The Best Phone Deals This Week*
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Your phone is the camera you always carry. If you haven’t upgraded it in a few years, you should be pleasantly surprised by how much phone camera performance (particularly low-light image quality) has improved. In fact, we’ve pretty much reached the point at which you can leave your old point-and-shoot at home—if you even have one.
But not all phone cameras are equal. We put every phone we review through a rigorous series of camera evaluations to determine the best performers on the market and gathered our top picks here. You never have to worry about carrying a separate camera if you’ve got one of these in your pocket, and each is a stellar smartphone, too. Read on for our top picks, along with what to look for in a good camera phone.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Best iPhone Camera Overall
Why We Picked It
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the most iPhone you can get, with the fastest processor, the best screen, the biggest battery, and the most capable cameras. A USB-C Gen 2 port, titanium frame, and versatile Action button are all new for this iteration. The 5x optical zoom camera makes a huge difference in what you can capture, allowing you to reach further than other iPhones.
Who It’s For
Simply put, this is the best iPhone—and iPhone camera—money can buy.
PROS
- Fast, smooth performance
- Excellent cameras
- Long battery life
- Useful Action button
- USB-C connectivity opens up new features
- Lighter than previous Pro Max
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating System | iOS 17 |
| CPU | Apple A17 Pro |
| Dimensions | 6.29 by 3.02 by 0.32 inches |
| Screen Size | 6.7 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 2,796 by 1,290 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 48MP/12MP/12MP;12MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 20 hours, 15 minutes |
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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Best Multi-Camera Phone
Why We Picked It
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a huge number of cameras (five!) and they all do different things. You can take advantage of 5x optical zoom and 100x hybrid zoom, as well as capture standard and sprawling views from the device’s capable 200MP main and 12MP ultra-wide lenses. Let’s not forget Samsung’s new Galaxy AI powers, which let you perform edits such as enlarging subjects or filling in the background.
Who It’s For
The S24 Ultra is an incredibly powerful imaging device considering that it’s still a mobile phone. The combination of high-end hardware and AI-assisted features means you have a capable and fun camera phone in your pocket all the time.
PROS
- Speedy performance
- Beautiful screen
- Terrific cameras
- Useful AI features
- Comes with S Pen stylus
- Long support commitment
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 14 |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy |
| Dimensions | 6.40 by 3.11 by 0.34 Inches |
| Screen Size | 6.8 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 3,120 by 1,440 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 200MP, 12MP, 10MP, 50MP; 12MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 14 hours, 10 minutes |
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Google Pixel 7a
Best Affordable Phone
Why We Picked It
Google’s software is the choice of the techno-elite for its speed, elegance, and simplicity—as well as camera performance. The Pixel 7a brings you that software, along with years of Android updates before anyone else gets them, at an affordable price.
Who It’s For
Folks whose taste outpaces their budget. Google’s Pixel phones aren’t the best-selling Android models (Samsung models are more popular), but many people still prefer these phones because of their clean software and capable cameras. The 7a is the best camera phone you can get from the price.
PROS
- Solid performance
- Above-average cameras
- Unique design
- Wireless charging
CONS
- Wi-Fi disconnection issue in testing
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 13 |
| CPU | Google Tensor G2 |
| Dimensions | 5.98 by 2.87 by 0.35 inches |
| Screen Size | 6.1 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 2,400 by 1,080 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 64MP, 13MP; 13MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 13 hours, 25 minutes |
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Google Pixel 8
Best Midrange Android Phone
Why We Picked It
The $699 Google Pixel 8 has a duo of dynamic cameras that are just as adept as the trio of shooters on the larger 8 Pro, but at a more affordable price. You can get incredible results from the ultra-wide and standard cameras and take advantage of all the AI-boosted editing features such as Magic Eraser.
Who It’s For
This phone is for people who want the best possible camera phone in a reasonably sized device for about $700.
PROS
- Competitively priced
- Advanced AI features
- Terrific cameras
- Compact
- Excellent build quality
CONS
- Unimpressive battery life
- No telephoto camera
- Storage capped at 256GB
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 14 |
| CPU | Google Tensor G3 |
| Dimensions | 5.93 by 2.79 by 0.35 inches |
| Screen Size | 6.2 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 2,400 by 1,080 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 50MP / 12MP / 10.5MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 10 hours, 20 minutes |
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Google Pixel 8 Pro
Best Pixel Phone
Why We Picked It
Google’s Pixel phones have long set the bar for mobile photography. The Google Pixel 8 Pro has a trio of capable cameras that offer sharp shots no matter the subject or lighting. Moreover, AI-driven extras like Best Take and Magic Eraser make the 8 Pro a lot of fun.
Who It’s For
The Pixel 8 Pro is for Google fans who want some of best pictures you can get from a mobile phone—and like to tinker with them after the fact.
PROS
- Exclusive Assistant features
- AI-assisted photo and video editing
- Seven years of software support
- Super-bright display
- Excellent build quality
CONS
- Shorter battery life than predecessor
- Inconsistent Wi-Fi
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 14 |
| CPU | Google Tensor G3 |
| Dimensions | 6.40 by 3.01 by 0.35 inches |
| Screen Size | 6.7 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 2,992 by 1,344 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 50MP / 48MP / 48MP / 10.5MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 9 hours, 5 minutes |
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Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Best Small iPhone
Why We Picked It
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro is the smallest iPhone currently available and it just happens to have a trio of outstanding cameras on the back. With ultra-wide, standard, and 3x telephoto cameras, the 15 Pro gives you plenty of photo and video modes to use for the best possible results.
Who It’s For
If you’re after a compact iPhone that still grabs quality photos and videos, this is the iPhone for you.
PROS
- Compact size
- Lots of processing power
- Customizable Action button
- Advanced USB-C features
- Excellent cameras
- Pro video capture
CONS
- Shorter battery life than iPhone Pro Max
- Less optical zoom than iPhone Pro Max
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Apple iOS 17 |
| CPU | Apple A17 Pro |
| Dimensions | 5.77 by 2.78 b y 0.32 inches |
| Screen Size | 6.1 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 2,556 by 1,179 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 48MP, 12MP; 12MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 16 hours, 45 minutes |
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Samsung Galaxy S24
Best Small Android Phone
Why We Picked It
Many Android phones are now so big that one-handed photography and video recording are pretty awkward. That’s not the case with the small (but premium) Galaxy S24, which comfortably fits in one hand.
Who It’s For
If you often need to take photos of something you’re holding in one hand with the other hand, the standard Galaxy S24 is a wise choice. If you aren’t committed to Android, check out the iPhone 15 instead.
PROS
- Compact, premium build
- Flagship performance
- Useful AI features
- Seven-year software support commitment
CONS
- Limited RAM and storage offerings
- Can get warm while gaming
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 14 |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy |
| Dimensions | 5.79 by 2.78 by 0.30 inches |
| Screen Size | 6.2 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 2,340 by 1,080 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 50MP, 12MP, 10MP; 12MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 13 hours, 5 minutes |
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Google Pixel Fold
Best Foldable Phone
Why We Picked It
Camera quality isn’t the main appeal of folding phones, but the Pixel Fold still upholds Google’s reputation for class-leading image quality. Its triple-camera system, which includes a periscope telephoto lens, performs better than that of the Z Fold 5 and the OnePlus Open by a wide margin.
Who It’s For
If you want the best possible camera on a folding phone, the Google Pixel Fold is what you should get.
PROS
- Excellent build quality
- Capable cameras
- Vibrant screens
CONS
- Multitasking could be better
- Screen crease can be distracting
- Expensive
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 13 |
| CPU | Google Tensor G2 |
| Dimensions | 5.50 by 6.24 by 0.23 inches |
| Screen Size | 7.6 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 2,208 by 1,840 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 48MP, 10.8MP, 10.8MP; 9.5MP, 8MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 8 hours |
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Buying Guide: The Best Camera Phones for 2024
The Best Phones of the Year
Which Phone Has the Best Camera?
One thing we find frustrating with modern smartphones is that often, the best cameras aren’t available on phones in the US. There’s intense camera innovation going on from manufacturers such as Honor, Oppo, and Xiaomi, but for various reasons, these manufacturers don’t sell their phones stateside.
Google Pixel 8 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)
In the US, Apple, Google, and Samsung phones typically have the best cameras. Higher-end devices tend to perform better, but the gap is closing, especially if you primarily take photos in good light. Sony phones also have good cameras, but their latest models are expensive and difficult to get in the US.
Apple’s iPhone cameras tend to be the benchmark in the creative industries. They’re dead simple to use and offer excellent focus and balanced colors. Google’s Pixel cameras are like the Apple of Android: fast, simple, and balanced.
Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Samsung’s phones typically have more lenses, modes, and options than Apple’s or Google’s. Samsung’s top innovation right now is super-zoom: The S24 Ultra has a 5x optical zoom with decent resolution at up to 100x digital zoom. Neither Apple nor Google can match that feature, at least not yet. Samsung also tends to amp up colors more than Apple and Google, which causes some controversy but that look might be what you’re after.
The most important factor in any photo isn’t the camera—it’s the photographer. No matter what phone you have, following our camera expert Jim Fisher’s tips and tricks for camera phone photos can make your images better.
Even if you aren’t the best photographer, some phones—particularly those from Google and Samsung—offer AI-assisted processing and edits, so you might just luck out.
Which Camera Phone Features and Accessories Do You Need?
A few years ago, we saw a blossoming trend of phones with multiple lenses, which is still in full bloom. Many phones now have a standard lens, a magnifying zoom lens, and a wide-angle lens. Monochrome or infrared time-of-flight sensors can help judge depth for bokeh effects. Less successful lenses and sensors we’ve seen include color filters (you can do this very well in software) and macro lenses for close-ups (slowly improving).
Apple iPhone 15 photo sample (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Although super-high-megapixel camera phones are becoming more popular, the options are scant in the US. The 200MP sensor on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the exception. The advantage of that many pixels is that you can zoom and crop images after the fact or perform lossless digital zooming in your camera app without relying on an extra magnifying lens. The disadvantage is that the individual pixels can sometimes be very small, creating problems for color capture or low-light photography.
Superzoom lenses are also popular. Phones now combine high-megapixel sensors, optical magnifying lenses, and advanced software to give you 30x, 50x, or—in the case of the Galaxy S24 Ultra—100x zoom. In general, anything much higher than 10x shows heavy digital artifacts. But a good 5x optical zoom, as you get on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Galaxy S24 Ultra, and Pixel 8 Pro, is still a big step forward from what we used to have.
Sensor size is a separate matter from the megapixel count. Unfortunately, most of the phones available in the US fall behind their international competition. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 1/1.3-inch primary sensor and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 1/1.28-inch sensor are among the biggest you can buy in the US. Compare those with the Sony Xperia Pro-I’s industry-topping 1-inch primary sensor, and you can see we still have a way to go. Larger sensors are arguably more important than a higher megapixel count because they capture more light in less time. That translates to less blur and sharper photos, particularly in challenging light.
Apple iPhone 15 camera sample (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The most advanced night modes combine close to a dozen frames to brighten up photos and improve clarity. They appear to have long, multi-second exposures, but they use AI software to reduce blur by aligning the various images together. (You still shouldn’t use them for moving subjects, though.) Google’s Pixel phones, Apple’s iPhones, and Samsung’s Galaxy S phones all have excellent night modes.
Google’s camera software also has top-notch features such as Magic Eraser (removes unwanted objects), Real Tone (ensures accurate skin tones), Face Unblur (leans on the other lenses to make sure everyone’s face in an image is sharp), Audio Eraser (which minimizes background noise in video recordings). Samsung is catching up here, and its latest Galaxy S24 range has AI-based shooting and editing tools, including Magic Editor for backfilling shots that aren’t quite there.
A good Pro mode can tie all these individual facets together and make for a powerful platform. Most phones have manual settings that allow you to tweak the exposure, aperture, and focus point to get exactly the shot you want. If you’re getting into smartphone photography, take some time to learn how manually adjusting things like aperture, ISO, and shutter speed can improve your photos. If you need a fast shot, however, all the phones on our list use machine learning and other software smarts to take incredible photos without any manual tweaks.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro photo sample (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Why do so many photographers rely on iPhones? The availability of third-party camera apps plays a big role. Some are available for Android, but apps that professionals use still tend to come out first and see more frequent updates on iOS.
For more, see our story on the best phone and camera gimbals.
Recommended by Our Editors
Which Phone Is Best for Video Recording?
In the TikTok and Instagram Reels era, video is more important than ever. Here are some features to look for.
Optical image stabilization is always better than electronic or digital image stabilization because it leads to less jittery videos. Many high-end phones now use both, giving a Steadicam-like effect.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Although 1080p video is still good enough for most people, many phones can record in 4K at up to 60fps. This is the current gold standard. 8K recording is becoming more common on Android flagships, but it requires a massive amount of storage and isn’t truly usable or shareable yet.
Google Pixel 8 (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Slow-motion videos can make for some exciting effects. Although most phones can now capture up to 240fps (1/8 speed), some can go up to 960fps (1/32 speed). Keep an eye on how long a phone can record slow-mo, though, because it can be tricky to grab a scene if you only have 0.2 seconds of recording time. Many phones also have other video tricks like time-lapse, hyper-lapse, and video bokeh or HDR modes.
How Do Camera Phones Compare With Standalone Cameras?
For the ultimate in image quality, the best possible low-light performance, killer optical zoom, or a good macro shot, you still need a dedicated SLR or mirrorless camera. Our list of the best digital cameras is a great place to start. And be sure to check out our beyond-basic photography tips.
If you don’t need to take professional shots, however, a top smartphone camera should suit you just fine, and you can’t go wrong with any of our picks here.
Dave LeClair and Sascha Segan contributed to this story.
