Great Phones With Dual Cameras
Phones with two cameras on the back have been around for years (think 2011’s HTC Evo 3D). Thanks to a few heavy-hitting flagships that rolled out over the last year or two, the dual-camera setup may be here to stay. Check out four of CNET’s picks for the best dual-camera phones out there.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding) The good: The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is a big, beautiful phone with top-tier specs including a massive battery and internal storage that starts at 128GB. The new S Pen doubles as a wireless remote for taking long-distance selfies.
The bad: It’s expensive and offers few real innovations over last year’s Note 8. The fingerprint reader is uncomfortably close to the camera.
The cost: $999.99
The bottom line: The ultrapricey Note 9 is one of the year’s best phones. But unless you’re in dire need of an upgrade, the smart move is to wait for what the next iPhone, Pixel and even Galaxy S10 bring.
OnePlus 6
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent) The good: The OnePlus 6 is blazing fast, shoots amazing portrait mode photos, has a polished refined design and costs much less than other flagship phones.
The bad: It lacks waterproofing, wireless charging and has a shorter battery life than the OnePlus 5T. In the US, the phone doesn’t work on CDMA carriers like Verizon and Sprint.
The cost: $643.60
The bottom line: The OnePlus 6 is an excellent phone and gives you many of the features of more costly flagship phones.
Apple iPhone X
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding) The good: The iPhone X delivers a great blend of handheld comfort and a big, gorgeous 5.8-inch OLED screen. The rear-facing telephoto camera outshoots the iPhone 8 Plus in low light, and the front-facing camera snaps impressive portrait mode selfies. Face ID generally works fine.
The bad: The iPhone X is nearly certain to be replaced by a newer, better model and remains hella expensive in the meantime.
The all-glass body means a case and an insurance plan are musts. Shorter battery life than iPhone 8 Plus.
The cost: $999.00 to $999.99
The bottom line: iPhone X remains a winning evolution of the iPhone, but at this point, you’re better off checking what Apple has on deck this week.
Huawei P20 Pro
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent) The good: The Huawei P20 Pro’s three cameras snap amazing shots in low light. Its coolest color will turn heads.
The bad: It lacks wireless charging, and there’s no headphone jack or expandable storage. The auto camera settings don’t always produce the best results.
The cost: $758.99 to $788.00
The bottom line: The Huawei P20 Pro’s groundbreaking low-light mode and stunning twilight color scheme make it a serious contender to Galaxy, iPhone and Pixel phones.