The Best Mobile Phone Cameras 2024
You don't need to own a DSLR camera to achieve professional-looking pictures. Whether you're a budding photographer, aspiring movie-maker or an Instagram user looking to improve the quality of your feed, you're sure to find the best mobile phone camera for you in our 2024 rundown.
Our picks of the top-rated camera phones can be ordered below and at Mobiles.co.uk, from our extensive contract and SIM-free collections.
Best overall camera phone
iPhone 15 Pro Max
When it comes to smartphone camera tech, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best camera phone you can buy.
Powering this exceptional handset’s camera array is the A17 Pro chipset: a 19 billion transistor monster. This processor gives the 15 Pro Max a significant boost in performance, and results in a smooth photography experience that is bursting with features.
The crown jewel is the 48MP main camera, which comes equipped with a versatile range of focal lengths to capture as much detail as you need. Alongside this high-detail snapper is a 12MP telephoto lens and a 12MP ultra-wide camera, capped off with the 12MP TrueDepth selfie lens on the front.
One of the features included on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is Smart HDR 5 support. This technology boosts the vibrancy of images by enhancing the colours and contrasts on display, leaving photos looking as true-to-life as possible. Smart HDR 5 takes this process one step further, utilising the A17 Bionic Pro chip to optimise images faster and more efficiently.
Filming videos with the iPhone 15 Pro Max continues the professional-quality standard set by previous handsets. Log video recording made its debut on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and opened up the ability to shoot videos with greater control over the colour grading. It also features ACES (Academy Colour Encoding System), a powerful technology developed with oversight from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. With it, you can produce professional videos that look much closer to the real thing, absent of the colour loss that can occur throughout the filming process.
Best Android camera option
Google Pixel 8 Pro
If you’re an Android user and seeking a top-rated camera phone, look no further than the Google Pixel 8 Pro. Powerful, crisp and clear, its camera array is a sublime piece of technology.
Raw pixel count on the Pixel 8 Pro is immediately eye-catching; it has a 50MP wide camera, a 48MP ultra-wide lens and a 48MP telephoto camera. These are some of the highest pixel counts you’ll find on any camera phone, ensuring that your photos are rich in detail. The telephoto lens is exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro; if you’re after the full range of camera tech in the Pixel 8 range, the Pro model is the handset of choice.
For those who enjoy taking selfies, you’re also in for a treat with the Pixel 8 Pro. Up front it has a 10.5MP camera with a 95° field of view, enabling you to capture wide-angle photos with greater ease. Auto-focus is also a key highlight on the Pixel 8 Pro, so you don’t have to worry about taking a selfie in low-light and needing to wait for it to focus on the subjects.
Artificial intelligence plays a prominent role in shaping the Pixel 8 Pro into the superb camera phone it is, and it’s equipped with an impressive number of AI features to improve your photography and filmmaking. With Video Boost, it’s incredibly easy to record footage in dark conditions with but a few taps. Turn on the feature and watch as your videos come out bright and crystal clear. You can then combine Video Boost with Night Sight Video to capture those dark, starry evenings in their glory.
Best previous gen iPhone camera
iPhone 14 Pro Max
Photographers and filmmakers will find an incredible amount to love in the iPhone 14 Pro Max. This premium model has a dual 12MP camera array on the back and 12MP TrueDepth selfie camera up front. The Pro Max takes it one step further by including a 48MP main camera for exceptional photographs with true-to-life contrasts.
At the software level, the iPhone 14 Pro Max features technology that significantly improves photos behind the scenes. The Photonic Engine combines pixels together much earlier while capturing a shot, producing images with exceptional clarity and detail.
For those looking to film professional-level videos, the iPhone 14 Pro Max includes Action Mode, which can smooth out erratic footage to create a stable shot; perfect for fast and, as the name suggests, action-heavy videos. Cinematic Mode was also given an upgrade and is capable of recording videos in 4K resolution at 30 frames per second.
Best Samsung Galaxy camera option
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a hugely significant phone in the series for a few reasons. One: it boasts some of the best camera specs on the market. Two: it’s one of the first Galaxy phones to leverage artificial intelligence and massively boost picture quality as a result.
In our review of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, we highly praised its camera hardware and the photos it could produce. The centrepiece is the 200MP main camera, which for sheer pixel count alone blows away most of the competition. Photos captured with this camera burst with detail, whether you’re taking the shot during the day or at night. Alongside this camera is a stunning 50MP telephoto lens with support for up to 10x zoom. Not only that, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s cameras include 100x Space Zoom; perfect for capturing extreme far-off images.
Key to why the 100x Space Zoom is possible on the S24 Ultra is AI. Samsung built out its own suite of AI features that significantly enhance photos from top to bottom, such as the ability to fill in blurry pixels when zooming in from a considerable distance. There’s also Generative Edit, which can adjust images if the subject is off-centre, and fine-tune the background in the scene.
If you’re using an older Galaxy phone, the photography capabilities on the Galaxy S24 Ultra can feel transformative. Ultimately, this is a standout camera phone that should not be missed.
Best Pixel camera phone on a budget
Google Pixel 8a
When operating on a budget, there are few Android phones better than the Google Pixel 8a. It leads the way with a potent combination of powerful hardware and even better software, particularly when it comes to AI.
One of the Pixel 8a’s top AI features is Best Take. We’ve all likely been in a photo were someone is looking away or their face is blurry; with Best Take, you can use AI to dynamically adjust faces, so everyone is facing the camera. The Magic Editor feature can then be used to tweak the background, remove unwanted subjects, and more.
The Pixel 8a’s fantastic AI suite is backed up by some impressive camera hardware. You’re getting a 64MP wide camera and a 13MP ultra-wide lens, followed by a 13MP selfie camera on the front. Useful features like Night Sight make it incredibly easy to capture low-light images, and daytime shots are also a breeze thanks to each camera’s high pixel count.
If you’re shopping for a phone on a budget but want a handset that can pull its weight, the Google Pixel 8a is a magnificent top choice.
Another premium Pixel camera phone
Google Pixel 7 Pro
The Pixel 7 Pro continued Google’s trend of providing best-in-class smartphone cameras. It is headlined by a superb duo of lens: a 50MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. Not only do these provide phenomenal detail, but they also open up a wide variety of photo shots that can be taken, be it a large panoramic image or an up-close photo with incredible clarity.
Also included in the Pixel 7 Pro’s photography arsenal is a fantastic 48MP telephoto camera. This lens can take photos at up to 30x zoom with minimal drop in quality. Combined with improvements when using the Pixel 7 Pro in low-light, this phone is exceptionally versatile and is undoubtedly one of the best smartphone cameras around.
Best flip camera phone
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
The Galaxy Z Flip5 is a top choice when choosing a camera phone, and not just because of the cameras themselves. What makes the Z Flip5 stand out is its unique design, which makes for a one-of-a-kind photography experience.
Within the camera array of the Z Flip5 is a 12MP main lens and a 12MP wide camera. This hardware on its own can take photos with tons of detail, but it’s when you start to experiment with the Z Flip5’s flexibility that these cameras come into their own. Using FlexCam Mode, you can orientate the Z Flip5 at 90° and position it anywhere you like to take hands-free photos. This functionality is also great for watching videos without the need to crane your neck, or position the phone against an object.
This form factor can also be used when filming. Footage can be recorded in folded mode, and then continue to be recorded in unfolded mode; all in one action. The Z Flip 5’s front cover will display a real-time preview of photos and images, helping you see the outcome without unfolding the phone.
Whilst you won’t find the absolute best cameras on the Z Flip5, its flip form factor makes it unlike any other camera phone on the market.
Best premium phone for beginners
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
On the Android side of the smartphone market, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a top- rated camera contender, with its excellent hardware and diverse collection of features. For anyone looking to try out a premium camera phone for the first time, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is powerful but not overwhelming to pick up and experiment with.
On the back is a quad-camera array, featuring two 10MP telephoto lenses, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 200MP wide camera. This opens up a huge amount of versatility with the S23 Ultra; jumping from a stunning wide-angle shot to detailed zoomed-in pictures is incredibly easy.
The software within the S23 Ultra also contributes to its impressive picture quality. OIS (optical image stabilisation) and image processing create detail-rich photos when taken from a distance, or up-close.
Photos are showcased on the Galaxy S23 Ultra via a crystal-clear 6.8” 1440p display. Vision Booster technology ensures minimal glare in bright conditions, making daytime photography a breeze. Night-time images can also be captured with impressive clarity, thanks to the S23 Ultra’s **Night View **mode.
Best iPhone camera on a budget
Apple iPhone SE 3 (2022)
With the iPhone SE 3 3rd Gen, Apple produced a handset that can capture high-quality images on a far smaller budget. It only comes equipped with a single camera, but this 12MP lens works in tandem with some efficient software features to capture beautiful scenes wherever you are.
One of these potent features is Deep Fusion. This tool enables the SE 3rd Gen to take photos in low-light conditions without compromising on quality and clarity. It works together with other features like Smart HDR 4 to ensure the contrast levels are much closer to what the human eye perceives. This combination of software and hardware ensures you’re getting a camera phone that can go head-to-head with its premium siblings.
The SE 3rd Gen is also no slouch in the video department, being able to record silky-smooth footage at 4K and 60fps. This is thanks to the A15 Bionic chip and its fast processing speeds working behind the scenes.
Best small camera phone
iPhone SE 3 (2022)
The iPhone SE 3rd Gen appears again on our list of the best camera phones, this time for its small form factor. Budding photographers wanting a pocket-friendly but powerful handset should put the SE 3rd Gen near the top of their list.
This phone comes in at 138 x 67 x 7.3mm; a significant reduction in size compared to the iPhone 14’s 146mm height. The SE 3rd Gen is also much lighter, weighing only 144g next to the iPhone 14’s 172g. These differences all add up, creating a handset that is much easier to carry around.
Despite being on the smaller end of the smartphone scale, the SE 3rd Gen packs a punch. Its 4.7” display is excellent for the size and comes equipped with familiar features such as True Tone, ensuring the screen looks vibrant from every angle. Performance is also very impressive, thanks to the hard work of the A15 Bionic processor under the hood.
It might be diminutive, but the iPhone SE 3rd Gen’s small size gives it a huge advantage. When travelling or gifting a phone to a younger family member, there are few better handsets to consider.
The breadth of camera phones available is staggering, covering many corners of the smartphone market. Once you are equipped with the best mobile phone camera for your needs, sharpen up your editing skills with our rundown of the best photo editing apps.