With massive leaps forward in tech, there’s a huge choice of stunning camera phones available. We’ve picked out a few of the best on the market right now and put them through their paces to see what they can do.
Which mobile phones have the best camera?
With so many amazing camera phones out, there’s no right answer to this question. But here are a few standouts:
Samsung Galaxy S10
With its TrueVision triple rear cameras with wide/ultrawide/telephoto lenses, the Samsung Galaxy S10 delivers amazing results. You can capture super-steady 4K UHD videos with the ultra-wide rear camera and intelligent software for smooth filming, even on bumpy terrain. And when you’re exploring the city at night, the S10 does a great job with low-light photos.
Honor 20 Pro
Another contender for best phone camera with 4 rear-facing lenses. The Honor 20 Pro’s main camera is a stunning 48 megapixels with a max sensitivity of ISO 204800 and aperture of f/1.4, which delivers incredible low-light performance. It also has an 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, a 16MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro camera with a minimum focusing distance of only 4 cm.
Honor View 20
You’ll be amazed at the amount of detail captured by the 48MP camera of the Honor View 20, combined with the latest AI. It recognises over 1,500 different visual scenarios and adjusts its settings to give you the best possible shot. With an enlarged sensor sucking the light in, your night-time and low-lit shots will come out beautifully bright and full of colour.
Google Pixel 3
The rear camera of the Google Pixel 3 features a 12.2MP sensor, with an f/1.8 aperture and there are two front-facing 8MP sensors which take fantastic selfies. It’s Google software that makes the camera so special, with features like Portrait Mode, Night Sight, Super Res Zoom and Top Shot AI which finds the perfect frame and recommends it. Plus, you can Google search for what you see with the game-changing Google Lens.
The best dual camera phones
When two is better than one. Take a look at our pick of some of the best dual camera phones.
iPhone XS
The powerful dual lens 12MP camera of the iPhone XS boasts both f/1.8 and f/2.4 apertures. Optical image stabilisation produces impressive results with natural colours, and the telephoto sensor is great for shooting detail at long distance.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
With a 12MP + 12MP dual camera, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 doesn’t just capture scenes, it sees them. Its built-in Intelligent Camera detects your surroundings and adjusts settings accordingly. So whether you’re shooting a dark sunset on the horizon or a bright portrait close up, you’ll always snap perfectly balanced and detailed shots worthy of a professional.
Huawei Mate 20 Lite
Take photos like a pro with the Huawei Mate 20 Lite, featuring dual 20MP and 2MP cameras on the back and dual 24MP and 2MP cameras on the front, all powered by Master AI technology. Scene recognition knows exactly what you’re pointing the camera at and works out the best way to take the photo. It adjusts your camera settings too, so you don’t have to.
Best optical zoom for a smartphone?
If you like to take a lot of long-distance photos, then be sure to look out for a phone with an optical zoom camera.
OPPO Reno 10x Zoom
As the name might suggest, the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom’s triple cameras offer 10x optical zoom, so you can get the full picture from hundreds of metres away. Perfect for landscape shots of your travels and taking stunning photos at a distance. Whatever you shoot, you’ll capture crystal clarity with bundles of colour.
Huawei P30 Pro
One of the best camera phones around at the moment, especially in low-light conditions thanks to light fusion sensor technology. The Huawei P30 Pro can achieve an amazing 5x optical zoom, giving you clarity even when your subject is far away. It comes with a Leica quad camera system – A 40MP main lens, an 8MP telephoto lens, a 20MP ultra-wide lens and a time-of-flight camera to sense depth for portraits. The 24MP front camera ensures perfect selfies every time.
The iPhone XS, iPhone 11 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S10 all come with 2x optical zoom for great shots at a distance from all-round great phone cameras.