Looking for the perfect camera phone? You’re in luck! We’ve put together a guide featuring the best smartphones for capturing stunning photos and videos in 2023.
With so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to decide which is best for your needs. But fear not, we’ve tested a wide variety of smartphones and compiled a list of our favourite picks to make your decision easier.
Whether you’re a social media influencer looking to capture the perfect TikTok or simply looking to snap everyday moments with friends and family, your smartphone is the perfect device for the job. With your phone always within reach, it’s easy to quickly snap a photo whenever the opportunity arises. And with the countless editing apps available, you can even edit and post your photos and videos without ever leaving your phone.
While camera phones can’t quite match the capabilities of high-end mirrorless or DSLR cameras, they’ve come a long way in recent years. Many modern smartphones now feature multiple sensors, including ultra-wide, telephoto, and macro lenses, allowing you to capture a wide range of shots with ease. Additionally, advanced camera software allows for features like portrait mode and night mode, making it easier than ever to capture stunning photos in any lighting situation.
Don’t think you need to break the bank to get a great camera on your phone, either. While the iPhone 14 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra are fantastic options, you can get similar results from mid-range devices if you know where to look.
At Trusted Reviews, we take our reviews seriously, examining every aspect of a smartphone, including design, display, specs, battery, and camera. We use each device as our main phone for at least a week, putting them through rigorous lab and real-world tests. For the camera, we test low-light capabilities, portrait mode, and video quality, ensuring we provide you with the most accurate and useful information possible.
So if you’re in the market for a new camera phone, trust us to guide you towards the best options available.
Scroll down to see all our best camera phones right now, or head over to our best phones guide for a more general overview of the best mobiles on the market.
Best camera phones at a glance
How we test
Learn more about how we test mobile phones We review a smartphone’s camera based on our experience with it, not a manufacturer’s claims or boasts. We shoot sample images and video in varying conditions to properly test its skills and we include sample images in our review wherever possible. If a smartphone has a specific camera setting – a night mode, for example – we’ll test it thoroughly, while always comparing it to what else is on the market.
iPhone 14 Pro
The best for video
Pros
Great screen that gets very bright outdoorsVersatile camera system for both photography and videographyAlways-on display and Dynamic Island are both neat tricksAdditional safety features are always welcome
Cons
Not the quickest to chargeZoom photography isn’t on the level of the competitionOnly really a day of battery life
We think the iPhone 14 Pro is the best all-round camera phone. It’s reliable in all conditions, captures the best video out of any other phone on this list, and boasts three distinct cameras for versatility, with each capturing different focal lengths.
However, it’s not actually the best camera phone across every specific area. We much prefer the zoom skills on the Galaxy S23 Ultra, for one thing, as it captures a much clearer overall image when you zoom in to a subject. But that said, when taken as a whole, the iPhone 14 Pro comes out top.
In terms of the overall spec of the camera hardware, the iPhone 14 Pro makes some drastic changes to the formula we’ve been familiar with for a number of years. It’s the first iPhone to move on from the 12-megapixel sensor, switch to a 48MP version for its main wide camera. This works in a similar way to the S23 Ultra and others, binning down images to 12MP but utilising the larger amount pixels. You can shoot 48MP shots if you want, but this is a separate mode.
When compared to the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Oppo Find X5 Pro, the shots from the iPhone are a little more realistic and skins tones feel more natural. There is some minor oversharpening on the iPhone, though for the most part the image processing churns out reliable images.
There’s a dedicated Night Mode for shooting in darker surroundings, and the effects are great, with plenty of detail retained and dark spots kept mostly free of noise. That said, it would still be nice to be able to turn the Night Mode on and off as you please, since with this phone it just bursts into life automatically when the camera can’t pick up enough light. Night Mode is much quicker this year and the 14 Pro is capable of some of the best night shots around.
The excellent results continue when we look at video capture. While it still doesn’t shoot video in the same 8K resolution as the S23 Ultra, the 4K capture we recorded was well-stabilised without looking fake, and packed the same great colour reproduction as the photos. The Cinematic Mode now supports 4K, and there’s a new Action Mode that ups the stabilisation.
On top of the camera itself, you’ll also be treated to good battery life, so you won’t run out of juice on a busy shooting day, and a gorgeous display to view the images back on.
Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: iPhone 14 Pro review
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Best for zooming
Pros
200MP camera delivers in both well-lit and low-light conditionsTop-notch performance from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for GalaxyAll-day battery lifeStunningly detailed 6.8in 120Hz display
Cons
Very expensiveRelatively slow 45W chargingDifficult to use one-handed
While all the cameras of Samsung’s top-end Galaxy S23 Ultra are of note, its zooming prowess remains unmatched by the competition. That’s particularly true of the 10x optical zoom, which manages to capture plenty more detail than the digital zoom of the likes of the iPhone 14 Pro Max and Oppo Find X5 Pro which were comparatively blurrier in tests.
There’s also a 3X zoom for portrait photography and Samsung’s famed 100x space zoom that’s particularly well suited to taking photos of the moon – though admittedly not much else.
The main 200-megapixel camera is another big reason to opt for the Galaxy S23 Ultra over the likes of the iPhone 14 Pro Max and Google Pixel 7 Pro. Using 16-in-1 pixel binning tech, the phone manages to capture vibrant, detailed shots in both well-lit and low-light environments, with the latter representing a huge step forward compared to the already-capable S22 Ultra. It’s almost effortless to capture stunning images with the main sensor.
It’s not just hardware either; the camera app comes with a range of shooting modes including an upgraded Expert RAW mode that allows you to capture RAW images at up to 50 megapixels as well as take long-exposure shots of the night sky. It’ll also record 8K video at 30fps at a wider angle than much of the competition, perfect if you’re one of the few people with an 8K TV to show it off on.
Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full review: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Best for stills
Pros
Excellent camera and loads of clever camera tricksThe best version of Android on the marketPriced well for the European market
Cons
Charging could, and should, be fasterVery glossy finish and some odd design elementsNot a huge upgrade on the Pixel 6 Pro
If you’re purely wanting a phone camera for stills photography we think the Pixel 7 Pro is the one to go for, just like the Pixel 6 Pro before it.
While it disappoints a bit with video capture and lacks some of the versatility of the iPhone 14 Pro or the S23 Ultra, the beautiful images it captures are rich in detail and vibrancy and are the most pleasing of all the phones on this list. The way it utilises HDR to level out contrast and exposure is fantastic, ensuring photos taken on sunny days really “pop”. We’ve taken hundreds of snaps on the Pixel 7 Pro and very rarely get a dud.
Google’s Night Mode remains strong – though not the quickest to capture – and does a great job at producing bright and detailed images in low light.
The zoom skills of this phone are better than the Oppo Find X5 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro, but can’t compare to the S23 Ultra. Google’s software can only get you so far, and the better zoom hardware on the Samsung just produces clearer images. It’s a similar story too for the ultrawide, which produces adequate images that sit somewhere in the middle in terms of quality.
The Pixel 7 Pro also impressed our reviewer with its numerous camera tricks. Magic Eraser is even better with the Tensor G2 chip, easily removing photobombers from photos.
Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Pixel 7 Pro review
Vivo X90 Pro
Best for low-light photography
Pros
Truly impressive low-light photography performanceWonderfully detailed 6.78-inch AMOLED displayCharges from flat to full in less than 30 minutesFlagship-level performance
Cons
Only available in a vegan leather finishNo Dolby Atmos or Dolby Vision supportOnly 2x optical zoom available
When it comes to low-light photography, the Vivo X90 Pro is undoubtedly the most capable phone on the market right now with some truly stunning low-light results.
That’s largely down to the inclusion of a 1-inch sensor and f/1.75 aperture with its main 50.3MP main camera which allows it to let in much more light than the capable iPhone 14 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, and the results are instantly noticeable.
Low-light images taken on the Vivo X90 Pro boast not only more light than the competition, but decent detail and colour accuracy too.
In fact, Vivo’s claims that it can take images with less than 1 lux rings true in our experience, with the ability to take a photo of a garden at 11pm with nothing more than moonlight and make it look like it was taken on a cloudy day. Some might argue that it’s not true to life, and it’s certainly not, but it’s better to have too much light than not enough in my opinion.
Besides, the night mode is split into two – standard and advanced – that changes the amount of light let into the lens. The former offers something a little more true to life while the latter produces something closer to night vision. You don’t need a tripod either, even when taking snaps of the stars.
It’s not just focused on low light though; the combination of the main 50.3MP sensor, a 12MP ultrawide and a 50MP 2X telephoto lens provides a versatile shooting experience, though the 2X zoom does seem a bit limited compared to most flagships on the market.
Elsewhere, key specs including a top-end Dimensity 9200 chipset, 5000mAh battery with 120W fast charging tech and a pixel-packed 6.78-inch AMOLED display make for a tempting flagship smartphone.
Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full Review: Vivo X90 Pro review
OnePlus 11
Best flagship alternative
Pros
Stunning 6.7in AMOLED displaySolid flagship performanceGreat rear camera performanceAll-day battery life
Cons
No wireless chargingBasic selfie camera setup
The OnePlus 11 is a fantastic all-rounder that hits almost all the points expected of a flagship phone in 2023, including a great display, top-end performance, all-day battery life and a brilliant camera.
The smartphone has an eye-catching design with a slightly sparkly finish. On the front, there’s a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with a 2K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate and LTPO 3.0 technology, meaning it can drop as low as 1Hz to save battery life on the always-on display.
Turn the phone around and you’ll find a triple camera, including a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide sensor and a 32-megapixel telephoto lens. We found that the camera was capable of impressive colour reproduction with 10-bit colour, while HDR helped to tackle bright backlighting.
Low-light performance is particularly impressive and you can even record video at 8K/24fps, though the rather aggressive crop means that most people will probably want to stick to 4K/60fps. Likewise, the 16-megapixel selfie camera is good enough for calls, but the 1080p limit and lack of autofocus means we’d recommend using the rear camera for video.
The OnePlus 11 combines the flagship performance of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with its own OxygenOS Android skin, offering a more user-friendly and intuitive experience than software from other Chinese manufacturers like Vivo’s FunTouchOS and Xiaomi’s MIUI.
Widgets and music controls can be easily reached with the Shelf feature and the phone comes with four years of OS upgrades, meaning you won’t need to worry about outdated software this time next year.
The OnePlus 11 also boasts an all-day battery life, and our reviewer was left with around 30% battery at the end of each day. There’s support for speedy 100W fast charging, although wireless charging is sadly nowhere to be found.
While there are a number of minor ways in which OnePlus could improve this phone, we have no major complaints after testing the OnePlus 11, making it one of the best all-rounders available right now.
Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full Review: OnePlus 11 review
Google Pixel 7a
The best value camera phone
Pros
Excellent camera for the pricePlenty of upgrades over the Pixel 6aSmart softwareSome nice colour options
Cons
Middling battery lifeAchingly slow charging
Google’s Pixel line has consistently impressed us with its camera performance since we reviewed the first generation Pixel all the way back in 2016, and it’s not just the flagship phones. The much more affordable A-series has produced some of the best value camera phones in recent years and the Pixel 7a lives up to its predecessors.
The phone features a much better primary camera than the 6a, with a far larger 64MP sensor. It’s powered by the same Google-made Tensor chip, which lets it offer a few Pixel-specific features including Magic Eraser, which enables you to use the AI smarts to remove unwanted photobombers and elements from your photo in the main camera app.
Night photos shot using the excellent Night Sight mode retain excellent contrast and remain noise-free, while the speed at which photos are captured is much faster than on the Pixel 6a. Regular photos look realistic, featuring neutral, accurate colours and remain blissfully free of oversharpening we experience on other phones at this price. This earns it a place in this list as our recommended camera phone for buyers looking for the best value option.
Next to the primary camera there’s a very capable 12MP ultrawide that matches colours well with the main camera and there’s a 13MP selfie camera around the front in a small cutout.
Video maxes out at 4K 60fps and once again our reviewer was impressed, noting how the pleasing colours from the photo capture transferred across to video too.
Our reviewer wasn’t just impressed with the phone’s camera skills but with other areas too. There’s a nice 90Hz display, pleasingly small dimensions and wireless charging.
Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Google Pixel 7a review
Sony Xperia 1 V
Best for pro shooting
Pros
Speedy performance with top-notch internalsBrilliant sound with a dedicated headphone jackSuperb stamina with multi-day battery life
Cons
It’s as expensive as non-folding phones getBloatware is insulting in a phone this expensiveTextured glass back feels a lot like plastic
It wouldn’t be a camera phone chart without an Xperia present, and our top pick of the 2023 bunch is the top-end Sony Xperia 1 V.
Rather than packing in the most pixel-packed sensor or the largest sensor around, Sony has taken a different approach with its Xperia 1 V rear camera offering. The main 52MP Exmor T sensor has a unique two-layer transistor within the CMOS that allows for a big improvement to low-light capabilities while still retaining a fairly slimline camera bump.
That’s flanked by a 12MP ultrawide and a 12MP telephoto lens with an impressive 5.2x optical zoom – ideal for close-ups and portrait photography.
Our reviewer was impressed with the quality of the main lens both in well-lit and low-light environments, with decent colour and detail on offer – and that’s from the standard Android camera app.
And this is where the Xperia 1 V comes into its own; as well as the standard Camera app we all know and love, Sony ships a plethora of pro-level apps focused on photo, video and even audio capture. The pro apps allow for much more granular control over photo and video capture than any other smartphone around right now, with a layout that mimics Sony’s DSLR and video offering for added familiarity for existing fans.
Yes, some of these capture settings can be provided by third-party apps, but it saves you hunting through paid (or ad-filled) camera apps on Google Play.
Camera chops aside, the Xperia 1 V is very much a top-end Sony smartphone with its blocky, angular design, a 4K display and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance. It’s also pretty solid on the battery front. The catch? All that tech comes at a cost, with the Xperia 1 V starting at £1,299/$1,399, making it one of the most expensive phones around right now.
Reviewer: Alan Martin
Full review: Sony Xperia 1 V review
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
Best for versatility
Pros
Interesting camera-focussed designHuge camera versatilityTicks all the performance and display boxes
Cons
Poor front cameraShoddy microphone qualityNo worldwide release (yet)No worldwide release (yet)
Let’s start with a caveat – while the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is deserving of a place on this list simply because it’s one of the best camera phones our reviewer had ever used, it is a difficult phone to purchase due to the lack of a proper launch outside of China.
We’d have placed it higher if a wider, more accessible release was available and if this does happen in the future we will evaluate its position again. For now, the only way to get it in places like the UK and the USA is to import it – and there are lots of downsides including software that isn’t fully translated.
But, with that out of the way, let’s get onto the phone itself and there is certainly a lot to like when it comes to the cameras. There are four 50MP sensors on the back, including a primary camera with a variable aperture lens that can switch between f/1.9 and f/4. There are two zoom cameras, plus a very capable ultra wide.
Xiaomi has teamed up with imaging icon Leica, and the German camera brand has helped develop a number of authentic-looking shooting presets for the 13 Ultra. In an attempt to ensure images from this phone are more like those from a mirrorless camera rather than a phone, snaps have a realistic, less saturated look. There are huge amounts of details, excellent dynamic range and seriously impressive bokeh when you’re shooting portraits.
Not all is standout, though. While video recording is good – the microphone is poor, picking up far too much wind distortion. The front selfie camera is also very disappointing, falling below even budget options like the Pixel 7a.
The phone is designed to very much mimic traditional cameras in its design. The back has a leather feel, while the camera housing is suitably massive. Some will dislike the look, but our reviewer felt it worked well what the focus of the device being the optics.
There’s also a fantastic OLED display, quick charging and good battery life.
Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Xiaomi 13 Ultra review
We also considered…
Xiaomi’s latest is a very good Android phone
FAQs
What is an optical zoom? Optical zoom is a camera phone feature that allows you to take images of your subject from afar without allowing the quality to suffer as you might see with digital zoom. What is a telephoto camera? Having a telephoto lens on your phone lets you to get very close to your subject without reducing the quality of your image. What is OIS? OIS – or optical image stablisation – uses a gyroscope to compensate for shake, keeping your videos stable and your images crisp even in low light.
Specs Comparison
UK RRP
USA RRP
EU RRP
CA RRP
AUD RRP
Manufacturer
Screen Size
Storage Capacity
Rear Camera
Front Camera
Video Recording
IP rating
Battery
Wireless charging
Fast Charging
Size (Dimensions)
Weight
Operating System
Release Date
First Reviewed Date
Resolution
HDR
Refresh Rate
Ports
Chipset
RAM
Colours
Stated Power
iPhone 14 Pro
£1099
$999
€1299
CA$1399
AU$1749
Apple
6.1 inches
128GB
48MP Main, 12MP Ultrawide, 12MP 2x Telephoto, 12MP 3x Telephoto
12MP True Depth
Yes
IP68
–
Yes
Yes
71.5 x 7.85 x 147.5 MM
206 G
iOS 16
2022
–
2556 x 460
Yes
120 Hz
Lightning
A16 Bionic chip
–
Space Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple
20 W
Google Pixel 7 Pro
£849
$899
€899
–
AU$1298.99
6.7 inches
512GB
50MP Wide, 12MP Ultrawide, 48MP Telephoto
10.8MP
Yes
IP68
5000 mAh
Yes
Yes
76.6 x 162.9 x 8.9 MM
212 G
Chrome OS
2022
20/10/2022
1440 x 3120
Yes
120 Hz
USB-C
Google Tensor G2, Titan M2 security coprocessor
12GB
Obsidian, Snow, Hazel
–
Oppo Find X5 Pro
£1049
–
€1299
–
–
OPPO Digital
6.7 inches
256GB
50MP + 50MP + 13MP
32MP
Yes
IP68
5000 mAh
Yes
Yes
73.9 x 8.5 x 163.7 MM
218 G
Android 12
2021
24/02/2022
3126 x 1440
Yes
120 Hz
USB-C
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 + MariSilicon X
12GB
Ceramic White, Glaze Black
–
Vivo X90 Pro
–
–
–
–
–
Vivo
6.78 inches
256GB, 512GB
50.3MP + 50MP + 12MP
32MP
Yes
IP68
4867 mAh
Yes
Yes
74.5 x 9.3 x 164.1 MM
215 G
Android 13 (FunTouch OS 13)
2023
22/02/2023
1260 x 2800
Yes
120 Hz
USB-C
MediaTek Dimensity 9200
12GB, 8GB
Legendary Black
–
OnePlus 11
£729
$699
€849
–
–
OnePlus
6.7 inches
128GB, 256GB
50MP + 48MP + 32MP
16MP
Yes
Not Disclosed
5000 mAh
–
Yes
8.53 x 74.1 x 163.1 MM
205 G
Android 13 (OxygenOS)
2023
07/02/2023
3216 x 1440
Yes
120 Hz
USB-C
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
16GB, 8GB
Black, Green
–
Google Pixel 7a
£449
$499
€509
–
–
6.1 inches
128GB
64MP + 13MP
13MP
Yes
IP67
4385 mAh
Yes
Yes
72.9 x 9 x 152.4 MM
193 G
Android 13
2023
10/05/2023
–
Yes
90 Hz
USB-C
Tensor G2
8GB
Sea, Coral, Snow, Charcoal
–
Sony Xperia 1 V
£1299
$1399
€1399
–
–
Sony
6.5 inches
256GB
52MP + 12MP + 12MP
12MP
Yes
IP68
5000 mAh
Yes
Yes
71 x 8.3 x 165 MM
187 G
Android 13
2023
15/06/2023
3840 x 1644
Yes
120 Hz
USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
12GB
Black
–
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
£1249
$1199
–
–
–
Samsung
6.8 inches
256GB, 512GB, 1TB
200MP + 12MP + 10MP + 10MP
12MP
Yes
IP68
5000 mAh
Yes
Yes
8.9 x 163.4 x 163.4 MM
234 G
Android 13 (OneUI 5.1)
2023
–
3088 x 1440
Yes
120 Hz
USB-C
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
12GB, 8GB
Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender
–
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
–
–
–
–
–
Xiaomi
6.7 inches
256GB, 512GB, 1TB
50MP + 50MP +50MP + 50MP
32MP
Yes
IP68
5000 mAh
Yes
Yes
74.64 x 9.06 x 163.18 MM
227 G
Android 13
2023
19/04/2023
3200 x 1440
Yes
120 Hz
USB-C
Qualcomm 8 Gen 2
12GB, 16GB
Green, Black, White
–
Trusted Reviews test data
You can see all the test data for the smartphones in this list in the below chart.
Geekbench 5 single core
Geekbench 5 multi core
Geekbench 6 single core
Geekbench 6 multi core
sRGB
Adobe RGB
DCI-P3
Max brightness
1 hour video playback (Netflix, HDR)
Battery drain 60-min (music streaming online)
Battery drain 60-min (music streaming offline)
30 minute gaming (intensive)
30 minute gaming (light)
1 hour music streaming (online)
1 hour music streaming (offline)
Time from 0-100% charge
Time from 0-50% charge
30-min recharge (included charger)
15-min recharge (included charger)
30-min recharge (no charger included)
15-min recharge (no charger included)
3D Mark – Wild Life
3D Mark – Wild Life Stress Test
GFXBench – Aztec Ruins
GFXBench – Car Chase
iPhone 14 Pro
1878
5491
–
–
–
–
–
–
10 %
–
–
11 %
5 %
1 %
1 %
99 min
32 Min
–
–
–
–
2809
–
–
–
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
1159
3514
–
–
99.8 %
90.2 %
97.4 %
770 nits
6 %
–
–
–
–
2 %
1 %
59 min
23 Min
–
–
–
–
6930
6179
–
–
Google Pixel 7 Pro
1059
3203
–
–
–
–
–
–
8 %
–
–
20 %
7 %
3 %
3 %
72 min
31 Min
–
–
–
–
6474
–
–
–
Oppo Find X5 Pro
980
3436
–
–
95.4 %
67.5 %
83.5 %
475 nits
11 %
–
–
–
–
2 %
2 %
36 min
14 Min
–
–
–
–
9616
–
–
–
Vivo X90 Pro
1381
4176
–
–
–
–
–
1300 nits
8 %
–
–
12 %
6 %
–
–
28 min
11 Min
100 %
67 %
–
–
3679
–
–
–
OnePlus 11
1165
4856
1297
4603
–
–
–
–
6 %
–
–
–
4 %
–
–
28 min
12 Min
100 %
54 %
–
–
3532
3567
50 fps
58 fps
Google Pixel 7a
–
–
968
2641
–
–
–
–
6 %
–
–
12 %
7 %
2 %
2 %
110 min
47 Min
–
–
–
14 %
1851
–
36 fps
61 fps
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
–
–
2001
5483
–
–
–
–
6 %
1 %
1 %
6 %
–
–
–
32 min
17 Min
97 %
47 %
–
–
–
–
60 fps
64 fps
Sony Xperia 1 V
–
–
1982
5202
–
–
–
–
5 %
–
–
–
3 %
–
–
103 min
38 Min
–
–
40 %
21 %
–
–
–
–
