Top phones that have great cameras
Apple iPhone X
Cnet rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 The good: A great blend of handheld comfort and a big, gorgeous OLED screen. Rear telephoto camera outshoots the 8 Plus in low light, and the front camera snaps impressive portrait selfies. Face ID generally works fine.
The bad: New interface and no home button mean major adjustments, and key features such as the Control Center are harder to reach and use. It’ll take time for most apps to be optimized for notched screen. The phone is hella expensive, and the all-glass design means a case and an insurance plan are musts. Shorter battery life than iPhone Plus models. The cost: $1,000 to $1,200 The bottom line: An overdue and winning evolution of the iPhone, but you’ll need to leave your comfort zone to jump into the face-recognizing future.
Samsung Galaxy Note8
Cnet rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
The good: The Note8 tops Samsung’s already excellent S8 and S8 Plus with dual cameras and a boatload of stylus tricks. It’s the most feature-rich Android phone you can buy. The bad: It has more features than most people will need. Samsung’s portrait mode can be finicky. The poorly placed fingerprint reader repeats the Galaxy S8’s worst design flaw. The cost: $820 to $950 The bottom line: The Note8 retakes the throne as the ultimate Android phone for now, but some intense competition is just over the horizon.
Google Pixel 2 XL
Cnet rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 The good: The XL perks up the already excellent Pixel 2 with more screen space. It has a fantastic camera, waterproofing and the Google Lens feature that helps you learn more about the world around you.
The bad: Portrait Mode doesn’t work as smoothly as its competitors’ dual camera. Its battery doesn’t last as long as rivals’, and the phone has no headphone jack or wireless charging. Some handsets have irksome display problems. The cost: $774 to $850 The bottom line: A bigger, sharper screen and thinner bezels make the 2 XL the more desirable Google phone, but some early units have been dogged by screen issues.
LG V30
Cnet rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
The good: The V30 almost has it all: a great camera, speedy processor, huge OLED screen, excellent battery life, waterproofing, wireless charging, microSD storage and the best headphone jack on a phone. The bad: Ergonomic quirks can make it awkward to hold. You may miss some shots due to slow autofocus. Carrier-specific versions come with annoying bloatware and logos. The cost: $750 to $840 The bottom line: The V30 is a rocksolid alternative to Samsung’s Galaxy S8 Plus and the Google Pixel 2 XL. If it fits your hands and your photographic needs, you won’t be disappointed. The following Cnet staff contributed to this story: Jessica Dolcourt, Sean Hollister, Lynn La, Scott Stein and Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, visit www.cnet.com.