The Best Smartphones for Photography in 2023

Best Smartphones

Almost everyone wields a camera these days because they already have one by default on their smartphones. But not just any phone will capture the best results, and that’s why some stand out for particular reasons.

Mobile photography is now one of the major battlegrounds for vendors trying to one-up each other. Thankfully, it’s not entirely about numbers, despite megapixel counts hitting new highs, it’s a lot about how effective software can be to do more with the available pixels. That can also depend on how you look at what the software gives you, especially relative to the varying modes phones now regularly offer.

We’re talking about an ever-evolving situation, where new phones may supplant old ones, while others trade places based on how new updates affected performance and output. Whether it’s pro mode features, software that does amazing things, or getting more for every dollar you spend, this roundup is a good place to start. We at PetaPixel will be updating it regularly to reflect a changing and shifting market to give you the insight you need to shoot what you want.

What We’re Looking For

There are plenty of smartphones with what you could consider to be “good” cameras, but the “great” ones are fewer in number, and it often shows. When we look at what would put a smartphone camera on this list, we always look for the best results, particularly when talking about a specific type of photo. That may not necessarily mean the phone is the best in every other facet, but if it’s noted here, there are reasons for it.

That’s why we also broke things down into categories that differentiate between the strengths of certain devices. One phone may be better at shooting portraits, whereas the other has a Pro mode cutting above the rest. Computational software is so integral, and yet, not everyone does it well.

At a Glance

Best Overall for Smartphone Photography: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Review

Main sensor: 200MP, 50MP, or 12MP (with pixel binning) 23mm equivalent

Other rear cameras: 10MP 3x zoom telephoto lens (70mm equivalent), 10MP 10x zoom telephoto (230mm equivalent), 12MP ultra wide-angle (13mm equivalent)
Front-facing camera: 12MP
Video recording resolution: Up to 8K
Price: Starting at $1,200

Samsung wouldn’t have been here without the incremental effort it put forth in the Galaxy S22 Ultra, but some well-played upgrades and additions make the Galaxy S23 Ultra hard to pass up. As is, it’s one of the most versatile phone cameras available, anchored to a large degree by the Pro mode and RAW capture capabilities available here.

Samsung’s HP2 image sensor isn’t the largest in size, but it is if you’re counting megapixels. That alone doesn’t mean much, except in the way Samsung uses them in tandem with improved computational software to produce better images in both JPEG and RAW. Shooting a 200-megapixel image offers cropping simply not possible on other phones — and certainly not with the quality retention you would see here. It sometimes negates the need to use either telephoto, but options that respectively work well don’t hurt the overall cause.

Read PetaPixel’s review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

That the other lenses shoot well is always an added bonus, though the best thing Samsung did with the S23 Ultra was to integrate Expert RAW into the camera app, allowing users to shoot 50-megapixel RAW images, including 16-bit RAW capture and the ability to save custom settings presets. It’s also rare to see a phone brand integrate with Lightroom the way this one does, something that matters even more because of how useful the S Pen is as an editing tool. It works well as a remote shutter, and with a built-in slot, this phone is effectively a Galaxy Note by another name.

Newer modes, like Astrophotography and Multiple Exposure, are worth experimenting, while existing ones benefit from the improved performance Samsung delivers here. Even video gets a boost, solidifying the S23 Ultra as a versatile shooter that can get a lot done in a variety of settings.

Best Pro Mode for Smartphone Photography: Xiaomi 13 Pro

Xiaomi 13 Pro Review

Main sensor: 50MP or 12.5MP (with pixel binning) 23mm equivalent

Other rear cameras: 50MP 3.2x zoom telephoto (75mm equivalent), 50MP ultra wide-angle (14mm equivalent)

Front-facing camera: 32MP
Video recording resolution: Up to 8K
Price: Starting at $1,200

While there were flashes indicating what a partnership between Xiaomi and Leica might yield, especially when a Type 1 sensor is inside, the Xiaomi 13 Pro also makes a strong case for what’s possible when a renowned camera brand makes a real impact. That could describe the phone’s camera in its entirety, but the Pro mode — and by extension, the 50MP mode — stands out because it gives you plenty to work with. Granted, you can’t shoot in RAW at the full 50-megapixels, but in a rarity for a lot of phones, you can shoot JPEGs at full resolution using all the manual controls Pro mode offers.

Read PetaPixel’s review of the Xiaomi 13 Pro

That’s on top of the ability to shoot with the standard Leica Authentic and Vibrant modes, plus the four Leica color and black and white filters. Old film emulations (not Leica’s) are also available, only adding to the creative potential to take thoughtful photos rather than typical snapshots. RAW images are great, particularly in low-light, but you may find the 50-megapixel JPEGs are equally flexible when editing them in post.

The best part is this applies to the other rear lenses as well, letting you shoot at 50-megapixels in both telephoto and ultra-wide with the same granular controls. You can also shoot in RAW using either of them at 12-megapixels, effectively making the 50MP mode part of a system rather than a one-and-done feature.

It’s worth wading through the settings within Pro to see what’s available beyond just selecting 50MP or RAW for the sheer depth of features and tools you can use.

Best Computational Software in a Smartphone: Google Pixel 7 Pro

Pixel 7 Pro

Main sensor: 50MP (25mm equivalent)

Other rear cameras: 12MP ultra wide-angle (14mm equivalent), 48MP telephoto (120mm equivalent)

Front-facing camera: 10.8MP
Video recording resolution: Up to 4K
Price: Starting at $899

Unsurprisingly, Google didn’t radically change anything with the Pixel 7 lineup, sticking to its penchant for swapping out image sensors every few years. That places the onus on the computation software Google has become known for, and it continues to be the best pixel-for-pixel. The 50-megapixel sensor unfortunately never shoots at full resolution, instead sticking to a binned 12.5-megapixels for better low-light shooting. Google’s computational software works to optimize shots in all conditions, leaving us all to wonder what could be if pixel binning isn’t always part of the equation.

Read PetaPixel’s review of the Google Pixel 7 Pro

Indeed, Google leaves few, if any, manual controls to work with, placing even more of an emphasis on what the onboard software does behind the scenes. It’s nice to have sliders for shadows, highlights, and color temperature, and even the ability to shoot in RAW at any time, but the magic comes in how the Pixel 7 Pro processes the JPEG you capture. This phone retains the Pixel series’ knack for excellent low-light images and dynamic range in brighter conditions.

You can shoot using all three lenses in almost every mode, and despite Google’s refusal to add a pro or manual mode, it does make RAW readily available across various modes. It’s nice to have a 5x optical zoom lens with a 120mm equivalent, and sometimes shocking how good a Super Res Zoom shot turns out when bringing in a digital crop for a hybrid zoom. Magic Eraser isn’t exclusive to the Pixel 7 Pro, or even Android anymore, as it’s more a Google Photos feature, but it demonstrates how good Google is at creating software to remove unwanted elements in any shot you take.

Smartphone with the Best Bang for the Buck: Google Pixel 6a

Google Pixel 6a

Main sensor: 12.2MP (27mm equivalent)
Other rear cameras: 16MP ultra wide-angle (17mm equivalent)
Front-facing camera: 8MP
Video recording resolution: Up to 4K
Price: Starting at $449

It would be hard to find a phone that shoots as well as the Pixel 6a does for the price. Rather than strip it down to a barebones experience, this phone offers many of the same features the more expensive ones do. That means the computation works the same way to produce the same quality images. The Pixel 6a won’t match the Pixel 7 series for the simple fact it came out before they did, but to Google’s credit, it includes its more affordable phone whenever it updates its camera app.

Read PetaPixel’s review of the Google Pixel 6a

You lose out on a telephoto lens, so you’re limited to only an ultra-wide with a 114-degree field of view apart from the primary wide camera, albeit without optical or electronic image stabilization. Still, you get good modes to work with, and with RAW capture always available, there’s room to do more in post. For those on a budget, it’s going to be one of the best phone cameras less money can buy.

Best Smartphone for Versatility: Vivo X90 Pro

Vivo X90 Pro

Main sensor: 50MP (23mm equivalent)

Other rear cameras: 50MP 2x zoom telephoto (50mm equivalent), 12MP ultra wide-angle (16mm equivalent)

Front-facing camera: 32MP
Video recording resolution: Up to 8K
Price: Starting at $699

Vivo throws everything it can into its camera app, especially when “Pro” is in the phone’s name. In this case, the X90 Pro is not necessarily the brand’s best within the 90 series, but it is arguably the most versatile because of the sheer breadth of modes, features, settings, and customization involved here. Not to mention the interesting ways in which filters or editing tools enter the fray. Where else will you find an architectural mode or long exposure with so many variances?

Read PetaPixel’s review of the Vivo X90 Pro

The rear camera array includes a zoom lens Vivo prefers to call a “portrait” one because of its 50mm equivalent and the six Zeiss bokeh effects available to choose from. Vivo is one of the few brands that will let you take a photo in portrait mode and then decide where you want the focal point and f-stop to be afterward. You can even save multiple images based on what you want in focus, and even focus stack them in post later.

Zeiss’ presence is more obvious now based on the Natural Color setting applicable through several of the shooting modes. Shooting at full resolution, even if you can’t do it in RAW, at least offers better prospects when cropping in later, somewhat offsetting the shallow zoom afforded by the portrait lens. Plus, you should get good results editing full-res images, despite them coming out as JPEGs.

Best Smartphone for Video: iPhone 14 Pro

iPhone 14 Pro Review

Main sensor: 48MP (24mm equivalent)

Other rear cameras: 12MP 3x zoom telephoto (77mm equivalent), 12MP ultra wide-angle (13mm equivalent)

Front-facing camera: 12MP
Video recording resolution: Starting at $999

The iPhone is still among kings when it comes to video recording, and it’s staying that way because of how well it captures color, tone, and texture. The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are essentially the same device, save for the difference in size, equipped with the same camera system, which means you’re going to get the same results, either way.

Read PetaPixel’s Review of the iPhone 14 Pro

Cinematic mode remains one of the best for changing focus on subjects like a filmmaker would, as well as adjusting the aperture when editing clips afterward, which also extends to iMovie and Final Cut on a Mac. Apple introduced Action Mode with the iPhone 14 lineup, vastly improving stabilization to a point where it could seem like a gimbal captured the footage. There are limits to both of these modes, but they have set the bar high for how video comes out of a smartphone.

It might be easier to consider a different phone with a larger sensor to shoot video, but the iPhone 14 Pro is a little more accessible that way. Its features aren’t hard to learn, making it simpler for just about anyone to figure out how to take better shots when framing a scene.

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