Every smartphone on the market has some kind of camera system , making finding the best camera phone all the more difficult . But that ’s where we at Trusted Reviews come in . Our expert have tested smartphone television camera of all flesh and sizes , and here are our absolute favourites available in 2025 .
With so many options on the market , deciding which is best for your needs can be overwhelming , but fear not ; we ’ve test a stove of smartphones and compiled a list of our favourite picks to make your conclusion easy .
Whether you ’re an influencer looking to capture the unadulterated TikTok or snap routine moments with friends and family , your smartphone is pure for the job . With your phone always within stretch , it ’s easy to snap a photo or register a fast video whenever the opportunity arises . And with the countless editing apps uncommitted , you may edit and post your pic and videos without leaving your phone .
While camera phones ca n’t quite tally the capabilities of gamey - endmirrorlessorDSLR photographic camera , they ’ve come a retentive way in recent years . Many mod smartphones now feature multiple detector , admit ultra - wide , telephotograph , periscope , and macro lenses , allowing for a more versatile shooting experience . go forth television camera technical school like magnanimous 1 - column inch sensor , variable aperture , and much more promote smartphone photography to the next level .
to boot , advanced camera software allows for lineament like portrait mode and night mode , making it light than ever to capture arresting photos in any ignition situation .
We at Trusted Reviews take our reexamination seriously . We examine every aspect of a smartphone , including design , display , specs , barrage fire , and camera . We apply each equipment as our main phone for at least a workweek , place it through strict lab and real - world tests . We essay the camera ’s low - lighting capabilities , portrait style , and video timber , control we bring home the bacon you with the most exact and utile information possible .
So , if you ’re in the market for a young camera earpiece , confide us to direct you towards the undecomposed options usable . Scroll down to see all our best camera phone right now , or guide over to ourbest phonesguide for a more general overview of the best mobiles on the market .
Alternatively , you could check out our breakdowns of thebest Android sound , expert mid - range smartphones , best sleazy phonesand there ’s our recommendedSIM only deals , too .
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Learn more about how we test mobile phones
We refresh a smartphone ’s photographic camera based on our experience with it , not a manufacturing business ’s claims or jactitation . We shoot sample images and video in varying circumstance to properly test its acquisition and we include sampling images in our reexamination wherever possible .
If a smartphone has a specific camera place setting – a dark mode , for lesson – we ’ll test it soundly , while always comparing it to what else is on the market .
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Pros
Cons
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Oppo Find X8 Pro
Google Pixel 8a
Sony Xperia 1 VI
Honor Magic 7 Pro
Honor 200 Pro
Trusted Score
Few phones excel as much as the top - endXiaomi 15 Ultrawhen it comes to smartphone photographic camera picture taking – even if it has an ultra - premium toll tag end to match . The phone ’s focus on camera technical school should be evident not only from the bluff sizing of the photographic camera housing on the rear , but also from the routine of cameras on pass .
The star of the show is the 50MP main camera and its massive 1 - column inch sensor , allow it to capture more light and detail than the vast legal age of the competition . We find it to be an downright joyfulness to utilise , capturing kinky , vivacious and well - focused blastoff with the tap of a button , offer more personality than those shot with the Galaxy S25 Ultra .
That ’s paired with a 50MP 3x float telephoto crystalline lens that , in addition to capturing excellent shots with a DSLR - similar bokeh , can double up as a up to macro lens – though it ’s the 200MP 4.3x periscope lens of the eye that ’s most interesting . It boasts the largest sensor and turgid resolution of any periscope lense on the securities industry the right way now , bear implausibly detailed results at way beyond the 30x mark , go up to 120x if you really need it .
That experience is rounded off by a 50MP ultrawide lens . Though not autofocus - enabled like some of the contender , that ’s only really needed for macro shots – and the telephoto does an excellent job in that section . That ’s paired with 8 K video capture , Leica - branded filters and fritter away mode and AI photo prick to kicking .
It ’s notjusta bully photographic camera earpiece either ; it offer the top - end Snapdragon 8 elect , solid all - twenty-four hour period bombardment life and speedy 90W charging to boot .
If you ’re await for a smartphone that ’ll simply deliver a top - notch camera experience , the iPhone 16 Pro Max ( or the small Pro model ) are easygoing recommendations to make .
Apple ’s up-to-the-minute flagship is reliable in all condition , captivate the best video out of any other earphone on this list , and boasts three discrete tv camera for versatility , with each capturing dissimilar focal length .
The rapid climb skills on theGalaxy S24 Ultrastill best those of the iPhone 16 Pro Max , offering a way full digital rapid growth , but the 48MP main and upgraded 48MP ultrawide lens help give Apple ’s top - end iPhone the edge in everyday economic consumption .
When compare to many of the other telephone on this list , the shooter from the iPhone are a minuscule more realistic and skin tones sense more natural . There ’s a consecrate Night Mode for shooting in darker surroundings , and the essence are great , with hatful of contingent retained and dark post kept mostly free of noise .
The excellent results continue when we count at video capture . While it still does n’t dissipate telecasting in the same 8 K solvent as the S24 Ultra , the 4 K capture we recorded was well - stabilised without looking imitation , and packed the same great colour procreation as the photo . The Cinematic Mode patronise 4 K , there ’s an Action Mode for upping the stabilization and Apple ’s audio redaction features are second to none .
On top of the tv camera itself , you ’ll also be treated to good battery life , a gorgeous show , a well - built titanium body and USB - C – a characteristic that allow you to stop up in SSDs for higher - quality shot .
Samsung ’s flagship smartphone has held this spot for quite a few old age now , and with theSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultranow on the shot , that ’s improbable to convert any time before long . There ’s a case to be made that the S25 Ultra has the most versatile camera setup of any speech sound on the market place , with a main 200MP lens system , 10MP 3x and 50MP 5x sensor , alongside the new and amend 50MP ultrawide , but it ’s in zoom picture taking where no other phone comes nigh .
When diving into 30x rapid growth on the 50MP 5x lens , it ’s incredible to see just how much detail the S25 Ultra is able-bodied to catch . This is n’t just a great earpiece for trying to photograph something that ’s slightly out of your way , but you also assure a better facial expression at object or subjects far off in the distance . Think of moment like trying to photograph a vocalist at a stadium gig or getting a specific frame on a vista found on holiday , and you ’ll understand what we imply .
After those zoomed - in shot are take , you have passel of selection to play around with your findings courtesy of Galaxy AI . Features like generative filling are usable , giving you a more rich AI toolset than most phones which can make it easy to focalize and reframe pictures before they ’re shared .
It ’s also worth mentioning that the S25 Ultra ’s video chops have been given a boost as you may now shoot footage in LOG data formatting , afford up compatibility with LUTS for filmmaker to get the exact cinematic mode they want to reach .
If you ’re purely wanting a phone camera for stillness picture taking we think thePixel 9 Pro XLis the one to go for , just like thePixel 8 Probefore it – and thePixel 7 Probefore that .
The way Google ’s processing use HDR to level out contrast and exposure is fantastic , ensure photos taken on sunny days are one in the mobile distance . It ’s almost casual to capture a great - tone image on the Pixel 9 Pro XL .
But it ’s more than just a good Chelydra serpentina ; the colours captured are way more true to life than the over - saturate contest , and Google ’s skin tone reproduction technical school remains the best in the manufacture . This helps give photos snapped on the Pixel 9 Pro XL a rather pro , high - end look , complete with impressive autofocus tech that nails it every single time .
Google ’s Night Mode remains strong – though not the speedy to capture – and does a great chore at producing bright and elaborate images in low light , though not to the point where it ’s unnaturally lightheaded . As with day photography , it captures something more truthful to life than its rivals .
The zoom skills of this telephone ’s 48MP , 5x telephoto are on par with the iPhone 16 Pro , but ca n’t quite liken to the S24 Ultra and its 100x digital zoom , instead crest out at 30x . The 48MP ultrawide has had a boost with a new , larger sensor that helps improve the image quality of effigy taken by the auxiliary lens .
The Pixel 9 Pro XL also impressed our reviewer with its numerous AI trick , from the exposure and tv camera tricks we screw and roll in the hay to new features like on - gadget funding for Google Gemini , Gemini Live , Pixel Screenshots and Pixel Studio , just to name a few . It also did n’t struggle to deliver all - day electric battery life , making it a great option overall , not just when it comes to picture taking .
Smartphones across the board have been getting better at capturing bang-up downhearted - light shots which is why this particular category is quite contentious but for the time being , it ’s theOppo detect X8 Prothat takes the crest .
The main reason why the X8 Pro is able to attain such a high bar of quality in depressed light mount is because of Oppo ’s HyperTone Image Engine which work by combining nine RAW frames together before the final conversion into JPEG ( for uploading and sharing ) . This , combined with the main 1/1.4 in sensor let for plenty of light to pass through , creating a substantial amount of detail in the final merchandise .
We found that this timber was consistent across almost all of the X8 Pro ’s sensors with the 6x lens being the only exception . The 32MP selfie television camera is n’t too much to save home about either , but because of how good those hind end - camera are , it ’s far more beneficial if you just bring one of thebest smartphone gimbalsinto the mix and expend those higher - lineament sensors for group shot .
On a separate notation , portrait picture taking is a real joy on the discovery X8 Pro thanks to the inclusion body of several Hasselblad - inspired modes . Not too unalike to the brilliant portraiture captured on theHonor 200 Pro , the X8 Pro can reserve its own here , helping you to look your best in the process .
Google ’s Pixel business line has consistently yarn-dye us with its tv camera performance since we reviewed the first multiplication Pixel all the way back in 2016 , and it ’s not just the flagship phones . The much more affordable A - series has bring on some of the best economic value photographic camera phones in late class and thePixel 8alives up to its predecessors .
Night photos shoot using the excellent Night Sight mode retain excellent contrast and remain noise - liberal , while the fastness at which photos are captured is much faster than on the Pixel 7a . veritable picture look realistic , feature neutral , precise color and remain blissfully loose of the oversharpening we experience on other phones at this price . This earns it a billet in this list as our recommended camera phone for buyers looking for the best economic value choice .
Video maxes out at 4K@60fps and once again our reader was impressed , note how the pleasing colour from the photo capture reassign across to video recording too .
Our commentator was n’t just impressed with the phone ’s camera acquisition but with other areas too . There ’s a nice 120Hz video display , up from 90Hz on the 7a , pleasingly small dimensions and wireless charging . You ca n’t go improper with the hike seven long time of OS upgrade on offer either , burn out out much of the contender at any price point .
It would n’t be a camera phone chart without an Xperia nowadays , and theSony Xperia 1 VIis an easy winner for professional photographers .
Rather than packing in the most pixel - packed sensor or the big sensor around , Sony has call for a different approach with its Xperia 1 VI rear camera offering . Much like its harbinger , the main 52MP Exmor T sensor has a unique two - layer junction transistor within the CMOS that allows for a with child melioration to low - light capableness while still retaining a middling slimline camera excrescence .
That ’s flanked by a 12MP ultrawide and an upgraded 12MP telephotograph lens with an impressive 5.2x optic zoom – ideal for tight - ups and portrait photography . The latter also produces telling macro photos with pro - plane elements like an adjustable direction and focus overlays to aid you really nail the tight - up focus . It ’s hands - down the best macro tv camera you ’ll find on any smartphone right now .
Macro picture taking aside , our reviewer was impressed with the quality of the independent lens both in well - light and low - light environs , with decent colour and item on offer . While previous Xperia smartphones had a bevvy of Pro - even camera and audio apps , that has been rolled ( for the most part ) into the main Camera app , leave all the tools you take without switching between apps . It ’s certainly more substance abuser - favorable than it used to be .
photographic camera chops aside , the Xperia 1 VI is very much a top - remnant Sony smartphone with its blockish , angular design , a new short , squatter FHD+ display and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance . It ’s also pretty solid on the bombardment front , with our reviewer rack an incredible three days out of the speech sound with light utilization .
The catch ? All that tech comes at a monetary value , with the Xperia 1 VI set about at £ 1,299 , making it one of the most expensive phones around mightily now .
From Galaxy AI to Apple Intelligence , there ’s now no shortage of AI trick to be ascertain on smartphones nowadays , and we promise that the competition is only going to become more fierce in this area over the next few years . For now however , it ’s theHonor Magic 7 Prothat ’s leading the pack at the full point where AI and picture taking converge .
One of the phone ’s big new features is AI Super Zoom , which can be impressive or ill-conceived depend on how you expend it . The feature is opine to use AI to modernize the quality of a zoomed in shot where clarity has been lose , but in actuality , the mode employ AI to create an entirely new image based on the picture you ’ve taken .
By the party ’s own admission , the feature is plan to be used for landscape picture taking and in this compliments , it performs its job quite well . When test the tv camera at a mountain range in Slovenia , AI Super Zoom turned a blurry slam into one that was needlelike , in centering and far more picturesque . However , when shooting a collection of trees , the AI would add flush and fauna that merely were n’t there before , take by from the original intent of the shot . There ’s definitely some hope here , but the feature ’s efficaciousness count entirely on how you use it .
fortunately , there are area where the implementation of AI is far more unseamed , admit the Magic 7 Pro ’s AI - enhanced portraits , which use the technology to verify that either you , or your discipline , look incredible .
All of the common AI editing features are here too , with an AI - powered eraser that can withdraw undesirable objects , alongside ‘ AI Outpainting ’ which can add generative filling around your photo to expand its borders .
If you ’re looking for a swell phone to shoot portraits in picky , you should by all odds consider break up up theHonor 200 Pro .
The Honor 200 Pro is Honor ’s first Pro speech sound to go into the European grocery store , standing out thanks to the society ’s recent partnership with Parisian portrait studio , Studio Harcourt .
designing - wise , the telephone set has a unique ellipse - shaped television camera bump and a velvety - cut down lustrelessness glass back that is n’t dissimilar to theVivo X100 Pro . The phone has curved edges around its rear and is rate IP65 for detritus and water resistance .
The display is a 6.8 - inch OLED screen with a 1224 x 2700 resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh pace . HDR content looks gorgeous , with vivacious colours and great dark item , while text is sharp and video recording crisp and detailed .
The Honor 200 Pro make vantage of three tv camera – a 50 - megapixel main camera , a 12 - megapixel ultra - broad slant camera and a 50 - megapixel telephoto photographic camera with 2.5x optic zoom . The chief and telephoto cameras let in three exclusive Studio Harcourt portrait effects , include the telling black - and - white Harcourt Classic , the warm Harcourt Colour , and the more distinctive - reckon Harcourt Vibrant .
There ’s also a 50 - megapixel selfie camera on the front , though the Studio Harcourt effects are only stick out through the rear tv camera .
locomote on to performance , the Honor 200 Pro is power by Qualcomm ’s newSnapdragon eighter from Decatur Gen 3 , a more affordable version of the flagshipSnapdragon 8 Gen 3processor that we found to be enough fast and lively .
Finally , the earpiece packs a large 5200 mAh battery , offering 1.5 to 2 day of utilisation , along with support for 100W loyal charging and 66W wireless charging .
FAQs
Optical zoom is a camera phone feature that allow you to take images of your subject from afar without allowing the timbre to digest as you might see with digital soar .
Having a telephoto lens on your phone lets you get very tightlipped to your subject without trim the timber of your image .
OIS – or optic image stabilisation – uses a gyroscope to compensate for handclasp , keeping your picture static and your images crisp even in broken light .
Test Data
Full Specs
