In this day and age, smartphone cameras are better than ever. If you are looking to upgrade your phone and take your photo game to the next level, here are some of the best camera phones on the market right now.
iPhone 17 Pro
First off, and arguably the best camera phone on the market right now, is the iPhone 17 Pro. The jewel in the crown, or the three jewels, are the three 48MP rear cameras, a wide camera, an ultrawide, and a telephoto lens that offers 4x optical zoom and 8x “optical quality” zoom.
Beyond the rear cameras, the phone features an excellent front-facing camera that has the new Center Stage technology. In short, this feature essentially turns the front-facing camera landscape mode, allowing you to capture wide-angle selfies and group selfies.
Google Pixel 10 Pro
If you want something that is more than just a camera, but doesn’t have the price tag of the 17 Pro, then you should look at the Google Pixel 10 Pro. While the photos aren’t going to blow you away and be the best thing you have ever seen, for most people, they will be more than enough.
It has a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide, and a 48MP telephoto lens that is capable of 100x digital zoom thanks to the “ProRes Zoom” AI technology. It also features a Gemini-powered photo coach, which will give you tips for framing, angles, etc.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
If you aren’t part of the Apple Ecosystem, or you want to switch to Samsung, then look no further than the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Featuring a 200MP main sensor, it also has a 50MP ultrawide lens, and a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom.
The most appealing part of this phone is that the cameras may not be as good for some as the iPhone 17 Pro’s, but they are still excellent, and the phone is cheaper than the iPhone, with even more deals advertised every day.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
If you want a phone that is a bit different, one that can double as a tablet, but can still take exceptional photos, then you need to take a look at the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Featuring an exceptional 200MP primary sensor, which Samsung has taken from the S25 Ultra, as well as a 10MP telephoto lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens.
The Z Fold 7 has great cameras, but they aren’t the main selling point. The phone can do more than others on this list, and its great cameras are brilliant bonuses. Additionally, it is more expensive than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but you do get more phone.
What to Look Out For
Now that you know a few of the best camera phones to choose from, if none of these are on your list, here are a few of the camera specs and features to look for to ensure you are choosing a phone with a great camera.
Sensor Size
Much like regular digital cameras, the camera’s sensor plays a huge role in how good the photos are. A bigger sensor makes everything better, whether it is photos in low-light, photos with less noise, and the list goes on.
When looking at a camera, ignore any talk about megapixels and ask the sales consultant about the sensor size. Home research will also do you a world of good, as you will know what you should and shouldn’t be looking at.
Optical Image Stabilization
While this may sound like a complicated term, OIS, or optical image stabilization, helps reduce blur, improve night shots, and keep images sharp and detailed. This is particularly important for night shots, as they can often be difficult for smartphone cameras.
Night Mode
Speaking of night shots, you aren’t always going to be using your camera during the day, when the light is best. Because of this, it is important to test the phone’s nighttime capabilities before purchasing. This can be difficult in the store, if not impossible, but there will be plenty of reviews that discuss the camera’s capabilities at night.
Zoom
Zoom has always been an area where smartphone cameras struggle. This is mainly down to the fact that many smartphones use digital zoom, which, in simple terms, crops an image to zoom in, making it lose quality the more you zoom.
However, nowadays, several smartphones have optical zoom, which digital cameras have. This means you can zoom in without losing detail and still have high-quality images while zoomed in to the max.
Video Quality
Finally, one of the best ways to judge a camera’s quality is to record a video. If a camera can capture high-quality, stable, and detailed video footage, it will be amazing at still photos.
This is particularly useful when looking at budget phones, as the camera is often where money is saved and doesn’t live up to expectations.
