Smartphones with the best camera of 2023
When you stand choosing a smartphone, your eyes simply run wide. Even the cheapest models today are equipped with a camera, while flagships, meanwhile, already have at least 3-4 lenses. A smartphone that can replace professional photography equipment for a photography enthusiast is called a camera phone. In this article, we’ll look at what photographic qualities help a device exceed expectations from mobile photography.
If you are looking for a mobile camera in your smartphone, you should understand the intricacies of the lenses built into top models, the sensitivity of the matrix and the zoom. The number and size of megapixels can say a lot about a smartphone’s ability to take high-quality photos, so this article will definitely evaluate these characteristics.
Editor’s Choice
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
A distinctive feature of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra camera phone is the largest photo sensor ever used in a smartphone. Before this, it could only be found in miniature professional cameras. If you think that’s where the smartphone’s advantages end, you haven’t seen the additional screen on the back of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, which allows you to easily take selfies.
Thanks to artificial intelligence and a highly sensitive sensor, the smartphone helps you take clear pictures even on the move. And with HDR, you get rich colors when shooting in dimly lit areas. A shaky hand will no longer prevent you from taking a stunning photo – there’s optical stabilization for that.
Top 10 smartphones with the best cameras in 2023 according to KP
iPhone 13 Pro Max
Fans of large screens will love the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The new generation device is 0.6 inches ahead of Apple’s predecessor (6.7 versus 6.1). As for the cameras, there are 4 of them in the smartphone: wide-angle (main), ultra-wide, telephoto and auxiliary. Among the obvious advantages of the camera of this camera phone, we can note a six-element lens (for the telephoto camera and ultra-wide-angle camera), a seven-element lens for the wide-angle camera; macro mode and “cinema effect”.
The main camera is at least only 12 MP, but with optical stabilization, thanks to which you get ultra-clear photos. The creators of the new Apple product also improved the color temperature and removed the excessive “warmth” of the picture. Now the skin tone in the photo is as natural as possible, and in night photography the changes are noticeable.
Main characteristics
| Main display | 6.7″ |
| Processor model | Apple A15 |
| Number of processor cores | 6 |
| RAM | 6 GB |
| Built-in memory | 256 GB |
| Four modules | 12 MP main lens, 12 MP ultra-wide lens, 12 MP telephoto, secondary lens |
| Front-camera | 12 MP |
| Battery capacity | 4352 mAh |
Huawei Nova 9
There are four modules on the back of the Nova 9: two main cameras and two small 2 MP auxiliary sensors. We get the main module, ultra-wide-angle, macro and depth sensor for portrait photographs. Thanks to Ultra Vision technology, the device easily copes with shooting in low light conditions.
Realme 8 Pro
Not all smartphones with the best cameras can boast 3x digital zoom, which makes the Realme 8 Pro worth purchasing. Capture small details that are far away from you without losing quality and use different shooting modes to get the most out of this smartphone model.
The resolution of the main camera of this camera phone has almost doubled compared to the previous model, from 64 MP to 108 MP. Light sensitivity in dim conditions has also been improved. A distinctive feature of night photography is that the camera manages to combine several frames with different exposures into one, thereby increasing the dynamic range of the image.
Main characteristics
| Main display | 6.4″ |
| Processor model | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G |
| Number of processor cores | 8 |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Built-in memory | 256 GB |
| Four modules | 108 MP main lens, 8 MP ultra-wide lens, 2 MP secondary and macro lenses |
| Front-camera | 16 MP |
| Battery capacity | 4500 mAh |
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is one of the best smartphones that has a periscope lens with 10x optical zoom (maximum zoom of the object without loss of quality). There are four rear lenses: a 108 MP main wide-angle, a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle and two 10 MP telephotos. This device can even take high-quality night photography without using special modes. Unlike the previous S21 Ultra model, this smartphone does not increase contour sharpness and minimizes noise in frames.
The flagship device is equipped with a 5000 mAh battery, but, according to customer reviews, the charge lasts for about 4 hours when taking photos and 6 hours when actively using instant messengers. The Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with Vision Booster technology and a brightness of 1750 nits does not reflect glare in bright light and conveys high-quality images. The powerful Samsung Exynos 2200 processor will ensure stable operation and launch of applications and games on your smartphone. On both sides, the device is protected by toughened, durable Gorilla Glass Vectus glass, which, according to tests 1 , can withstand falls from a height of up to 2 m.
Main characteristics
| Main display | 6.8″ |
| Processor model | Samsung Exynos 2200 |
| Number of processor cores | 8 |
| RAM | 8/12 GB |
| Built-in memory | 128/256/512 GB, 1 TB |
| Four modules | main wide-angle lens 108 MP, ultra-wide-angle 12 MP, two telephoto 10 MP |
| Front-camera | 40 MP |
| Battery capacity | 5000 mAh |
Honor 50
According to the manufacturer, the Honor 50 smartphone is distinguished by its ultra-clear quad camera and the ability to switch modes during video shooting. This device made it into the top smartphones with the best camera in terms of price and quality thanks to the option of simultaneous frontal and regular shooting. The front camera, among other things, is 32 MP – it guarantees bright and clear selfies.
The lack of optical stabilization does not degrade the quality of shooting, nor does the lack of a camera with a telephoto lens. A high-quality tenfold digital zoom comes to the rescue.
Main characteristics
| Main display | 6.57″ |
| Processor model | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G |
| Number of processor cores | 8 |
| RAM | 6 GB |
| Built-in memory | 128 GB |
| Four modules | 108 MP main lens, 8 MP ultra-wide lens, 2 MP secondary and macro lenses |
| Front-camera | 32 MP |
| Battery capacity | 4300 mAh |
Infinix NOTE 10 PRO NFC
Infinix NOTE 10 PRO NFC is a time-tested classic. The smartphone managed to gain popularity and love among users of all ages. Reliable, productive and with a rich set of functions, the updated 2022 version will please even the most demanding users, while the attractive price will not allow you to remain indifferent to it.
Poco X3 Pro
If we talk about a budget model among the best camera phones, then Poco X3 Pro deserves attention. 2x digital zoom and a quadruple main camera module provide first-class shooting both day and night. Optionally, the owner can connect artificial intelligence to control the shooting process.
This model, in addition to classic photo modes, allows you to shoot simultaneously with both cameras. You can record video in 4K resolution with 30 FPS, but also in FullHD with 60 frames.
Main characteristics
| Main display | 6.67″ |
| Processor model | Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 |
| Number of processor cores | 8 |
| RAM | 6 GB |
| Built-in memory | 128-256 GB |
| Four modules | 48 MP main lens, 8 MP ultra-wide lens, 2 MP secondary and macro lenses |
| Front-camera | 20 MP |
| Battery capacity | 5160 mAh |
OnePlus 9 Pro
Can you imagine a camera capable of correcting natural light? This is exactly what the OnePlus 9 Pro smartphone has. This model was developed together with the Swedish company Hasselblad, which in turn produces cameras.
With the launch of this camera phone, it has become easier to shoot ultra-realistic videos and photos with perfect color reproduction. Among other things, pictures in macro mode are distinguished by excellent detail.
Main characteristics
| Main display | 6.7″ |
| Processor model | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G |
| Number of processor cores | 8 |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Built-in memory | 128-256 GB |
| Four modules | 64 MP main lens, 12 MP ultra-wide lens, 5 MP secondary and macro lenses |
| Front-camera | 32 MP |
| Battery capacity | 4500 mAh |
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
High-quality pictures and videos with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra can be achieved with the help of excellent optical and hybrid stabilization. The resolution of the main camera is 108 MP, which is enough for high-quality photography both in daylight and in the dark. In video shooting, the smartphone outperformed its competitors by maintaining perfect sound, without noise or distortion.
What sets it apart from its competitors is the previously unattainable 10x optical zoom. In this smartphone, the wide-angle camera is equipped with autofocus, which allows the user to go beyond ordinary landscapes in shooting.
Main characteristics
| Main display | 6.8″ |
| Processor model | Samsung Exynos 2100 / or Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 |
| Number of processor cores | 8 |
| RAM | 12 GB |
| Built-in memory | 256 GB |
| Four modules | 108 MP main lens, 12 MP ultra-wide lens, 10 MP telephoto, 10 MP secondary lens |
| Front-camera | 40 MP |
| Battery capacity | 5000 mAh |
ASUS Zenfone 8
This device is notable for the professional quality of shooting on cameras with Sonу photo matrices. There are two cameras on the back panel, the main one and the wide-angle one. The first one has an optical stabilizer, while both have phase detection autofocus. The color rendition is correct, the pictures are detailed to the maximum.
This camera phone has proven itself to be excellent due to its three microphones; they help preserve the sound without distortion during video recording. The front camera also does not go unnoticed thanks to dual pixel PDAF autofocus. Overall, an excellent example of a camera phone for lovers of high-quality photographs using a smartphone.
Leaders of past years
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro+
The leader in our list of smartphones with the best cameras is an advanced model from HUAWEI. When creating this phone, the developers did not make any compromises. The result is chic optics from LEICA, stylish design, powerful hardware and a fairly large battery.
In fact, there are seven optical sensors: the main one, a telephoto lens, an ultra-wide-angle lens, a lens with optical zoom, a front one, and two depth-of-field sensors. The pictures are detailed and sharp even in night shooting conditions due to the 1/1.28-inch matrix, which is huge for mobile devices. The main cameras have optical stabilization and the ability to record video in high-quality 4K format.
The only disadvantage of this model is the lack of services from Google. However, the manufacturer has its own application store with everything necessary for daily use of software.
Main characteristics
| Display | OLED 6.76 (2772 by 1344) |
| Cameras | 50MP main lens, 12MP telephoto lens, 20MP ultra-wide lens, 8MP optical zoom lens, 13MP front lens, dual depth sensors |
| CPU | Kirin 9000 5G |
| RAM | 12 GB |
| Battery capacity | 4400 mAh |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9
Let’s say right away that the phone is budget. For less than 20 thousand rubles you will get a camera with four optical modules, a plastic body and not the most powerful hardware. The dimensions of the matrix are not the most impressive – 1/2.25 inches, this is an affordable board. But here the battery is as much as 5020 mAh – battery life will please you even with a huge 6.5-inch screen. The manufacturer included a fast charging unit and a simple silicone case with the phone – everything we like.
First of all, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 camera is appreciated for its quality of shooting in night mode. For that kind of money it will be difficult to find an alternative to a phone from a Chinese manufacturer.
Main characteristics
| Display | OLED 6.53 (2340 by 1080) |
| Cameras | 48 MP main lens, 8 MP ultra-wide-angle lens, 2 MP macro lens, 13 MP front lens, 2 MP depth sensor |
| CPU | MediaTek Helio G85 |
| RAM | 3 or 4 GB |
| Battery capacity | 5020 mAh |
Google Pixel 4a
A compact Android camera phone for a reasonable price. Despite the “childish” dimensions compared to flagships, the plastic case of the device hides excellent filling for the money. Even though there is not the newest processor and only one high-aperture (f/1.7) main camera module of 12 megapixels, the devil is in the details. To be more specific, in the excellent optimization of the hardware and camera of the Pixel 4a. This is the same example when the number of megapixels and optical modules does not greatly affect the quality of the photos in the end.
The smartphone comes with fast charging, which is rare in budget models.
One downside of the Pixel 4a might be its price, but for that money you get a small device (and that’s a rarity these days!) and guaranteed support for new software updates.
Main characteristics
| Display | OLED 5.81 (2340 by 1080) |
| Cameras | 12 MP main lens, 8 MP front lens |
| CPU | Snapdragon 730 |
| RAM | 6 GB |
| Battery capacity | 3140 mAh |
HONOR 30
A more affordable brand, unlike HUAWEI, offers a high-quality phone that is not inferior to flagship models in many respects. The HONOR 30 has four lenses, the main one with a matrix size of 1/1.7 inches. The body of the device is made of glass and metal – everything is like its expensive “brothers” from HUAWEI.
The device’s camera can operate in two modes: for professionals and inexperienced photography enthusiasts. Automatic mode will allow you to take high-quality pictures without lengthy setup; artificial intelligence will set everything up for you. The main camera module of the HONOR 30 has optical stabilization.
The disadvantages of the phone are classic for the entire range from this manufacturer: the lack of services from Google. The manufacturer offers an alternative application store that contains all the necessary software.
Main characteristics
| Display | OLED 6.53 (2400 by 1080) |
| Cameras | 40 MP main lens, 8 MP ultra-wide lens, 8 MP telephoto, 12 MP ultra-wide lens, 32 MP front lens |
| CPU | Kirin 985 5G |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Battery capacity | 4000 mAh |
ASUS Zenfone 7
The next flagship phone from ASUS used an unusual rotating camera system. To take a selfie, just pull the camera module towards you and switch it to “front” mode. In this unusual way, the developers killed two birds with one stone – they got rid of the annoying peephole of the front camera on the phone screen and significantly improved the quality of selfies, because the “main” camera is responsible for them.
To ensure that frames from the main and telephoto lenses do not blur, optical stabilization is built into them. This also provides an added benefit when shooting at night.
The unusual solution with a PTZ camera is successfully complemented by the ASUS Zenfone 7 software, which performs post-processing of the resulting images.
Main characteristics
| Display | OLED 6.67 (2400 by 1080) |
| Cameras | 64 MP main lens, 8 MP telephoto lens, 12 MP ultra-wide lens, 8 MP front lens |
| CPU | Snapdragon 865 Plus |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Battery capacity | 5000 mAh |
iPhone 12 Pro Max
The most advanced smartphone model from Apple today. As is usually the case with this manufacturer, engineers from Cupertino did not chase numbers in the characteristics (megapixels and matrix sizes), but optimized the entire optical system specifically for their device. All four camera modules here have only 12 “children’s” megapixels. To measure the depth of the frame, the iPhone 12 Pro Max uses its own LiDAR system. The phone takes beautiful portraits thanks to smart processing algorithms. The background blur in the iPhone 12 Pro Max camera is one of the best on the market.
This model can also take raw software-processed images in Apple ProRAW format – through a PC you can process them at a completely professional level.
Main characteristics
| Display | OLED 6.1 (2532 by 1170) |
| Cameras | 12 MP main lens, 12 MP ultra-wide lens, 12 MP telephoto lens, 12 MP front lens |
| CPU | Apple A14 Bionic |
| RAM | 6 GB |
| Battery capacity | 2815 mAh |
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite 6
An affordable version of a more advanced model from Xiaomi. Externally, the differences with Mi Note 10 are minimal; the phones can only be distinguished by the frames of the case and the camera unit. In the lite version, by the way, it hardly sticks out from the body due to the lack of a telephoto lens.
The smartphone has a 64-megapixel camera module, along with an ultra-wide-angle lens, a macro lens and a depth sensor. The diagonal of the matrix of the main module is impressive for the money – 1/1.72 inches.
High-quality case materials, technical characteristics and greater battery life of the Mi Note 10 Lite can be considered advantages.
Some may find this phone too heavy (208g) due to the large battery.
Main characteristics
| Display | AMOLED 6.47 (2340 x 1080) |
| Cameras | 64 MP main lens, 13 MP portrait lens, 8 MP ultra-wide lens, 2 MP macro lens, 16 MP front lens, 5 MP depth sensor |
| CPU | Snapdragon 730G |
| RAM | 6 GB |
| Battery capacity | 5260 mAh |
Vivo X50 Pro
An interesting flagship phone model from a manufacturer that is not the most famous in Russia. For 65 thousand rubles you will get a stylish camera phone that is pleasant to hold in your hands due to the high-quality case materials (glass and metal).
The vivo X50 Pro’s main camera lens has a hinged optical image stabilization system built into it – electromagnets move the lens if the phone starts to shake. Now you can get clear shots in the dark even without using a tripod. This option is also useful for video lovers. By the way, the main module has a 48 MP sensor with a diagonal of 1/2 inches.
The phone’s features also include a high-quality AMOLED display, curved edges and a built-in amplifier for high-quality sound in headphones.
The main disadvantage of the vivo X50 Pro is that the technical part is weak for the money.
Main characteristics
| Display | AMOLED 6.56 (2376 x 1080) |
| Cameras | 48MP main lens, 13MP portrait lens, 8MP ultra-wide lens, 8MP telephoto, 32MP front lens |
| CPU | Snapdragon 765G |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Battery capacity | 4315 mAh |
Sony Xperia 5 II
The best smartphone for those who know how to use professional cameras. To the stylish and discreet design of the case, the Japanese manufacturer added a small (by today’s standards) screen and professional optics from Zeiss.
There are only three lenses in the main camera module. Don’t be confused by their “modest” 12-megapixel sensors – the optics are tuned to produce high-quality and sharp images, both on the main, tele- and wide-angle lenses. The first two, by the way, have optical stabilization.
The Sony Xperia 5 II camera has two PRO modes, with which you can take photos and videos with non-standard exposure settings.
The technical characteristics are also okay here, a powerful processor and support for 5G and 8 gigabytes of RAM.
Main characteristics
| Display | OLED 6.1 (2520 by 1080) |
| Cameras | 12 MP main lens, 12 MP telephoto lens, 12 MP ultra-wide lens, 8P front lens |
| CPU | Snapdragon 865 5G |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Battery capacity | 4000 mAh |
Sony Xperia 1 II
Sony Xperia 1 II can take not only good photos, but also high-quality videos. With it in your hands, anyone can feel like a film director, the manual controls and wide color profile are so effective. If we talk about photos, then according to the manufacturer, Sony Xperia 1 II is equipped with a powerful focusing system. Autofocus with Dual Pixel technology copes with eye recognition with a bang, portraits turn out amazing.
Two more details make the smartphone stand out among its competitors: a screen with an aspect ratio of 21:9 and an enlarged display frame, due to which the front camera fits harmoniously into the design.
Main characteristics
| Main display | 6.5″ |
| Processor model | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 |
| Number of processor cores | 8 |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Built-in memory | 256 GB |
| Four modules | 12 MP main lens, 12 MP ultra-wide lens, 12 MP telephoto lens |
| Front-camera | 8 MP |
| Battery capacity | 4000 mAh |
Google Pixel 5
The quality of pictures depends on many factors, and in the Google Pixel 5 smartphone it is determined by the camera software. Thanks to the powerful Snapdragon 765G processor, owners of this device will no longer miss a great shot because the camera freezes. On the back panel there is a 12.2 MP dual camera, which is quite enough for high-quality mobile photography.
How to choose a smartphone with the best camera
Together with our expert , professional photographer Yulia Kuryashkina, we will dwell in more detail on matrices and pixels, and also determine what the buyer should pay attention to when choosing a camera phone model.
If you look at the characteristics of any smartphone, you can come across a lot of abbreviations that are incomprehensible to the average person.
For example, 1/1.33″, 108 MP, 0.8 microns, etc. This is a description of the matrix: its dimensions, number and size of pixels, in other words, important parameters for high-quality photography.
The size of the matrix is responsible for the amount of light that ultimately enters it. The more light it captures, the better the image is transmitted to us. The diagonal is measured in inches, in the example above it is 1/1.33″, and the smaller the last number, the more light the matrix of our camera phone will receive.
In addition to the characteristics of the matrix, which indicate the quality of future images, you should pay attention to optical stabilization. It is this that allows you to avoid a blurred image due to the movement of an object or a trembling hand.
In turn, the number of megapixels is the figure that was previously used to rely on when choosing the best device for photography. Today, flagship smartphones can have more than 100 megapixels (as in the example above – 108MP). A pixel , in simple terms, is a light-sensitive cell that forms an image. Megapixels are used to measure the resolution of a matrix. The higher it is, the better quality photo you will get. The photos come out clearer, more detailed, and not “soapy.” Not only the number of megapixels is important, but also their size. Pixel size is measured in micrometers (µm). In modern devices, the spread can be from 0.8 to 2 microns.
The number of lenses should also be assessed. In addition to the standard main and ultra-wide modules, the device may have a macro lens for shooting small details; and a telephoto lens, on the contrary, for high-quality shooting of distant objects. Most camera phones today have three or four lenses.
Models should be compared by several indicators at once, without focusing only on “big” numbers.
Popular questions and answers
Grigory Tsyganov , a service center specialist for electronics repair , answers popular questions .
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