Even though we will still recommend professional photographers to purchase DSLRs, there is no denying that some of the best camera phones available today take photos that rival the ones taken from professional cameras.
Smartphone camera technology has come a long way in recent years, and it seems like there is no stopping it. But the question is, what makes one camera stand out among the rest? Most people don’t know this, but megapixels (pixel count) don’t actually tell the entire story.
Just because a phone has more megapixels doesn’t mean it will take better pictures.
Not to take anything away from megapixels, but when it comes to taking high-quality photos, the pixel size and sensor play a much more important role than the pixel count.
Actually, the primary benefit of having more megapixels on your phone is that you can print larger pictures without having to compromise on quality.
Since smartphone camera technology is progressing at a rapid pace, purchasing a smartphone with the best camera can be a little tricky. Therefore, we’ve made a list of the best camera phones available in the market to help you make the right choice.
Table of Contents
The 10 Best Camera Phones of 2022
1. Samsung S22 Ultra
The S22 lineup of Samsung offers users everything they can ever hope for, a terrific design, a glitch-free performance, breath-taking graphics and the best cameras.
S22 Ultra not only remains the only smartphone in the market that supports 8K video recording, its hybrid zoom range of 100x is also second to none. Therefore, it is safe to say that it is the best choice for you if you like taking images of distant objects.
The device comes with an array of rear cameras, which include a main camera of 108MP (f/1.8) with 85° FOV (field of view), a 12MP ultrawide camera (f/2.2) with 120° FOV, and two 10MP lenses (f/2.4 & f/4.9) with 36- and 11-degree FOVs, respectively. These features make Samsung s22 ultra the best android camera phone of the year.
Reasons To Buy:
- Sophisticated zoom
- Exceptional rear cameras
- Amazing low-light photography experience
- Stylus Control
- Fast Charging
Reasons Not To:
- Quite Expensive
- Battery life isn’t poor, but it’s not great either
2. iPhone 13 Pro
The phone offers some camera improvements over its predecessor, the iPhone 12 Pro.
The iPhone 13 Pro has more telephoto reach, a 2cm macro mode and brighter lenses. Even though some of you may deem these improvements to be modest, the upgrades are still worth noticing.
The device comes with three 12 Megapixel rear cameras. You will lose out on the wider apertures but will get a cinematic mode and photographic styles in return.
While the cinematic mode is a nice feature to have for future movie makers, the photographic styles are worth paying for.
Reasons To Buy:
- Captivating cinematic mode
- Addition of macro mode
- Impressive battery life
Reasons Not To:
- Tad bit expensive
- Slow charging
3. Google Pixel 6 Pro
The combination of Tensor processor algorithms, software tweaks, lenses and sensors keep Google in the top tier in terms of delivering fantastic photography experiences.
In addition to the 50MP main camera, the phone offers a 48MP telephoto, wide-angle, and ultra-wide camera that give the users 20x digital zoom and 4x optical zoom options.
Even though the Pixel 6 Pro lacks the versatility of S22 Ultra and iPhone 13 Pro, the photos it captures are vibrant and rich in detail.
Furthermore, the camera sports a Magic Eraser feature that allows photographers to remove unwanted objects from otherwise great photos.
Reasons To Buy:
- Detailed image quality
- Minimal low-light noise
- Top camera hardware
Reasons Not To:
- Average battery life
- The camera lacks macro focus
4. OPPO Find X5 Pro
OPPO Find X5 Pro sports an excellent triple-camera system, which includes a 50MP main camera and a 50MP ultra-wide camera with a telephoto lens that takes scenic pictures. The third is a 12MP camera with 2x optical zoom.
Minus the third camera, and you will have a perfect blend of S22 Ultra and Google Pixel 6 Pro on your hands.
Its camera app comes with a Pro and fully automatic photo mode. Furthermore, you can use the manual control to tweak white balance, focus and shutter speed.
Reasons To Buy:
- A balanced camera system
- Great ultra-wide and main cameras
- Fast charging
Reasons Not To:
- A slippery back
- Software needs tweaking
5. OnePlus 10 Pro
Even though the OnePlus 10 Pro is not as popular in the UK as Apple and Samsung, its flagship series has never failed to impress. Its triple-camera system has little to no visual noise and offers consistent colour balance.
The main camera is 48MP and does a great job in well-lit conditions. Furthermore, the 50MP ultra-wide camera can capture 110- and 150-degree fisheye images.
However, the camera struggles when it comes to taking telephoto shots. The low resolution may have got something to do with it, but one cannot say that the device is at par with Apple or Samsung in this regard.
Reasons To Buy:
- Beautiful design
- Lower price
- Super-fast charging
Reasons Not To:
- No 150-degree video
- Telephoto is just 8MP
6. Sony Xperia Pro-I
It is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best camera phones you can ever hope to find in 2022. It sports a trio of rear cameras that professional photographers will love to use.
Even though its camera setup may seem similar at first to Xperia 1 III, some changes are worth noticing. In addition to having a 1-inch sensor and a new telephoto onboard, the device delivers a pixel size of 2.4 μm.
Furthermore, the unfussy processing and large sensor of Xperia Pro-I do not over-brighten pictures taken in the dark but may very well struggle in extremely dark places.
Reasons To Buy:
- Great video and photo capture
- Very good battery life
- Premium features and design
Reasons Not To:
- Very expensive
- No periscope zoom camera
7. Google Pixel 6a
Although the price of the Pixel 6a is much less than the Pro version, it remains an excellent choice for people who want to get their hands on a great camera phone at a low price.
The rear camera setup of Pixel 6a has two cameras, namely a 12.2MP dual-pixel wide camera and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. However, Google’s advanced image processing technology allows it to capture high-quality, noise-free photos.
It also has the Magic Eraser that you can use to remove unwanted elements and photobombers from otherwise great images.
Reasons To Buy:
- Great camera at a low price
- Excellent software
- Magic Eraser Tool
Reasons Not To:
- Average battery life
- 60Hz display
8. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
Even the best foldable phones are not known for having great cameras. However, thanks to its excellent 50MP wide camera, this foldable lineup can now really hold its own against most devices on this list.
The device also has a 10MP telephoto sensor with a 3x optical zoom lens. Furthermore, Samsung has changed its display to enable its 4MP under-display camera to capture much cleaner photos than its predecessor.
Reasons To Buy:
- Better battery life
- Improved rear camera setup
- Stable software
Reasons Not To:
- The under-display camera is still not up to the par
- Quite expensive
9. iPhone SE (2022)
If you are on a tight budget but not willing to compromise on camera quality, then the 2022 iPhone SE is the best choice for you.
The iPhone SE has a single 12MP wide camera on its rear, but it sports the same Smart HDR 4 tech as the latest iPhone. Furthermore, the AI-enhanced Portrait mode offers users many great image capturing options.
Reasons To Buy:
- Great value for its price
- 5G enabled
- Long battery life
Reasons Not To:
- Small screen size
- No ultra-wide camera
10. Realme 9 Pro Plus
The best camera phone don’t always have to be expensive. Even though the phone price is under £350, the photographic results are no less than excellent.
The 50MP main camera takes perfectly crisp and clear photos in daylight. However, the pictures taken in the dark will seem a bit over-brightened. Nevertheless, they don’t fail to retain a certain level of clarity.
We admit the other two sensors, which include a 2MP macro sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide camera, are also not at par with the others. But the fact that you can get your hands on a flagship phone at such a low price makes it worth your consideration.
In other words, it is the best phone under 500 for photographers.
Reasons To Buy:
- Fast charging
- The camera gives good value for money
- Great performance
Reasons Not To:
- Average design
- The UI isn’t slick
How to Choose the Best Camera Phone?
Most people want to best camera phones, even on a tight budget. So, if you fancy a change or your phone is due for an upgrade, here’s what you should look for in a camera phone.
1. Lens
The lens is the most important part of any camera. You can ask any professional photographer if you don’t believe us. What a lens does is it funnels the light onto the sensor. Therefore, the better the quality of your phone’s camera lens, the sharper the images it will take.
2. Look for Autofocus
A phone with more megapixels doesn’t mean it will capture the best images. In addition to having a good lens, a camera needs to have fast autofocus; only then will it be able to take good pictures.
Why a phone needs to have fast autofocus, you ask? Some phones are so slow at autofocusing that you may miss the shot you want to capture.
3. Sensor Size
The sensor size in smartphones is quite limited because of their size. However, 1-inch sensors are now available for smartphones. The sensors of such size in phones can enable them to take photos that even rival the ones taken from standard cameras.
4. Flash Light
People need to give more attention to the flash than they usually do. Sometimes these flashes seem a bit harsh when you take a picture up close; sometimes, they cannot reach distant objects.
Therefore, you should prefer phones that come with dual-tone LED flashes for better lighting.
5. Shutter Release Button
It is a rare feature to have for smartphones nowadays. However, some Sony Xperia devices do have it. Some photographers prefer to have it because it keeps the phone from shaking.
Even though the volume buttons serve the same purpose, they don’t quite have the same feeling.
6. Quality Image Processing
A phone’s ability to process an image is as essential as the quality of the camera lens. Therefore, when buying a camera phone, you should look for features like HDR (High Dynamic Range).
What this feature does is it takes multiple pictures with varying exposures and then blends them to add more shadow detail and highlight.
7. Optical Zoom
All camera phones nowadays have the zoom feature. People use it to get more detail by focusing on a specific area. However, if the phone only has digital zoom, it means that the lens will only enlarge the area of the object you want to focus on, resulting in the loss of quality.
Therefore, you should look for a device with an optical zoom feature. The optical zoom enables the lens to zoom in on the image instead. This way, you will experience no loss of quality in your photos.
In our list of best camera phones, you will find some phones with optical zoom features.
Which Smartphone Camera Accessories Do I Need?
If you keep an eye on the latest trends in mobile technology, particularly camera technology, it gets easier to see why smartphone photography is on the rise.
There was a time when people used to scoff at the idea of taking professional photos. Furthermore, if you go 15 or 20 years back, people were more than okay with the idea of not having cameras on their phones.
However, the times have changed. Gone are the days when you had to carry your DSLR in a cushioned bag to capture high-quality photos on a picnic. Why? Because most phones now come with advanced cameras and an arsenal of camera apps.
Furthermore, the best camera phones are also supported by cutting-edge camera technology. We’re not saying that they are good enough to compete with professional cameras on a big scale.
Nevertheless, smartphone photography is a cool trend and is here to stay. One cannot simply deny this fact. Therefore, to help you with it, we have made a list of accessories you can use to elevate your photography experience.
1. Smartphone Lighting Kit
The built-in camera flashes can prove to be a bit harsh sometimes. Furthermore, they offer no custom control to the users. Therefore, we suggest investing in a portable flash as it will override your phone’s flash.
You can connect it with your camera phone via Bluetooth and control the light levels as per your need.
2. Cleaning Cloth
Even the camera glasses of the best camera phones get oily and dirty. If it is, you will capture nothing but smudgy and blurry photos. Furthermore, using a t-shirt to clean the camera glass is never a good idea.
Therefore, you should have a good supply of camera cleaning cloths to keep the glass of your camera lens squeaky clean.
3. A ShiftCam Starter Kit
You can turn any camera phone into a full-fledged DSLR with this kit. Like the lighting kit, you can connect it with your phone via Bluetooth. It will allow you to use its buttons to control your camera’s shutter and also serve as a power bank to keep your phone charged.
4. Pocket Photo Printer
There’s nothing like seeing your captured moments come to life in an instant. With a mini printer, you can print as many photos as you want. You won’t even have to buy ink cartridges to do so. The paper itself holds the ink required to print the image.
5. Pocket-size Camera Lens
You know the rule, the bigger the lens, the more details you will capture. Therefore, you must not let the tiny lens of your phone camera take you down.
If you love macro photography, you can use these add-ons to capture more detailed images.
Wrap Up
We hope this blog has given you all the insights you need to get your hands on the best phone for camera. However, you must keep in mind that the best camera phone doesn’t have to be the most expensive one.
