Asking what the best camera phone is depends heavily on what you actually photograph and how much you are willing to spend, since the top performers vary between still photography, video and low-light shooting. Here is how the current leading options compare.
Best for overall still photography
Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S Ultra range continues to be regarded as one of the strongest all-round options for still photography, combining a very high resolution main sensor with multiple telephoto lenses that allow flexible zoom without significant quality loss. Its versatility across different lighting conditions and subject types makes it a consistently strong choice for photographers who want one phone that can handle almost any situation.
Best for video
Apple’s latest iPhone Pro and Pro Max models are frequently rated as the best choice specifically for video recording, thanks to consistent colour science, strong stabilisation and versatile recording formats that appeal to both casual users and more serious videographers. If video quality matters more to you than still photography, the iPhone Pro range remains a strong recommendation.
Best for computational photography
Google’s Pixel Pro range, including recent Pixel Pro and Pro XL models, remains highly regarded for its computational photography, which uses software processing to produce excellent results, particularly in tricky lighting and low light scenes, sometimes rivalling or beating phones with more advanced hardware purely through smarter processing.
Best for pros wanting maximum zoom and detail
Certain flagship phones from other major manufacturers, including recent Oppo and Huawei flagship camera phones, have pushed hardware even further with very large sensors and multiple long telephoto lenses, appealing particularly to enthusiasts who want maximum optical zoom range and fine detail capture, sometimes at a lower price than the very top Samsung or Apple flagships.
Best budget camera phones
You do not need a flagship price tag to get a genuinely capable camera phone. Several mid-range phones from Xiaomi, Realme and other manufacturers now pack surprisingly capable multi-lens camera systems, delivering sharp, detailed photos in good lighting conditions at a fraction of flagship prices, even if low-light performance and zoom quality remain more limited than true flagship phones.
What actually matters most for camera quality
Megapixel count alone is a poor indicator of true camera quality. Sensor size, lens quality, image stabilisation and, increasingly, the software processing behind the camera all play a bigger role in real-world results than the headline megapixel figure often used in marketing.
Testing before you commit
Where possible, look at unedited sample photos and video clips from independent reviewers rather than relying purely on marketing images, since real-world results can differ noticeably from carefully staged promotional shots. Many UK phone shops also allow you to test the camera in-store before buying, which is well worth doing if photography is a major factor in your decision, particularly for comparing low light performance between a shortlist of models.
It is also worth considering how you actually share your photos day to day, since some phones offer smoother built-in editing and sharing tools than others, which can matter just as much as raw camera hardware for anyone who mostly shares images directly through messaging apps and social media.
Storage space is worth factoring in too if photography is a priority, since high resolution photos and 4K or 8K video footage can use up storage very quickly. Pairing a strong camera phone with at least 256GB of storage, or a model that supports expandable storage, helps avoid constantly having to delete files to free up space.
Final verdict
There is no single best camera phone for everyone. Samsung’s Galaxy S Ultra range offers the strongest all-round versatility, Apple’s iPhone Pro models lead for video, and Google’s Pixel Pro range remains the benchmark for computational photography in tricky lighting. Choosing between them comes down to which type of photography and video matters most to you.
