As technology continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, 2024 has brought a new wave of camera phones that push the boundaries of Best Camera Phones photography. Whether you’re a professional photographer looking for a portable solution or a hobbyist who wants to capture life’s moments in stunning detail, these top 10 camera phones offer the best in imaging technology. From high megapixel counts to advanced AI-driven features, these phones represent the pinnacle of what’s possible in mobile photography.
List of Best Camera Phones for Photography in 2024
1. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
The iPhone 15 Pro Max tops the list with its advanced camera system, offering a 48MP main sensor, 12MP ultra-wide lens, and 12MP telephoto lens. The Photonic Engine enhances low-light performance, while the ProRAW and ProRes formats allow for professional-grade editing. With 4K Cinematic mode and Dolby Vision, the Best Camera Phones iPhone 15 Pro Max is a powerhouse for both photography and videography.
Highlights:
- 48MP wide-angle camera with an f/1.78 aperture and 24mm equivalent focal length.
- 12MP ultrawide camera featuring an f/2.2 aperture and 13mm equivalent focal length.
- 12MP 5x telephoto camera with an f/2.8 aperture and 120mm equivalent focal length.
- 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display.
- Running on iOS 17.
Why Choose It? If you’re looking for the best all-around camera phone with strong video capabilities, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is unmatched.
2. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra continues to dominate the market with its 200MP primary camera. The phone’s 10x optical zoom and 100x Space Zoom allow for extraordinary detail, even from a distance. AI-powered enhancements and an improved Night Mode make it a versatile choice for any lighting condition.
Highlights:
- 200MP main camera
- 10x optical zoom and 100x Space Zoom
- AI-driven image processing
- Enhanced Night Mode
Why Choose It? For those who prioritize zoom capabilities and high-resolution photography, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the top choice.
3. Google Pixel 8 Pro
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is renowned for its computational photography. Its 50MP main sensor, combined with Google’s software magic, produces some of the most accurate and pleasing photos. Features like Magic Eraser and Real Tone make it easy to capture and edit photos that stand out.
Highlights:
- 50MP main sensor
- Magic Eraser and Real Tone features
- Superior computational photography
- Fast and accurate Night Sight
Why Choose It? Ideal for users who want a simple, yet powerful camera with smart editing features.
4. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
The Pixel 9 Pro XL builds on its legacy with significant enhancements to both camera hardware and shooting capabilities.
On the back, you’ll find an impressive triple-camera system, including an ultra-wide lens with autofocus, a primary camera equipped with optical image stabilization (OIS), and a 5x telephoto lens, also featuring OIS. The phone offers 2x and 10x zoom options, with the latter utilizing Super Resolution Zoom to deliver near-optical quality results. In my experience, this feature performed exceptionally well.
The selfie camera has been upgraded to 42MP, employing pixel-binning technology to produce 10.5MP photos. It now includes auto-focus and boasts a wider field of view than the previous model, allowing for more expansive shots. The ultra-wide-angle camera has also seen an upgrade, with a brighter f/1.7 aperture compared to the f/2.0 on the Pixel 8 Pro.
Highlights:
- 50MP primary camera, f/1.68 aperture, with OIS
- 48MP ultra-wide lens, f/1.7 aperture, featuring macro autofocus
- 48MP telephoto lens, f/2.8 aperture, 5x optical zoom, with OIS
- 42MP front-facing camera, f/2.2 aperture, with autofocus
- 4K video recording at up to 60fps
- 6.8-inch display, 1-120Hz refresh rate, 2000/3000 nits brightness, protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2
- Enhanced AI capabilities, including the “Add-me” feature
Why Choose It? Unmatched Computational Photography: Google’s AI-driven features, such as Magic Eraser and Night Sight, make it easy to take and edit photos that look professional.
5. Sony Xperia 1 VI
Sony’s Xperia 1 VI is a dream for professional photographers who crave manual controls. The 12MP triple-camera system with Zeiss optics delivers exceptional quality, and the phone’s 4K OLED display provides an unparalleled viewing experience. It’s also equipped with Real-time Eye AF and Object tracking for precise shots.
Highlights:
- 12MP triple-camera system
- Full manual control over settings
- 4K OLED display
- Real-time Eye AF and Object tracking
Why Choose It? Choose the Xperia 1 VI if you prefer full control over your camera settings and value precision.
6. Honor Magic 6 Pro
Honor has long been known for producing smartphones that offer great value, and the Magic 6 Pro is a polished version of a formula that has already impressed us in its predecessors. Although it doesn’t fall into the budget category, it delivers top-notch image and video quality that rivals more expensive models. The previous Magic 5 Pro featured three 50MP sensors, but the new Magic 6 Pro takes things up a notch with one sensor upgraded to 180MP, paired with a 2.5x periscope lens. While you might not find yourself capturing many 180MP photos, this feature offers significant flexibility for cropping and digital zoom.
In our testing, the Honor Magic 6 Pro consistently delivered excellent performance across various shooting scenarios. The main camera produces the best results, as expected, but the ultra-wide and telephoto zoom lenses also perform admirably, ensuring you won’t be disappointed. The zoom is particularly effective at 5x and 10x settings, but the 100x zoom, boldly advertised on the device, is more of a novelty than a practical tool. It’s there more for curiosity than for everyday use.
Highlights:
- Triple camera setup featuring two 50MP lenses and one 180MP lens.
- Equivalent focal lengths: 13mm, 23mm, 68mm.
- Magic OS 8.0, built on Android 15.
- Supports 4K video recording.
Why Choose It? High-Resolution Photography: The 200MP main sensor delivers stunningly detailed images, perfect for those who demand the highest quality.
7. Xiaomi 14 Pro
The Xiaomi 14 Pro features a 108MP main camera, making it a solid choice for high-resolution photography. Its AI-powered enhancements ensure that your photos are vibrant and detailed, while the Super Macro mode allows for close-up shots that capture every detail.
Highlights:
- 108MP main camera
- AI-enhanced photography
- Super Macro mode
- 8K video recording
Why Choose It? If high resolution and detailed close-up photography are your priorities, the Xiaomi 14 Pro won’t disappoint.
8. Vivo X100 Pro
Vivo’s flagship smartphone boasts a remarkable triple-camera system, developed in partnership with Zeiss. Each camera is equipped with a 50MP sensor featuring auto-focus and optical image stabilization (OIS). The 4.3x periscope camera also offers macro capabilities, making the Vivo X100 a strong contender against other top-tier smartphones.
The primary 23mm, f/1.75 camera features a 50MP 1-inch sensor, one of the largest available in a smartphone, delivering consistently high-quality images with exceptional detail, vibrant color reproduction, and dependable exposure. Its dynamic range is noteworthy, with HDR automatically engaging when necessary.
The Zeiss APO floating telephoto camera, with a 100mm f/2.5 periscope design, captures stunning close-ups even in low light, maintaining impressive detail thanks to its 50MP sensor. Although the 15mm, f/2 ultra-wide-angle camera lacks Zeiss branding, it still produces excellent results with accurate color, exposure, and detail.
Highlights:
- 50MP main camera with a 1-inch sensor, f/1.75 aperture, OIS, 23mm focal length, and autofocus.
- 50MP ultra-wide camera with an f/2.0 aperture, 15mm focal length, and autofocus.
- 50MP 4.3x telephoto camera with f/2.5 aperture, 100mm focal length, close focus, OIS, and autofocus.
- 32MP selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture and fixed focus.
- Video capabilities: 8K at 30fps, 4K at 60/30fps, and 1080p at 240fps.
- 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 3000 nits.
- Powered by Android 14.
Why Choose It? Large 1-Inch Sensor: The 50MP sensor captures more light, delivering superior image quality with rich detail and vibrant colors, especially in low-light conditions.
9. Huawei P60 Pro
Huawei continues to impress with the P60 Pro, which features a 50MP primary sensor with RYYB color filters for better light capture. The phone excels in low-light conditions, and its periscope telephoto lens provides up to 10x optical zoom, making it ideal for both night and zoom photography.
Highlights:
- 50MP primary sensor with RYYB filters
- 10x optical zoom
- Excellent low-light performance
- AI-powered image stabilization
Why Choose It? Choose the Huawei P60 Pro if you often shoot in low-light conditions and require strong zoom capabilities.
10. Oppo Find X7 Pro
The Oppo Find X7 Pro features a versatile quad-camera setup with a 50MP main sensor. Its unique selling point is the 32MP front camera, making it one of the best phones for selfies. The phone’s AI algorithms enhance both front and rear camera shots, ensuring high-quality images every time.
Highlights:
- 50MP main camera
- 32MP front camera
- AI-driven enhancements
- Versatile quad-camera setup
Why Choose It? Perfect for users who love taking selfies and want a versatile camera system.
Conclusion
In 2024, the best camera phones cater to a wide range of photography needs, from professional-level control to AI-powered simplicity. Whether you prioritize resolution, zoom, low-light performance, or manual controls, there’s a phone on this list that will meet your requirements. The iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra are top choices for all-around performance, while phones like the Sony Xperia 1 VI and Vivo X90 Pro+ offer specialized features that appeal to niche audiences.
No matter which phone you choose, these devices represent the cutting edge of mobile photography, ensuring that you can capture stunning images and videos wherever you go.