Over the past decade, the quality of smartphone cameras has steadily improved to the point where you can now take incredible photos without the need for a professional camera. However, it’s hard to determine which smartphone offers you the most impressive camera with so many options out there in the market.
To make things easier for you, we’ll be discussing the six best smartphone cameras on the market right now.
1. Apple iPhone 13 Pro
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In recent years, Apple has consistently topped the leaderboard for its smartphone cameras, and the case is no different with the iPhone 13 Pro. This model features a triple-lens setup with 12MP wide, telephoto, and ultrawide lenses. Even the selfie camera matches up to the primary camera with a resolution of 12MP!
The iPhone 13 Pro works well in low light due to its larger sensor and speedier aperture, and hence, it’s perfect for evening snapshots, atmospheric dinners, and parties. It’s also great at focusing on close-up objects for high-quality, detailed photos.
However, the iPhone 13 Pro’s zoom is a little restricted, so it might not be the best smartphone camera out there for very long-range shots. On top of this, the camera can struggle a little in very bright light. But this certainly doesn’t mean that the iPhone 13 Pro doesn’t boast an impressive camera.
2. Google Pixel 6 Pro
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The Google Pixel 6 Pro sports a triple-lens setup with a unique 50MP wide lens, a 40MP telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide lens. Thankfully, the camera works well in bright light and produces accurate photo coloring.
On top of this, the Pixel 6 Pro offers solid video stabilization and comes at a lower price than many other models on the market, offering similar camera capabilities.
However, the Pixel 6 Pro’s ultrawide camera isn’t as wide as that of other competitors, and the video quality just doesn’t match up to the photo quality. So, if you tend to take more videos than photos, the Google Pixel 6 Pro might not be the right option for you.
3. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
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Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra boasts a versatile quad-camera setup with a class-leading 108MP wide lens, 10MP periscope telephoto lens, 10MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultrawide lens. Furthermore, the S22 Ultra has a 40MP front camera, allowing for super high-quality selfies, and its high zoom range lets you capture objects from miles away.
Overall, you can rely on the S22 Ultra as a fantastic photographic tool, but it does have a few minor downsides. Firstly, the autofocus can take a while to configure for photos in certain lighting, which can be frustrating when you want to take a quick snap. However, the autofocus is pretty impressive for videos.
On top of this, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is a very pricey smartphone. Currently, prices for a brand new S22 Ultra range between $1,200 and $1,500, so even though the camera features are certainly impressive, you may want to check out the other smartphones on this list if you have a limited budget.
4. Google Pixel 5a
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The Google Pixel 5a is the most affordable smartphone on this list and makes an excellent choice for those who want a solid smartphone camera without breaking the bank. The 5a uses a dual-camera system consisting of 12.2MP wide and 16MP ultrawide lenses. However, the selfie camera sits at a pretty meager 8MP, which is by no means terrible, but certainly isn’t the best you can get, either.
Overall, the Pixel 5a’s camera is one of its most impressive features. With natural photo coloring and the ability to take fantastic portrait shots, you won’t be disappointed in most cases with this smartphone camera. You can also count on the 5a for crisp, clear nighttime photography.
While the Google Pixel 5a simply doesn’t match the newer Pixel 6 Pro in terms of camera prowess, it’s still a fantastic option if you’re working with a more modest budget.
5. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
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Next on the list, we have the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra with a similar 108MP wide lens as the S22 Ultra. You also get ultrawide and periscope telephoto lenses that are 12MP each. The ultrawide lens has an angle of 120 degrees, making it perfect for gorgeous landscape shots, and you can also use the relatively long zoom range when you want close-up shots from afar.
On the other hand, the Note 20 Ultra’s autofocus feature can be a little unstable, and the phone itself is huge, so it’s not the most portable and convenient option out there. But if you’re big into large screens, you’ll undoubtedly have a fantastic photographic experience with the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
The Final Smartphone Camera Verdict
We’d certainly vouch for the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra if money was no object. With all-around incredible lens quality, fantastic image display, and an impressive zoom range, the S22 Ultra’s camera won’t let you down. On top of the camera quality, this model also offers some other great features that you’ll love, but you’ll have to fork up a sizable amount of cash for this model.
Therefore, if you’re on a budget but don’t want to compromise on camera quality, we recommend checking out the Google Pixel 6 Pro, which offers some impressive photographic features at a slightly more modest price.
