Your cellphone is the digital camera you all the time have in your pocket, however not all cellphone cameras are equal. Some present optical zoom, others take sharp photographs in low mild, and some have an edge on colour rendition. PCMag has been writing about and reviewing telephones for greater than three a long time, so we’re consultants on cellular pictures. We put each cellphone we evaluate by way of a rigorous sequence of digital camera evaluations to find out the perfect performers in the marketplace. One of the best digital camera telephones obtainable embody entries from Apple, Google, and Samsung, just like the iPhone 15 Professional Max and the Galaxy S24 Extremely, each Editors’ Alternative winners, in addition to the Pixel 9 Professional. All our suggestions are worthy, so make sure to learn our linked in-depth critiques. And remember to scroll to the top so you will get the large image with our purchasing information.
Deeper Dive: Our High Examined Picks
Finest iPhone Digicam General
Apple iPhone 15 Professional Max
Execs & Cons
Quick, easy efficiency
Glorious cameras
Lengthy battery life
Helpful Motion button
USB-C connectivity opens up new options
Lighter than earlier Professional Max
Why We Picked It
The iPhone 15 Professional Max is probably the most iPhone you will get, with the quickest processor, the perfect display, the most important battery, and probably the most succesful cameras. A USB-C Gen 2 port, titanium body, and versatile Motion button are all new for this iteration. The 5x optical zoom digital camera makes an enormous distinction in what you possibly can seize, permitting you to succeed in additional than different iPhones.
Who It is For
Merely put, that is the perfect iPhone—and iPhone digital camera—cash can purchase.
Specs & Configurations
Working System
iOS 17
CPU
Apple A17 Professional
Dimensions
6.29 by 3.02 by 0.32 inches
Display screen Dimension
6.7 inches
Display screen Decision
2,796 by 1,290 pixels
Digicam Decision (Rear; Entrance-Dealing with)
48MP, 12MP, 12MP; 12MP
Battery Life (As Examined)
20 hours, quarter-hour
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Apple iPhone 15 Professional Max Evaluation
Finest Reasonably priced Cellphone
Google Pixel 8a
Execs & Cons
Glorious cameras
Highly effective efficiency
Helpful AI options
Lengthy battery life
Seven-year software program assist
Older protecting glass on the entrance
Comparatively sluggish charging
Why We Picked It
Google’s Pixel 8a is a perfect reasonably priced cellphone due to its Tensor G3 processor, top-notch digital camera system, and built-in Google AI. Its daring design and number of colour choices (Aloe, Bay, Obsidian, or Porcelain) assist it stand out. Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and an IP67 score make sure the system withstands on a regular basis perils.
Who It is For
For those who like Google’s model of Android and need a good digital camera at an inexpensive value, the Pixel 8a is the best choice. It is extremely succesful and a very good worth.
Specs & Configurations
Working System
Android 14
CPU
Google Tensor G3
Dimensions
5.99 by 2.86 by 0.35 inches
Display screen Dimension
6.1 inches
Display screen Decision
2,400 by 1,080 pixels
Digicam Decision (Rear; Entrance-Dealing with)
64MP, 13MP; 13MP
Battery Life (As Examined)
12 hours, 50 minutes
Be taught Extra
Google Pixel 8a Evaluation
Finest for Optical Zoom
Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely
Execs & Cons
Speedy efficiency
Stunning display
Terrific cameras
Helpful AI options
Comes with S Pen stylus
Lengthy assist dedication
Why We Picked It
The Galaxy S24 Extremely has an enormous variety of cameras (5!) and so they all do various things. You’ll be able to reap the benefits of 5x optical zoom and 100x hybrid zoom, in addition to seize customary and sprawling views from the system’s succesful 200MP foremost and 12MP ultra-wide lenses. Let’s not neglect Samsung’s new Galaxy AI powers, which allow you to carry out edits similar to enlarging topics or filling within the background.
Who It is For
The S24 Extremely is an extremely highly effective imaging system contemplating that it is nonetheless a cell phone. The mixture of high-end {hardware} and AI-assisted options means you might have a succesful and enjoyable digital camera cellphone in your pocket on a regular basis.
Specs & Configurations
Working System
Android 14
CPU
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
Dimensions
6.40 by 3.11 by 0.34 Inches
Display screen Dimension
6.8 inches
Display screen Decision
3,120 by 1,440 pixels
Digicam Decision (Rear; Entrance-Dealing with)
200MP, 12MP, 10MP, 50MP; 12MP
Battery Life (As Examined)
14 hours, 10 minutes
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Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely Evaluation
Finest Android Cellphone for Most Folks
Google Pixel 9
Execs & Cons
Glorious cameras
Helpful and enjoyable AI options
Good efficiency
Competitively priced
Restricted storage
Would not embody Gemini Stay subscription
Why We Picked It
The $799 Google Pixel 9 has a duo of dynamic cameras which might be simply as adept as these within the pricier 9 Professional’s trio. You will get unbelievable outcomes from the ultra-wide and customary cameras, in addition to reap the benefits of AI-boosted modifying options similar to Magic Eraser. By way of video, you possibly can file at as much as 4K60 with both the entrance or rear cameras.
Who It’s For
This cellphone is for individuals who need the very best imaging capabilities in a fairly sized and priced system. Its wonderful efficiency makes it appropriate for many each different process, too.
Specs & Configurations
Working System
Android 14
CPU
Google Tensor G4
Dimensions
6.0 by 2.8 by 0.3 inches
Display screen Dimension
6.3 inches
Display screen Decision
2,424 by 1,080 pixels
Digicam Decision (Rear; Entrance-Dealing with)
50MP, 48MP; 10.5MP
Battery Life (As Examined)
11 hours, 45 minutes
Be taught Extra
Google Pixel 9 Evaluation
Finest Small iPhone
Apple iPhone 15 Professional
Execs & Cons
Compact dimension
Numerous processing energy
Customizable Motion button
Superior USB-C options
Glorious cameras
Professional video seize
Shorter battery life than iPhone Professional Max
Much less optical zoom than iPhone Professional Max
Why We Picked It
The Apple iPhone 15 Professional is the smallest iPhone at the moment obtainable and it simply occurs to have a trio of excellent cameras on the again. With ultra-wide, customary, and 3x telephoto cameras, the 15 Professional offers you loads of picture and video modes to make use of for the very best outcomes.
Who It’s For
For those who’re after a compact iPhone that also grabs high quality images and movies, that is the iPhone for you.
Specs & Configurations
Working System
Apple iOS 17
CPU
Apple A17 Professional
Dimensions
5.77 by 2.78 b y 0.32 inches
Display screen Dimension
6.1 inches
Display screen Decision
2,556 by 1,179 pixels
Digicam Decision (Rear; Entrance-Dealing with)
48MP, 12MP; 12MP
Battery Life (As Examined)
16 hours, 45 minutes
Be taught Extra
Apple iPhone 15 Professional Evaluation
Finest Android Digicam General
Google Pixel 9 Professional
Execs & Cons
Modern AI options
High-tier cameras
Lengthy battery life
Good efficiency
Robust wi-fi connections
Glorious construct high quality
Low beginning storage
Some Gemini instruments lack polish
Why We Picked It
Google’s Pixel telephones have lengthy set the bar for cellular pictures. The Pixel 9 Professional has a trio of succesful cameras that provide sharp photographs regardless of the topic or lighting. Furthermore, AI-driven extras like Finest Take and Magic Eraser make the expertise plenty of enjoyable. Video seize reaches 4K60 for each the rear and entrance cameras, with secure, detailed outcomes.
Who It’s For
The Pixel 9 Professional is for Google followers who need the perfect image high quality obtainable from a cell phone (in a smaller physique than the 9 Professional XL) and wish to tinker with captures after the actual fact.
Specs & Configurations
Working System
Android 14
CPU
Google Tensor G4
Dimensions
6.0 by 2.8 by 0.3 inches
Display screen Dimension
6.3 inches
Display screen Decision
2,856 by 1,280 pixels
Digicam Decision (Rear; Entrance-Dealing with)
50MP, 48MP, 48MP; 42MP
Battery Life (As Examined)
17 hours, 25 minutes
Be taught Extra
Google Pixel 9 Professional Evaluation
Finest Small Android Cellphone
Samsung Galaxy S24
Execs & Cons
Compact, premium construct
Flagship efficiency
Helpful AI options
Seven-year software program assist dedication
Restricted RAM and storage choices
Can get heat whereas gaming
Why We Picked It
Many Android telephones are actually so massive that one-handed pictures and video recording are fairly awkward. That is not the case with the small (however premium) Galaxy S24, which comfortably matches in a single hand.
Who It is For
For those who usually must take images of one thing you are holding in a single hand with the opposite hand, the usual Galaxy S24 is a clever selection. For those who aren’t dedicated to Android, try the iPhone 15 as an alternative.
Specs & Configurations
Working System
Android 14
CPU
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
Dimensions
5.79 by 2.78 by 0.30 inches
Display screen Dimension
6.2 inches
Display screen Decision
2,340 by 1,080 pixels
Digicam Decision (Rear; Entrance-Dealing with)
50MP, 12MP, 10MP; 12MP
Battery Life (As Examined)
13 hours, 5 minutes
Be taught Extra
Samsung Galaxy S24 Evaluation
Shopping for Information: The Finest Digicam Telephones for 2024
Which Cellphone Has the Finest Digicam?One factor we discover irritating with fashionable smartphones is that usually, the perfect cameras aren’t obtainable on telephones within the US. There’s intense digital camera innovation happening from producers similar to Honor, Oppo, and Xiaomi, however for varied causes, these producers do not promote their telephones stateside.Within the US, Apple, Google, and Samsung telephones usually have the perfect cameras. Greater-end units are inclined to carry out higher, however the hole is closing, particularly for those who primarily take images in good mild.Apple’s iPhone cameras are usually the benchmark within the artistic industries. They’re useless easy to make use of and provide wonderful focus and balanced colours. Google’s Pixel cameras are just like the Apple of Android: quick, easy, and balanced, with a splash of AI to make issues enjoyable.
Left to proper: Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Professional, Pixel 9 Professional XL (Credit score: Iyaz Akhtar)
Samsung’s telephones usually have extra lenses, modes, and choices than Apple’s or Google’s. Samsung’s prime innovation proper now’s Tremendous Zoom: The S24 Extremely has a 5x optical zoom with respectable decision at as much as 100x digital zoom. The Google Pixel 9 Professional and Professional XL additionally characteristic telephoto lenses with 5x optical zoom, however Google’s Tremendous Res Zoom tops out at 30x. Samsung and Google improved colour accuracy with their newest Galaxy and Pixel units, respectively, shifting away from the oversaturated look.Crucial think about any picture is not the digital camera—it is the photographer. It doesn’t matter what cellphone you might have, following our digital camera skilled Jim Fisher’s ideas and tips for cellular pictures could make your photos higher.Even for those who aren’t the perfect photographer, some telephones—notably these from Google and Samsung—provide AI-assisted processing and edits, so that you would possibly simply luck out.Which Digicam Cellphone Options and Equipment Do You Want?A number of years in the past, we noticed a blossoming pattern of telephones with a number of lenses, which remains to be absolutely en vogue. Many telephones now have a normal lens, a magnifying zoom lens, and a wide-angle lens. Monochrome or infrared time-of-flight sensors might help choose depth for bokeh results. Much less profitable lenses and sensors we have seen embody colour filters and devoted macro lenses for close-ups.
Apple iPhone 15 picture pattern (Credit score: Eric Zeman)
Though super-high-megapixel digital camera telephones are gaining popularity, the choices are scant within the US. The 200MP sensor on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely is the exception. The benefit of that many pixels is that you may zoom and crop photos after the actual fact or carry out lossless digital zooming in your digital camera app with out counting on an additional magnifying lens. The drawback is that the person pixels can typically be very small, creating issues for colour seize or low-light pictures.Superzoom lenses are additionally well-liked. Telephones now mix high-megapixel sensors, optical magnifying lenses, and superior software program to present you 30x, 50x, or—within the case of the Galaxy S24 Extremely—100x zoom. Basically, something a lot greater than 10x exhibits heavy digital artifacts. However a superb 5x optical zoom, as you get on the iPhone 15 Professional Max, Galaxy S24 Extremely, and Pixel 9 Professional, remains to be a giant step ahead from what we used to have.Sensor dimension is a separate matter from the megapixel rely. Sadly, a lot of the telephones obtainable within the US fall behind their worldwide competitors. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely’s 1/1.3-inch main sensor and the Apple iPhone 15 Professional Max’s 1/1.28-inch sensor are among the many largest you should purchase within the US. Evaluate these with the older Sony Xperia Professional-I’s industry-topping 1-inch main sensor, and you may see we nonetheless have a method to go. Bigger sensors are arguably extra necessary than a better megapixel rely as a result of they seize extra mild in much less time. That interprets to much less blur and sharper images, notably in difficult mild.
Apple iPhone 15 digital camera pattern (Credit score: Eric Zeman)
Essentially the most superior night time modes mix near a dozen frames to brighten up images and enhance readability. They seem to have lengthy, multi-second exposures, however they use AI software program to cut back blur by aligning the assorted photos collectively. Google’s Pixel telephones, Apple’s iPhones, and Samsung’s Galaxy S and Z telephones all have wonderful night time modes.Google’s digital camera software program additionally has top-notch options similar to Magic Eraser (removes undesirable objects), Actual Tone (ensures correct pores and skin tones), Face Unblur (leans on the opposite lenses to verify everybody’s face in a picture is sharp), and Audio Eraser (which minimizes background noise in video recordings). Samsung is catching up right here, and its newest Galaxy S24 vary has AI-based taking pictures and modifying instruments, together with Magic Editor for backfilling photographs that are not fairly there. A great Professional mode can tie all these particular person sides collectively and make for a robust platform. Most telephones have guide settings that assist you to tweak the publicity, aperture, and focus level to get precisely the shot you need. For those who’re stepping into smartphone pictures, take a while to find out how manually adjusting issues like aperture, ISO, and shutter velocity can enhance your images. For those who want a quick shot, nevertheless, all of the telephones on our record use machine studying and different software program smarts to take unbelievable images with none guide tweaks.
Apple iPhone 15 Professional picture pattern (Credit score: Eric Zeman)
Why accomplish that many photographers depend on iPhones? The provision of third-party digital camera apps performs a giant position. Some can be found for Android, however apps that professionals use nonetheless have a tendency to return out first and see extra frequent updates on iOS.For extra, see our story on the perfect cellphone and digital camera gimbals.
Beneficial by Our Editors
Which Cellphone Is Finest for Video Recording?Within the TikTok and Instagram Reels period, video is extra necessary than ever. Listed below are some options to search for.Optical picture stabilization is all the time higher than digital or digital picture stabilization as a result of it results in much less jittery movies. Many high-end telephones now use each, giving a Steadicam-like impact.
Apple iPhone 15 Professional (Credit score: Eric Zeman)
Though 1080p video remains to be ok for most individuals, many telephones can file in 4K at as much as 60fps. That is the present gold customary. 8K recording is changing into extra widespread on Android flagships, but it surely requires an enormous quantity of storage and is not actually usable or shareable but.
Google Pixel 9 Professional (Credit score: Iyaz Akhtar)
Gradual-motion movies could make for some thrilling results. Though most telephones can now seize as much as 240fps (1/8 velocity), some can go as much as 960fps (1/32 velocity). Regulate how lengthy a cellphone can file slow-mo, although, as a result of it may be tough to seize a scene for those who solely have 0.2 seconds of recording time. Many telephones additionally produce other video tips like time-lapse, hyper-lapse, and video bokeh or HDR modes.How Do Digicam Telephones Evaluate With Standalone Cameras?For the last word in picture high quality, the very best low-light efficiency, killer optical zoom, or a superb macro shot, you continue to want a devoted SLR or mirrorless digital camera. Our record of the perfect digital cameras is a good place to begin. And make sure to try our beyond-basic pictures ideas.For those who needn’t take skilled photographs, nevertheless, a prime smartphone digital camera ought to swimsuit you simply effective, and you may’t go fallacious with any of our picks right here.Dave LeClair and Sascha Segan contributed to this story.
