Looking for a new camera phone that can shoot stunning images and videos and easily rival traditional cameras?
Well, there are quite a few in the market that fit the bill, but when you are looking for the best camera phones of 2023, do not forget to factor in computational photography features that can give you ultra-sharp images in a matter of milliseconds.
If you are having a hard time finding the best camera phones of 2023, this list is for you.
Let’s begin.
1. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Galaxy S22 Ultra will give you everything you will want. From a huge sensor 108MP main camera to two telephotos and an autofocusing ultrawide cam – this phone packs everything you need to capture crisp photos in both broad daylight and low-light conditions.
The main camera has a large sensor that allows more light and hence, crisper images in low-light settings.
The lens is covered with a Super Clear Glass that eliminates flare while shooting at night or in the twilight. Plus, the adaptive pixel tech combines 9 pixels into one that helps to improve photos in low-light conditions.
Its ultrawide cam is by far the best for now and the added autofocus ability improves its usability even further.
2. iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 14 Pro Max offers one of the best-in-class smartphone cameras you can find. The 48MP main camera comes with a powerful sensor that clicks crisp and clear images.
The phone has a quad-pixel sensor that groups 4 pixels and makes them act as one large pixel for improved light capture. You can use the Pro Raw mode to capture images in full 48MP resolution.
It comes with Photonic Engine that vastly improves low-light photography.
It also features Action Mode that stabilizes action videos like any stabilized action camera.
3. Pixel 6 Pro
Pixel 6 Pro is one of the most powerful camera phones that can easily compete with both Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The 50MP main camera sensor lets in 150% more light which allows for crisp low-light photography.
The 48MP telephoto lens not only has a 4x optical zoom but also a 20x digital zoom. For selfie-lovers, the 11MP front camera offers a 94° field of view, perfect for ultrawide selfies.
Plus, the new Tensor chip is great for computational photography. However, if you don’t want to spend on Pixel 6 Pro, both Pixel 7 and 7 Pro are arriving soon with better camera specs. They might be worth a wait.
4. OnePlus 10 Pro
One reason why the OnePlus 10 Pro cannot directly compete with any of the three mentioned above is the visible yellow tinge in most of the images, especially when outdoors. It is different indoors! That yellow tinge gives a nice cozy and warm feel.
While the 48MP main camera does most of the work, the 50MP ultra-wide cam gives a 100° field of view with almost no edge distortion. Telephoto shots aren’t that great, possibly because of the lower resolution.
The selfie camera gives excellent results and there are massive improvements to the Nightscape mode that produces beautiful low-light photos.
5. Xiaomi 12 Pro
This phone packs three 50MP cameras on the back that generate excellent results in almost all scenarios.
However, the ultrawide camera lacks autofocus but gives a massive 115° field of view. The 50MP telephoto cam has an optical zoom of 2x, which is not high enough but produces decent results.
What you will like is the main camera’s super-large sensor that creates stunning results in both low-light and night photography conditions. Plus, the included stabilization is something that makes this camera phone one of the finest.
6. Oppo Find X5 Pro
The Find X5 Pro will remind you of the Find X3 Pro in its design language and lacks the microscope camera, but it still gives excellent results.
The phone makes up for the mere 2x optical zoom for the telephoto cam with 5-axis OIS and a custom MariSilicon X image chip that you cannot find elsewhere.
The main camera also boasts sensor-shift image stabilization and even the lens is stabilized. The ultra-wide camera provides a 110° field of view and comes with all-pixel omnidirectional autofocus. The photo quality is crisp, and it generates pleasing colors, too.
7. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
Foldable phones aren’t popular for their cameras, but Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 does a great job with its 50MP main wide shooter. The colors that this phone can generate are super impressive and natural, thanks to its 23% brighter sensor. There is a 12MP ultrawide and a 10MP telephoto lens that comes with a 30x space zoom and a 3x optical zoom.
Overall, the camera performs decently in night photography and low-light conditions. The 10MP cover camera on the front does a much better job than the 4MP under-display cam that happens to produce fuzzier shots.
For a foldable phone, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 holds well against the bar models.
8. iPhone 14
Pitching iPhone 14 Pro Max against iPhone 14 will be a crime, but though the iPhone 14 lacks the 48MP main camera, it still does a great job, thanks to its ultrawide sensor and faster aperture.
What’s incredible is that with its Night mode, iPhone 14 captures far brighter images compared to the Pixel 6, but to some extent, things may look artificially lit.
The ultrawide cam does a better job with more contrast and a brighter image compared to the Pixel 6.
9. Google Pixel 6
Though the Pixel 6 doesn’t have a telephoto lens, it still packs some power with its 50MP main camera and 12MP ultrawide sensor. Together they generate excellent crisp photos but there may be times when you may notice some color inconsistencies.
Barring that issue, the Pixel 6 can generate some stunning selfies and portrait & landscape shots that most of the similarly priced competitors like Vivo V23 Pro, OnePlus 10R, etc., fail to deliver.
10. iPhone SE (2022)
iPhone SE (2022) comes with a lone camera design, but don’t be fooled! The A15 Bionic chip that you find in the iPhone 13 series can be found in this one.
This phone supports Deep Fusion (for texture and details in photos) and Smart HDR 4 (to deal with tricky lighting conditions).
Though Night mode support is absent, Apple makes up for that loss with 12MP wide camera on the rear that can click crisp images in the Portrait mode with the AI enhancements. However, you will need to get close to the subject to get that bokeh effect.
But for its price range, iPhone SE is one of the finest camera phones you can get.