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Top 5 · Smartphones

Top 5 Best Camera Phones 2026

Top smartphones for photography.

Updated January 29, 20265 rankedNo paid placements
2Google Pixel 10 Pro XL - Ranked #2 Camera Phones
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
Score 9.3 / 10 · Best value
2
1Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max - Ranked #1 Camera Phones
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Score 9.6 / 10 · Best overall
1
3Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra - Ranked #3 Camera Phones
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Score 9.2 / 10
3

Full rankings

1
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max - Ranked #1 Camera Phones
Best overall

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

TechRadar 'Best camera phone you can buy.' Lifelike colors, rich detail, industry-leading 4K 120fps video with zero dropped frames. Triple 48MP system with 5x telephoto dominates.

Best-in-class video recording4K 120fps smooth captureZero shutter lag$1,199+ premium price12GB RAM less than Android
9.6/ 10
$1339at AmazonCheck priceRead full review
2
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL - Ranked #2 Camera Phones
Best value

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL

AI photography master with Camera Coach real-time guidance, 100x Pro Res Zoom, and best-in-class portrait mode. Magic Editor and Photo Unblur set the standard.

100x Pro Res ZoomCamera Coach AI guidanceBest portrait mode$1,099 flagship priceTensor efficiency concerns
9.3/ 10
$949at AmazonCheck priceRead full review
3
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra - Ranked #3 Camera Phones

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Most versatile with 200MP main sensor, 8K 30fps video, 100x Space Zoom, and Director's View multi-camera recording. Best for content creators needing flexibility.

200MP highest resolution sensor8K 30fps videoS Pen built-in$1,299 premium priceLarge and heavy
9.2/ 10
$960at AmazonCheck priceRead full review
4
OnePlus 13 - Ranked #4 Camera Phones

OnePlus 13

Hasselblad-tuned triple 50MP system with Sony LYT-808 1/1.4" main sensor delivers natural colors and excellent low-light performance. Only phone with 4K Dolby Vision video on all cameras including front-facing.

Hasselblad color science on all camerasSony LYT-808 1/1.4" main sensor4K Dolby Vision video on all cameras3x zoom modest vs 5x competitorsColor saturation inconsistency in low light
8.7/ 10
$775at AmazonCheck priceRead full review
5
OPPO Find X9 Pro - Ranked #5 Camera Phones

OPPO Find X9 Pro

200MP Hasselblad-tuned 6x periscope telephoto challenges bridge cameras. Best long-range zoom quality with excellent low-light telephoto performance.

200MP 6x telephoto best zoom7,500mAh two-day batteryHasselblad color scienceGlobal availability variesColorOS software
8.9/ 10
$1099at AmazonCheck priceRead full review
Side by side

How they scored

ProductPhoto Quality · 30%Video Quality · 25%Zoom Range · 20%Low Light · 15%AI Features · 10%ScorePrice
1Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
10109999.6$1339
2Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
108910109.3$949
3Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
9910999.2$960
4OnePlus 13
998988.7$775
5OPPO Find X9 Pro
9810988.9$1099

How we ranked them

Choose based on your priority.

Camera rankings based on expert reviews from TechRadar, DxOMark, and real-world testing. We evaluate still photo quality, video capabilities, zoom range, and AI features.

Photo Quality

Still images

30%
Video Quality

Video

25%
Zoom Range

Telephoto

20%
Low Light

Night mode

15%
AI Features

Computational

10%
Learn more about how we test

Questions, answered

iPhone or Pixel for photography?
iPhone 17 Pro Max for video and consistent point-and-shoot results. Pixel 10 Pro XL for AI-enhanced stills, portraits, and computational photography magic. Both are excellent—choose your priority.
Is the 200MP sensor on Samsung actually better?
More megapixels don't automatically mean better photos. Samsung's 200MP excels at cropping flexibility and detail retention, but iPhone and Pixel often produce more pleasing images through superior processing.
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