The best camera phones to buy in 2024

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is a flagship smartphone known for its impressive camera system and top-tier performance. It features a primary 48-megapixel camera with adjustable apertures, offering versatility in various shooting conditions. The camera setup also includes a 12-megapixel periscope telephoto lens for exceptional zoom capabilities and a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens to capture wide-angle shots. Selfies are handled by a 12-megapixel front-facing camera.

One of the standout features of the iPhone 15 Pro Max is its exceptional video quality. It can record 4K videos up to 60fps, and supports advanced features like Dolby Vision HDR and ProRes video recording, making it a versatile tool for content creators. The device also offers software-based enhancements such as cinematic mode for professional-looking videos and live text recognition.

While the iPhone 15 Pro Max may not have the highest megapixel count among competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, it excels in color accuracy, dynamic range, and video recording capabilities. Running on iOS 17 and powered by the Apple A17 Pro chipset, it ensures smooth performance and efficiency. The device offers multiple memory and storage options to suit individual preferences and introduces USB 3.2 and DisplayPort support for improved connectivity.

In summary, the iPhone 15 Pro Max continues Apple`s legacy of delivering top-notch camera performance, particularly in video recording and color accuracy. Its powerful hardware, alongside software enhancements, provides an excellent overall user experience. However, users seeking the highest resolution photography may explore alternatives with higher megapixel counts.

The Google Pixel 8 Pro boasts an impressive camera system, with a main camera that features a 50-megapixel sensor and a wide f/1.7 aperture lens. This camera is equipped with advanced autofocus technology, allowing it to quickly and accurately lock onto subjects even in challenging shooting conditions. The Pixel 8 Pro`s main camera also has improved low-light performance, thanks to its larger pixel size of 1.2µm. Additionally, the phone`s telephoto lens has a 48-megapixel sensor, allowing for high-quality zoom shots.

The Pixel 8 Pro can record video in 4K at 30 or 60 frames per second, as well as 1080p at 30/60/120/240fps. The phone`s video capabilities are complemented by advanced autofocus technology, which ensures that video footage is always sharp and in focus. The ultrawide selfie camera on the phone has a 10.5-megapixel sensor and can record in 4K at 24/30/60fps.

The Pixel 8 Pro is powered by the new Google Tensor G3 processor, which is expected to be a significant improvement over the Tensor G2 chip used in the Pixel 7 Pro. The phone also has 12GB of RAM and up to 1024GB of storage. The Pixel 8 Pro`s battery is rated at 5050mAh, which is a bit larget than in Pixel 7 Pro.

Overall, the Google Pixel 8 Pro is a significant upgrade over the Pixel 7 Pro, with a faster processor, more RAM, and improved camera capabilities.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a powerful Android smartphone with an advanced camera system. The main camera features an impressive 200 MP sensor with an f/1.7 aperture and a 24mm wide lens. Additionally, there is a periscope telephoto lens with a 10 MP sensor and f/4.9 aperture, allowing for up to 230mm zoom, as well as a 70mm telephoto lens and a 13mm ultrawide lens. The selfie camera features a 12 MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and a 26mm wide lens.

One of the key features of the Galaxy S23 Ultra`s camera system is its improved low-light performance. The larger sensor and wider aperture allow for more light to enter the camera, resulting in brighter and more detailed photos in low-light conditions. The advanced autofocus system uses a combination of laser autofocus, phase detection autofocus, and contrast autofocus to ensure sharp and accurate focus in a variety of lighting conditions.

In terms of video modes, the Galaxy S23 Ultra can shoot 8K video at 30fps, 4K at 60fps, 1080p at 240fps and 720p slow-mo at 960fps. The camera also features a range of software-based photography features, such as night mode, portrait mode, and enhanced HDR capabilities.

One of the main pros of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra`s camera system is its high megapixel count, which allows for extremely detailed photos. The advanced autofocus system and improved low-light performance are also major strengths of this camera. However, some users may find the camera module`s design bulky and unattractive, and the high price point may be a significant drawback for some.

📸 Cameras

The Xiaomi 14 Pro has three cameras on the back. The main camera has a 50-megapixel sensor and a variable aperture that can change from f/1.4 to f/4.0. This means that the camera can let in more light in low-light conditions, taking brighter and more detailed pictures. The camera also has a 50-megapixel telephoto lens for zooming in on distant objects and a 50-megapixel ultrawide lens for taking wider pictures.

🎥 Video Capabilities

The Xiaomi 14 Pro can record 8K video at 24fps, 4K video at up to 60fps, and slow-motion videos at up to 1920fps. It also has a Cinematic Mode that blurs the background and keeps the subject in focus, similar to Hollywood movies.

✨ Overall

Compared to other smartphones on the market, the Xiaomi 14 Pro has a similar camera setup to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Google Pixel 8 Pro. However, the Xiaomi 14 Pro is priced lower than these two smartphones.

The Huawei Mate 60 Pro+ represents the pinnacle of Huawei`s smartphone technology, featuring an array of impressive specifications and innovative features. Operating on HarmonyOS 4.0 (China) or EMUI (Europe), this device is equipped with a Kirin 9000S chipset built on a 7nm process, delivering robust performance and power efficiency. It offers memory configurations of up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, providing ample space for apps, media, and files.

A standout feature of the Mate 60 Pro+ is its camera system. With a versatile quad-camera setup, it includes a 48MP primary camera with adjustable apertures, a 48MP periscope telephoto lens for exceptional zoom capabilities, and a 40MP ultrawide lens for expansive landscape shots. This camera configuration empowers users to capture high-quality images and record videos at 4K resolution and various frame rates. Additionally, the device features a 13MP ultrawide selfie camera for stunning self-portraits and video calls.

Notably, the Huawei Mate 60 Pro+ excels in both photography and videography, offering a comprehensive range of shooting modes and capabilities. While it doesn`t support 8K video recording like some competitors, its overall camera performance and imaging capabilities are highly regarded.

In comparison to its predecessor, the Huawei P60 Pro, the Mate 60 Pro+ represents a significant step forward in terms of hardware, software, and camera capabilities. With its HarmonyOS 4.0, impressive memory options, and cutting-edge camera technology, it caters to users seeking a premium and innovative smartphone experience.

In summary, the Huawei Mate 60 Pro+ is a top-tier smartphone that stands out for its robust hardware, remarkable camera system, and advanced software. It builds upon the strengths of its predecessor and offers an exceptional user experience.

📸 Cameras

The Vivo X100 Pro asserts its dominance in the smartphone photography realm with its remarkable triple 50MP camera setup, tailored to meet the diverse demands of photography enthusiasts. Its 50 MP main sensor, equipped with a large, almost 1" sensor size, captures stunning images brimming with exceptional detail and vibrant colors. The 50 MP telephoto lens empowers you to zoom in on distant subjects with remarkable clarity, reaching up to 100x zoom. For capturing expansive landscapes and group shots, the 50 MP ultrawide lens expands your field of view. Additionally, the 50 MP portrait sensor ensures high-quality portrait shots with artistic depth of field effects.

🎥 Video Capabilities

The Vivo X100 Pro excels in video recording, supporting 8K resolution at 30fps, 4K at up to 60fps, and slow-motion videos at up to 960fps. Its impressive video recording capabilities are further enhanced by a suite of advanced features, including ZEISS Cinematic Video Bokeh, which mimics the cinematic effect of blurring the background and keeping the subject in focus.

✨ Overall

Compared to other smartphones on the market, the Vivo X100 Pro rivals the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Google Pixel 8 Pro in terms of camera performance. It offers a similar level of image quality and video recording capabilities, while also featuring unique features like ZEISS Cinematic Video Bokeh.

The Oppo Find X6 Pro is a top-of-the-line smartphone that comes with impressive features. It runs on Android 13 and is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) processor, which ensures smooth and fast performance. The device comes with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage, making it a great choice for users who need a lot of storage space.

One of the key features of the Oppo Find X6 Pro is its triple-camera system. It features a 50MP main camera with an aperture of f/1.8, a 50MP periscope telephoto camera with an aperture of f/2.6, and a 50MP ultrawide camera with an aperture of f/2.2. The camera setup allows users to capture stunning photos with great detail and clarity, whether it be landscapes, portraits or zoomed-in shots.

One potential downside of the Oppo Find X6 Pro is its weight, which comes in at 218g (7.62 oz). This makes it slightly heavier than some other smartphones on the market, which may not be ideal for users who prefer a lighter device. Additionally, the device does not support 8K video recording, which may be a drawback for users who are looking to capture ultra-high-definition videos on their smartphone.

Overall, the Oppo Find X6 Pro is a great choice for users who are looking for a high-end smartphone with top-of-the-line features. Its impressive camera system, long-lasting battery life, and fast charging capabilities make it a great option for those who prioritize these features in a smartphone.

The Honor Magic5 Pro is the top-of-the-line smartphone from Honor, a Huawei sub-brand. It comes with impressive specs that make it stand out among the competition. Despite being the last on the list, as of April 2023, it currently holds the top spot on the DXOMark ranking, a popular benchmark for camera performance.

The Honor Magic5 Pro shares most of its specs with the Honor Magic5 Ultimate, with one difference being that the Pro version is available globally, while the Ultimate version is sold only in China. The Honor brand is not affected by US sanctions, and the device comes with Android 13 out of the box, unlike Huawei devices that run on HarmonyOS and lack Google Play services.

The device features a large 6.81-inch screen and a massive 5100mAh battery, which should last for a full day on a single charge. The camera setup is impressive, with a 50-megapixel primary sensor, a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto lens, and a 50-megapixel ultrawide sensor. The front camera is a 12-megapixel ultrawide shooter.

Under the hood, the Honor Magic5 Pro is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 5G platform, making it fast and efficient. It is available in various memory configurations, including 8/256, 12/256, 12/512, and 16/512.

Overall, the Honor Magic5 Pro is a powerful smartphone with top-of-the-line specs and an excellent camera setup. Its global availability and compatibility with Google Play services make it a solid choice for anyone looking for a premium Android smartphone.