Smartphone cameras have come a long way in recent years. With advanced sensors, powerful image processing, and innovative computational photography features, today’s top camera phones can rival and even surpass traditional point-and-shoot cameras.
For photography enthusiasts, having a capable camera in your pocket at all times is a huge advantage. But with so many smartphone options on the market, it can be tricky to determine which one is right for you. In this guide, we break down the 12 best smartphones for photography in 2023.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
The iPhone 15 Pro Max stands atop the smartphone photography mountain. It packs a 48MP main wide camera, 12MP ultra-wide and 12MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom. This versatile triple camera array captures incredibly detailed photos with excellent dynamic range. The telephoto lens plus Apple’s image fusion technology enables up to 15x digital zoom while maintaining sharpness.
For portraiture, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has one of the best computational bokeh effects around. The 12MP selfie camera also excels with smooth skin tones and natural background blur in portraits. New to the iPhone 15 series is an enhanced Action mode that applies advanced stabilization for smoother handheld videos.
While not quite as fully-featured as pro Android camera apps, Apple’s camera interface remains intuitive while offering granular control over focus, exposure, and lighting. Photographers who value simplicity will appreciate the iPhone’s smart automation and seamless shooting experience.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
With Google’s advanced image processing, the Pixel 8 Pro is perhaps the best point-and-shoot camera phone available. It achieves remarkably natural color reproduction and does an incredible job retaining highlights and shadows. The 50MP main camera captures abundant detail while keeping noise to a minimum in all lighting conditions.
Unique to the Pixel 8 Pro is a Pro mode that lets photographers shoot in 12-bit RAW capture at 50 megapixels. This allows for more editing flexibility with lossless image files. The upgraded telephoto camera offers a 5x optical zoom range, putting it on par with the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It also has a useful macro shooting mode not found on the iPhone.
While the Pixel 8 Pro lacks the iPhone’s Action mode, its video stabilization is excellent for casual handheld shooting. For those who value image quality over specs, the Pixel 8 Pro delivers professional-grade photography in a streamlined package.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra flaunts an incredible 200MP main camera sensor. Using pixel-binning techniques, it outputs 12MP images with exceptional clarity and staggeringly good detail retention. The S23 Ultra has the best zoom system on any smartphone, with dual 10MP telephotos providing 3x and 10x optical magnification. It can digitally zoom up to 100x with surprising sharpness.
Samsung packs its cameras with AI-enhanced features like improved Nightography mode for low light shots. The pro-oriented Expert RAW app lets photographers capture massive 50MP RAW files across all lenses. VideoRecording mode offers manually adjustable picture profiles with HDR10+ capture similar to the iPhone’s Dolby Vision.
With its expansive 6.8-inch screen and S-Pen support, the S23 Ultra also excels as a digital notepad for photo editing. While not as refined as the Pixel’s image processing, the S23 Ultra wins on camera hardware and customization options.
Google Pixel 7a
For budget-minded photographers, the Google Pixel 7a delivers impressive image quality at an affordable price. Despite having a 12MP main camera, the Pixel 7a mimics results from Google’s flagship models with balanced color and exposure. Night Sight mode excels in low light scenes. The secondary 12MP ultra-wide camera provides a wider field of view that’s great for landscapes and architecture.
The Pixel 7a lacks a telephoto lens but uses Super Res Zoom to artificially boost details at up to 8x magnification. This works remarkably well for social media use. Portrait Light simulates studio lighting effects with realistic face relighting. While not groundbreaking, the Pixel 7a’s cameras reliably produce high-quality images at a fraction of the cost of premium phones.
Apple iPhone 15
The iPhone 15 provides a streamlined shooting experience perfect for casual users. It has the same 12MP triple camera setup as the iPhone 14 Pro, just minus the telephoto lens. Using computational merging, the main wide camera can simulate a 2x optical zoom with fair quality. The 12MP selfie camera still provides Apples’ exceptional portrait mode and lighting effects.
Highlight features like Photographic Styles let you preference color and contrast profiles that apply across all cameras. The new Action mode produces gimbal-smooth video without any accessory stabilization required. And iOS 16 expands photo editing tools for cropping, color adjustments and object removal right in the Photos app.
While not quite as future-proof as the iPhone 15 Pro models, the standard iPhone 15 delivers Apple’s brilliant camera app in sleek form factor for hundreds less. It’s an easy choice for social shooters invested in the Apple ecosystem.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Foldable phones represent the next evolution in mobile photography. When open, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 offers an expansive 7.6-inch display that provides an immersive camera viewfinder experience. The 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide and 10MP telephoto deliver crisp images and 4K video across focal lengths.
Optimized Flex mode lets you prop up the Z Fold 5 at any angle to use as a mini tripod. The rear cameras can then film yourself or subjects for vlogging while seeing a real-time preview on the cover screen. Multi-Active Window lets you run up to three camera apps simultaneously for monitoring different lenses.
While very expensive, the Z Fold 5 showcases innovation not found in traditional smartphones. For photographers wanting to push creative boundaries on a foldable device, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a powerhouse.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
On the more practical side, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 brings a compact clamshell design with ultra-portable form factor. When closed, the Flip 5 is about the size of a sunglass case that can discretely fit in any pocket. The exterior cover screen shows notifications, battery level, and a control carousel for switching between selfie and rear cameras.
Unfolding the Z Flip 5 reveals its 6.7-inch flex screen for composing shots. It inherits the same 12MP wide and ultrawide cameras from the Z Fold 5 in a smaller chassis. Photo and video quality are very strong for a flip phone while benefiting from Samsung’s optimized one-handed interface.
While expensive for a “regular” smartphone, the Z Flip 5 offers true pocketability and capable photography as a flip phone. For mobile shooters wanting next-gen design without going full foldable, the Z Flip 5 hits the sweet spot.
Google Pixel Fold
Google enters the foldable game with the Pixel Fold and its 7.6-inch inner screen. It implements a 48MP main camera alongside 12MP ultrawide and telephoto lenses with 5x optical zoom. The versatile camera module matches Apple and Samsung’s photography hardware while adding Google’s computational magic.
Impressively, the Pixel Fold main camera replicates the stunning image quality of Google’s flagship Pixel phones. Details remain crisp edge-to-edge with accurate colors and exposures. The Fold also gets exclusive shooting modes like Ultrasight for unmatched low light performance. Its smaller 1.9-inch cover screen nicely frames up selfies using the inner cameras.
For a first-gen device, the Pixel Fold gets a lot right. It feels polished as both a productivity device and capable camera phone wrapped in a futuristic foldable package. The Pixel Fold lays the groundwork for where Google can take their photography prowess next.
OnePlus 11 Pro 5G
OnePlus shakes up the status quo with the 11 Pro 5G and its second-generation Hasselblad camera system. The 50MP main camera captures splendid photos with neutral color science straight out of medium format cameras. The 48MP ultrawide produces stunningly clear wide perspective shots.
Pro mode includes RAW capture, ISO tuning, shutter speed control and white balance presets for those wanting more creative freedom. Hasselblad’s Natural Color Calibration ensures accurate color reproduction across all three cameras. And the capable 16MP selfie camera excels at self-portraiture.
While not best-in-class, the 11 Pro 5G cameras showcase OnePlus’ rapid maturation into a premier mobile photography brand. Images showcase noticeably improved contrast and dynamic range over past OnePlus devices. For around $200 less than other flagships, the OnePlus 11 Pro 5G is a compelling alternative for value-focused photographers.
Google Pixel 8
Google’s bread-and-butter phone remains the Pixel 8. It delivers the same exemplary image processing as the Pro in a more accessible package. The upgraded 50MP sensor captures incredible details with Google’s signature true-to-life color rendering. Night Sight and Magic Eraser make it easy to get great shots every time.
Portrait photos showcase buttery background blur rivaling phones with dedicated telephotos. While Pixel phones historically lagged in video, the Pixel 8 now records in consistent color with smooth RockSteady-like stabilization. At just $599, the Pixel 8 provides Google’s amazing computational photography at an aggressive price.
For photographers on a budget, spending a few hundred dollars more for the Pixel 8 Pro may not make sense over the standard model. Unless you need the 5x zoom lens or Pro RAW capture, the Pixel 8 gets you 95% of the way there for less.
Conclusion
This roundup highlights the standout camera phones of 2023 based on image quality, hardware capabilities, shooting features and overall value. While specifications tell part of the story, real-world results ultimately matter most. Every device here can capture incredible photos and videos in the right hands. Consider your budget, brand preference and photography style to pick the perfect smartphone camera for you.
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