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Ready to upgrade your phone? If you're an avid photographer (or even if you like to take a good Insta pic or two), then you'll want a phone with a good camera. With new models from the likes of Apple, Samsung and Google hitting the shelves each year, it can be a little tricky to decide which device to choose. Luckily, we're here to do the hard work for you! Here are our picks for the best camera phones…

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In this blog:

• Best Samsung – Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• Best iPhone – iPhone 15 Pro Max
• Best AI technology – Google Pixel 8 Pro
• Best budget – Google Pixel 7a
• Best for novices – iPhone 15

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Best Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is currently Samsung's best phone camera, offering a quad camera set-up with even larger pixels for capturing more light and brighter colours. You'll find 200MP main (f/1.7), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 50MP 5x telephoto f/3.4) and 10MP 3x telephoto (f/2.4) lenses on the rear of the device and a 12MP (f/2.2) lens on the front.

If you've admired the previous Galaxy S23 Ultra model, then you'll have noticed that Samsung has improved one of the telephoto lenses, upgrading it from 10MP to 50MP. While this means way more detailed zoomed shots, it also means that the optical zoom has been scaled back from 10x to 5x. But don't let that put you off – the Galaxy S24 Ultra can still support a 10x zoom as long as you shoot at 50MP and crop in on a specific area you want to zoom in on.

Alongside the updated cameras, the Galaxy S24 Ultra also offers a new generative AI tool for editing your images with ease. The generative AI tool works by analysing your image and regenerating it as you resize, remove or reposition objects in the image.

Best iPhone

iPhone 15 Pro Max

If you're an Apple fan, you'll want the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This model has a whole range of added features and upgraded specs that make it the best camera phone from Apple thus far.

Apple has given the iPhone 15 Pro Max model a 5x zoom, compared to the 3x zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro. This new 5x telephoto camera will guarantee higher quality zoom and a more natural blur on portraits. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also benefits from RAW photo files, offering you more flexibility and preciseness when editing images.

You'll get three rear cameras on the iPhone 15 Pro Max: 48MP (f/1.78) main with 2x optical zoom, 12MP (f/2.2) ultrawide and 12MP (f/2.8) telephoto with 5x optical zoom. On the front of the phone, you'll find a 12MP (f/1.9) lens.

In terms of features, Apple has added an anti-reflecting coating on the ultrawide lens to further perfect your shots along with Smart HDR updates to improve dynamic range. You'll also notice a change to the charging port as Apple switched from Lightning to USB-C, making the iPhone 15 Pro Max even more compatible with monitors and camera accessories.

Best AI technology

Google Pixel 8 Pro

The Google Pixel 8 Pro has one of the best camera phone set-ups on the market, with specs as good as the iPhone 15 Pro and the Galaxy S24 series. Where this phone's camera really shines, though, is the AI editing software!

Thanks to the Tensor G3 chip, the Pixel 8 Pro boasts cool new features such as Best Take, Magic Editor, Audio Magic Eraser and Video Boost. With these tools, you can reduce blur, improve your group photos, resize, remove and move objects in a photo, stabilize your videos and much, much more.

You'll find a triple camera arrangement on the rear of the Pixel 8 Pro housing a 50MP (f/1.68) main lens, 48MP (f/1.95) ultrawide lens and 48MP (f/2.8) 5x optical zoom telephoto lens. On the front of the device, there's a 10.5MP (f/2.2) lens.

Google has added new Pro Controls (RAW capture) to the Pixel 8 Pro, giving you more control over common parameters like the ISO, shutter speed, colour temperature and focus. The improved wide-angle and telephoto lenses also give Apple and Samsung a run for their money.

Best budget

Google Pixel 7a

If you're not looking to part with too much of your hard-earned cash but still want to take great pictures, we recommend the Google Pixel 7a. As far as budget-friendly phones go, this is the best phone camera that won't drain your bank account.

This mid-range model offers much of the same photo quality as the Pixel 7 Pro at a more affordable price, although you'll have to do without wireless charging, a lower screen refresh rate and fewer cameras.

Google has upgraded the main camera from 12.2MP to 64MP, giving your photos more light and detail. You'll also benefit from a few AI features such as the Magic Eraser for removing objects from your shots and Photo Unblur for cleaning up your images.

You'll find 64MP main (f/1.89) and 13MP ultrawide (f/2.2) lenses on the rear of the device and a 13MP (f/2.2) selfie shooter on the front. Plus, the bright 6.1-inch display lets you see your photos clearly, even in bright light!

Best for novices

iPhone 15

For those looking for a simple phone that you can just point and shoot, the iPhone 15 is one of the best camera phone options. Apple is known for making easy-to-use interfaces for their phones, so you should find using the iPhone 15 a breeze.

This model has inherited the iPhone 14 Pro's 48MP main camera, so you'll be able to capture more detail in your shots than ever before on a standard iPhone. You'll get two rear cameras on the iPhone 15: 48MP (f/1.6) main with 2x zoom and 12MP (f/2.4) ultrawide. On the front, you'll find a 12MP (f/1.9) lens.

While you won't be able to shoot in RAW format, you will get a few of the software improvements seen on the iPhone 15 Pro Max such as the Smart HDR, portrait mode and Night sight features. Plus, the iPhone 15 is £400 less than the iPhone 15 Pro Max!

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