Which phone will have the best camera in 2024? As we approach the end of the year, the most significant camera smartphones, including the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Google Pixel 8 Pro, are now available for purchase. We now have a comprehensive overview of the most powerful devices for your photos and videos in 2024.
Smartphones offer more than just good cameras. Below, you can read about our top camera phone picks. However, to learn more, you'll find links to detailed reviews of each phone. But first, let's explore what makes a camera phone great and understand some basic terms.
Buying guide: How to find the best camera phone?
Before we go into more detail about our selection of smartphones with the best cameras, we would first want to elaborate on a few basic smartphone camera features that you will come across time and again in our reviews.
What distinguishes a good camera from a bad one?
Detailed reproduction
When it comes to detailed reproduction of a scene, the more pixels the better. This is because you can print larger photos or crop them later and still end up with a pretty good quality image. While almost all current smartphones offer excellent quality with the main camera, it is the zoom performance that separates the wheat from the chaff. For example, if having powerful zoom is important to you, you should choose a smartphone with two zoom lenses.
Every smartphone has different strengths and weaknesses, that's for sure. This is why you should consider where you normally snap photos. The Galaxy S23 Ultra, for example, begins to see visual quality deteriorate more starting from 3x, where it can only shoot at native focal length again at 10x. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra, on the other hand, distributes its lenses more evenly across the entire focal length range.
If you do not need plenty of zoom performance but prefer to take panorama shots, then it is best to look out for a powerful camera module behind the ultra-wide angle lens. Of course, a good sensor for the main camera goes a long way, too. Large sensors, in particular, are less susceptible to image noise in low-light conditions.
Finally, the manufacturer's algorithms always play an important role. Major players like Apple, Samsung and Google—are traditionally ahead of the minnows in this department.
Colors: White balance
What is "white balance"? Your brain constantly analyzes the ambient light and answers this question for you every second, always ensuring that you can recognize colors relatively correctly. In cameras, image recognition algorithms must continuously handle this "white balance". This is easy to do so in daylight, but the difficulty ramps up in artificial or even mixed light conditions.
In the subject shown above, cold evening light comes in through the window from the left, and warm artificial light shines on the office dog and the creamy white coat from the right. You can see for yourself here how the four different smartphones handle color temperatures differently. Apple and Samsung are clearly too cold in this picture, the Pixel 7 Pro is very neutral and the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is a bit too warm.
At the same time, you can see the challenge of achieving correct exposure in this picture: Just like the correct white balance, smartphones also have to accurately determine what is really bright and what is dark. Which image do you like best here? I look forward to hearing your opinions in the comments!
Colors: Skin tones
It doesn't matter if you're Caucasian, Asian, or African-American: everyone's skin tone is the same. What does change—in terms of colorimetry—however, is the amount of gray. This, in turn, means that we can determine what is a good color rendering and what is not, regardless of skin type.
So, what is "good" color reproduction? We can find an answer to this, for example, in the terrific Color Grading Handbook by Alexis Van Hurkman*: For Caucasians, Hurkman recommends a saturation of 40% and about 2° above the "skin tone" line. With this, the iPhone 14 Pro Max would be a tad too yellow-green here, and all smartphones except the Xiaomi 13 Ultra would be a bit too saturated.
Besides that, there are of course numerous other parameters to consider, but most of them can be adjusted. For example, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra flattens faces quite a bit with the default settings, but the effect can be changed in portrait mode.
How many cameras are good enough?
Obviously, the more cameras your smartphone has, the more flexible you can be when taking pictures. The main sensors, for example, usually have a focal length of 24 to 26 millimeters, which is equivalent to 35 mm. This corresponds to a relatively large angle of view and is well suited for landscape and city shots, for example.
For portraits or distant subjects, however, you need a telephoto zoom lens, usually between about 70 and 240 millimeters. The higher the resolution of the main camera, the more room you have for a digital zoom without having to rely on a real telephoto lens. It is unfortunate that the law of physics simply sets limits in this aspect. On the other hand, many smartphones offer an ultra-wide angle camera that is suitable for particularly wide subjects.
All other sensors for bokeh, macro, black-and-white, and others fall under the category of "data sheet padding" and have virtually no use.
What do focal length and optical zoom mean?
The focal length of a camera is always shown in millimeters. The higher the number, the more "powerful the zoom", which translates to more magnification you get. The main cameras of smartphones usually range from 24 to 26 millimeters in 35 mm equivalent. Ultra-wide-angle cameras with "0.5x" have half the focal length and would be at 12 to 13 millimeters accordingly. A 3x telephoto zoom camera would then be 72 to 78 millimeters in 35 mm equivalent.
The optical zoom of a camera system is the ratio between the smallest and largest focal length. A camera system with 12 to 120 millimeters, therefore, has a 10x zoom. In the case of smartphones, however, the manufacturers usually calculate from the main camera—from 24 to 120 millimeters would therefore be a 5x zoom according to this calculation method, and an ultra-wide angle camera with 12 millimeters is 0.5x.
As if that weren't weird enough, manufacturers replace the upper optical focal length with an arbitrary maximum value for a digital zoom to calculate the zoom factor—and then come up with a 50x, 100x, or 200x zoom that has long since lost any meaning.
Another important point for estimating the image quality is the size of the image sensors in smartphones. The larger the sensor, the more light it captures and, in turn, the better the image quality. The sensor size is usually specified in 1/1.2-inch format—the smaller the number under the fraction, the larger the sensor and the better the expected image quality.
Sensor size is also directly related to pixel size via resolution. Roughly speaking, the pixel size in microns is calculated by dividing the edge length of the sensor by the horizontal or vertical resolution. The larger the pixels, the more light they capture and the better the image quality.
The term "aperture" describes the focal length of the optical system in relation to the diameter of the entrance pupil of the lens. It sounds complicated, but you only need to remember one thing here: The smaller the number, the more light is allowed into the sensor, and the less image noise you will theoretically have at night. Therefore, F1.6 is better than F2.0. The f-number is often also written as aperture ratio, then in the format f/2.0.
Of all the technical key data of smartphone cameras, however, one great unknown quantity remains: image processing in the smartphone. The quality of the algorithms that convert the raw data from the sensor into JPEG or HEIC images is often more important than the technical data of the smartphone camera.
Therefore, it is always worth taking a look at our sample photo galleries, which nextpit provides in their original size for all current smartphone reviews, apart from the spec sheet.
The best camera smartphones in 2024
If you're looking for a top-camera smartphone at the beginning of 2024, the Google Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra are the best Android choices. For Apple enthusiasts, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the premier option for camera quality.
There are also excellent camera phones available for under $1,000. In this price range, Google leads with the Pixel 8, along with the Pixel 7 and Pixel 6a. For the first time on our list of camera phones, we've included a foldable device: the OnePlus Open. It earns the title of the most capable foldable phone for photography ever released. Let's take a closer look at these devices one by one.
The best camera smartphone 2024: Google Pixel 8 Pro
In our last camera blind test of the year, the nextpit community chose the Google Pixel 8 Pro as the best camera in a smartphone for 2024.
The Pixel flagship's 50 MP main camera features an f/1.68 aperture and a 1/1.31-inch sensor. It's accompanied by a 48 MP ultra-wide-angle camera with a 125.5-degree field of view, which can also handle macro photography.
The camera system is rounded off with a 5x telephoto zoom camera at 48 MP. Image stabilization is both optical and electronic. At the front, there's a 10.5 MP selfie camera in the punch hole.
A standout feature of all these cameras is their access to the company's advanced AI capabilities. The software, with tools like the Magic Eraser, Best Take, and the new Magic Editor, enhances your photos significantly. With more software updates on the horizon, the Pixel 8 Pro's camera is set to get even better over time.
Speaking of longevity: with a seven-year update guarantee, you can enjoy this smartphone for a long time. Naturally, its other specs are just as impressive. It features the latest Tensor 3 SoC, a 6.7-inch OLED display, 12 GB of RAM, and up to 512 GB of storage.
The device is encased in an IP68-certified housing and is equipped with a 30 W rechargeable battery boasting a capacity of 5,050 mAh. It goes without saying that the display runs on the brand-new Android 14 in its purest form.
If you're interested in purchasing it, the recommended retail price is $999.
The best Android alternative: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
If you want the ultimate flagship, then there is no way around the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, which simply offers incredibly good performance in all aspects. Of course, this also applies to the excellent and enormously versatile camera with the bombastic 200 MP main sensor.
The 10x optical zoom is also really fun, although the large gap in the focal length range reduces its flexibility by quite a bit. There's also 8K video recording and plenty of exciting shooting modes.
The South Koreans also delivered great performance apart from the camera. From the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC to the fantastic QHD+ display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and a powerful battery life, the Galaxy S23 Ultra really is "ultra" in all aspects.
This also applies to the software: Samsung's update policy of four years of Android updates and five years of security patches is simply top-notch.
The best camera iPhone from Apple: iPhone 15 Pro Max
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the spearhead of camera smartphones from Apple. It has a triple camera, consisting of a main camera with 48 MP (f/1.78 aperture), an ultra-wide-angle camera with 12 MP (f/2.2 aperture), and a telephoto lens with 12 MP (f/2.8 aperture).
The telephoto lens has a 5x optical zoom, whereas in the previous generation you had to make do with a 3x zoom. There is also still a 12 MP selfie camera at the front.
Remarkable: Both the front and rear camera sensors can film in 4K at 60 fps. In addition to the versatility of the camera system, the quality of the telephoto zoom and the portrait mode were praised in our reviews.
Best camera smartphone up to $1,000: Google Pixel 8
Of course, the basic 2023 model should not be missing from the big Pixel festival. The Pixel 8 "only" has a dual camera like its predecessor, but it is impressive. The main camera offers exactly the same key data as its Pro brother, i.e. 50 MP, f/1.68 aperture, and a pixel size of 1.2 μm.
The ultra-wide-angle camera with 12 MP and f/2.2 aperture, on the other hand, falls short, but of course without disappointing. At night, the fact that you can't keep up with the Pixel 8 Pro Cam with the ultra-wide angle is noticeable in a negative way, but apart from that, these images are almost as impressive as those of the main camera.
The 2x zoom is also impressive and, as is usually the case with Pixel phones, and Google also excels in the AI functions. The range of functions is identical to that of the large Pixel 8 Pro, but this also means that some of the previously announced functions are not yet ready for launch.
Here too, regardless of the cam, you get a powerful smartphone with a Tensor 3 chipset, 6.2-inch OLED display, 8 GB and up to 256 GB memory. Another big advantage over the competition here: Pure Android 14 and a tempting update promise of seven years!
Compared to the Pixel phones mentioned above, the Google Pixel 7 already has one more year under its belt. However, this also means that its price has fallen more sharply and it has therefore entered the $600 category.
As with the Pixel 8, Google combines a 50 MP main camera with a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle shooter. At 10.8 MP, the resolution at the front is even slightly higher than on the successor.
All cameras deliver 4K videos with 60 fps and the main camera impresses with brilliant images during the day and at night. Only the ultra-wide-angle photos at night are not as great as with the main camera.
The Tensor 2 powers this 6.3-inch device and, as with the Pixel 8, there is up to 256 GB of storage space and 8 GB of RAM. The battery, which has a capacity of 4,355 mAh, can be charged with up to 21 W.
Best camera smartphone up to $400: Google Pixel 6a
One thing that the camera in the Google Pixel 6a will not win is the prize for the smartphone with the most cameras under the $400 price bracket. The smartphone only has a dual camera configuration and does without the macro and bokeh sensors, which are both common and gimmicky in this price range.
In return, both cameras benefit from Google's sophisticated image processing algorithms and deliver really great photos—almost on the level of the major Pixels.
The Pixel 6a is user-friendly with its straightforward stock Android and reliable long-term updates. It delivers strong performance, thanks to the same Tensor SoC used in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Uniquely for its price, it's IP67 certified, making it dust and water-resistant. One thing to consider is its size: the Pixel 6a is quite compact.
Competition such as Xiaomi does better compared to the Pixel 6a would be the display. The display of the Pixel 6a has a maximum refresh rate of 60 Hz. You will also not find wireless charging in this handset, with wired charging happening only at 18 watts.
Foldable phones are really popular now. Gone are the days when they were just an exciting concept. Above all of them, we have the OnePlus Open—which is a great camera phone.
Photography fans will really like the camera made by Hasselblad. We've used it for a while and it's great. Its main part is the 48 MP Sony LYTIA-T808 camera. This camera has a big 1/1.43” CMOS sensor and a lens that lets in a lot of light (f/1.7 aperture), so pictures are very clear.
There's also a 64MP zoom camera that can zoom in 3 times without losing quality, 6 times using digital tricks, and up to 120 times with Ultra Res zoom, but this last one isn't as good. Plus, there's a 48MP wide-angle camera that can take wide pictures up to 114°, great for capturing big scenes.
The phone not only looks great but performs even better, and it's more affordable than its competitors. About its features—the OnePlus Open has a design similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 5 but with its own unique touch. It charges superfast, and its multitasking features, like the 'Recent fold' and OnePlus Canvas, really boost productivity.
In short, if you're in the market for a foldable phone this year that excels in photo and video performance, the OnePlus Open should be your top choice. It's budget-friendly, feature-rich, and simply enjoyable to use.
What do you think of our selection? What models did we miss out on that you think should be included? We'd love to hear your feedback in the comments.
This article was updated in January 2024 with current pricing. The previous comments have been retained.
nextpit receives a commission for purchases made via the marked links. This has no influence on the editorial content and there are no costs for you. You can find out more about how we make money on our transparency page.
I have been writing about technology since 2004 with a strong passion for smartphones, photography, and IoT, especially in the world of smart homes and AI ever since they debuted. I'm also an avid cook and bake pizza at least three times a week using my Ooni Koda 16. In order to compensate for all the consumed calories, I indulge in sporting activities on a daily basis while strapping on at least two fitness trackers. I am strongly convinced that you can DIY a lot of things if you put your mind to it - including a photovoltaic system and power station.
Really good article, thanks! An acquaintance of mine takes pictures on a pixel (he is a professional photographer) and the pictures turn out unreal)
Robert Vadra
Nov 12, 2021
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Wonderful post
Ant Kan
Dec 1, 2020
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I think Xiaomi is the best one to capture very nice photos without spend a lot of money.
Adrian Palmer Edwards
Nov 25, 2020
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How narrow minded can you be, every true photographer online says this new Sony Xperia 1 ll has the best camera by a mile, they all say it every single one. But, tech reviewers stick to what they are spoon fed, very narrow minded. People read these reviews before they spend $1k+ on a new smartphone, waste of time, by the way I have a Blackberry.
S K
Oct 8, 2020
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this article is great with all the relevant information required for mobile photography.thanks
Dean L.
May 23, 2020
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I have a Sony alpha 6000 and love using it for taking pictures. Bottom line is I always have my phone with me which I probably take >90% of my pictures with. So I have both sides covered. The other key feature I love with my phone is I can shoot video and take pictures at the same time. Just my two pfennig...
marco sarli
Admin
May 22, 2020
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If your interest is photography then you need a real camera
Franz Fifty
May 22, 2020
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no, unless you can shoot with a "real" camera by taking it out of your pocket, point towards something and take great night pictures without a tripod... but since smartphone cameras have become more versatile and far superior in processing, that statement is not true anymore
Rusty H.
May 26, 2020
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I take night photos without a tripod. If your d-slr/lens has great stability, it can be done. I've taken some fantastic moon photos without a tripod. Now, if you are talking more than 1/2 second exposure, yeah, you'll need a tripod.
Deactivated Account
May 22, 2020
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If you want the best pictures buy a DSLR camera. No smart phone with a tiny lens can ever compete with a real quality camera. They can replace the old point and shoot camera but that is about it
Franz Fifty
May 22, 2020
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didn't know a DSLR can make phone calls or browse the internet..or did i miss something in an article talking about "camera PHONES"?
storm
May 22, 2020
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You've managed to pick no phone of interest to me. A camera isn't everything.
MirandaStown
Aug 25, 2019
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Samsung phone models take truly superb photos and videos. The quality is excellent!
Deactivated Account
May 31, 2018
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S9+'s Variable apeture is fire tho
harshatecordeon
May 25, 2018
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i think Huawei is the best one to capture
Rusty H.
May 25, 2018
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Another vote for the Mate9, VERY good camera. Using Camera FV-5 or Open camera, it does very well.
CJ Brown
Mar 21, 2017
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ZTE Axon 7 20 Megapixel Back
#nuffsaid
Marius Viney
Mar 21, 2017
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What about the LG G5 camera?
Deactivated Account
Mar 20, 2017
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The Mate 9 is doing very well, and also the nubia Z11, both have excellent cameras, but I can not say how good they are in comparison with the Pixel or Galaxy S7. But anyway they are better then my old S6 edge plus and the honor 5x :)
Deactivated Account
Mar 20, 2017
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Really no LG phones. This is a very biased incomplete article.
Dean L.
May 26, 2018
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The article has been updated and now has the LG v30 and iPhone X as well as other 2018 models. For what it's worth I still like the photos I'm getting with the Pixel 2.
Chad_Higgins
Mar 20, 2017
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LG V20
Andrew Burgin
Mar 20, 2017
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S7 Edge is a Super Camera phone
Peter Harwood
Mar 20, 2017
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Z5 for me, best natural colours.
nathan chisholm
Jan 10, 2017
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My samsung s7 camera is so fast to focus it's unreal! Plus the photos are stunning. The other day my friend had a promo on at his bar and i took some pics and they looked awesome the low light photos came out great...
Kari Melby
Jan 4, 2017
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Sony xz har det beste kamera 🎥 men man må lære å bruke det 😊 😊
Siniša Ružičić
Oct 2, 2016
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LOL first site that doesnt claim that s7 is the best camera phone. i mean the fastest autofocus is found there not in z5 are you blind? the best low light performance, best camera app along with v10. best detail and sharpness. you must be paid from sony for this kind of shit
Denys Zaiats
Sep 9, 2016
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I found amazing resource www.facey.top with photos from mobile devices.
Terie Mumby
Aug 16, 2016
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Ahem! No mention of the LGG5. Not sure why not. The camera's at least as good as the S7. Besides.. It's got that extra-wide second camera that should put it on the list for sure. You guys are so biased. I'm shocked, Scott. I don't know why I keep reading this stuff.
Atli Örn Hilmars
Aug 16, 2016
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Fine review. I had almost bought Samsung 6 edge plus yesterday but thougth better wait and read more about it and see if 7 is a better choice and worth the diffrence in price. Upgrading from Samsung Galaxy 2 gt plus. Maybe older Galaxies could serve as well or another brand. I mostly use it for pictures, surfing, seeing news and videos, skype and orientering (maps). I not into games and talking to my phone or jerking it around. Which models should I check first?
Hans G
Aug 11, 2016
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You can add one very soon. The Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe.. Great camera 👍
Deactivated Account
Aug 1, 2016
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DxOMark has given 88 to Xperia X Performance. Z5 has 87.
Peter Harwood
Aug 1, 2016
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Sony phone's are shit and over heat some people say! Well I've just spent 3 hours none stop on the Internet and my Z5 isn't bearly warm never mind hot, think some people don't like Sony! thats OK stick with a phone that your happy with but don't rubbish a phone just because you don't like it or more likely you've never had one?As for the Sony Ericsson arc what you expecting from a low budget phone with low end specs? But then you jump up to the Z5 premium! problely just in your mind!
Chad_Higgins
Mar 20, 2017
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Nobody has Sony in USA. Dont even offer them anywhere to buy. But i know they are good.
btyce
Jul 30, 2016
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Sony phones are shit stacked they should stick to playstations. Was using experia arc which kept corrupting boot partion and z5 premium same thing and alwaus over heating esp when m using Internet
btyce
Jul 30, 2016
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I choose to have a Samsung any tyme not the sony Z series. They all die the same way
Peter Harwood
Jul 29, 2016
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Looks as if the Sony x has just gone to the top of Dxomark so looks like Sony has done it again.
Dummy_001
Jul 29, 2016
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Everyone is blabbering on how good the camera of Samsung.
Sony be like: Aren't those phone's using my Sensor? d - .. - b
nathan chisholm
Jan 10, 2017
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Samsung doesn't use sony sensors
Deactivated Account
Mar 20, 2017
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The s6 edge does I know for a fact not sure about the s7/edge though.
Kodiak Dog
Jul 27, 2016
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What about the Nexus 5x?
Robin van Dijke
Aug 1, 2016
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The 5X has the same camera as the 6P, so don't worry buddy, it's also the best!
Chad_Higgins
Mar 20, 2017
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Its o.k. nothing great about it!
cybertec69
Mar 21, 2017
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I own both a Nexus 5X and a Samsung S7, both take great pictures, the S7 is just faster, the Nexus 5X pictures look more natural than the S7 pictures. I also shoot with a DSLR Nikon D500, and no smartphone comes close to the larger sensor DSLR.
Deactivated Account
Jul 26, 2016
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I find it hard to believe you put the P9 on the list. It is a marginal picture taker at best. The monochromatic lens does nothing unless you are taking black and white pictures. Leica had nothing to do with this camera except maybe making the lenses. It is all hype and BS.
peter
Jul 25, 2016
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The best camera on my opinion Spny xperia zx 5
JD Weaver
Jul 16, 2016
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Keep in mind the LG G4 Panorama setting is not as good as on the Samsung phones. Also the megapixel rating is only part of the equation. You need to consider aspect ratio. My 16MP S5 isn't any better than the S7 12MP due to the S7's aspect ratio.
Deactivated Account
May 5, 2016
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Z5 camera over crapsung trash 13MP slow autofocus garbage.
Luke Thorpe
Jun 13, 2016
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The S7 has the fastest autofocus on any phone, and possibly the best camera. I'm not a samsung fanboy - I've never even owned a samsung phone or tablet.
Andrii Gritsevskyi
Jul 27, 2016
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No, it is not. You should try it yourself for a day or so, and I bet you will change your opinion. And, honestly, I can imagine it is not so much camera problem but combination of driver/library/software.
Peter Harwood
Jul 27, 2016
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Thought the S7 has an autofocus speed of 0.05 think you'll find the Z5 has a speed of 0.03
Mikio
Jul 28, 2016
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Hahahahaha😂 Trashsung
Mikio
Apr 30, 2016
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Unfair.
The photos are need to be same to compare.
~I wish there are original downloadable photos taken from those phone. Especially from XPERIA Z5
CJ Brown
Apr 24, 2016
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Still impressed by the Nexus 6P, although every Android smartphone mentioned in this article has a top notch camera ... I guess it's only a matter of time before the HTC 10 is reviewed and added to the list
Admire You
Apr 19, 2016
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s7 is the best sodar forget all others but htc 10 could be as good or better we have to wait and find out
xperia z is crap phone brake easy camera r blury i had xperia z3 dead sfter 2months will never byt sony mobile again previously i had sony experia same storry brake easy stay away from sony mobile
Deactivated Account
May 5, 2016
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My S5 was a plastic piece of crap that got water leaking in and rusted all the internals, so much for IP58. I bought a Sony Xperia Z5 Premium and I will never buy Samsung phones again. This Xperia camera destroys Galaxy phones any day.
Andrew Albano
Jul 26, 2016
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You should treat your GIFTS with great care young man!
Peter Harwood
Jul 28, 2016
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look after them they don't break?
LatinoMicz
Apr 16, 2016
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Really? Z5 is good? I had a Z3 and hated it so bad. The camera with 20mp was dreadful. Felt so much worse than my 4ultra pixel M7 that I switched from. That plus horrible bluetooth connection issues made me ditch the phone quick and vow never to touch a Sony phone again.
Deactivated Account
May 5, 2016
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I had a Z3 and I rooted it. Everything improved with the Marshmallow update but I bought a Z5 Premium now. All those problems are now gone and Sony listens to all our suggestions and their development community hosts votes and requests for features. Yes, the Z3 has issues but if you're vowing not to buy Sony phones again, you're at a big loss.
surya kumar
Apr 16, 2016
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I think s7 have lesser resolution than 6P.But you mentioned 6p has the lowest resolution in this list
Andrii Gritsevskyi
Jul 27, 2016
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It is not about number of the pixels, it is about quality of the camera.
Alex W.
Apr 15, 2016
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So the best camera award goes to Z5, but what about it's overheating issues and is the software ok? Cause I heard something about lags.
tariq
Apr 15, 2016
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I had Sony phones for past 3 years. They have some heating issues, but opening all of the ports helps it cool down or u can just put it under cold water for a few secs. And the camera; its great and all but only outside, the camera on Sony phones is awful in the dark and flash doesn't help since the camera can't auto focus quick enough... S7edge wins camera test for me, especially in the dark!
Deactivated Account
May 5, 2016
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No overheating issues for me on my Z5 Premium. Software is running excellently. All problems were fixed after the marshmallow update.
Peter Harwood
Apr 15, 2016
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Just love the camera of the Z5 so easy to use and pictures are very good in all situations
Precision
Apr 15, 2016
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All the cameras aren't as good as they should be. But if they were, how many people would upgrade ?
I think there was a wasted opportunity here also because cameras perform differently in different lighting conditions. And comparisons were not made.
People should also be aware that reviewers often get sent better models with better components than the ones that get delivered to people.
lianne john
Apr 15, 2016
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LG makes a good choice!
Matt Schutte
Feb 7, 2016
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My Fruit Loops cereal box pin-hole-camera may be a bit older than the smart-cam competition of 2016, but megapixels and sensor size can't beat the tiny Gnome behind the lens that renders crayon sketches in 64 colors, all in less than 5 minutes!
walter white
Jan 29, 2016
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This review is so dense, and biased toward SHAMESUNG it's sad. The v10 is the most innovative, and includes the most features people actually want, plus it's military drop test specced. Applesung offers nothing but cheated benchmarks, and touchpizz. This site is weak, Android central ftw.
Khalid
Jan 24, 2016
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you should name this Samsung Pit/Huawei Pit instead Androidpit
Hariyanto Sahabuddin
Jan 22, 2016
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Unfortunately most of those phones are very expensive ones. I wish I could buy one.
Parvind Chahal
Jan 21, 2016
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u cant make people fools s6 camera is better than v10 moto and nexus 6p.....i can bet
Michael Cook
Jan 21, 2016
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Huh?
walter white
Jan 29, 2016
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You can bet......but you'll lose. If you ever read a reputable website like the verge, you will see which phone has the best camera. Its not shamesung either.
Deactivated Account
Jan 21, 2016
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Best cameras of 2016? They are all 2015 phones. The 2016 phones have not even been released.
Michael Cook
Jan 21, 2016
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I got my LG V10 last week, and it really does have an awesome camera!
bharath
Jan 21, 2016
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u didnt mention about lenovo vibeshot
chetan
Jan 21, 2016
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my canvas knight has also the best camera to use for 4ever
hotspring21
Dec 26, 2015
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How about Panasonic DMC-CM1? True this is 2014 phone, but it still beats any android camera out there for sensor size and stills picture quality
Guto Nobre
Jan 14, 2016
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Yep, but Android version has stopped in 4.4... No update....
James Rodwer
Dec 24, 2015
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I have to go with Galaxy Note 5. It is the best phone you can have at this moment and it provides you with anything you ever wanted from a smartphone. The screen is really great and you can easily watch your favourite tv show on it without realising you are on a smartphone. The camera is awesome! It has a 16 MP Rear Camera and 5 MP Front Camera. However, the clarity of the phone is very clear and the additional features make the photos even more interesting.
Michael Cook
Jan 21, 2016
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Except it has a back made of very breakable glass (who thought that was a good idea?), and they removed the removable battery and SD Card, they took form over function, the Note 5 is basically a blown up S6 with an S Pen. It's sad to see Samsung go the Apple route.
walter white
Jan 29, 2016
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Obviously you've never used a v10.
William K.
Dec 15, 2015
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My M9 takes just fine pictures. I think all flagship phones have cameras basically on par with one another and the average person can't tell the difference. I don't understand the obsession with smartphone cameras.
Tamara C.
Dec 14, 2015
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Wow! With SoOooo many ideas n inventions in your head how do you you get it to Industry??? I would really love to help the plant be a better place for all life. Good for you, for putting this out there. It's still in it's Infancy..Give it time to grow. It's a Brilliant idea
Peter Harwood
Dec 12, 2015
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all i can say is I've had a z5 now for a couple of months and i think it's probably the best out there at the moment
Kong Ling
Dec 12, 2015
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Bad author for mentioning Samsung name in Nexus/LG Pit.
rick
Dec 10, 2015
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i have the the S5, i think the camera is as good as any. At least for a phone camera.
Ian Shore
Dec 10, 2015
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Interesting that the Note 5 missed the cut.
Chavanel
Dec 27, 2015
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S6/S6 Edge/S6 Edge+/Note 5 all use the same camera sensor and image processing. In other words, they are all the same.
James William
Dec 10, 2015
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What I really like is Sony Xperia Z5's snap. It was just cool. I liked it a lot.
Josee Bouthillette
Aug 4, 2015
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LG G3 does also great pictures even better than Samsung Galaxy Alpha
SNault
Aug 3, 2015
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Is this a paid Samsung ad or have you never heard of the LG G4? The G4 beats the heck out of the S6 camera.
walter white
Jan 29, 2016
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Yup.
Lau6304
Jul 4, 2015
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Where is Sony? Where is LG?
Alban Koxha
Dec 13, 2015
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I am quite happy
wasimariflone
Jul 4, 2015
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i compared s6 and xperia z3c side by side , only thing i liked about s6 was more details when zoomed in, other than that z3 wins
wasimariflone
Jul 4, 2015
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No Sony ? certainly they take good pictures
Chad_Higgins
Jul 4, 2015
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Never saw anyone in USA with a Sony? But I'm sure given there reputation they take GREAT pictures.
Chad_Higgins
Jul 4, 2015
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Anyone who has a HTC Desire 816 will tell you, this phone also takes incredible pictures, whether you use the front or back camera. 5mp, 13mp
Elena R
Jun 8, 2016
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Agree! I'm on prepaid with Virgin mobile and love the camera of the Desire 816, unfortunately I was running out of memory so I "upgraded" to the Galaxy J7, the camera is awful in the J7, a lot of noise and blurry pics and takes a long time to focus and on top of that I got a defective phone, LOL, so I have to return the galaxy, now I'm checking which phone I will get
Sebastian Marr
Jul 4, 2015
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I agree with everyone else. There are a lot of better cameras, and not necessarily Samsung, Apple and all of this big names.
Miguel Gonçalves
Jul 4, 2015
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The title should be: "Samsung advertisement"
prince kesarwani
Jul 4, 2015
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how abt thinking of sony xperia z3+
otillee lee
Jul 4, 2015
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It's all about Samsung! Bad joke you make in this article! -1!
Junior Diaz
Jul 5, 2015
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It seems like androidpit is just one huge Samsung ad
Randy Walsh
Jul 4, 2015
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Where is the LG G4? Most every Android site and it's reviewers say it's Camera is as good or even better than the S6.
Miguel Gonçalves
Jul 4, 2015
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Where is Huawei P8???
Chad_Higgins
Jul 4, 2015
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They don't sell those here in USA. Is it any good?
Moni Mihailov
Jul 4, 2015
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I can't believe you didn't mention the Galaxy S5 :/ It's the 2nd best camera after the S6.
walter white
Jan 29, 2016
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Are you joking? That phone flat out sucks donkey balls.
Paolo
Jul 4, 2015
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Did you just legitimately give an 'Honorable Mention' to 4 Megapixels, aggressive software processing, and a gimmicky dual lens setup that creates a poorly created Bokeh effect? My Note 3 camera is much better than, I dunno, every 2013-onwards HTC phone ever?
Chad_Higgins
Jul 4, 2015
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I will put my HTC Desire 816 up against your note 3 any day. And see which phone takes a better picture!
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Really good article, thanks!
An acquaintance of mine takes pictures on a pixel (he is a professional photographer) and the pictures turn out unreal)
Wonderful post
I think Xiaomi is the best one to capture very nice photos without spend a lot of money.
How narrow minded can you be, every true photographer online says this new Sony Xperia 1 ll has the best camera by a mile, they all say it every single one. But, tech reviewers stick to what they are spoon fed, very narrow minded. People read these reviews before they spend $1k+ on a new smartphone, waste of time, by the way I have a Blackberry.
this article is great with all the relevant information required for mobile photography.thanks
I have a Sony alpha 6000 and love using it for taking pictures. Bottom line is I always have my phone with me which I probably take >90% of my pictures with. So I have both sides covered. The other key feature I love with my phone is I can shoot video and take pictures at the same time. Just my two pfennig...
If your interest is photography then you need a real camera
no, unless you can shoot with a "real" camera by taking it out of your pocket, point towards something and take great night pictures without a tripod... but since smartphone cameras have become more versatile and far superior in processing, that statement is not true anymore
I take night photos without a tripod. If your d-slr/lens has great stability, it can be done. I've taken some fantastic moon photos without a tripod. Now, if you are talking more than 1/2 second exposure, yeah, you'll need a tripod.
If you want the best pictures buy a DSLR camera. No smart phone with a tiny lens can ever compete with a real quality camera. They can replace the old point and shoot camera but that is about it
didn't know a DSLR can make phone calls or browse the internet..or did i miss something in an article talking about "camera PHONES"?
You've managed to pick no phone of interest to me. A camera isn't everything.
Samsung phone models take truly superb photos and videos. The quality is excellent!
S9+'s Variable apeture is fire tho
i think Huawei is the best one to capture
Another vote for the Mate9, VERY good camera. Using Camera FV-5 or Open camera, it does very well.
ZTE Axon 7
20 Megapixel Back
#nuffsaid
What about the LG G5 camera?
The Mate 9 is doing very well, and also the nubia Z11, both have excellent cameras, but I can not say how good they are in comparison with the Pixel or Galaxy S7. But anyway they are better then my old S6 edge plus and the honor 5x :)
Really no LG phones. This is a very biased incomplete article.
The article has been updated and now has the LG v30 and iPhone X as well as other 2018 models. For what it's worth I still like the photos I'm getting with the Pixel 2.
LG V20
S7 Edge is a Super Camera phone
Z5 for me, best natural colours.
My samsung s7 camera is so fast to focus it's unreal! Plus the photos are stunning. The other day my friend had a promo on at his bar and i took some pics and they looked awesome the low light photos came out great...
Sony xz har det beste kamera 🎥 men man må lære å bruke det 😊 😊
LOL first site that doesnt claim that s7 is the best camera phone. i mean the fastest autofocus is found there not in z5 are you blind? the best low light performance, best camera app along with v10. best detail and sharpness. you must be paid from sony for this kind of shit
I found amazing resource www.facey.top with photos from mobile devices.
Ahem! No mention of the LGG5. Not sure why not. The camera's at least as good as the S7. Besides.. It's got that extra-wide second camera that should put it on the list for sure. You guys are so biased. I'm shocked, Scott. I don't know why I keep reading this stuff.
Fine review. I had almost bought Samsung 6 edge plus yesterday but thougth better wait and read more about it and see if 7 is a better choice and worth the diffrence in price. Upgrading from Samsung Galaxy 2 gt plus. Maybe older Galaxies could serve as well or another brand. I mostly use it for pictures, surfing, seeing news and videos, skype and orientering (maps). I not into games and talking to my phone or jerking it around. Which models should I check first?
You can add one very soon. The Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe.. Great camera 👍
DxOMark has given 88 to Xperia X Performance. Z5 has 87.
Sony phone's are shit and over heat some people say! Well I've just spent 3 hours none stop on the Internet and my Z5 isn't bearly warm never mind hot, think some people don't like Sony! thats OK stick with a phone that your happy with but don't rubbish a phone just because you don't like it or more likely you've never had one?As for the Sony Ericsson arc what you expecting from a low budget phone with low end specs? But then you jump up to the Z5 premium! problely just in your mind!
Nobody has Sony in USA. Dont even offer them anywhere to buy. But i know they are good.
Sony phones are shit stacked they should stick to playstations. Was using experia arc which kept corrupting boot partion and z5 premium same thing and alwaus over heating esp when m using Internet
I choose to have a Samsung any tyme not the sony Z series. They all die the same way
Looks as if the Sony x has just gone to the top of Dxomark so looks like Sony has done it again.
Everyone is blabbering on how good the camera of Samsung.
Sony be like: Aren't those phone's using my Sensor?
d - .. - b
Samsung doesn't use sony sensors
The s6 edge does I know for a fact not sure about the s7/edge though.
What about the Nexus 5x?
The 5X has the same camera as the 6P, so don't worry buddy, it's also the best!
Its o.k. nothing great about it!
I own both a Nexus 5X and a Samsung S7, both take great pictures, the S7 is just faster, the Nexus 5X pictures look more natural than the S7 pictures. I also shoot with a DSLR Nikon D500, and no smartphone comes close to the larger sensor DSLR.
I find it hard to believe you put the P9 on the list. It is a marginal picture taker at best. The monochromatic lens does nothing unless you are taking black and white pictures. Leica had nothing to do with this camera except maybe making the lenses. It is all hype and BS.
The best camera on my opinion Spny xperia zx 5
Keep in mind the LG G4 Panorama setting is not as good as on the Samsung phones. Also the megapixel rating is only part of the equation. You need to consider aspect ratio. My 16MP S5 isn't any better than the S7 12MP due to the S7's aspect ratio.
Z5 camera over crapsung trash 13MP slow autofocus garbage.
The S7 has the fastest autofocus on any phone, and possibly the best camera. I'm not a samsung fanboy - I've never even owned a samsung phone or tablet.
No, it is not. You should try it yourself for a day or so, and I bet you will change your opinion. And, honestly, I can imagine it is not so much camera problem but combination of driver/library/software.
Thought the S7 has an autofocus speed of 0.05 think you'll find the Z5 has a speed of 0.03
Hahahahaha😂
Trashsung
Unfair.
The photos are need to be same to compare.
~I wish there are original downloadable photos taken from those phone. Especially from XPERIA Z5
Still impressed by the Nexus 6P, although every Android smartphone mentioned in this article has a top notch camera ... I guess it's only a matter of time before the HTC 10 is reviewed and added to the list
s7 is the best sodar forget all others but htc 10 could be as good or better we have to wait and find out
xperia z is crap phone brake easy camera r blury i had xperia z3 dead sfter 2months will never byt sony mobile again previously i had sony experia same storry brake easy stay away from sony mobile
My S5 was a plastic piece of crap that got water leaking in and rusted all the internals, so much for IP58. I bought a Sony Xperia Z5 Premium and I will never buy Samsung phones again. This Xperia camera destroys Galaxy phones any day.
You should treat your GIFTS with great care young man!
look after them they don't break?
Really? Z5 is good? I had a Z3 and hated it so bad. The camera with 20mp was dreadful. Felt so much worse than my 4ultra pixel M7 that I switched from. That plus horrible bluetooth connection issues made me ditch the phone quick and vow never to touch a Sony phone again.
I had a Z3 and I rooted it. Everything improved with the Marshmallow update but I bought a Z5 Premium now. All those problems are now gone and Sony listens to all our suggestions and their development community hosts votes and requests for features. Yes, the Z3 has issues but if you're vowing not to buy Sony phones again, you're at a big loss.
I think s7 have lesser resolution than 6P.But you mentioned 6p has the lowest resolution in this list
It is not about number of the pixels, it is about quality of the camera.
So the best camera award goes to Z5, but what about it's overheating issues and is the software ok? Cause I heard something about lags.
I had Sony phones for past 3 years. They have some heating issues, but opening all of the ports helps it cool down or u can just put it under cold water for a few secs. And the camera; its great and all but only outside, the camera on Sony phones is awful in the dark and flash doesn't help since the camera can't auto focus quick enough... S7edge wins camera test for me, especially in the dark!
No overheating issues for me on my Z5 Premium. Software is running excellently. All problems were fixed after the marshmallow update.
Just love the camera of the Z5 so easy to use and pictures are very good in all situations
All the cameras aren't as good as they should be. But if they were, how many people would upgrade ?
I think there was a wasted opportunity here also because cameras perform differently in different lighting conditions. And comparisons were not made.
People should also be aware that reviewers often get sent better models with better components than the ones that get delivered to people.
LG makes a good choice!
My Fruit Loops cereal box pin-hole-camera may be a bit older than the smart-cam competition of 2016, but megapixels and sensor size can't beat the tiny Gnome behind the lens that renders crayon sketches in 64 colors, all in less than 5 minutes!
This review is so dense, and biased toward SHAMESUNG it's sad. The v10 is the most innovative, and includes the most features people actually want, plus it's military drop test specced. Applesung offers nothing but cheated benchmarks, and touchpizz. This site is weak, Android central ftw.
you should name this Samsung Pit/Huawei Pit instead Androidpit
Unfortunately most of those phones are very expensive ones. I wish I could buy one.
u cant make people fools s6 camera is better than v10 moto and nexus 6p.....i can bet
Huh?
You can bet......but you'll lose. If you ever read a reputable website like the verge, you will see which phone has the best camera. Its not shamesung either.
Best cameras of 2016? They are all 2015 phones. The 2016 phones have not even been released.
I got my LG V10 last week, and it really does have an awesome camera!
u didnt mention about lenovo vibeshot
my canvas knight has also the best camera to use for 4ever
How about Panasonic DMC-CM1? True this is 2014 phone, but it still beats any android camera out there for sensor size and stills picture quality
Yep, but Android version has stopped in 4.4... No update....
I have to go with Galaxy Note 5. It is the best phone you can have at this moment and it provides you with anything you ever wanted from a smartphone.
The screen is really great and you can easily watch your favourite tv show on it without realising you are on a smartphone.
The camera is awesome! It has a 16 MP Rear Camera and 5 MP Front Camera. However, the clarity of the phone is very clear and the additional features make the photos even more interesting.
Except it has a back made of very breakable glass (who thought that was a good idea?), and they removed the removable battery and SD Card, they took form over function, the Note 5 is basically a blown up S6 with an S Pen. It's sad to see Samsung go the Apple route.
Obviously you've never used a v10.
My M9 takes just fine pictures. I think all flagship phones have cameras basically on par with one another and the average person can't tell the difference. I don't understand the obsession with smartphone cameras.
Wow! With SoOooo many ideas n inventions in your head how do you you get it to Industry??? I would really love to help the plant be a better place for all life. Good for you, for putting this out there. It's still in it's Infancy..Give it time to grow. It's a Brilliant idea
all i can say is I've had a z5 now for a couple of months and i think it's probably the best out there at the moment
Bad author for mentioning Samsung name in Nexus/LG Pit.
i have the the S5, i think the camera is as good as any. At least for a phone camera.
Interesting that the Note 5 missed the cut.
S6/S6 Edge/S6 Edge+/Note 5 all use the same camera sensor and image processing. In other words, they are all the same.
What I really like is Sony Xperia Z5's snap. It was just cool. I liked it a lot.
LG G3 does also great pictures even better than Samsung Galaxy Alpha
Is this a paid Samsung ad or have you never heard of the LG G4? The G4 beats the heck out of the S6 camera.
Yup.
Where is Sony? Where is LG?
I am quite happy
i compared s6 and xperia z3c side by side , only thing i liked about s6 was more details when zoomed in, other than that z3 wins
No Sony ? certainly they take good pictures
Never saw anyone in USA with a Sony? But I'm sure given there reputation they take GREAT pictures.
Anyone who has a HTC Desire 816 will tell you, this phone also takes incredible pictures, whether you use the front or back camera. 5mp, 13mp
Agree! I'm on prepaid with Virgin mobile and love the camera of the Desire 816, unfortunately I was running out of memory so I "upgraded" to the Galaxy J7, the camera is awful in the J7, a lot of noise and blurry pics and takes a long time to focus and on top of that I got a defective phone, LOL, so I have to return the galaxy, now I'm checking which phone I will get
I agree with everyone else. There are a lot of better cameras, and not necessarily Samsung, Apple and all of this big names.
The title should be: "Samsung advertisement"
how abt thinking of sony xperia z3+
It's all about Samsung! Bad joke you make in this article! -1!
It seems like androidpit is just one huge Samsung ad
Where is the LG G4? Most every Android site and it's reviewers say it's Camera is as good or even better than the S6.
Where is Huawei P8???
They don't sell those here in USA. Is it any good?
I can't believe you didn't mention the Galaxy S5 :/ It's the 2nd best camera after the S6.
Are you joking? That phone flat out sucks donkey balls.
Did you just legitimately give an 'Honorable Mention' to 4 Megapixels, aggressive software processing, and a gimmicky dual lens setup that creates a poorly created Bokeh effect? My Note 3 camera is much better than, I dunno, every 2013-onwards HTC phone ever?
I will put my HTC Desire 816 up against your note 3 any day. And see which phone takes a better picture!