Nowadays, cellular phones do not just merely serve as a communication tool. And with the help of technology upgrades, we witness how these gadgets are gradually adopting the other main attributes of some gadgets like DSLR. With this, phones inch by inch turned into portable cams that soon gave birth to camera phones.
Camera phones are a great alternative for smaller point-and-shoot cameras. Given the innovations in them, they can now deliver almost the same quality of stills and videos you can enjoy in the said type of cameras.
They come in a variety of features, capacities, and capabilities that give you more freedom over your choices. If you are looking for one, scrutinizing the right camera phone for you is a crucial aspect before buying one.
Evangeline Summers, SolidSmack’s camera expert and a former NatGeo photographer, seized the opportunity to test the leading brands of camera phones featured on the market. With her expertise, allow us to share some helpful insights about the best camera phones of 2021.
We hope to give you the best review by introducing the camera phone’s specifications, features, and market costs that fit your needs. Also, do not forget to click on the buttons below to get a glance at their best prices on Amazon!
Best Camera Phones Comparison & Rating
Camera Phones | Features |
1. Samsung Galaxy A31
Samsung is one of the highly recognized brands when it comes to technology, and camera phones are not an exception to it. With Samsung Galaxy A31, the lighting environment is not a problem in capturing those special moments.
“What’s more promising about this camera phone is that the colors presented in pictures are vivid and clear. Its live focus did a superb job in separating the subject from its background. Hence, its supplementary 5 MP snapper allows a great opportunity for portrait shots. Moreover, you appear more stunning in portrait photos, whether you are using the main camera or the selfie camera. This is because of the phone’s Multiple Live Focus effects which give you better control over the background blur,” Summers stated.
As per the video quality, 1080 pixels at a speed of 30 FPS is not bad at all. Digital noise doesn’t really distract the environment that much. Nonetheless, the best deal with this camera phone is its 48 MP main camera Ultra High Resolution. Its aperture (f2.0) captures a wide range of distances. The lens absorbs the right amount of light which enables the photos to excel in any lighting condition. Add to this, the phone’s 8 MP Ultra Wide Lens allows a broader view of scenes during day and night. Just make sure to leave the scene optimizer at night for a better photography experience.
With all of the things mentioned, it is just right to say that Samsung Galaxy A31 is indeed capable of producing high-resolution images from the widest capture range up to the smallest crisp of pixels! Hands down, Samsung!
2. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
From outdoor to indoor setup, Xiaomi 9S delivers great results. The phone’s FOV at 79° permits shots at a wider angle. It is also capable of capturing a fast-moving target with high precision. Summers also applauded the effective AF of the camera.
“It is exciting to experience the AF of this phone when it comes to a macro lens. Since close-up photos need the subject to stand out, autofocus plays its part in capturing the sharpest possible image. Proper angle and positioning are vital in presenting an excellent photo, but with Xiaomi 9S, everything seems instant,” Summers said.
In terms of cinematic video experience, Xiaomi 9S was not left behind. It offers a 4K at 30 FPS video recording using the rear cameras. With this, it can almost compete with lower models of point-and-shoot cameras that are ideal for video recording and vlogging purposes.
In the end, a mid-range phone like Redmi Note 9S is worth the price and quality. It is well equipped with cameras that provide the best natural photo quality experience.
3. Huawei P30 Pro
Its best feature is its 5X optical zoom factor which exceeds the limitations of having 2X or 3X optical zoom for most smartphones nowadays. With this, you have more details over your stills which can benefit all kinds of users.
Moreover, with the help of the mirror attached to the camera phone’s set-up, incoming lights are reflected into the lens and onto the sensor. In addition to this is the vertical placement of its image sensor and the optical axis which runs along the body of the phone. The result, high-quality photos that are stunning.
“China phones are gradually getting at par with international brands out in the market. Huawei P30 Pro is the first to be known because of its RYYB (red, yellow, yellow, blue) sensor. Usually, camera phones use the RGGB (red, green, green, blue) sensor. The advantage of the P30 Pro is that the innovative sensor provides a big help to the AF performance for every APS-C or full-frame sensor. Through this, high-quality image is expected even in low-light conditions as the yellow filter is said to transmit a wider spectrum of light at about 40% or more,” Summers explained.
Apart from the above-mentioned features, P30 Pro camera also uses the FOV fusion or the “Field of View Fusion.” From the name itself, it is a “fusion” or merging of data from photos taken at multiple zoom levels. As per Huawei P30 Pro, it is the combination of optical and algorithm – powered digital zooming. The super-resolution algorithm is responsible for up to 3X magnification and the telephoto lens will take charge on the next zooming activity. In the end, the camera merges several RAW frames into one high resolution frame.
With all that, there is no doubt that P30 Pro belongs to the list of Apple and Samsung’s close competitors - an earth-shaking wave for those well-acclaimed brands. A solid bet, indeed!
4. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
“Most mid-range phone cams don’t come with an optical zoom. But with S20’s 3X optical zoom, the camera is capable of performing zoom and crop functions without much loss of image information. The enlarged pictures also keep its high resolution and sharpness - giving you the crisp shots while retaining rich color and thorough details.” Summers explained.
Moreover, the phone’s 30X Space Zoom is one of the revolutionary zoom features which are also present on Samsung Galaxy S20+ and S20 Ultra. Through this, details you would never expect to be seen are as clear and visible as those captured using a close-up lens cam. As far as 330 feet away, your subject looks like a step just in front of you!
Summers further pointed out that the phone’s pro-grade camera allows a newbie to explore the beauty of photography at hand. Ranging from the phone’s aperture of f2.4 up to its widest f1.8, the lenses, together with the sensor, improves the quality of the photos from a very saturated environment due to the scorching heat of the sun up to the dimmest low-light environment at night.
“The combination of motors and gyroscopes also yields to the phone’s OIS. Which, further, enhances the best video quality with 4k resolution at 60 FPS,” she added.
Besides the things mentioned, why do we DEFINITELY suggest this phone? Well, apart from the best zooming experience, the elegance, speed, and cost-efficiency of this phone are a sure win-win. This gives you a complete blend of features you’ll certainly enjoy!
5. Apple iPhone 12 Pro
“The night is my favorite time of the day and 12 Pro permits me to have the most exciting night ever!” Summers started, “Its LiDAR Scanner is the very first of all the iPhone series. Unlike other phones which use radio waves to detect the object on a Night Mode, this camera phone uses infrared lights. This results in faster autofocus while in a low light condition. Further, AR experience and 3D captures are at the very next level. At as far as 16 feet (5 meters), this camera phone is at its LiDAR best!”
Add to this, the Dolby vision of the phone's triple 12 MP camera is indeed a big deal! This HDR format figures out the possibilities of presenting a display depending on the photographer’s intent. Expect a brightness of up to 4,000 nits and a 12-bit color feature for every photo. This is one significant difference Dolby can make compared to HDR10+. In this, powerful metadata is used which will certainly benefit users. Furthermore, the overall picture quality is excellent and the videos are equipped with better scene-by-scene recording adjustment both for the front and rear cameras.
Another best upgrade of the iPhone 12 Pro is its introduction of Smart HDR3 and Deep Fusion. The latter deals with the pixel-by-pixel fixing of dark photos. The camera phone optimizes the texture, noise, and other details of the photo; making it a high-quality photo definition. Meanwhile, the former focuses on the buffer frames before and after the camera shoot. With Smart HDR3, photos are designed to be captured in different exposure. Once the shoot is over, the best exposures (highlights, shadows, background images, etc.) are combined into one photo which the device releases afterward. Amazing!
Best Camera Phones - Buyer's Guide
Aperture or the f-value of the camera is the diameter of the hole by which the light enters the camera. The first thing to consider in buying a camera phone is the number indicated after the letter f on the specifications (e.g. f2.2, f2.4, etc.) Take note that as the f-value becomes lower, the better. That is because a small f-value provides a wider aperture for the lens. Hence, brighter images will be produced.
Pixelated photos have very little to no acceptance rate in the printing industry. Every detail matters. Therefore, the camera phone megapixel matters. The megapixel, abbreviated as MP, determines the resolution of an image. Higher camera phone megapixels provide a better definition of image details. Usually, the average camera phone megapixel ranges from 12 – 16 MP. However, there are exemptions to this such as the ones presented above.
Pixels are the building blocks of photography. These are the elements of a camera that captures the light that goes into it. Further, the resolution of an image depends on the number of pixels that you have. It is expressed in dpi (dots per pixels) or PPI (pixels per inch).
One tip before you purchase a camera phone is to see the pixel size specified for each. Moreover, greater pixels allow more light to enter the cam and lessen the digital noise of an image. That’s why, higher pixel camera phone excels because even in low light conditions, the details of an image are still clear and evident. Thankfully, 300 PPI is the common pixel density for smartphones nowadays. If you found a higher one, then grab it!
Though the size of the sensor does not directly relate to the imaging area, it is the solid-state device that is responsible for capturing the light when entering the camera through its lens.
For example, a full-frame sensor measures 36 x 24 mm and a 4/3 sensor measures 17 x 13 mm. Commonly, the larger sensor the phone has, the larger body container is needed to house them. Hence, affecting the portability of a camera phone.
Aside from the mentioned camera features, lenses and other cam features are crucial in selecting the right camera phone for you. Nowadays, cam phones are designed with multiple camera lenses such as those with quad-cam, telephoto lens, and macro lens. Each serves a purpose of varying its range; from capturing a wide scenery up until the smallest creature on earth. For instance, telephoto lenses are designed for an optical zoom experience while the macro lenses are installed for capturing crisp and detailed images of small objects at close-ups.
Other camera features such as ISO, software, and video resolutions also take part in the list of keynotes to remember. But in the end, it’s the purpose of the camera phone that you should bear in mind. If you are into vlogging, astrophile photography, or simply a wide selfie portrait, it’s better to scrutinize the best camera phone that suits your interest.
Best Camera Phones - FAQs
Camera phones are devised to capture photographs and record videos of animate and inanimate objects apart from the purpose of communicating. All camera phones are specialized to have a specific photography specialty; therefore, it is advisable to look for the best camera phones that suit your needs.
Again, this really depends on your lifestyle. If quad cams satisfy your desire for photography, then be it. However, if those with the lesser rear cameras already gave you your “perfect shot” then, it’s also perfect for you.
Bokeh or boke is the blur intensity of a photo. If you want to increase the focus of the image into your subject, then increase the background blur of your image.
Manufacturers who already build their integrity in photography do not need to be questioned when it comes to the quality of their camera phone releases. But we should not also underestimate the power of emerging digital builders to prove theirs, especially if it’s a big bang hit for the consumers.