Imagining your social media life without a smartphone has become impossible in today’s world. With the rising popularity of apps like Instagram and TikTok, having a mobile phone that takes brilliant photos and high-quality videos is a must.
Well, it is not just about social media. Gone are the days of choosing what to snap and print. With camera phones, you can capture every moment before it becomes just a memory. And whilst phone calls are great, these phones, and even these tablets, make video calling an immersive bonding experience.
In this post, we have our favourite mobiles with cameras that will deliver brilliant smartphone photography and videography experiences. Whether you are looking for something on the higher-end or a smartphone that fits a budget, you will find it on our list of the best camera phones.
The Best of Galaxy: The Best Samsung Camera Phones
Look no further than these Samsung phones when it comes to the best camera phones on the market. These phones come with an eye for design and style. Expect crisp photos and lively videos with these gadgets!
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G: Long Lasting Battery Life
The 5000mAh lithium polymer battery built into the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G gives you all-day power. With the long-lasting battery and a quad-camera system, your photo sessions do not have a time limit.
The mobile features a second-generation 108MP with PDAF, Laser AF, and OIS. You also get to enjoy periscope telephoto with 10× optical zoom. And with the 40MP secondary camera, you can enjoy dual video calls without a glitch.
Picture perfect features that will wow you:
- The 12MP ultrawide (13mm) lens offers dual pixel PDAF and Super Steady video. Take 8K video and 4K video with stereo sound recording and gyro-EIS.
- The mobile comes with ‘tuned by AKG’ stereo speakers and a dedicated mic for active noise cancellation.
- With a 120Hz refresh rate, the 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display gives you the best view.
- In addition to fast Qi/PMA wireless charging (15W), the battery also supports reverse wireless charging (4.5W).
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G: Laser Precision Focus
Another great offering from Samsung, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G, comes with a triple camera system with a 108MP camera. Experience brilliant photography that is stable and focused with the Laser AF feature.
Whether you are taking photos in low-light conditions or of distant subjects, with OIS and 5× optical zoom, brilliant photos are guaranteed. Experience a gorgeous viewing experience when taking videos on the 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
Picture perfect features that will wow you:
- The 12MP periscope telephoto lens offers 50× hybrid zoom in addition to PDAF and OIS.
- The mobile comes with 12GB RAM and supports microSDXC for expanding storage.
- The Note20 Ultra comes with the new and improved S Pen that can also act as a controller for your mobile.
- Gorgeous Gorilla Glass Victus front and back and a stainless-steel frame offer durability and style.
Sophisticated Styles: The Best Camera Smartphones from Apple
These flagship phones from Apple are better than ever. With improved features and amazing cameras, these are a must-have gadget for the loyalist of the brand. While you wait for the iPhone 13 to be announced, check out these phones!
iPhone 12 Pro Max: Maximum Style Quotient
Enjoy an immersive visual experience when you take photos or videos on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED comes with scratch-resistant glass and oleophobic coating, so smudges won’t ruin the experience.
The phone comes with a Pro camera system dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS, and TOF 3D LiDAR scanner. Turn on night mode for brilliant portraits and photos using the Wide and Ultra-Wide cameras.
Picture perfect features that will wow you:
- Capture brilliant low-light videos and HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 60fps.
- Zoom right in with 2.5× optical zoom in, 2× optical zoom out; 5× optical zoom range and up to 7× digital zoom.
- The beautiful glass and stainless-steel construction come with an IP68 dust/water resistance rating.
- With the TrueDepth camera, enjoy Apple Pay using the Face ID feature.
iPhone 12 Pro: For Sharp Selfies
Are you looking for a great selfie camera phone? Then the iPhone 12 Pro is for you. With its 12MP front camera, take wacky and cool selfies with high image quality. The TrueDepth camera also allows you to pay at shops, websites, and apps with your FaceID (Apple Pay support).
Its wide-angle lens features dual pixel PDAF and OIS for perfect pictures with its amazing f/1.6 aperture. The telephoto camera on the phone has an aperture of f/2.0 and gives you 2× optical zoom.
Picture perfect features that will wow you:
- The camera system features 12MP Ultra-Wide, Wide, and Telephoto cameras to allow you to experiment with your photos and videos.
- Its videography features include cinematic video stabilisation (4K, 1080p, and 720p) and continuous autofocus video.
- With a fast-charging battery that can also be charged via Qi-wireless chargers, you never run out of power.
- This iPhone comes with a splash, water, and dust resistance rating of IP68 under IEC standard 60529.
Quality without the Bulk: Lightweight Smartphones with the Best Cameras
Hate the bulk, but want smartphones with the best camera? We have picked the perfect options for you. These smartphones weigh under 200g, but their small size does not compromise their camera quality.
iPhone 12 Mini: For High-Quality Photos
The iPhone 12 Mini comes in a spectrum of colours to match the colourful image gallery on your phone. Enjoy depth control, and advanced bokeh in Portrait Mode, which combined with the six different lighting effects will give you majestic results.
This small gadget also packs big video features that will make every capture a cinematic experience. You can enjoy taking slo-mo 1080p videos at 120fps or 240fps or mesmerise yourself with the stabilised time‑lapse video feature.
Picture perfect features that will wow you:
- The iPhone 12 Mini is capable of capturing Night mode Time‑lapse videos and taking 8MP still photos whilst recording 4K video.
- The camera features a 5-element ultra-wide lens with ƒ/2.4 aperture and 120° field of view.
- Take the best gym workout photos without any worry, thanks to its IP68 dust/water resistance (up to 6m for 30 mins).
- The Super Retina XDR display with the fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating will make you want to replay all your video captures.
Google Pixel 5: The Cheapest Camera Phone
The Google Pixel 5 might well be the best camera phone 2021 at its price range. This smart gadget from Google features a dual camera composition of 12.2MP and 16MP cameras. The camera system features Dual Pixel PDAF and OIS for brilliant results.
Additionally, the front-facing camera supports Auto-HDR and 1080p videos at 30fps. Add to the mix the 4080mAh built-in lithium polymer battery and 5G connectivity, and the fun never has to stop.
Picture perfect features that will wow you:
- Enjoy capturing videos in 4K (30/60fps) and 1080p (30/60/120/240fps) with gyro-EIS stability.
- The OLED capacitive touchscreen comes with the protection of Corning Gorilla Glass 6.
- The device has three microphones and noise suppression for crystal clear audio quality.
- The built-in battery can be charged using Qi wireless charging and supports reverse wireless charging.
When Connectivity Matters: The Best Budget Camera Phone from Samsung
With their triple camera system, these Samsung phones will leave you impressed. Also featuring 5G connectivity, these smartphones are a great choice for those that like to keep everybody posted on their social media.
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G: Noise Free Videos
The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G features ‘tuned by AKG’ stereo speakers and a dedicated mic for active noise cancellation. These make watching your 4k and 8k videos shot on the S21 an amazing experience.
The camera system comes with a 64MP telephoto lens that allows 1.1× optical zoom and 3× hybrid zoom! Enjoy stable shots and high-quality results with Dual Pixel PDAF and OIS features.
Picture perfect features that will wow you:
- The 10MP secondary camera offers HDR and dual video call features.
- Its HDR10+, stereo sound recording, and gyro-EIS make every video capture fantastic.
- It comes with an IP68 dust/water resistant rating and a 4800mAh lithium-polymer battery that can be Qi/PMA charged and features reverse wireless charging.
- Enjoy NFC communications and go cashless with Samsung Pay support.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus 5G: Always Charged and Ready
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus 5G’s impressive 6.2″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display is the perfect viewfinder for taking photos and shooting videos. Sporting the ultra-fast Exynos 2100 chipset and an octa-core CPU, enjoy a smooth, lag-free performance.
The triple camera setup lets you take Super Steady video supported by gyro-EIS and enhance it with HDR10+ and stereo sound recording. And its IP68 dust/water resistance rating means taking photos during poolside parties is no problem.
Picture perfect features that will wow you:
- The rear cameras include wide, ultra-wide and telephoto lenses for all your photography needs.
- Enjoy crystal clear audio with its ‘tuned by AKG’ stereo speakers and active noise cancellation with a dedicated mic.
- Its 4000mAh lithium polymer battery comes with Qi/PMA wireless charging and reverse charging feature.
- The smartphone supports Samsung Pay so that you can go cashless.
The More the Merrier: Flagship Android Phones with Quad-Cameras
These mid-range smartphones are a great choice if you want the best smartphone camera system without the hefty price tag. These smartphones feature quad-camera systems that are just as good as the high-end models.
OnePlus 9 Pro: Brilliant Performance
With the power of Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888, along with 8GB RAM and UFS 3.1, the OnePlus 9 Pro is one of the best phones in terms of performance. The mobile features a quad-camera system to capture vivid, high-definition photos.
With its Hasselblad Colour Calibration, you get accurate and natural colour reflected in all your captures. Take great photos and videos with colour dual-LED flash, HDR, omnidirectional PDAF, Laser AF, and OIS.
Picture perfect features that will wow you:
- The OnePlus 9 Pro comes with a 16MP, f/2.4 aperture secondary camera that features Auto-HDR.
- You can take 8K (30fps), 4K (30/60/120fps), and 1080p (30/60/240fps) stabilised with gyro-EIS.
- Its LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED supports 1B colours, HDR10+, and has a 120Hz refresh rate.
- Its 4500mAh lithium polymer battery can be fast-charged to 100% in less than 30 minutes. It also supports wireless fast charging.
Huawei P40 Pro: More Storage for Your Memories
The Huawei P40 Pro features nano memory to extend storage by up to 256GB. You no longer will run out of space for all your memories captured in photos and videos. And with 5G connectivity, sharing is quick and easy.
The quad-camera system includes impressive 50MP wide and 40MP ultra-wide cameras that capture the best shot every time. What’s more impressive is its 32MP secondary camera that features a depth and biometrics sensor (IR TOF 3D).
Picture perfect features that will wow you:
- The camera system features omnidirectional PDAF, OIS, and 5× optical zoom.
- Thanks to its IP68 dust/water resistance rating, a little splash will not spoil the fun.
- View your videos on its Quad-curve Overflow Display (OLED capacitive touchscreen) with 16M colours.
- This smartphone comes with a 4200mAh lithium polymer with fast wireless charging and fast reverse wireless charging features.
The Perfect Snap!
With our list of top 10 smartphones with the best camera in 2021, we hope you have figured out what’s the right choice for you. You can enhance the stability of your shots with the right tripod or even a customised pop socket.
Don’t forget to invest in a screen protector to keep the screen free of smudges and protected from accidental falls. And remember, your electronic gadget is not one hundred percent waterproof. Make sure to buy the right phone case or a highly-protective phone cover to prevent any damage.
Are you looking for a Sony Xperia 1 II or other camera smartphones? Need to upgrade your mobile phone accessories? Then get in touch with us and we will help you find the best deals!