The best smartphone cameras in 2021
What is the best smartphone for photography? Does it come with or without a telephoto lens? What is the best camera smartphone that costs less than $400, $300, or $200? In this selection of the best camera smartphones in 2021, NextPit helps you choose the camera smartphone of your dreams, which has been tested and approved by the editorial staff.
The best camera smartphones to choose from in 2021 compared
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The purpose of this selection is obviously to recommend the best camera smartphones available on the market today. The selection has been discussed and debated internally and, with very few exceptions, each model has been reviewed by a NextPit journalist. But the final goal is not to focus on the camera itself and forget about everything else.
As with every product, the purchase of a smartphone, camera-centric or not, is the result of taking multiple criteria into consideration. Hence, this selection focuses on the quality of the camera of each smartphone while taking into account the rest of the hardware specifications and the overall value-for-money of the smartphone.
Jump to
- The best camera smartphones in 2021
- Best value at the top end of the market: Google Pixel 6
- Best value mid-range smartphone
- How to choose the best camera smartphone?
The best camera smartphones in 2021
In this section, we list the best camera smartphones available in 2021 according to NextPit. These are the best models across all categories. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and the Apple iPhone 13 Pro share the podium and is followed by the Pixel 6.
Apple's best camerasmartphone: iPhone 13 Pro
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NextPit's full review of the iPhone 13 Pro
The iPhone 13 Pro is the best camera smartphone in 2021, having tied down the top spot with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. I didn't include the iPhone 13 Pro Max since it offers exactly the same camera specifications, so you might as well go for the cheaper model. Last year's iPhone 12 Pro Max is still very competitive obviously, but the iPhone 13 Pro brings improvements that really make a difference.
We're still at 12 MP on all sensors, but they've been enlarged to capture more light. The main wide-angle lens now measures 1.9 µm (compared to 1.7 µm for the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini and the iPhone 12 Pro Max and 1.4 µm for the iPhone 12 Pro), and it has a better aperture (f/1.5, compared to f/1.6 on the iPhone 12 Pro). The same goes for the ultra-wide angle, whose aperture increases to f/1.8, against f/2.4 on the iPhone 12 Pro.
- Also read: Which Apple iPhone do I choose in 2021?
At night, the difference between the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro is therefore rather obvious, especially since all sensors are now compatible with the Night Mode. Finally, the telephoto lens features a 77mm equivalent with an aperture at f/2.8 and 3x zoom, versus a 2x zoom on the iPhone 12 Pro and 2.5x zoom on the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
The best Android camera smartphone: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
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Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra full review
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the first Android flagship released in 2021 and it's also still the best in my opinion, for photos and in general.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra overhauls the copy of its camera module compared to last year's Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. Instead of a 48 MP periscope telephoto lens, there are two dedicated telephoto lenses at 10 MP each, and the main 108 MP sensor is no longer the Isocell Bright HM1 which had a lot of focus issues but is replaced by the new Isocell Bright HM3 instead. And Samsung has fixed many issues since the previous generation of Ultra flagships.
- Also read: Which Samsung smartphone do I choose?
It's the most versatile camera smartphone on the market and the most efficient when it comes to zooming capability, and Samsung provides you with a whole host of software aids and assistants to capture the best shots possible even without any photography skills. It's clearly the most capable camera, although it doesn't look as natural as the iPhone 13 Pro.
The best value-for-money flagship: Google Pixel 6
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NextPit's full review of the Google Pixel 6
I was privileged to review the Pixel 6 and it's definitely my slam dunk of the year. In terms of value-for-money, the Pixel 6 is the most recommended flagship in my opinion. And the camera configuration, although it is imperfect, it is still excellent and remains at the very top of the bracket.
The main 50MP lens is based on a Samsung GN1 sensor with a size of 1/1.31 inches (with 1.2µm pixels) with f/1.85 aperture and optical stabilization (OIS). The ultra wide-angle uses a 12 MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture (pixel size 1.25µm) with a field of view of 114 degrees.
The photos from the main sensor are simply excellent in terms of sharpness, level of detail, and exposure. The colorimetry is not the most natural but I find that it handles those well. The Night Sight is also too aggressive and won't please those used to Apple's Night Mode, for instance. Portrait photos are also very good but the zoom, which is purely digital, remains rather limited.
I don't think the dedicated telephoto lens on the Pro model justifies the $250 price difference, but my colleague Camila, who reviewed the Pixel 6 Pro, doesn't share my opinion. And maybe the 128GB storage will also make you lean towards the Pro model. The choice is yours.
The best value-for-money mid-range smartphone
Logically, the best camera smartphones on the market are flagships or top-of-the-line handsets. But there are also good camera smartphones in the more affordable price ranges, especially under the $400, $300, or even $200 mark.
The best camera smartphone under $400 : OnePlus Nord 2
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NextPit's full review of the OnePlus Nord 2
OnePlus may have lost its identity and everything else that made the brand, but the manufacturer has still succeeded with its Nord range. I've been using the OnePlus Nord 2 on a daily basis since its launch and it's the best smartphone for under $400 euros in my opinion.
As far as photography is concerned, the OnePlus Nord 2 packs a triple camera module that is spearheaded by a Sony IMX766 ultra wide-angle main sensor, which is the same one found in the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro. I was not taken in by the photo rendering but I found the level of detail to be correct and the dynamic range rather wide. The purely digital zoom is usable and the night mode is quite effective.
Add to that the excellent overall value-for-money proposition as well as an extensive update policy (2 major Android versions and 3 years of security updates) of the smartphone, and I'm hard-pressed to find a better choice in this price range.
The best camera smartphone under $300: Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
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Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro full review by NextPit
The Redmi Note 10 Pro is still the best smartphone under $300 according to NextPit. There is a quad-camera module that is powered by a 108 MP main lens. The Redmi Note 10 Pro also packs an 8MP ultra-wide angle lens (118° FOV, f/2.2 aperture), a 5MP macro sensor (f/2.4 aperture), and a 2MP depth sensor.
Unlike OnePlus, Xiaomi hasn't resisted integrating the anecdotal macro+depth lenses. As for the rest, image rendering is still quite satisfactory for a mid-range smartphone. I find it to be less versatile than a Google Pixel 4a which is sold for a little less. But in terms of overall value for money, Google's affordable camera phone is too technically outdated.
The best camera smartphone under $200: Samsung Galaxy A12
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The Samsung Galaxy A12 is the only smartphone in this selection that NextPit could not review. For a smartphone that costs less than $200, I would tend to recommend mid-range smartphones from last year that sold for approximately $300 and have since dropped in price. But, due to the software upgrade policy and durability, I prefer to focus on models that were released this year.
The Samsung Galaxy A12's specs don't exactly make you dream. But, according to several comparisons and reviews that I've seen, the entry-level smartphone stands out with its camera module. Its 48MP prime lens does particularly well in daylight, and the smartphone ranks in the top 2 of DxOMark's photo rankings for entry-level models with a score of 90.
I don't think you can get a real camera smartphone for under $200. But in this price range, the Samsung Galaxy A12 is a decent, stop-gap solution, at least on paper.
What are the criteria for choosing the best photo smartphone?
What is aperture?
The term aperture describes the focal length of the system in relation to the diameter of the entrance pupil of the lens. This ratio is usually expressed as a fraction normalized to the numerator one in the notation "f/1.8" or "1:1.8". It is quite counter-intuitive but the larger the aperture is going to be, the smaller the number behind the f will be. Hence, f/16 is a very small aperture, while f/1.4 will be a large aperture.
Aperture is particularly useful in conjunction with sensor size to play with background blur and low-light performance. The larger the aperture - and therefore the amount of light captured - the blurrier the background behind the subject being photographed. This is a parameter that can be interesting to highlight in portraits but is also a good indicator of low light performance.
What is the focal length?
The focal length of a lens indicates the distance between the lens and its focal point, where all the light rays converge. An optical system with a very long focal length therefore focuses the light very far behind the lens. A long focal length therefore means a small angle of view - or in more colloquial terms, a "powerful zoom".
What is optical zoom?
A focal length in 35mm equivalent defines exactly the size of a given object imaged on the sensor at a given distance from the camera. Now, an optical zoom means that the camera is able to achieve different image angles or image sizes by varying the focal length.
In short, take a 3x optical zoom for example - it means the largest focal length of the camera module divided by the smallest focal length that results in exactly three. The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, for example, optically reproduces equivalent focal lengths of 13 to 103 millimeters - and therefore has an optical zoom of around 8x.
What do you think of this selection? Which models do you think we have forgotten and should be included? Do you find the advice and methodology sections useful? Give us your feedback in the comments!
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...
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Admin
May 22, 2020 Link to commentIf 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!