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The Best Camera Smartphones

March 2024 update. Photography has become the defining feature of modern smartphones. Thanks to incredible leaps in camera technology smartphones are now at a point where they can easily replace traditional digital point-and-shoot cameras. Complex software algorithms ensure that even a spontaneous snapshot will look great. Below, you will find the best camera smartphones reviewed by us.

The time of digital compact cameras is over. Smartphone cameras and their sensors as well as the corresponding miniature lenses, but especially the picture editing software have improved so much by now, that smartphone cameras can easily replace average compact cameras. At least the best smartphones, because there are still big differences in terms of picture quality. 

For this reason, we have this list of the best photo smartphones that are particularly well-suited for taking photos, and that have scored exceptionally well in this category in our tests. You will also find a photo comparison at the end of this article. Please also consider the following top lists before making any purchasing decisions:

The Best Camera Smartphones

Position
Camera Rating
Total Rating
Date
Image
Model
Height
Weight
Size
Resolution
184.6 %91.1 %
03/2024
New!
Samsung Galaxy S24 UltraSamsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
Qualcomm Adreno 750
12 GB Memory, 256 GB 
8.6 mm232 g6.80"3120x1440
283 %91.1 %
12/2023
Apple iPhone 15 Pro MaxApple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple A17 Pro
Apple A17 Pro GPU
8 GB Memory, 256 GB NVMe
8.25 mm221 g6.70"2796x1290
382.6 %89 %
12/2023
Google Pixel 8 ProGoogle Pixel 8 Pro
Google Tensor G3
ARM Mali-G715 MP7
12 GB Memory, 128 GB 
8.8 mm213 g6.70"2992x1344
481 %89.8 %
03/2024
New!
Samsung Galaxy S24+Samsung Galaxy S24+
Samsung Exynos 2400
Samsung Xclipse 940
12 GB Memory, 512 GB 
7.7 mm196 g6.70"3120x1440
580.8 %86.4 %
07/2023
Huawei Nova 11 ProHuawei Nova 11 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4G
Qualcomm Adreno 642L
8 GB Memory, 256 GB 
7.9 mm188 g6.78"2652x1200
680.8 %87.5 %
11/2023
Xiaomi Mix Fold 3Xiaomi Mix Fold 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Qualcomm Adreno 740
16 GB Memory, 512 GB 
5.3 mm259 g8.03"2160x1916
780.4 %89.7 %
06/2023
Xiaomi 13 UltraXiaomi 13 Ultra
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Qualcomm Adreno 740
12 GB Memory, 512 GB 
9.1 mm227 g6.73"3200x1440
880.4 %88.8 %
06/2023
Huawei P60 ProHuawei P60 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
Qualcomm Adreno 730
8 GB Memory, 256 GB 
8.3 mm200 g6.67"2700x1220
980.2 %90.1 %
07/2023
Honor Magic5 ProHonor Magic5 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Qualcomm Adreno 740
12 GB Memory, 512 GB 
8.77 mm219 g6.81"2848x1312
1080.2 %90 %
03/2024
New!
Samsung Galaxy S24Samsung Galaxy S24
Samsung Exynos 2400
Samsung Xclipse 940
8 GB Memory, 256 GB 
7.6 mm167 g6.20"2340x1080

The table above contains an overview over the best camera smartphones reviewed by Notebookcheck over the course of the past 12 months as well as still relevant and available older products. In cases of identical score the more recent device is listed first. All prices in above table and price comparisons are updated daily and can thus differ.
Link: all devices in this class reviewed

Editors' Comments

In this update, we welcome the Samsung trio of Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra as newcomers to the list of the best camera smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23 Ultra as well as the Sony Xperia 1 V have to leave our list of the best, but they are still worth a closer look in terms of camera quality.

Our latest camera comparison of the best camera smartphones can be found here and here and here....

1st – Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The Galaxy S24 Ultra's camera system consists of four lenses, with the star of the quartet being the in-house 200 MPix ISOCELL HP2 sensor. In our test, the Samsung flagship impresses with a high dynamic range, beautiful sharpness and the ability to create ultra-HDR photos. The zoom properties of the Galaxy S24 Ultra are also first-class. A 50 MPix periscope camera with five times magnification is responsible for this. The 3x zoom also delivers good results, which is also covered by a dedicated lens. 

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a camera flagship at its very best.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is without question one of the best smartphones of 2024. The very bright OLED display was particularly impressive in our test. The Corning Gorilla Armor glass reduces reflections by up to 75%, which is a visible difference to the competition. The new AI functions, powerful features and seven years of Android updates are also highlights of the Samsung flagship.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra can be purchased directly from Samsung, but is also available from usual retail channels such as Amazon.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: focus
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: focus
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: colors
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: colors
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: sample photo
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: sample photo

Pricecompare

2nd – Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

Apple has achieved a major upgrade with its iPhone 15 Pro Max. The focus of the Apple phone is on the very bright 6.7 OLED display, the USB-C port used for the first time and the new A17 Pro with its modern 3 nm process. The rear camera has also been upgraded with a telephoto lens in a space-saving tetraprism design. The resulting 5x zoom offers really good imaging performance and very good image stabilization. 

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is more ergonomic and faster than its predecessor, but also offers significantly better zoom properties. 

The main sensor in the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a resolution of 48 MPix and offers optical image stabilization (OIS) with sensor shift. In daylight, the Apple phone delivers good results with appealing color fidelity. In low light, it also takes decent pictures, but the slightly longer exposure time means that the photos are slightly blurred. The ultra-wide-angle lens, which completes the triple cam, is unchanged in terms of resolution and noise level compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max can be purchased directly from Apple. However, it is also available from most other retailers such as Amazon.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: focus
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: focus
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: colors
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: colors
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: sample photo
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: sample photo

Pricecompare

3rd – Google Pixel 8 Pro

Google Pixel 8 Pro
Google Pixel 8 Pro

The Pixel 8 Pro is a powerful smartphone with a coherent overall concept and stylish design. The flagship from Google impresses with a very bright and accurate OLED display, outstanding system performance and a great camera setup. 

In addition to powerful cameras, the Google Pixel 8 Pro offers the longest update guarantee among flagship smartphones with seven years of updates.

The Pixel 8 Pro's main camera uses a 50 MPix Samsung sensor, which is complemented by an ultra-wide-angle sensor with 48 MPix and a fivefold optical zoom. Both the main lens and the telephoto lens can rely on optical image stabilization (OIS). We really like the pictures taken with the 50 MPix camera, with good results even in low-light situations. Compared to its predecessor, however, the ultra-wide-angle and telephoto lenses in particular have been greatly improved

While you can purchase the Google Pixel 8 Pro directly from the online shop of the manufacturer, alternatively it is also available from other vendors such as Amazon.

Google Pixel 8 Pro: focus
Google Pixel 8 Pro: focus
Google Pixel 8 Pro: colors
Google Pixel 8 Pro: colors
Google Pixel 8 Pro: sample photo
Google Pixel 8 Pro: sample photo

Pricecompare

4th – Samsung Galaxy S24+

Samsung Galaxy S24+
Samsung Galaxy S24+

The Galaxy S24+ leaves nothing to be desired. With its high resolution and very high brightness, the 6.7-inch AMOLED screen is impressive across the board. The Samsung phone also offers extensive features and long battery life. The Galaxy S24+ is also the perfect companion for anyone who values first-class updates. Samsung guarantees updates for seven years and seven major Android generations for its luxury class.  

The Galaxy S24+ not only takes beautiful photos, but also supports image processing using generative artificial intelligence.

In terms of photography, the Galaxy S24+ focuses on the optically stabilized main camera with a resolution of 50 MPix. The 1/1.57-inch sensor takes very good pictures both day and night and impressed us in the test with its appealing color reproduction. If you want to get to grips with shooting parameters such as aperture, exposure and white balance, there is also extensive software available.

The main camera is complemented by a 12 MPix ultra-wide-angle lens with solid photo quality and a 10 MPix telephoto lens. We really like the zoom shots with the Galaxy S24+. The telephoto lens enables a lossless triple zoom and the Samsung phone retains some details up to a fivefold magnification.

The Galaxy S24+ is available from Samsung in various countries. Alternatively, users in the US can order the Samsung's phone via Amazon.

Samsung Galaxy S24+: focus
Samsung Galaxy S24+: focus
Samsung Galaxy S24+: colors
Samsung Galaxy S24+: colors
Samsung Galaxy S24+: sample photo
Samsung Galaxy S24+: sample photo

Pricecompare

5th – Huawei Nova 11 Pro

Huawei Nova 11 Pro
Huawei Nova 11 Pro

Huawei Nova 11 Pro has a first-class main camera. The 50-MPix lens with an f/1.9 aperture scores with a high level of detail and an appealing sharpness in our test, and the color reproduction is also very good. The Huawei smartphone also produces well-lit and quite sharp photos in low light. The large camera module on the back is completed by an ultra-wide-angle camera with a resolution of 8 MPix.

The 50 MPix main camera can definitely compete with rivals from the high-end sector, but there is one important limitation. The Huawei Nova 11 Pro does not have optical image stabilization.

The Huawei Nova 11 Pro looks very stylish and the cameras offer a strong image quality.

Apart from the appealing camera system, the Huawei phone convinces with a high-quality appearance. The slim casing with the glass pulled over the edges is definitely an eye-catcher. In terms of technology, it should be noted that Huawei is not allowed to offer its Nova 11 Pro with 5G and Google services.

At the time of writing, the Huawei Nova 11 Pro in black and green color options is only available directly from the manufacturer in Central Europe for €590 (~$652).

Huawei Nova 11 Pro: focus
Huawei Nova 11 Pro: focus
Huawei Nova 11 Pro: colors
Huawei Nova 11 Pro: colors
Huawei Nova 11 Pro: sample photo
Huawei Nova 11 Pro: sample photo

Pricecompare

6th – Xiaomi Mix Fold 3

Xiaomi Mix Fold 3
Xiaomi Mix Fold 3

The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 has a quad-camera setup with two telephoto lenses and an ultra-wide-angle camera (12 MPix), which was developed in cooperation with Leica. The main sensor is a Sony IMX800 with 54 MPix, of which 50 MPix are effectively used.

In daylight, the Foldable takes very good quality pictures that impress with their high image sharpness, natural colors and a strong dynamic range. Difficult lighting conditions also pose no problems for the Mix Fold 3. For a foldable smartphone, the strong zoom qualities are particularly noteworthy. A 10-MPix lens works with a 3.2x optical magnification, while the 12-MPix lens uses a 5x optical zoom.

The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 is a powerful foldable with an extensive range of features, although it is significantly cheaper than many of its competitors. 

In addition to flagship-worthy features including WiFi 7 and two 120 Hz AMOLED displays, the Mix Fold 3 offers a high-quality casing. Officially, the Xiaomi foldable has only been released for the Chinese market.

Xiaomi Mix Fold 3: focus
Xiaomi Mix Fold 3: focus
Xiaomi Mix Fold 3: colors
Xiaomi Mix Fold 3: colors
Xiaomi Mix Fold 3: sample photo
Xiaomi Mix Fold 3: sample photo

Pricecompare

7th – Xiaomi 13 Ultra

Xiaomi 13 Ultra
Xiaomi 13 Ultra

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra convinces in our test with its extensive equipment list and a high-quality robe made of vegan leather and metal. Furthermore, the flagship phone offers a lot of performance with a high consistency, because the Xiaomi 13 Ultra throttles considerably less than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 competition. 

The optional camera bundle turns the high-end smartphone from Xiaomi into a compact camera.

The camera star in the 50-MPix quartet on the back is Sony's IMX989 in a 1-inch format and a variable aperture. With a maximum aperture of f/1.9, backgrounds are usually lost in blur, even in photo mode, whereas a larger depth of field can be achieved with an aperture of f/4.0.

In our test photos, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra reveals many details, a high dynamic range and a pleasant image sharpness. The three other 50 MPix cameras with a focal length of 12 mm to 120 mm are well matched to the main camera in terms of color and offer appealing photo quality. Shooting with the telephoto lenses up to 10x magnification is a strength of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra.

In the US, interesting users can order the Xiaomi 13 Ultra via Amazon for around $935.

Xiaomi 13 Ultra: focus
Xiaomi 13 Ultra: focus
Xiaomi 13 Ultra: colors
Xiaomi 13 Ultra: colors
Xiaomi 13 Ultra: sample photo
Xiaomi 13 Ultra: sample photo

Pricecompare

8th – Huawei P60 Pro

Huawei P60 Pro
Huawei P60 Pro

The showpiece of the Huawei P60 Pro are the rear cameras, which no longer feature the "Leica" lettering, but "XMAGE". The new 48 MP main camera of the Huawei P60 Pro convinces with a balanced imaging performance and the automatic aperture control, which can automatically adjust the aperture step between f/1.4 and f/4.0. A highlight of the RYYB sensor used are the low-light shots that capture many details even in low light.

Those who focus more on the cameras will find a very interesting companion in Huawei's flagship.

The triple camera system also features a Periscope lens with a resolution of 48 MPix and an open aperture of f/2.1, which is very fast for a telephoto lens. The ultra-wide-angle camera only has a resolution of 13 MPix, but it still delivers an appealing depth of field and good details.

Apart from the very good cameras, Huawei's P60 Pro offers a good configuration, but it still has to do without Google services and the 5G standard.

The Huawei P60 Pro is available directly from Huawei's store, but can also be purchased from Amazon US.

Huawei P60 Pro: focus
Huawei P60 Pro: focus
Huawei P60 Pro: colors
Huawei P60 Pro: colors
Huawei P60 Pro: sample photo
Huawei P60 Pro: sample photo

Pricecompare

9th – Honor Magic5 Pro

Honor Magic5 Pro
Honor Magic5 Pro

The Honor Magic5 Pro offers a 50 MPix main camera, which knows how to convince with balanced shots in daylight and with a high camera speed. But even in darkness, appealing photos can be obtained with the 1/1.12" image sensor thanks to OIS, even when the subjects are very bright. The camera system is completed by an ultra-wide-angle lens with 50 MPix as well, which can come up with respectable photos including a detailed depth of field, and a 50 MPix telephoto lens. The latter ensures competitive pictures with a 3.5x optical magnification.

Overall, the Honor Magic5 Pro takes good to very good pictures. The high-end smartphone from the Chinese manufacturer offers a very complete camera package. 

In our review, the Honor smartphone convinces with its bright and 120 Hz fast LTPO display as well as a strong system performance and well-rounded equipment package. Honor has also extended the update supply for its high-end smartphones to 4 years.

Honor's devices are not official available in North America.

Honor Magic5 Pro: focus
Honor Magic5 Pro: focus
Honor Magic5 Pro: colors
Honor Magic5 Pro: colors
Honor Magic5 Pro: sample photo
Honor Magic5 Pro: sample photo

Pricecompare

10th – Samsung Galaxy S24

The Galaxy S24 is small, light and feels very high-quality. Despite its compact dimensions, the Samsung phone has a very good main camera with optical image stabilization. The photos taken with the 50-MPix lens impress with their dynamic range and natural color balance. Under low-light conditions, the subjects are softer, but the illumination and exposure as well as the level of detail are appealing.

The shots taken with the ultra-wide-angle lens are somewhat less convincing, but the photos taken with the 12 MPix camera are still absolutely solid. However, we liked the third lens in the Galaxy S24 test better. This is a triple, lossless magnification with optical image stabilization. The zoom photos offer good sharpness in bright light up to 5x.

The Galaxy S24 is a compact smartphone with strong imaging performance.

In addition to the good cameras, Samsung has put together an interesting package in the upper class with its great update policy, Galaxy AI and the very bright AMOLED screen. Thanks to its low weight and small body width, the Galaxy S24 is also very handy and currently the best mini flagship on the market.

While you can purchase the Samsung Galaxy S24 directly from the online shop of the manufacturer, alternatively it is also available from other vendors such as Amazon.

Samsung Galaxy S24: focus
Samsung Galaxy S24: focus
Samsung Galaxy S24: colors
Samsung Galaxy S24: colors
Samsung Galaxy S24: sample photo
Samsung Galaxy S24: sample photo

Pricecompare

Top 10 Camera Smartphones Picture Comparison

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro vs. Xiaomi 13 Pro

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

WindowsCatHouseCellarHorse

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 7 Pro vs. Xiaomi 13 Pro

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

PlantHouseWindowsBook

Older camera comparisons of the best smartphones in terms of cameras


Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 7 Pro vs. Xiaomi 13 Pro

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

TreeBookshelfHouseDwarvesPortrait

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 7 Pro vs. Vivo X80 Pro

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

TreeBookshelfHouseDwarvesPortrait

Huawei P50 Pro vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro vs Google Pixel 6

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Main cameraMain cameraZoom (5x)Low-Light
click to load images

Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Samsing Galaxy S22+ vs Xiaomi 12 Pro

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Main cameraMain cameraUltra wide angle5x ZoomLow-Light
click to load images

Xiaomi 12S Ultra vs Apple iPhone 13 vs OnePlus 10 Pro

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Main cameraMain cameraLow-LightUltra wide angle

Apple iPhone 14 Pro vs Oppo Find X5 Pro vs Honor Magic4 Pro

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Main cameraMain cameraUltra wide angle5x ZoomLow-Light

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs Oppo Find X5 Pro vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Main cameraHauptkamera UmgebungHauptkamera Low LightWeitwinkelkameraScene 5

Huawei Mate Xs 2 vs Sony Xperia 1 IV vs Honor Magic4 Pro

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Main cameraMain cameraUltra wide angle5x-ZoomLow-Light
click to load images

Oppo Find X5 Pro vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Main cameraMain cameraUltra wide angle5x ZoomLow-Light

Vivo X80 Pro vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro vs Xiaomi 12 Pro

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Main cameraMain cameraUltra wide angle5x ZoomLow-Light
click to load images

Apple iPhone 14 vs Apple iPhone 13 vs Honor Magic4 Pro

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Daylight shot 1Daylight shot 2Ultra wide angleLowlight recording
click to load images

Samsung Galaxy S22+ vs Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Xiaomi 12 Pro

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Daylight shot 1Daylight shot 25x ZoomUltra wide angleLowlight recording
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Notebookcheck (Update: 2024-03-13)