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Phone cameras used to be good only for grainy snaps of your mates, but today's best camera phones can take stunning photos that rival those from professional mirrorless cameras. With multiple lenses, larger image sensors and advanced photo processing, top camera phones like the iPhone 17 Pro or Galaxy S26 Ultra squash an entire photo kit bag of gear into something that slides into your jeans pocket. But not all models are created equal, with some better suited to photo pros who want full manual control over image quality. Other handsets are better for those who simply want amazing-looking snaps without having to spend time fiddling with settings.
From the first moment I picked up the new $1,199 iPhone 17 Pro Max and $1,099 17 Pro, I was beguiled by their bold, bright redesign. It's a complete turnaround from the years of Apple's subdued titanium motif. The square camera bump of previous Pro models is now a body-wide bar that Apple calls the "camera plateau." The 17 Pro and Pro Max now come in actual colors -- you won't find one in black or space gray. This phone, especially in cosmic orange, wants you to look at it.
Pros
- The 17 Pro Max's incredible battery life
- The brighter screen looks fantastic
- Center Stage camera with the ability to take landscape selfies vertically is sweet
Cons
- Dual Capture does not have a 50/50 split
- Live Translation's Siri voice can overlap with speakers
- iPhone 17 Pro battery life is on par with the iPhone 16 Pro
- Expensive
While the iPhone 17 Pro might be the all-singing-all-dancing camera phone for iOS users, the Galaxy S26 Ultra fills the same role for those of you firmly in the Android ecosystem. Its multiple rear cameras have proven exceptionally capable in capturing glorious images in all conditions, while the phone's massive display and powerful processor make the whole image-taking process feel effortless.
Pros
- Innovative Privacy Display
- Long-lasting battery
- Intuitive AI features
- Consistently great cameras
Cons
- $1,300 price
- Design is almost too minimal
- AI features are hit or miss
- S25/S25 Plus have similar features and cost less
While the Galaxy S26 Ultra packs a wealth of extra features across the camera and the wider phone experience, the charm of the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL lies in their simplicity. I loved taking the 10 Pro on a photowalk around Paris, as it lets you casually snap away, capturing perfectly exposed, vibrant images with very little effort.
Pros
- Long software support period
- Camera performs well
- Impressive AI-assisted Super Res Zoom
- Fun and useful new AI skills
Cons
- Tensor G5 isn't as powerful as rivals
- Magic Cue of limited use if you don't live strictly in Google's world
- Images can look over-processed
Nothing's Phone 4A Pro offers a lot for its low $499 price, including a fun pink color and its quirky rear Glyph Matrix display. But it's the cameras I was particularly impressed by in my time with the phone. Its three rear cameras were able to take bright and vibrant images that looked great with almost no effort on my part.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Attractive design
- Great camera performance
Cons
- Fewer years of software support than rivals
- Battery life could be better
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- These Are the Best Phone Cameras That We've Tested
- What is the best camera phone?
- Best camera phones of 2026
- Best all-round camera
- Best for photography pros
- Best phone camera for Android fans
- Best Android camera phone for most people
- Best affordable camera phone
- The ultimate zoom champion
- Best phone cameras compared
- Recent updates
- Factors to consider when looking at a phone's cameras
- How we test phones
- Other phones we tested
- Phone camera FAQs
- What to look forward to in 2026
What is the best camera phone?
Enlarge Image
Shot in high-contrast black-and-white mode, I used the roof to frame the bird, exposing for the bright sky to cast the subject into deep shadow and create a dramatic silhouette.
Andrew Lanxon/CNETThe best camera phone I've ever used is the Leitzphone, made in partnership with Xiaomi and iconic camera brand Leica. It takes stunning images and uses advanced tech like a large image sensor, a continuous zoom lens and a fun physical settings wheel around the camera unit. It's a triumph of camera technology, but it's not sold in the US, so many of you will be unable to get hold of it.
The iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max takes the top spot as the best all-around camera phone that most of you can buy. It can take beautiful images from all its rear lenses and has advanced features, like ProRaw. The ubiquity of the iPhone means that a vast array of photography accessories are available to help take your creativity further.
Is the iPhone 17 Pro leaps and bounds ahead of what Google and Samsung are doing? No. But in terms of consistency, reliability and approachability, the iPhone 17 Pro is our pick for people who want a top-notch camera system that's easy to use.
Best camera phones of 2026
This shot of the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset was taken the iPhone 17 Pro Max's telephoto camera at 8x magnification.
Patrick Holland/CNET
Pros
- The 17 Pro Max's incredible battery life
- The brighter screen looks fantastic
- Center Stage camera with the ability to take landscape selfies vertically is sweet
Cons
- Dual Capture does not have a 50/50 split
- Live Translation's Siri voice can overlap with speakers
- iPhone 17 Pro battery life is on par with the iPhone 16 Pro
- Expensive
From the first moment I picked up the new $1,199 iPhone 17 Pro Max and $1,099 17 Pro, I was beguiled by their bold, bright redesign. It's a complete turnaround from the years of Apple's subdued titanium motif. The square camera bump of previous Pro models is now a body-wide bar that Apple calls the "camera plateau." The 17 Pro and Pro Max now come in actual colors -- you won't find one in black or space gray. This phone, especially in cosmic orange, wants you to look at it.
As I tested the new Pro phones, I was consistently impressed: Even after a full day of heavy use, the Pro Max's battery still had 22% or more left. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has the best battery life of any phone that CNET has ever tested.
The 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max have the exact same rear cameras, all with 48-megapixel sensors. You can choose between the trio of lenses (wide-angle, ultrawide and telephoto) to capture photos at 12-, 24- or 48-megapixel resolutions. The telephoto camera has gone from the 16 Pro's 12-megapixel sensor with a 5x lens to a 48-megapixel sensor that's 56% larger with a new 4x telephoto lens. You read that right: The new Pro has a shorter optical zoom than its predecessor. But I find the short 4x zoom better for portraits, and the increase in detail and dynamic range in 4x photos is a big improvement over 5x snaps from the 16 Pro.
There's a new selfie camera on both Pro phones that Apple calls Center Stage. It not only takes 18-megapixel selfies, up from 12 megapixels on the 16 Pro, but you can hold the 17 Pro vertically and take a horizontal selfie thanks to a new square image sensor.
I can't help but contrast the iPhone 17 Pro models to Apple's newest phone. The iPhone Air is thin, light, quiet and graceful -- with a single rear camera, shorter battery life and $100 cheaper starting price. The 17 Pro and Pro Max are bold, loud, aggressive and powerful, and their daring design appeals to me. But features such as its amazing battery life, brighter screen, new selfie camera and iOS 26 are the real reasons to get either.
Why we like it
I appreciate that Apple gave the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max personality. Gone is the minimal design for the sake of simplicity. We have a phone that is more durable, has a longer battery life, and, when running iOS 26, comes with a number of significant quality-of-life improvements, like live translations for calls, texts and FaceTime.
Who it's best for
The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max would be an excellent upgrade for someone coming from an iPhone 14 Pro or older. You get a bigger battery, a better screen, faster charging, newer cameras and a speedier processor that can handle graphics-intensive games and Apple Intelligence.
Who shouldn't get it
If you have an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, you don't need these new phones unless battery capacity on your current phone is low -- and even then, it'd be cheaper to simply have your battery swapped out. And unless you have a gracious disposable income, iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max owners can sit this one out.
Pros
- Stunning image quality
- Plethora of Leica color effects
- Physical ring to control camera settings
- Powerful processor performance
Cons
- Battery life could be better
- Not sold in the US
With its fancy new sensor tech, a rare (if not unique) continuous zoom lens and an actual functional control wheel around the camera unit, Leica's Leitzphone, powered by Xiaomi, packs in some potent tech to tempt camera enthusiasts. I've used it to take some of my best-ever phone photos, and it earned a CNET Editors' Choice award for its imaging.
Sadly, Xiaomi doesn't officially sell its products in the US, so most of you reading this aren't able to actually go and buy this camera champ. Sorry.
Why we like it
Its large main image sensor takes beautiful photos, and the physical control wheel around the camera unit makes it feel like a regular camera when you're out shooting. The built-in Leica color profiles let you take gorgeous photos with minimal effort.
Who it's best for
If you strive for truly artistic images from your phone and the iconic Leica red dot logo makes you feel all warm inside, then it's the phone for you. You'll need to live in the UK or Europe, though, and have deep pockets -- this thing doesn't come cheap.
Who shouldn't get it
Anyone who lives in the US. Not because you shouldn't, but because you can't.
Galaxy S26 Ultra, main camera, night mode
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Pros
- Innovative Privacy Display
- Long-lasting battery
- Intuitive AI features
- Consistently great cameras
Cons
- $1,300 price
- Design is almost too minimal
- AI features are hit or miss
- S25/S25 Plus have similar features and cost less
While the iPhone 17 Pro might be the all-singing-all-dancing camera phone for iOS users, the Galaxy S26 Ultra fills the same role for those of you firmly in the Android ecosystem. Its multiple rear cameras have proven exceptionally capable in capturing glorious images in all conditions, while the phone's massive display and powerful processor make the whole image-taking process feel effortless.
I had wished to see more innovation in the cameras on this generation of Ultra. The specs haven't moved on that much in the past few models and some of the bigger upgrades Samsung talked about are largely AI-focused -- like being able to change the style of hat someone is wearing.
I argued that Samsung risks losing ground to Android makers like Xiaomi (with its superb Leitzphone), but the reality is the S26 Ultra is still one of the most capable all-round camera phones you can get. And like the iPhone, Samsung's phones are so popular that it's common to find photography accessories specifically for your model.
Why we like it
The superb image quality from all four -- that's right, four -- rear cameras means you've basically got an entire photography kit bag in your pocket that's ready to tackle anything you're likely to come across while you're out and about.
Who it's best for
This phone is best for folks looking for a "do everything" camera phone with plenty of zoom options and that keeps them firmly in the Android ecosystem.
Who shouldn’t get it
It's expensive, so those of you shopping for camera performance on a budget will want to look elsewhere -- I suggest the Nothing Phone 4A Pro, seen below. It's also not really pushing the boat out in terms of year-on-year innovation, which is a shame. Those of you wanting real camera-phone innovation (and who don't live in the US) should take a look at the Leica Leitzphone by Xiaomi.
An image from the Pixel 10 Pro XL of a woman walking down the steps of the Sacred Heart Basilica in Paris.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Pros
- Long software support period
- Camera performs well
- Impressive AI-assisted Super Res Zoom
- Fun and useful new AI skills
Cons
- Tensor G5 isn't as powerful as rivals
- Magic Cue of limited use if you don't live strictly in Google's world
- Images can look over-processed
While the Galaxy S26 Ultra packs a wealth of extra features across the camera and the wider phone experience, the charm of the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL lies in their simplicity. I loved taking the 10 Pro on a photowalk around Paris, as it lets you casually snap away, capturing perfectly exposed, vibrant images with very little effort.
It doesn't try to overwhelm with all of the options it has, and while there are also a whole bunch of AI tools (like object removal or whole image creation), these are largely things to maybe use after you've taken your shot, should you want to.
It doesn't try to do everything you've ever wanted from a camera. Instead, it just absolutely nails the sort of essentials you'd want on an everyday basis. If you want to take things much further, you'd probably want to reach for your mirrorless camera anyway.
Why we like it
By keeping things simple, the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL excel at snapping beautiful shots when you're simply enjoying a day out around town. These camera phones don't get in the way or try to overwhelm with options, and while they offer a ton of AI capabilities, that stuff really only comes into play later on after you're done taking your photos.
Who it's best for
If you love taking nice photos of family and friends but don't really consider yourself a photographer, the Pixel phones are for you. They make it simple to snag the shots you want.
Who shouldn't get it
They're not the most powerful phones around, so those of you looking for an all-round powerhouse to tackle your photography missions and then come back home for some intense, high frame rate gaming may want to consider the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
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This scene photo of a house on the countryside was taken with the Nothing Phone 4A Pro at 3.5x zoom.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Pros
- Affordable price
- Attractive design
- Great camera performance
Cons
- Fewer years of software support than rivals
- Battery life could be better
Nothing's Phone 4A Pro offers a lot for its low $499 price, including a fun pink color and its quirky rear Glyph Matrix display. But it's the cameras I was particularly impressed by in my time with the phone. Its three rear cameras were able to take bright and vibrant images that looked great with almost no effort on my part.
I even preferred the images to the ones I took with Google's similarly affordable Pixel 10A. Google's cheaper phones often take the crown when it comes to image quality at affordable prices but the Phone 4A Pro's shots impressed me more with their punchy colors and brighter exposure.
Why we like it
The Nothing Phone 4A Pro's camera delivers vibrant, contrasty images that make it great for snapping shots of your friends and family on vacation and sharing straight to Instagram -- no extra editing required. Throw in its low price, decent software support period and funky rear display, and it's an easy pick for a superb all-rounder that won't break the bank.
Who it's best for
The cameras produce bright, vibrant shots with punchy contrast as soon as you press the shutter button. If you like getting colorful images to share straight to your socials with no extra editing required, then it's a great one to consider.
Who shouldn't get it
Many more enthusiastic photographers (myself included) often prefer images that look more natural that you can then add more pizzazz to in the editing stage before they hit your Instagram grid. Those photographers may not love the look of the Phone 4A Pro's shots and should instead consider the Pixel 10A, which typically delivers more balanced' images.
Oppo Find X9 Ultra, main camera, edited raw file
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Pros
- Stellar battery life
- Excellent camera quality
- Optional telephoto lens delivers wild results
Cons
- The best images require more manual control
- Telephoto lens is an expensive extra
- Too much preinstalled junk
Made in partnership with legendary camera maker Hasselblad, it's no surprise that Oppo's Find X9 Ultra is a beast when it comes to taking images. Its multiple rear cameras have allowed me to take some great images, but achieving the best results requires a bit more effort. I found I needed to take manual control over settings and do some more edits in apps like Adobe Lightroom to tune photos to my tastes, but once I did, they looked superb.
But its main appeal is with the optional telephoto zoom lens. Slap this thing on the front and it essentially turns the phone into a telescope, allowing you to take hugely zoomed-in images that would be simply out of reach of other phones. Sure, that gives it niche appeal, but those of you into wildlife photography should take a look.
At least, if you can buy it. Like the Leitzphone, seen above, the Find X9 Ultra won't be officially sold in the US.
Why we like it
Even without the zoom lens, this phone can take some awesome photos, especially if you're an enthusiast who will spend time tweaking settings to get everything looking just right.
The telephoto zoom lens transforms the experience, letting you fill your frame with subjects that are difficult to even see with the naked eye.
Who it's best for
Wildlife photographers who want pro-quality photos from their phone without having to carry enormous professional zoom lenses for their mirrorless cameras into the field will like this phone.
Who shouldn't get it
Folks who just want to point their phone toward something and click one button to take the photo should look for a different phone. Also this isn't the phone for anyone who lives in the US as this phone won't be officially on sale there. Boo.
Best phone cameras compared
| Android 16 | iOS 26 | iOS 26 | Android 16 | Android 16 | Android 16 | Android 16 |
| 50-megapixel (wide), 200-megapixel (3.2-4x telephoto), 50-megapixel (ultrawide) | 48-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (4x telephoto) | 48-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (4x telephoto) | 200-megapixel (wide), 50-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto), 50-megapixel (5x telephoto) | 50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (5x telephoto) | 50-megapixel (wide), 8-megapixel (ultrawide), 50-megapixel (3.5x telephoto) | 200-megapixel (wide), 200-megapixel (3x telephoto), 50-megapixel (10x telephoto), 50-megapixel (ultrawide) |
| 50-megapixel | 18-megapixel | 18-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 42-megapixel | 32-megapixel | 50-megapixel |
| 8K | 4K | 4K | 8K | 8K | 4K | 8K |
| Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Apple A19 Pro | Apple A19 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy | Google Tensor G5 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| 6,000 mAh | 5,088 mAh | 4,252 mAh | 5,000 mAh | 5,200 mAh | 5,080 mAh | 7,050 mAh |
| $2,270 (1TB) - converted, not sold in US | $1,199 (256GB) | $1,099 (256GB) | $1,300 (256GB) | $1,199 (256GB) | $499 (128GB) | $1,995 (512GB) - converted, not sold in US |
In July 2026, we added the Leica Leitzphone from Xiaomi, the Nothing Phone 4A Pro and the Oppo Find X9 Ultra to the list. The Oppo and Xiaomi phone in particular show just how far ahead Chinese phone makers are of devices sold in the US.
Consider last year's models: Apple no longer sells the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but you can still find it at third-party retailers and often for hundreds less than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Protect your new phone with a case: Make your phone and its cameras last longer with a case.
Don't overlook affordable phones: The $499 Pixel 10A and $599 iPhone 17E can do almost everything that a new premium phone can do for a fraction of the price. Save some money and still take great snaps.
Wait for sales: Many of the best phone camera systems are found on more expensive models. Look for sales and discounts around major holidays, especially Amazon's Prime Day and Cyber Monday.
Check if you're already invested: Have you already bought a lot of iPhone camera accessories like a case or tripod? Stick with an iPhone if you still want access to them. Make sure your new iPhone will still work with your setup.
We test every phone in real-world scenarios, focusing on its features, design, performance, cameras, battery life and overall value. We document our findings in an initial review that is periodically updated when there are new software updates, or to compare it against new phones from competitors such as Apple, Samsung, Google and OnePlus.
Photography
CNET's Andrew Lanxon documents himself testing the Pixel 10 Pro's selfie camera.
Andrew Lanxon/CNETPhotography is a major focus for most phones these days, so we take pictures and videos of various subjects in a variety of settings and lighting scenarios. We try out any new camera modes, such as ProRes Log video with genlock that debuted with the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, or the Gemini-powered Camera Coach tool that launched with the Google Pixel 10 series.
Battery life
Battery testing is conducted in a variety of ways. We assess how long a phone lasts during a typical day of use and note how it performs during more focused sessions of video calls, media streaming and gaming. We also conduct a video playback test as a simple, replicable measure of pure battery life, which isn't always included in the initial review but sometimes added later in an update.
We test phone features all around the world.
Kevin Heinz/CNETPerformance measuring
We use benchmarking apps to measure each phone's performance alongside our own anecdotal experiences using the phone for our review. Most notable are how the graphics and animations look. Are they smooth? Or do they lag or stutter? We also look at how quickly the phone switches between horizontal and vertical orientations, and how fast the camera app opens and is ready to take a photo.
We perform processor-heavy tasks such as editing photos, exporting videos and playing games. We evaluate whether a newer version of a particular phone includes enough features to make it worth upgrading from older models.
Read more: How We Test Phones
This portrait photo from the iPhone 17 does a great job showing all the details and twisting lines in this tree.
Abrar Al-Heeti/CNETThe iPhone 17 doesn't have the most cutting-edge camera tech, but at $829, it's still a wonderful camera for most people who aren't pro photographers. With the iPhone 17, Apple has significantly narrowed the gap between its baseline model and its more expensive Pro counterparts. It even shares many of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max's camera features, including Dual Capture and Center Stage, and has the same new selfie camera. The iPhone 17 is a smart choice for the average phone owner who wants to take good photos and videos to share on social media or with friends and family. If you're a photography enthusiast, the 17 Pros might be the way to go, since you'll get a telephoto lens on the back and an even longer battery life.
Which phone camera is the best at night?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Apple iPhone 17 Pro and Google Pixel 10 Pro all have dedicated night modes that take multiple images and combine them in a single photo that's brighter and has less image noise. All three are good, and it's nearly impossible to say one is better than another.
Are iPhone or Samsung cameras better?
Samsung Galaxy phones and Apple iPhones have some of the best cameras found on any phone. Both smartphones are capable photographic tools, but neither stands out enough to justify switching from Android to iOS, or the other way around. If you want the biggest telephoto zoom camera found on a phone, grab a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. If you want an excellent all-around shooter that produces natural-looking images and videos, along with pro features like ProRes and Log video capture, get an iPhone 17 Pro or 17 Pro Max
What's the difference between real cameras and phone cameras?
The biggest difference between a dedicated camera and a phone camera is the size. A dedicated camera has a larger sensor and bigger lenses that take in more light. The result are photos that have more detail, a wider dynamic range and more versatility in medium and low light. A phone camera is tiny. The sensor is smaller than a fingernail and the lens is about the size of a single Lego brick. To overcome the limitations of a small sensor and lens, a phone uses computational photography (AI and machine learning) to combine parts of multiple images into a single photo that's brighter and has more detail than a phone camera alone.
Some major 2026 phones have already been released. Perhaps the biggest phones we still expect are the iPhone 18 Pro and possibly Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Fold. Google typically updates its phone line later in the summer, and this likely means the Pixel 11 and 11 Pro.
