Today's smartphone cameras deliver professional-quality shots in a conveniently pocket-sized package for ultimate portability. So which camera phone zooms ahead of all the others?
We compared the latest smartphone cameras and picked our favorites, including the iPhone 14 as the best overall smartphone camera, the Google Pixel 7 for the best bang for your buck, and the Pixel 6a for photographers on a budget.
Keep reading to see our picks for bargain hunters and feature-lovers alike, plus the optimal phone plans to get the most out of your high-tech lens.
Best camera phones
| Phone | Best for | Price | Shop this phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max | Overall | $1,099 | Go to phone |
| Google Pixel 7 | Value for the price | $599 |
Go to phone |
| Google Pixel 6a | Cheap price | $450 | Go to phone |
Best Overall
Camera Phone
Apple | iPhone 14 Pro Max | $1,099—Best overall smartphone camera
The iPhone 14 Pro Max rocks a majorly upgraded camera system compared to its predecessors and the rest of the smartphone camera world at large. Its new 48MP main wide-angle lens with a quad-pixel sensor is the equivalent of four Pro lenses in one. This means the camera takes in quadruple the information by grouping every four pixels into a single flat pixel—you get four times more light, more color, more depth, more everything. Its folded-lens design on the 12MP telephoto camera achieves longer distance while retaining clarity and vibrancy. It does all of this while retaining the 12MP photo size (to help with internal storage).
The 14 Pro Max also runs on Apple's newest and most powerful A16 Bionic chip, resulting in much faster and more efficient image processing.
Like the iPhone 13 Pro devices, the iPhone 14 series features Cinematic Mode for super smooth dynamic focus while shooting video—but now includes new Action Mode image stabilization software. Action Mode further smooths out action videography in the fastest situations. This means you can get professional results while running alongside your kid as they sprint to the finish line without the bumps, shakes, and vibrations of other smartphone cameras. The only drawback: the max resolution you can shoot video in is still 4K, compared to 8K on the newer Samsung phones.
Both the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max include all of the above features, but we've picked the Pro Max as our overall best camera phone for a tangential reason: its screen size. The 14 Pro Max has a 6.7" display compared to the 14 Pro's 6.1" display. We think these incredible photography tools and software deserve a larger screen to enjoy them on. For more iOS photography and videography fun, learn how to add music to videos on iPhones.
- Pros: 6.7-inch display, A16 Bionic chip processor, 48MP main camera, superior low-light photography, Action Mode and Cinematic mode for smooth video
- Cons: Very expensive, no 8K video recording
Samsung | Galaxy S22 Ultra | $1,199—Best camera phone runner-up
Samsung's Galaxy phones are always at the forefront of smartphone camera technology. The Galaxy S22 Ultra comes with all of the bells and whistles that a smartphone photographer could dream of. Its camera system includes lens upgrades featured in the Galaxy S21 5G series, including the massive 108MP rear main camera, and has added an incredible 10x optical zoom that lets you get closer for incredible macro detail than any other smartphone on the market (including our winner, the iPhone 14 Pro Max).
The Galaxy S22 ultra was first to market with the aforementioned folded-lens design, and still maintains its dominance in smartphone video capture with its 8K video capability—the highest resolution available on a smartphone. You can toggle between two aspect ratios for cinema-quality formatting, and Pro mode puts you squarely in the director's chair with full control over zoom speed, shutter speed, ISO, manual focus, and more.
This top-tier phone also comes at a top-shelf price: you'll shell out a cool $1,199 for the phablet-style smartphone, which also includes an upgraded S Pen stylus. For that cost—and because the iPhone 14 Pro Max produces better color contrast and depth, particularly in low-light environments while using Night Mode—the Galaxy S22 Ultra is best suited for power users and business professionals who also have a passion for photography.
- Pros: 6.8-inch display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, 108MP main camera, superior 10x optical zoom capability, 8K video option
- Cons: Even pricier than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, degraded low-light photography
Best Value Camera Phone
Google | Pixel 7 | $599—Best value smartphone camera
Those looking to get the most bang for their buck should look no further than the latest flagship from Google, the Pixel 7. As per usual for Pixel devices, this phone features stunning photography tools, particularly its software processing. And at just $599, it's a far more affordable option for many than the premium flagships from Apple and Samsung.
The Pixel 7 includes a 50MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. You'll get crisp, clear photos with excellent depth and contrast in any lighting conditions. In fact, the Pixel 7's Night Sight technology is where the camera truly shines, supporting shutter speeds twice as fast as the Pixel 6 Pro thanks to its new chipset (more on that upgrade in a moment). The 10.8MP selfie cam features Cinematic Blur, an upgrade that applies depth-effect to portrait videos. It also now supports Face Unlock technology as well.
The Pixel 7's new Google Tensor G2 processor is arguably its biggest upgrade that also helps many of its camera software tools perform more efficiently, including Cinematic Blur, Guided Frame, and Night Sight. Its new denoiser function automatically fuses images together from the ultra-wide and main wide-angle cameras, significantly reducing blurry photos. Our favorite new tools on the WhistleOut team are Magic Eraser, which allows you to tap and erase unwanted objects from your photo's background, and Photo Unblur, which uses machine learning to clarify and brighten photos taken on any device. You can now fix those shaky pictures shot on your old iPhone 6 that have been languishing in your Photos album.
If you want the absolute most that the Pixel can deliver, though, consider upgrading to the Pixel 7 Pro. You'll find a third 48MP telephoto lens that can handle 5x optical zoom, along with a new Super Res Zoom that can magnify up to 30x digitally. How, you ask? Enhanced computational photography software merges multiple photos into a single, clear image, even when the camera is zoomed in to its fullest capacity, while additional stabilization software keeps video from shaking even past 15x.
- Pros: Excellent midrange price point, sharp 50MP camera, unique tools like Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur, excellent Night Sight software
- Cons: Not as many upgrades as the Pixel 7 Pro
Best Budget Camera Phone
Google | Pixel 6a | $450—Best cheap camera phone
For just $449, the Google Pixel 6a sports a fabulous camera that delivers quality far beyond what you would expect for its middling price point. It supports all of the best imaging software features found in the more expensive Pixel 6 and 6 Pro phones, including Magic Eraser, Night Sight, and Real Tone for perfect skin tone accuracy in every shot.
In fact, there are very few differences between the image quality of photos shot on the Pixel 6a and those shot on the Pixel 6 Pro. Thanks to those software inclusions, even indoor photos in low light come out crisp and clear. You really only lack the slightly wider field of view featured on the Pixel 6 Pro (thanks to its larger aperture) and a third 48MP telephoto lens, which is a drawback if you're passionate about macro photography or zooming into sweeping landscapes. But if you're simply looking for a good—dare we say nearly great—camera that won't kill your wallet? The Pixel 6a can't be beaten.
- Pros: Super affordable, chock-full of premium software features,
- Cons: No telephoto lens, slightly narrower field of view for landscape photography
Get more out of your smartphone and learn how to scan a QR code on Android!
Choosing a Smartphone Camera
How do you decide which camera phone is best for your needs? Obviously, your budget is likely the largest determining factor, as well as how you plan to use it. Are you looking for a cheap camera phone to simply take a few quick happy snaps of the kids to post on Facebook? Or do you plan to replace your expensive SLR with your smartphone for most occasions... and are willing to spend the same amount for an excellent camera setup?
Once you've pinpointed why you want a camera phone and how much you can spend on it, there are three main areas to focus on (get it?) when choosing the best smartphone camera for your needs: its hardware, software, and processor.
Hardware
The hardware on your camera phone is its physical makeup. This includes the lenses, sensors, signal processor, and even the display that you're viewing the images on. Different hardware setups affect what kind of images you're able to capture—for example, if you're into macro photography (or, like me, you want to be able to zoom in as close to the stage as possible at a John Mayer concert), you'd want to look for a camera phone that includes a telephoto lens like the iPhone 14 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Software
Where the hardware actually captures the image, the software interprets the image and gives you options for enhancing or editing it. Love taking photos at night? The iPhone 14 Pro Max's Night Mode software makes your images crystal clear and highlights objects as if they were professionally lit. Want to be able to remove unwanted tourists from the background of your beautiful landscape photo? The Pixel 7's Magic Eraser software has you covered. Do thorough research on all of the different software options for the models you're interested in to see which ones appeal most to your photographic style.
Processor
Your phone's hardware and software are nothing without a powerful processor that puts them to good use. Your phone's chip affects everything from how quickly it can capture the image—critical for action shots—to how efficiently it can remove noise and blur or deliver deep, rich color and contrast. As a rule, the newer flagship phone series, and the premium/Pro models within those series, will have the most upgraded processors. (For example, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max feature the A16 Bionic chip, whereas the 14 and 14 Plus base models contain the previous A15 Bionic iteration.)
Best Camera Phone Plans
Your spiffy new camera phone is going to need a phone plan to go with it. And while physically taking photos and videos and storing them on your device doesn't use up any data, sharing those photos does. If you're an Instagram fiend or a TikTok queen, you'll likely use a good amount of data each month, so you'll want a phone plan that accommodates your shutterbug lifestyle. Unlimited data plans no longer break the bank like they used to—Visible and Mint Mobile each offer unlimited talk, text, and data for just $25-30/month.
Also consider whether you need extra storage for all of those years' worth of photos in your phone's internal albums. Some phone plans bundle perks like cloud storage.
Here are some of the most popular unlimited options to choose from.
|
#1
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Visible
$25 Visible Plan
$25.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
|
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#2
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Mint Mobile
Unlimited Data Plan
$25.00/mo
$75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
|
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#3
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XFINITY Mobile
Mobile Select Plan
$0.00/mo
(for the first year of service) <br>Regular rate of $30/mo. thereafter
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#4
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T-Mobile
Essentials Saver
$50.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included
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#5
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US Mobile
Unlimited Starter Plan
$25.00/mo
$20/mo. for 6 months; $25/mo. thereafter
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Best Camera Phones: FAQs
Which smartphone has the best camera quality?
The iPhone 14 Pro Max has the best camera quality, featuring a 48MP main camera with quad-pixel sensor that's the equivalent of four Pro lenses in one, as well as a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a folded-lens 12MP telephoto camera that captures longer distances while retaining clarity and vibrancy.
Which cheap smartphone has a good camera?
The best cheap smartphone with a good camera is the Google Pixel 6a.
Which phone is the best for video recording?
The iPhone 14 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra are the best phones for video recording. Where the iPhone 14 Pro Max has superior video processing and image stabilization software, the Galaxy S22 Ultra has 8K video recording capability.
Is a smartphone camera better than a standalone camera?
A smartphone camera is better than most midrange point-and-shoot cameras thanks to the innovative processing software found in most flagship camera phones. However, for serious and/or professional photographers, a camera phone cannot replace a top-of-the-line SLR camera.
Lauren Hannula
Managing Editor
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