Up your phone photography game
The best phones you can buy in 2023 all pack amazing cameras that can take photos that will wow your Instagram followers. These include high-performance phones from Apple, Google, Samsung and others, with different companies offering different features, numbers of camera lenses and numbers of megapixels.
But through our thorough testing and comparison we find that just because a phone has more lenses or megapixels doesn’t mean it’s any better at actually taking great-looking shots. Top phones like the iPhone 15 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro also use larger image sensors and software additions for AI-powered computational photography. Then there’s the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s camera, which can take some of the best zoom photos possible to get from a phone.
It’s important to keep in mind, though, that there isn’t a “perfect” phone camera for everyone. Even among CNET’s phone reviewers there isn’t a phone camera that suits all our needs. We look at how these cameras perform in real-life situations: how they balance exposures, how they handle colors and how easy they are to use. Here are three of our top picks for great phone photography, but read our complete guide at cnet.co/3F3hci0 to help find the best phone camera for your needs.
BEST PREMIUM IPHONE FOR PHOTOS: IPHONE 15 PRO AND IPHONE 15 PRO MAX
While features like the new titanium body and A17 Pro processor make both the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max exciting phones, it’s the larger model that keen photographers should look toward. The Pro Max shares the same 48-megapixel main camera as the standard Pro, but its telephoto lens gets a significant bump to 5x over the base Pro’s 3x. It might not seem like much of a step up, but that extra zoom will help you find more interesting compositions in scenes out of reach of smaller zooms. We love using the 5x zoom on the Pixel 7 Pro — it really feels like you’re carrying a fully equipped camera setup with you, alongside the other lenses. With the 15 Pro’s ability to shoot in ProRaw, along with advanced video capabilities including Apple ProRes and Log codecs, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is one of the most sophisticated camera phones you can buy right now. That said, if you’re not that bothered about long zooms, then the iPhone 15 Pro has essentially the same features and comes in a smaller package that’s easier to hold.
BEST PHONE CAMERA FOR PHOTOS: GOOGLE PIXEL 7 PRO
Google’s Pixel 7 Pro has impressed us in a number of ways from its slick new design to its extremely user-friendly software. But it’s the camera that’s really stood out, with the Pixel 7 Pro delivering superb shots in a variety of conditions. Its main sensor captures shots with superb dynamic range and vibrant colors while its 5x optical zoom gives more reach than the iPhone 14 Pro is able to manage.
And while its night mode shots aren’t as good as the iPhone’s, it’s a great camera overall that’ll suit both photography amateurs — and those looking to take more artistic images — well, and at a cost that undercuts its rivals.
BEST PHONE CAMERA FOR ZOOM: SAMSUNG GALAXY S23 ULTRA
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a lot, but in a good way. Samsung made improvements to the camera’s resolution (200 megapixels compared to 108 megapixels), color tones and dynamic range, while retaining the impressive 10x optical zoom of its predecessor. There’s also a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that’s been optimized specifically for Samsung’s phones, which brings faster performance compared to the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Starting at $1,200, it may be an understatement to call this phone expensive. But those willing to pay more for a giant screen and a high-quality, versatile camera won’t be disappointed.