$999 at Apple
Apple iPhone 14 Professional
Greatest general cellphone digicam system
See at Apple
Apple iPhone 14 Professional Max
Greatest cellphone digicam for video
All of right now’s greatest telephones boast unimaginable pictures from an array of cameras. These embrace telephones from firms like Apple, Google and Samsung, with every firm providing completely different options, a distinct variety of digicam lenses, and completely different quantities of megapixels. However simply because a cellphone has extra lenses or megapixels does not imply it is any higher at truly taking great-looking pictures. High telephones just like the iPhone 14 Professional and Pixel 7 Professional additionally pack larger picture sensors and big enhancements in software program for AI-powered computational pictures. Then there’s the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely’s digicam, which may take a number of the greatest zoom pictures it is attainable to get from a cellphone.
As you learn by comparisons of cameras on telephones, it is vital to remember that there is not a “good” cellphone digicam. There are undoubtedly telephones that excel in a particular function in comparison with others — the zoom on the Galaxy S23 Extremely, for instance — however which may not be a function price paying for you probably have little curiosity in zoom pictures. And, as talked about, do not be fooled into considering extra megapixels in a digicam means higher pictures. We have a look at how these cameras carry out in real-life conditions: how they steadiness exposures, how they deal with colours and the way simple they’re to make use of.
Learn our information to assist discover the perfect cellphone digicam to your wants.
What’s the greatest digicam cellphone?
The $999 iPhone 14 Professional and $1,099 iPhone 14 Professional Max have the identical digicam and as an entire package deal for pictures and movies are the perfect cameras on any cellphone you should buy. The 14 Professional can seize detailed pictures with a large dynamic vary, has the perfect trying video when it comes to picture high quality and a default Digicam app that neatly packages essentially the most commonplace digicam instruments, modes and settings. Is the iPhone 14 Professional leaps and bounds forward of what Google and Samsung are doing? No. However when it comes to consistency, reliability and approachability, the iPhone 14 Professional is our decide for individuals who need a high notch digicam system that is simple to make use of.
Greatest digicam telephones of 2023
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Apple’s iPhone 14 Professional would possibly include a steep asking worth, however it ticks virtually each field you could possibly need from a digicam setup on a cellphone. Its important 48-megapixel sensor takes very good pictures, with crisp particulars and exquisite, pure colours, its wide-angle lens is among the greatest round and it excels at evening pictures, delivering brilliant and clear pictures when there’s minimal gentle.
Its 3x zoom lens falls wanting rivals like Samsung’s 10x zoom on the Galaxy S22 Extremely, however 3x continues to be sufficient that can assist you discover fascinating compositions in your panorama or get a barely extra shut up picture of a cute canine you discovered within the park.
Its video expertise are very good too, with rock-solid picture stabilization, 4K resolutions and Apple ProRes assist for these of you eager to get absolutely the best-looking footage when enhancing in software program like Adobe Premiere or DaVinci Resolve.
Learn our Apple iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max evaluate.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Google’s Pixel 7 Professional has impressed us in a lot of methods from its slick new design to its extraordinarily user-friendly software program. Nevertheless it’s the digicam that is actually stood out, with the Pixel 7 Professional delivering very good pictures in quite a lot of situations. Its important sensor captures pictures with very good dynamic vary and vibrant colours whereas its 5x optical zoom offers additional attain than the iPhone 14 Professional is ready to handle.
And whereas its evening mode pictures aren’t nearly as good because the iPhone’s, it is an excellent digicam general that’ll swimsuit each pictures amateurs — and people trying to take extra inventive pictures — nicely and at a value that undercuts its rivals.
Learn our Google Pixel 7 Professional evaluate.
You are receiving worth alerts for Google Pixel 7 Professional
James Martin/CNET
The Galaxy S23 is quite a bit, however in a great way. Samsung made enhancements to the digicam’s decision (200 megapixels in comparison with 108 megapixels), coloration tones and dynamic vary, whereas retaining the spectacular 10x optical zoom as its predecessor. There’s additionally a brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that is been optimized particularly for Samsung’s telephones, which brings quicker efficiency in comparison with the Galaxy S22 Extremely.
Beginning at $1,200, it could be an understatement to name this cellphone costly. However these keen to pay extra for an enormous display and a high-quality, versatile digicam will not be dissatisfied. Learn our full evaluate of the Galaxy S23 Extremely.
Patrick Holland/CNET
Apple’s video seize has at all times been high notch and the iPhone 14 Professional Max retains that going. The decision would possibly high out at 4K — slightly than 6K or 8K seen on some Android telephones — however its general high quality is second to none. Publicity and dynamic vary is gorgeous, element is excellent and picture stabilization has been given an enormous enhance with the brand new Motion Mode. Then there’s the Cinematic Mode which supplies deeper focus management for focus pulling between two characters in a scene.
Nevertheless it additionally allows you to shoot in Apple’s ProRes video codec. This generates big video recordsdata, however it offers extra scope for professionals so as to add coloration grades in put up manufacturing software program with out sacrificing high quality, that means that the iPhone 14 Professional Max could possibly be a official a part of knowledgeable filmmaker’s kitbag. And whereas the iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max differ solely in dimension, the additional display actual property of the Max mannequin won’t solely assist you monitor your footage extra simply, however it offers you extra to bodily maintain on to once you’re out and about which might assist you hold it extra secure whereas filming.
Learn our Apple iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max evaluate.
Whereas Google’s newest Pixel 7 and seven Professional would possibly steal the headlines with their flashy new design and Tensor G2 processor, the Pixel 6A presents loads of what Google’s newest Pixel telephones have boasted however in a smaller and extra reasonably priced package deal. It has simply two rear cameras (an ordinary zoom and an ultrawide) with each taking great-looking pictures that look higher than virtually another cellphone at this worth — together with Samsung’s Galaxy A53.
If pictures is crucial to you and also you need options like lengthy zooms and crystal clear evening mode pictures then you definitely’ll need to splash a bit extra cash on the newest Pixel 7 Professional. However for the cash, few different digicam telephones come shut.
Learn our Google Pixel 6A evaluate.
How we take a look at telephones
Each cellphone on this checklist has been totally examined by CNET’s skilled opinions staff. We truly use the cellphone, take a look at the options, play video games and take pictures. We assess any advertising guarantees that an organization makes about its telephones. And if we discover one thing we do not like, be it battery life or construct high quality, we inform you all about it.
We study each facet of a cellphone throughout testing:
We take a look at all of a cellphone’s cameras (each back and front) in quite a lot of situations: from open air beneath daylight to dimmer indoor locales and evening time scenes (for any obtainable evening modes). We additionally examine our findings in opposition to equally priced fashions. We’ve got a sequence of actual world battery assessments to see how lengthy a cellphone lasts beneath on a regular basis use.
We have in mind further cellphone options like 5G, fingerprint and face readers, styluses, quick charging, foldable shows and different helpful extras. And we, in fact, weigh all of our experiences and testing in opposition to the worth so whether or not a cellphone represents good worth or not.
Learn extra: How we take a look at telephones
Telephone digicam FAQs
Which cellphone digicam is the perfect at evening?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely, Apple iPhone 14 Professional and Google Pixel 7 Professional all have devoted evening modes that take a number of pictures and mix them in a single picture that is brighter and has much less picture noise. All three are good, and its almost unattainable to say one is best than one other.
Are iPhone or Samsung cameras higher?
Samsung Galaxy telephones and Apple iPhones have a number of the greatest cameras discovered on any cellphone. Both smartphone is a succesful photographic instrument, however neither is such a transparent chief that it is price transferring from Android to iOS or vice-versa. In order for you the perfect telephoto digicam discovered on a cellphone, seize a Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely. In order for you a wonderful all-around shooter that produces pure trying pictures and movies, get an iPhone 14 Professional or 14 Professional Max. However when you simply need to get essentially the most out of your cellphone’s digicam, the simpler determination is to start out taking pictures uncooked as a substitute of JPEG.
What is the distinction between actual cameras and cellphone cameras?
The most important distinction between a devoted digicam and a cellphone digicam is the dimensions. A devoted digicam has a bigger sensor and greater lenses that soak up extra gentle. The outcomes are pictures which have extra element, a wider dynamic vary and are extra versatile in medium and low-light. A cellphone digicam is tiny. The sensor is smaller than a fingernail and the lens is concerning the dimension of a single Lego brick. To beat the restrictions of a small sensor and lens, a cellphone makes use of computational pictures (AI and machine studying) to mix elements of a number of pictures right into a single picture that is brighter and has extra element than a cellphone digicam alone.