From Apple, Google, Samsung and more, we collected the best photo-taking camera phone recommendations so you can choose the ideal one for you.
The best phones in 2024 all have amazing cameras that can take photos to wow your Instagram followers or family members. These include high-performance phones from Apple, Google, Samsung and others. Different companies offer unique features, a spectrum of camera lenses and varied megapixel counts.
We thoroughly tested and compared dozens of phones and found that a phone that has more lenses or megapixels doesn't necessarily mean it's any better at actually taking great-looking shots. Top phones like the iPhone 15 Pro and Pixel 8 Pro use larger image sensors and software additions for AI-powered computational photography. Then there's the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra's camera, which can take some of the best zoom photos it's possible to get from a phone.
It's important to keep in mind that there isn't a "perfect" phone camera for everyone. Even among CNET's phone reviewers, there isn't a phone camera that suits all our needs. We look at how these cameras perform in real-life situations: how they balance exposures, how they handle colors and how easy they are to use. Read our guide to help find the best phone camera for your needs.
The $999 iPhone 15 Pro and $1,199 iPhone 15 Pro Max have the same regular and wide cameras and offer the best complete package for photos and videos on any phone you can buy today. While the 15 Pro's 3x optical zoom lens is good, the Pro Max goes further with a 5x zoom that lets you find more interesting shots in a scene. Both phones pack advanced features like ProRaw images, ProRes video capture and recording in Log color space, which makes them powerful tools for professional filmmakers.
Is the iPhone 15 Pro leaps and bounds ahead of what Google and Samsung are doing? No. But in terms of consistency, reliability and approachability, the iPhone 15 Pro is our pick for people who want a top-notch camera system that's easy to use.
While features like the new titanium body and A17 Pro processor make both the Pro and Pro Max exciting phones, it's the larger model that keen photographers should look toward. It shares the same 48-megapixel main camera as the standard Pro, but its telephoto lens gets a significant bump to 5x over the base Pro's 3x. It might not seem like much of a step up, but that extra zoom will help you find more interesting compositions in scenes out of reach of smaller zooms.
I love using the 5x zoom on the Pixel 8 Pro -- it feels like you're carrying a fully equipped camera setup with you, alongside the other lenses. With the 15 Pro's ability to shoot in ProRaw, along with advanced video capabilities including Apple ProRes and Log codecs, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is one of the most sophisticated camera phones you can buy right now.
With that in mind, if you're not that bothered about long zooms, then the iPhone 15 Pro has essentially the same features and comes in a smaller package that's easier to hold. Read our Apple iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max review.
While we had some early issues with the Google Pixel 8 Pro -- mostly with its cameras shooting Raw files -- further testing and software updates from Google meant we eventually came away thinking quite highly of the Pixel 8 Pro. It's got a lot going for it, from its slick design and easy-to-use Android 14 software to its rear camera setup, which can take some genuinely beautiful images. Google has sprinkled a variety of new AI features throughout the phone too, including a tool that uses generative AI to create wallpapers...
With a sharper 5x optical zoom, a faster new processor and that familiar giant display and 100x digital zoom, the Samsung’s “Ultra” phone remains a top choice for mobile photographers that want plenty of screen space. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is also one of the first phones with Samsung’s new Galaxy AI features, which include tools for translating text messages and phone calls instantly and Circle to Search, a new gesture that lets you launch a Google search for almost anything simply by drawing a circle around it. Like the...
The Pixel 8 has many of the features of the more expensive Pixel 8 Pro but comes in a slightly smaller package and with a smaller price tag to match. You'll find the Tensor G3 processor on board, along with Android 14 software that includes AI tools like the generative image wallpaper creator. It also comes with the same guarantee of at least seven years of security updates so this phone will still be going strong in 2030 -- as long as you look after it.
The rear cameras are more cut back here though, as the...
The base iPhone 15 lacks some of the advanced features of the Pro model, including the telephoto zoom lenses and capturing images in ProRaw or videos in ProRes formats. Its main camera has been given a significant bump to 48 megapixels, and refinements across the board mean it's an extremely capable camera for more everyday shooting.
While dedicated photographers will likely want to look toward the Pro line, those of you wanting to simply take beautiful, well-exposed shots of your kids at the beach or your friends...