.
The A15 in the iPhone SE 2022 allows for advanced capabilities including Smart HDR 4 (which works well in low-light conditions) and Deep Fusion (for calling it details and textures in photos).
Even if the iPhone SE 2022 is only $429, your photos will look like they were taken with a far more expensive gadget.
The camera on the iPhone SE 2022 clearly has room for improvement. There is no Night mode, unlike the competition of top-tier mobile cameras.
Best Camera Phones 2023: InfoMargin