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Which phone should you buy if you want to have the best camera in your pocket?
Should it be an iPhone, known for its ease of use and excellent video recording quality, or a Galaxy, which has more cameras? What are the pros and cons of those phone cameras? And are there other worthy options? In this list of the best camera phones, I will give you an objective ranking based on the results of PhoneArena's extensive camera testing, and I will explain the specific situation with each smartphone camera.
All of that is based on the PhoneArena Camera Score, a benchmarking test in which hundreds of pictures and videos have been captured to analyze the performance of every camera on a phone.
The results measure all the building blocks of a great camera: color accuracy, sharpness and detail, subject exposure, overall exposure, and tone, as well as quality-of-life features like having an intuitive camera app and many additional software and hardware features. I've done all of these tests both for still photography and video-recording quality.
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So, let's see which phone comes out on top in the battle for the best phone camera available in mid-2025.
Gorilla Armor is still excellent for its anti-reflective properties
Performance is great, even if stressing benchmarks can get it to throttle
What we don't like
New camera lenses and their "floating" style will gather gunk
Same old battery capacity, battery life, charging speeds
Speakers got a minor upgrade, but we wanted more
Why did I pick it?
Currently, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the best phone for still photography as per our benchmark, and I picked it because it combines extreme versatility with superb image quality. Building on top of the extremely sturdy foundation set by the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Samsung's latest flagship comes with the best camera I've used in 2025.
Initially, I was a bit disheartened that the Galaxy S25 Ultra has mostly the same camera setup as the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but Samsung introduced a higher-res ultrawide. The Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with a 200MP main camera, a 50MP periscope with 5X optical zoom, a 10MP 3X telephoto, and a 50MP ultrawide, an upgrade from the 12MP on previous Galaxy Ultra phones.
While the hardware has got a few changes, I was happy to notice that Samsung has also introduced numerous software improvements to the mix. Chief among these are the revamped image-processing algorithms courtesy of Samsung's new ProVisual Engine, an integral part of the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip. These deliver even more natural-looking photos than before, which is a great thing to have!
And judging from all the photos and videos I've taken with the phone, it's the way the software is tuned that makes the most considerable difference with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Photos look significantly more natural than before, with cleaner detail, no oversharpening, and slightly better dynamic range, which might not sound like a lot, but is precisely what's necessary to propel the Galaxy S25 Ultra to the top.
Who is it for?
The Galaxy S25 Ultra easily has one of the best camera systems you have on a phone right now, with possibly the best still photos out there. But the camera is just one major part of it all: the phone itself is an excellent flagship that can go head-to-head with any other device in both performance and overall software experience thanks to One UI.
Key specs
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Display
6.9-inch . 3120x1440px
Camera
Quad camera
Battery
5000 mAh
Storage
12GB . 256GB
Hardware
Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
OS
Android 15
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The top spot in our video test is occupied by one of China's hidden gems, the Oppo Find X8 Ultra. This device that's not openly available globally truly awed me with its 1-inch main camera sensor and superb video-recording capabilities, which trump most iPhones out there with super-detailed and pristine 4K video footage.
Just as its "Ultra" name hints, this one comes with the best camera package that Oppo has in store right now, and it's mostly tied with the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra at the top of the rankings. However, I admit this one has the edge when it comes to video quality in comparison with those other two models.
Taking a closer look at the camera specs explains why. The main camera uses a large 1-inch sensor, has in-sensor 2X cropping, and an 8-element lens to minimize chromatic aberration artifacts. Oppo has taken zooming seriously: there is a short 3X telephoto and a longer 6X periscope, working in tandem to produce detailed and high-quality footage at up to 20X. It's rivaling some mid-range DSLRs, even.
Finally, Oppo has also outfitted its 2025 flagship with a True Chroma sensor, which is used to measure the ambient lighting and adjust the color temperature of the scene accordingly. I also love the fact that the Find X8 Ultra also comes with a dedicated iPhone-like capacitive camera button, enabling yet another way to control the camera.
Who is it for?
I doubt that the Find X8 Ultra is for everybody. It only comes with a Chinese ROM, so using it in the West is definitely challenging, even for simple things like getting your notifications working or on time at all. However, if you want to experience one of the hidden gems for video recording, then this one is the top choice.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is one of my favorite camera powerhouses that's easily on par with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and every other cameraphone out there. It comes with a superb camera package. The key highlights for me here are the main camera with its large 1-inch sensor and the 200MP periscope that delivers excellent image quality when you zoom in. There's also a 50MP telephoto and another 50MP ultrawide camera, rounding up an extremely capable camera package that's even more impressive than anything Samsung or Apple have out there.
But it's not only the camera that makes this one such an impressive camera phone. To me, it's the optional camera grip accessory that turns things all the way up to eleven. Available as an optional purchase, this one turns the phone into a Leica camera lookalike and also doubles as a small power bank. There's also a load of different buttons and dials that mimic the feel and functionality of your standard point-and-shoot camera.
Overall, despite that it's a bit challenging to get this phone stateside, it's definitely among the best camera phones to consider getting, even in early 2026 and in the wake of even more impressive devices like the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
I love the image quality, which is totally exceptional, with minimal overprocessing and oversharpening, which helps the phone achieve an extremely natural, and at the same time, appealing and detailed look that stands out. Xiaomi has its own photo-processing style, with slightly stronger contrast and erring on the side of underexposing, and that's perfectly fine. Zoom quality is exceptional, with both images appearing wonderful at both the native 3X and 6X zoom levels, but you can surprisingly get usable results even if you zoom much further.
Who is it for?
This phone is a perfect match for anyone who enjoys the Android ecosystem and would love to have a device that absolutely doesn't skip the ball in either still photography or video recording.
I picked the Pixel 10 here because it offers superb image quality at its price point and easily has one of the best cameras you can get on a tighter budget. A lovely compact Android phone that would perform great in most situations.
Among all fairly affordable flagship devices, the Pixel 10 is one of the better-equipped ones. It's one of the few value-oriented flagships that come with a proper triple-camera system.
The main camera is a 48MP one and has been used on many other high-profile Pixels to great results; the ultrawide is a sensible 13MP one, and finally, there's a real 5X telephoto on the Pixel 10, one that finally delivers decent zoom to the affordable Pixel line.
I absolutely love the Pixel imaging style, which is a bit more contrasty in comparison with the friendlier iPhone and Galaxy alternatives out there. Granted, it was a bit more extreme in a lovely way a few years ago, but now Google has toned down the signature Pixel style a bit.
Who is it for?
The Pixel 10 is for anyone who doesn't want to lug a large device around but still wants to get the best possible image quality from their compact device.
Key specs:
Google Pixel 10
Display
6.3-inch . 2424x1080px
Camera
Triple camera
Battery
4970 mAh
Storage
12GB . 128GB
Hardware
Google Tensor G5
OS
Android 16
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The Pixel 10 is the first "base" Pixel with a telephoto camera. It also comes with a Tensor G5 chip, paired with 12GB RAM, providing incredible AI features and a smooth performance. The device is now available at $100 off on Amazon in select colors.
Among all the foldable phones out there, it's the Oppo Find N5 that has the best camera right now. With foldables, the inner space is quite cramped, so you can't really put in the best camera hardware available, but the Oppo Find N5 clearly stands as the most impressive one.
The phone is equipped with a 50MP main camera, a 50MP telephoto with 3X optical zoom, and an 8MP ultrawide. I admit, this setup does not sound particularly exciting, just great, but I promise it's perfectly acceptable for a foldable phone, and Oppo does a lot of heavy lifting with its software. This allows the Oppo Find N5 to punch way above its weight and deliver image quality that's actually comparable with many proper candy bar flagships out there.
I also love the versatility its camera app provides.
Who is it for?
If you absolutely love the foldable form factor but can't really sacrifice the image or video quality, then the Oppo Find N5 is the phone you are looking for. Its camera performs better than the latest Galaxy Z Fold, and the rest of the phone is also superb as well.
Here's how these phones compare in PhoneArena's benchmark tests.
Photo
Video
Phone
Camera Score
Photo Score
Main (wide)
Ultra Wide
Selfie
Zoom
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
158
165
87
23
27
28
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
158
165
85
26
26
29
OPPO Find X8 Ultra
157
160
82
23
28
27
Google Pixel 10
147
156
83
22
26
25
OPPO Find N5
146
152
79
23
24
27
Phone
Camera Score
Video Score
Main (wide)
Ultra Wide
Selfie
Zoom
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
158
150
75
21
28
26
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
158
150
78
21
25
26
OPPO Find X8 Ultra
157
155
83
22
25
26
Google Pixel 10
147
138
76
18
25
19
OPPO Find N5
146
140
72
20
24
23
Find out more details about photo and video scores for all phones we have tested on our PhoneArena Camera Score page
What to consider when choosing the best cameraphone?
There are numerous things to consider when shopping for the best cameraphone.
Currently, the truly best-performing devices that deliver the best results in either still photography or video recording can be found on the Android side. Due to the more populated niche, Android manufacturers have to be a bit more creative and innovative to secure their fair share of the pie.
So, the high-end flagships all have to have the absolute best cameras out there. You can only get large 1-inch cameras, high-res periscope cameras with long optical zooms, and all the novel camera features on Android.
At the same time, while Apple's horde of iPhones isn't topping the charts, it's always very near the top spots, and if there was one word to describe iPhones, it would definitely be "consistent". While they don't have large 1-inch sensors or 200MP zoom cameras with switching apertures, you can always rely on an iPhone to deliver exceptional photos and videos. They will almost always have that super-consistent look to them that lets you fully rely on an iPhone.
And finally, remember that a great camera wouldn't suddenly make you a great photographer. If you are not good at taking photos, having the best cameraphone at hand would still deliver subpar results. Exercising a keen eye and a basic understanding of photography would allow you to take great photos even if your phone isn't the best one there.
FAQ
What actually makes a phone a great camera phone?
Although more isn't always better, the best camera phones out there have multiple cameras at the back, which allows them to cover a pretty wide range and deliver a consistent high image quality across it. A single camera simply doesn't cut it anymore; the best cameraphones out there all have at least three cameras at the back, and often more than that.
But it's not only hardware and the number of cameras that constitute a great camera phone: these days image-processing is just as important, if not more. Software now plays an even more crucial role in how images and videos turn out.
Which phone camera is the best at night?
These days, almost all high-end flagship phones are pretty great at low-light conditions.
Manufacturers achieved that through a combination of hardware and software improvements: aside from having wider apertures that let in more light in dim conditions, phone cameras also rely on pixel-binning (bundling many adjacent pixels of the camera sensor together, which enables them to collect more light at the expense of a slightly lower resolution).
Software processing and AI advances also allow the current generation of phones to absolutely nail low-light photos, and the most crucial feature with pretty much all phones is long exposure. Modern phones automatically enable it when they detect less than favorable lighting conditions, and you only need to stand still for a couple of seconds before you get a decent low-light photo.
What's the difference between real cameras and phone cameras?
These days, the main difference is the physical size of it all. Mirrorless and DSLR cameras have superior optics and larger sensors, giving them an edge when it comes to image quality. Although the differences in quality might not always be that big, phone cameras still can't beat phone cameras in terms of overall quality output.
You also can't beat the upgradability and the control sets on real cameras.
However, most cameras are not as user-friendly as a phone camera. Using a DSLR properly has a higher learning curve than the point-and-shoot nature of most phone cameras out there.
With phone cameras, all the components are miniature, so the software plays a much bigger role in the photo and video output. As a result, it's much easier to achieve the limits of your phone's camera and make it struggle in more extreme situations. There's no replacement for displacement, and phone cameras sadly live by this mantra.
Yet, you can't beat the portability of a phone camera as opposed to a DSLR camera with the lens attached. So, while the potential quality might be in the favor of a real-camera user, the compact size of a phone is a major strength in itself.
Which cameraphone features do you need?
For all the useful camera features phones have, there's a healthy amount of gimmicky ones that are just there for the sake of being there.
The most useful features you actually need are the standard photo/video shooting modes, portraits, pro controls, and long exposure modes available. Everything else that's available in your phone's camera app is a nice-to-have but not something you can't live without.
How important is zoom quality compared to main camera performance?
We often ooh and aah at those high-res 200MP telephoto cameras that the latest Android flagship phones come with, but the reality of the situation is this: if you aren't into zoom photography and aren't really concerned about image quality at longer zoom levels, then don't bother chasing the specs.
Having a decent main camera is more important in pretty much most cases you might think of. It's the one you'll use most often, so it's absolutely crucial to have a decent main camera. A great zoom camera is definitely a great thing to have, but it should be secondary to having a proper main camera.
How well do camera phones handle moving subjects like kids, pets, or sports?
Most phones still struggle with moving subjects, especially in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. Some phones fare better than others, and those with zero-shutter lag are the best ones, as they would snap a picture almost instantaneously as you press the shutter. Others would hesitate a bit, which often results in a blurry photo.
Most phones have an alternative to Apple's Live Photo feature these days, so even if you capture a blurry photo, you can try to save the day by using another frame from the resulting file.
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Peter, an experienced tech enthusiast at PhoneArena, is captivated by all things mobile. His impartial reviews and proficiency in Android systems offer readers valuable insights. Off-duty, he delves into the latest cryptocurrency trends and enjoys sci-fi and video games.
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