One of the areas that differentiates smartphones today is camera technology. Phone cameras are optimized for photos, videos, telephoto subjects, ultra-wide landscapes, selfies, and more. It's not just about hardware, as some basic devices come with advanced software algorithms and artificial intelligence tools to deliver optimal images.

In most cases, the camera capability is closely related to the price of the phone. However, we are also seeing affordable and mid-range phones with cameras capable of capturing good quality images and videos, especially since most people only share captured content on media platforms. social and email.

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

Display: 6.7-inch OLED (2778 x 1284 pixel resolution) at 458 ppi | CPU: Apple A14 Bionic chip | RAM: 6 GB | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | Rear cameras: 12MP wide-angle, 12MP ultra-wide-angle (120-degree field of view), 12MP telephoto (2.5x optical zoom) | Front camera: 12MP | Weight: 228g | Dust and water resistance: IP68

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max is arguably the best overall smartphone available today. I've been using it daily for over seven months and it's traveled the country with me, capturing photos and videos of beaches, sunsets, golf outings, fly fishing, pets, And much more.

While the Apple iPhone 12 Pro also has three rear cameras, the 12 Pro Max has a 47% larger sensor. This helps it perform a bit better when shooting in low light. The 12 Pro Max also has 2.5x optical zoom, compared to 2x optical zoom on the 12 Pro's telephoto camera.

Deep Fusion, Portrait Mode, Night Mode, ProRAW, and LiDAR scanning support are supported on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Most people won't see a big difference between the 12 Pro and the 12 Pro Max, but it's clear that the 12 Pro Max brings the best Apple has to offer photography.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G

Main display: 7.6-inch (2,208 x 1,768 pixel resolution) Dynamic 120Hz AMOLED | Secondary display: 6.2-inch (720 x 1680 pixel resolution) AMOLED | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus | RAM: 12GB LPDDR5 | Internal storage: 256GB, UFS 3.1 | Rear cameras: 12MP f/2.4 telephoto, 12MP f/1.8 wide-angle, and 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide rear cameras (123-degree field of view) | Front cameras: 10MP f/2.2 camera on the main display and 10MP camera on the cover display | Weight: 282g

If you want a big 7.6-inch screen to help you capture images, then nothing beats the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2. This foldable phone is an engineering marvel. It offers one of the most unique camera experiences we've ever seen, with five cameras that give you the ability to capture images in multiple orientations.

The Z Fold 2 is equipped with five cameras: one integrated into the secondary screen, another integrated into the main screen and three on the back. While there isn't a high-res 108MP camera like on the new Note 20 Ultra, the cameras are very capable. One of the reasons the cameras work so well on the Z Fold 2 comes from the innovative software and the hinge that improves the way you can capture images.

The three 12MP rear cameras work together with Samsung's advanced camera software. There's a 123-degree ultra-wide-angle camera, a super-fast F1.8 aperture dual-pixel lens, and a telephoto lens capable of 2x optical and 10x digital zoom.

Precise zoom control, Bluetooth microphone support, and auto-framing help you capture your best video with a smartphone.

Google Pixel 4a 5G

Display: 6.2-inch (2340 x 1080 pixel resolution) OLED | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G | RAM: 6 GB | Internal storage: 128 GB | Rear cameras: 12.2MP rear f/1.7 and 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide (107-degree field of view) | Front camera: 8MP f/2.0 | Weight: 168g

While Apple's iPhones provide the average consumer with a straightforward camera user experience, Google's Pixel phones offer a similar but even more consistent experience. Thanks to Google's software algorithms, every time you press the shutter, you end up with a high-quality photo. At $499, it's one of the most affordable smartphones around. As far as the camera is concerned, it is well above its price.

While other high-end smartphones have three or four rear cameras, Google only offers two, which limits its capabilities when experimenting with various scenarios. Although there's no telephoto camera, Google's software delivers results that defy dedicated zooms.

Android 11 powers the phone, and while the camera is great, Google updates it regularly as better software is released.

Sony Xperia 1II

Display: 6.5-inch (3840 x 1644 pixel resolution) OLED | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 | RAM: 8 GB | Internal storage: 256 GB | Rear cameras: 12MP f/1.7, 12MP f/2.4 and 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide (124-degree field of view) | Front camera: 8MP f/2.0 | Weight: 181g

Most people use their smartphone's automatic camera settings, but for those who want to take it to the next level, there's the Sony Xperia 1 II (aka mark two). This phone was developed with the help of Sony's Alpha 9 camera engineers, and owners now have an extremely powerful camera with the Sony Xperia 1 II.

While many smartphones come with basic software to control the cameras, Sony offers software that gives users full control over every function of the triple camera. The enhanced Cinema Pro user interface offers easy-to-control functions such as framing guides, shutter speed, touch autofocus, auto exposure, manual white balance, and more. Professionals will love delving into the multitude of camera software options.

The Sony Xperia 1 II is equipped with three cameras with ZEISS optics and Real-time Eye AF. The phone supports 20fps burst shooting, an autofocus system featuring 247 phase-detection AF points covering nearly 70% of the sensor, and more.

Oppo Find X3 Pro

Display: 6.7-inch OLED (3216 x 1440 pixel resolution) CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | Internal storage: 256 GB | Rear cameras: 50MP f/1.8 wide, 50MP f/2.2 ultra-wide (110-degree field of view), 13MP f/2.4 5x optical telephoto, and 3MP micro lens with 60x magnification | Front camera: 32MP | Weight: 193g

On top of all the great features of the Find X3 Pro, the rear quad-camera system is interesting as it opens up a whole new realm of creativity while offering better color support than Android's native options. Oppo has worked hard to deliver a compelling camera experience across hardware and software.

The microlens camera is unique and it's amazing enough to capture subjects the naked eye can't see. When you shoot images with this lens, you experience another dimension of common subjects, and this camera helps open up a world of creativity.

Even without the microlens camera, the Oppo Find X3 Pro has some of the highest resolution cameras we've seen on a smartphone today.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G

Display: 6.9-inch (3088 x 1440 pixel resolution) 120Hz Infinity-O AMOLED | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus | RAM: 12 GB LPDDR5 | Internal storage: 128GB storage (with microSD card) | Rear cameras: Rear 12MP f/3.0, 108MP f/1.8 wide-angle, and 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide (120-degree field of view) | Front camera: 10MP f/2.2 | Weight: 208g | Dust and water resistance: IP68

You wonder the interest of a stylus for photography. Yet on a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G, the S Pen offers very fine precision when it comes to editing your images and videos on the phone itself.

The Galaxy Note 20 devices carry over everything we've seen on the Galaxy S20 series, with some camera enhancements. The 108MP camera offers one of the highest resolutions we've seen on a smartphone.

Some may not like the results from Samsung's cameras, where the images are a bit more vibrant than the real thing. The cameras capture images quickly and have a large number of modes available for every shooting scenario.

Google Pixel 5

Display: 6-inch (2340 x 1080 pixel resolution) Flexible OLED | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G | RAM: 8 GB | Internal storage: 128 GB | Rear cameras: 12.2MP rear f/1.7, and 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide (107-degree field of view) | Front camera: 8MP f/2.0 | Weight: 151g | Dust and water resistance: IP68

The Pixel 5 is Google's flagship phone. Compared to other flagships, it's an affordable phone. Although the Pixel 5 only has two rear cameras, the camera rivals the best phones out there, and some of them are priced twice as high.

Google's success in photography is rooted in its computational capabilities and advanced algorithms. Even with a simple point-and-shoot action, the Pixel 5 delivers stunning and consistent results.

While Google excels in still photography, there's room for improvement for videos. The Pixel 3XL also had one of the best selfie cameras ever, so it would be great to see Google release an improved front-facing camera in the Pixel 6.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

Display: 6.5-inch (3x200 x 1x440 pixel resolution) 120Hz Infinity-O AMOLED | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 | RAM: 6GB LPDDR5 | Internal storage: 128GB of storage (with microSD card) | Rear cameras: Rear 8MP f/2.4, 12MP f/1.8 wide-angle, and 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide (123-degree field of view) | Front camera: 32MP f/2.2 | Weight: 190g | Dust and water resistance: IP68

Although the Samsung Galaxy S20 series launched in early 2020 offers some great options, these are flagship phones that are priced in the upper range. In order to provide customers with another alternative, Samsung has launched the 5G Galaxy S20 FE (Fan Edition) phone. The S20 FE is available in six colors to match your style.

Where are the compromises? There really isn't, yet the price is where we see phones appear in the upper mid-range with lower specs. We usually see front cameras in the 8-10MP range, but Samsung includes a 32MP camera on the S20 FE. Combined with Samsung's comprehensive software, you can capture excellent selfie photos and videos with this affordable phone.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

Display: 6.8-inch (3200 x 1440 pixel resolution) 120Hz Infinity-O AMOLED | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | RAM: 12GB/16GB LPDDR5 | Internal storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB | Rear cameras: 10MP rear f/4.9 with 10x optical zoom and second 10MP f/2.4 telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, 108MP wide-angle camera, and 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera (120-degree field of view) | Front camera: 40MP f/2.2 camera | Weight: 229g | Dust and water resistance: IP68

Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is one of the best smartphones around and clearly the best Samsung has to offer. With a price cut at launch, compared to the Galaxy S20 Ultra, the phone is also one of the most affordable high-end flagships.

Along with the latest and greatest features, the S21 Ultra 5G supports Samsung's S Pen, so you're no longer limited to the Note line if you want a stylus.

If your job requires you to zoom in on distant subjects, no other phone can match the S21 Ultra in terms of telephoto capability and quality. Up to 30x zoom (through two telephoto cameras) provides good quality images, but even beyond that zoom level there are practical reasons to see detail in the subjects you're shooting.

OnePlus 9 Pro

Screen: 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED (3216 x 1440 pixel resolution) CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | RAM: 8GB/12GB LPDDR5 | Internal storage: 128GB/256GB | Rear cameras: 8MP rear f/2.4, 48MP f/1.8 wide-angle, and 50MP f/2.2 ultrawide, 2MP monochrome | Front camera: 16MP f/2.4 | Weight: 197g

OnePlus was once the "flagship killer" brand but has since evolved into higher priced flagships directly challenging companies like Samsung and Apple. Compared to Samsung, OnePlus offers an experience free of ads and bloatware while now offering exciting features like wireless charging and 120Hz adaptive displays.

The partnership with the Hasselblad camera was a major aspect showcased and covered at the launch event, but only software enhancements are present in this first device with the Hasselblad brand. That said, the camera performance has clearly improved over what OnePlus has provided in the past.

One of One Plus's favorite areas for years has been macro photography. OnePlus has included a dedicated macro lens on previous phones, but the OnePlus 9 Pro uses the 50MP ultra-wide camera with a macro mode to deliver fantastic shots of close subjects.

Cat S62 Pro

Display: 5.7-inch OLED (2160 x 1080 pixel resolution) | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 | RAM: 6 GB | Storage: 128 GB | Rear cameras: 12MP wide and FLIR Lepton 3.5 infrared thermal camera | Front camera: 8MP | Weight: 248g | Dust and water resistance: IP68/69

The Bullitt Group has released a few Cat-branded phones in the past designed for field work. Although these phones have mid-range specifications, they are extremely capable and have unique features that make them valuable for professionals.

This is the third generation phone with a built-in FLIR thermal camera, and that's clearly a focal point for this rugged smartphone. The number of thermal pixels has been increased four times over the last FLIR model and allows users to vary the intensity of the MSX. Users can monitor a custom temperature range between -4°F and +752°F and alert the user when something goes outside the established range.

The Cat S62 Pro is built for the job. With the FLIR camera, you can use the phone in any environment and capture the thermal results of your surroundings.

Which phone has the best camera?

There are many good smartphones in the above list, and the best for one person does not mean the best camera for everyone. That said, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G are the two best camera phones available today that cover a wide range of shooting scenarios.

Both of these phones are particularly expensive, so if price is a consideration then it's hard to beat the results and ease of use of the Pixel 4a 5G.

Can a smartphone camera compete with a DSLR?

It is said that the best camera is the one you always have with you and in today's world, it is definitely your smartphone. Smartphones used to be a good alternative just because they were in your pocket, but today's smartphones have advanced imaging technology and software, so they can honestly challenge dedicated cameras. .

Due to their limited dimensions, primarily the thickness of the phone, smartphones cannot match the full capability of a DSLR, and you won't find professionals using a smartphone for weddings, graduations, events sports or other similar activities.

However, many of us have ditched our cameras and find that smartphones are perfectly capable of serving as the main camera. Since people aren't printing as many photos as they used to, a smartphone is a very viable alternative.

Do I need to download additional apps for the camera?

Each phone comes with one or more apps to control the camera. Many apps are available on Apple App Store and Google Play Store to enhance the experience. Apps are available to expand your creativity, add additional manual controls, integrate filters and more.

Most of the apps available are free or have trial versions, allowing you to download, install, and test them out while evaluating the limitations of your smartphone's cameras.

Many articles cover the most popular and functional apps, so try a few and see what your smartphone camera can do.

How did we choose these camera phones?

To make our picks, we tested the phones for weeks, read reviews from other websites and publications, researched review guides and manufacturer websites, chatted with colleagues and other users who have hands-on experience with phones, then selected the best ones from all the available choices.

While we have our own camera usage scenarios, choosing one of these phones for yourself will heavily depend on what your primary phone usage is.

Source: "ZDNet.com"