Top 2024 camera phones in review - Does a high-quality camera phone always come with a high price tag?
Which mid-range phone has the best camera?
We tested four of the best mid-range smartphones for their camera performance: the Samsung Galaxy A55, Google Pixel 8a, Xiaomi 13T, and Sony Xperia 10 VI. A clear winner emerged. Read the full report to discover which phone delivers the best photos.Marcus Herbrich, 👁 Daniel Schmidt (translated by Carmen Pol) Published 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 ...
We've already analyzed the camera performance of upper-class and high-end smartphones in previous tests, and now it's time for a detailed camera comparison in the mid-range segment. The Samsung Galaxy A55, Sony Xperia 10 VI, Google Pixel 8a, and Xiaomi 13T — four of the most intriguing mid-range smartphones of 2024 — are competing for the camera crown.
In this comparison, we take a closer look at how significant the differences in photo quality are across various photo subjects and lighting conditions. The technical specifications of the installed camera modules are summarized in a table:
| Xiaomi 13T | Google Pixel 8a | Sony Xperia 10 VI | Samsung Galaxy A55 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camera setup: Rear side | 50 MPix (OIS, f/1.9, 1/1.28") | 64 MPix (f/1.89, OIS, 1/1.73) | 48 MPix (f/2.2, OIS, 1/2.0") | 50 MPix (f/1.8, OIS, 1/1.56") |
| Telephoto lens | 50 MPix (2x optical zoom, f/1.9, | - | - | - |
| Ultra wide angle | 12 MPix (f/2.2) | 13 MPix (f/2.2) | 8 MPix (f/2.2) | 12 MPix (f/2.2) |
| Camera setup: Front side | 20 MPix (f/2.2, FF) | 13 MPix (f/2.2, FF) | 8 MPix (f/2.0, FF) | 32 MPix (f/2.2, FF) |
| Software version | 14.0.11.0 | AP2A240605.024 | 70.0.A.3.117 | A556BXX4AXF3 |
The smartphones are priced in the (upper) middle tier. The Galaxy A55 and Pixel 8a start at $350 and $400, respectively, while the Xperia 10 VI is available at a lower RRP of $399. The most expensive smartphone in this comparison, the Xiaomi 13T, carries an official retail price of $590. However, actual street prices for these devices are much closer, ranging between $350 and $500.
For our test shots, we used the default camera settings on each of the mid-range smartphones. The images produced by the main cameras do not reflect the full sensor resolution; instead, they are processed into photos with fewer pixels. All the mid-range smartphones in this comparison utilize pixel binning, a process that effectively increases the individual pixel size to improve image quality. The 50 MP sensors on the Galaxy A55 and Xiaomi 13T generate photos with a 12.5 MP resolution. The Pixel 8a employs a "classic" 4-to-1 binning technique for 16 MP photos, while the Xperia 10 VI produces images with a 12 MP resolution.
Main camera of the mid-range smartphones
Unlike the top-tier camera phones, where performance is consistently high, the mid-range segment reveals more variation in quality across different test shots, as expected given the price point. Each smartphone demonstrates unique strengths and weaknesses.
In general, we were most impressed with the sharpness of the photos taken by the Galaxy A55 and Xiaomi 13T, while the Pixel 8a produced images that were slightly softer in focus. The Xperia 10 VI, on the other hand, tends to darken photos noticeably and exhibits a slight graininess in shadow areas even in daylight conditions. The image sharpness of the Sony phone also struggles, particularly with subjects that are further away from the lens.
Regarding color accuracy, the Pixel 8a and Xiaomi 13T provided the most realistic results. However, the Xiaomi 13T sometimes rendered our horse motif a bit too brightly. This can be adjusted by selecting the "Leica Authentic" color mode in the camera software, which produces less saturated photos compared to the "Leica Vibrant" mode we used. The Galaxy A55, faltered in color reproduction, turning a green doll into a blue one, and also struggled with accurately rendering the color of horses. Both the Galaxy A55 and Xperia 10 VI had significant challenges with exposure in bright sunlight, leading to overexposure issues. That said, even the Xiaomi 13T wasn't entirely immune to overexposure in these conditions.
When the lighting conditions worsen, the limitations of the mid-range smartphones' smaller camera sensors become evident. Unsurprisingly, the Xiaomi 13T, equipped with the largest sensor in this group, performs the best in low-light situations. The Pixel 8a also manages to capture a significant amount of detail when the lighting is adequate, such as in the first scene with streetlights. Nevertheless, it falls short of the Xiaomi 13T in terms of sharpness. Additionally, the Xiaomi 13T benefits from the shortest shutter release times among the phones tested, which aids in capturing clearer images in low light.
The Xperia 10 VI, with its 1/2.0-inch sensor, struggles the most in these conditions, delivering the weakest performance. The Galaxy A55 also fails to impress, with issues such as inaccurate color balance in the street motif and a lack of image sharpness in the house motif. However, it does manage to compete with the Pixel 8a for second place when it comes to photographing the bookshelf, though it remains a step behind in overall low-light performance.
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.
Strasse - Low LightHaus - Low LightBuch - Low Light
Ultra-wide-angle camera of the mid-range smartphones
The overall performance of the ultra-wide-angle lens in daylight is consistent with the results from the main camera. The Xperia 10 VI once again struggles with color accuracy, rendering our horse-related theme in unnatural tones, and the sharpness diminishes significantly around the edges. While the Pixel 8a captures more detail than the Sony phone, its sharpness is only moderately convincing and does not stand out.
The Galaxy A55 and Xiaomi 13T. deliver the best results in ultra-wide-angle shots. The Xiaomi phone edges out with slightly better sharpness, but the Galaxy A55 displays fewer image errors, such as chromatic aberrations. However, the Galaxy's images tend to look artificially sharpened, which might not appeal to everyone.
In low-light conditions, the Samsung phone produces the best overall pictures, though they still fall short of the quality offered by the main camera. The other three smartphones—Xperia 10 VI, Pixel 8a, and Xiaomi 13T—perform similarly poorly in low light, with the Pixel 8a offering a slight advantage in these challenging scenes.
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.
PferdHausBuchStrasse Low-LightHaus Low-Light
Zoom shots of the mid-range phones
After Sony discontinued the optical zoom in the current Xperia 10 generation, the Xiaomi 13T stands out as the only smartphone in this comparison equipped with a telephoto lens. The other three models, rely solely on sensor cropping, which leverages the high resolution of the main sensor for lossless magnification (up to 2x).
As expected, the Xiaomi 13T excels in capturing the most detail in daylight shots, both at 2x and 5x magnification, due to its dedicated telephoto lens. Even at maximum zoom levels, Xiaomi maintains an edge, though the image quality significantly drops beyond 10x zoom. The Xiaomi phone does exhibit some softness in its images. The quality of the Xperia 10 VI's zoom photos is inconsistent; while it performs well with certain subjects, like the doll, it struggles with others, such as the house image.
In low-light conditions, the differences between the smartphones become less noticeable, particularly at 2x zoom. However, all four models tend to blur subjects in these scenarios, making the zoom function less valuable for everyday use in dim lighting.
Front cameras of the mid-range mobile phones
In terms of built-in camera specifications, the Galaxy A55 has the edge when it comes to selfies. The Samsung smartphone is the only device in our comparison that offers a high-resolution front lens with pixel binning. Although the selfie camera has a nominal resolution of 32 MP, the final photos are 8 MP. The Galaxy A55 clearly outperforms the mid-range competition in this aspect, especially in low light.
Even in daylight, the Samsung phone delivers the best overall results. It effectively highlights small wrinkles, and skin tones appear natural. While selfies taken with the Pixel 8a are relatively sharp, the color reproduction can be somewhat unconventional.
Software & macro function of the mid-range mobile phones
The camera software of the Galaxy A55, running One UI version 6, offers the highest level of individual optimization and setting options. The Samsung mid-range phone is the only device in this comparison with access to a Pro mode, and it also features a 50 MP mode. The Xiaomi 13T allows users to take pictures with the native resolution of the image sensor but lacks extensive parameter adjustments.
The Pixel 8a does not have a dedicated Pro mode, although some settings can be adjusted to personal preferences. It does not support 64 MP photos. The Xperia 10 VI lags behind in terms of camera software, offering no customization options or native sensor resolution photography.
For macro photography enthusiasts, the Galaxy A55 is the only choice, as none of the other smartphones in this comparison offer a macro lens. The ultra-wide-angle cameras of the four mid-range smartphones are also unsuitable for macro shots.
Verdict on the mid-range mobile phone camera test
Despite the Xiaomi 13T emerging as the standout performer in our camera test, it's encouraging to see that the mid-range Android phones are closely matched in photography quality. Previously, Google dominated the mid-range camera segment, but all four smartphones in this comparison impress in good lighting conditions, with some variations depending on the subject.
The Xiaomi 13T is the most versatile and complete camera phone in this group, offering superior performance overall. However, the Pixel 8a holds its own, especially in varying lighting conditions, and the Galaxy A55 also provides commendable photo quality, particularly with its ultra-wide-angle lens and selfies. The Galaxy A55 benefits from One UI's extensive customization options, giving it an edge in user control over camera settings.
The gap between these models and premium devices becomes more apparent with smaller camera sensors, particularly when moving away from the main camera.
The Xperia 10 VI, being the most affordable option in this comparison, could greatly benefit from software optimization to address issues with image sharpness and color accuracy. This is not unexpected given its price, but it's worth noting that the current pricing of these smartphones is quite competitive.
If you're still searching for the perfect camera phone, explore our list of the best camera smartphones. Our top 10 recommendations are regularly updated based on the latest test reports to help you find the right device for your needs.
