Best camera phones 2021: 10 stunning smartphone cameras

The camera is one of the most important parts of a modern smartphone and if you’re about to pay flagship prices, you’ll likely expect a handset capable of taking great photos in return.

There are plenty of excellent camera phones to choose from at the moment, covering a variety of budgets and varying features. Some focus on zoom, while others hope to offer best in class video recording. Here at Trusted Reviews, we’ve reviewed all the best camera phones to help you to choose a handset that’s right for you.

We test each camera in several real-world scenarios – for example, low light, portrait, landscape, light and dark conditions – and then compare the results. You’ll find a dedicated section for each phone’s camera, including sample images, in each of the reviews we reference and link to in this guide.

If you’d prefer a more general look at which phone to buy, our Best Phone, Best Android Phone and Best iPhone guides will point you in the right direction.

We’ve reviewed countless handsets over the past year, from cutting-edge flagships to the best budget snappers, and sorted through them all to bring you only the most feed-worthy camera phones.



How we test

Learn more about how we test mobile phones Every phone we review goes through a series of uniform checks designed to gauge key things including build quality, screen accuracy, battery life, performance and camera prowess.These include formal synthetic benchmarks and scripted tests, plus a series of real world checks, such as how much battery it loses per hour streaming video.We also make sure to use every phone we review as our primary handset for at least 4 days to ensure our review is as accurate as possible. You can see a more detailed breakdown of our testing methodology in our how we test phones guide.








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Apple iPhone 12



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Pros


Fantastic new design
Very reliable cameras
Execptional performance




Cons


Screen lacks some of the benefits you’ll find elswhere
The notch remains annoying





£799$799







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Google Pixel 4a



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Pros


Great camera
Refreshingly small size for an Android phone
The promise of fast updates
Nice, sharp OLED screen
Affordable




Cons


You’ll find competition with far larger spec sheets and feature lists
Some mild performance and touch latency hiccups
As well as being a Pro, the small screen might put some off






£349$349







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Google Pixel 5



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Pros


Typically fantastic Pixel camera
Improved video recording features
Far better battery life than Pixel 4
Small design is refreshing
The price is great




Cons


Design a little bland
An XL version would have been a nice option
Cameras lack the versatility of some rivals
No face unlock





£599$699







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Huawei Mate 40 Pro



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Pros


Great screen
Excellent camera system
Loud, expansive speakers





Cons


No Google services
Can get warm when gaming
Ultra-wide camera could be wider
Not available easily in the USA




£1099.99







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iPhone 12 Pro



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Pros


A very welcome redesign
Reliable cameras in all situations
Accurate HDR display
Great size




Cons


High refresh rate screen feels sorely missed on the Pro model
Pro Max bags the bigger camera upgrades






£999$999







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iPhone 12 Pro Max



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Pros


Striking new design
Excellent quality screen
One of the best phone cameras going
Actual multi-day battery life




Cons


Flat design doesn’t suit the size as much as the 12 Pro
Camera only marginally stronger than other iPhone 12 models
Lacks a high refresh-rate screen





£1099$1099







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Oppo Find X3 Pro



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Pros


Thin and light for a 6.7-inch phone
Adaptive 120Hz display is gorgeous and highly customisable
Oppo’s software has seen huge improvements




Cons


Battery life not as good as the Galaxy S21 Ultra
Loses the periscope zoom skills of the Find X2 Pro
Vibration motor is terrible




£1099







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Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra



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Pros


Bronze colour is really nice, and adds a matte finish
S Pen even more responsive than ever
Really good triple camera




Cons


Battery life, on Exynos version, isn’t good
Screen resolution limits are annoying





£1179$1299







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Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra



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Pros


Great screen thanks to WQHD+ and 120Hz
Much-improved design with an attractive finish
Far more versatile camera than the iPhone 12 Pro Max




Cons


Expensive, with many cheaper phones offering the same features
Big and heavy
No charger included




£1149$1199







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Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro



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Pros


Best in class 120Hz AMOLED display
108MP camera capable of fine things
Excellent stamina from 5020mAh
Bargain price tag




Cons


No 5G
Camera disappoints in less-than-ideal lighting






$279













Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra


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Best camera phone for versatility

Pros

Stunning displayA versatile camera with serious skillsGood video capture

Cons

Expensive, even if it’s cheaper than S20 UltraVideo not as good as iPhone 100x zoom is still poor

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is one of our favourite smartphones on the market for a variety of reasons, one of those being the incredibly versatile camera. The quad setup includes a 108MP (f/1.8) wide angle sensor, a 12MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide angle sensor, a 10MP (f/2.4) 3x zoom sensor and a 10MP (f/4.9) 10x zoom sensor. The phone also packs a 40MP selfie camera on the front and can capture video footage in up to 8K at 24fps. The main lens produces 12MP images by default, but you can easily switch to 108MP if you’re happy to sacrifice some storage. The 108MP sensor produces detailed, natural-looking images with a soft bokeh effect that blurs the background to highlight the subject. While the camera still has that colourful, Insta-friendly, Samsung quality, the colours have been toned down a bit compared with previous generations. There’s even an option on the front camera to shoot a more natural image. Other key features on this S21 Ultra include the fast Exynos 2100 processor, stunning WQHD+/120Hz display and plenty of storage and RAM. If you’re happy to drop over £1000 on your next phone, this is a fantastic pick. Reviewer: Max ParkerFull review: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review













Huawei Mate 40 Pro


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Huawei does it again

Pros

Great screenExcellent camera systemLoud, expansive speakers

Cons

No Google supportNot the widest ultra wide cam

Huawei has been producing some of the best camera phones for years now, so it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to see the Huawei Mate 40 Pro sitting high up on this list.On the back of the Mate 40 Pro you’ve got a number of cameras. At the helm is a 50-megapixel f/1.9 camera. The sensor identical to the one included with the excellent Huawei P40 Pro Plus. Alongside it sits a P40 Pro-a-like 12-megapixel f/3.4 5x zoom periscope camera, and a 20-megapixel f/1.8 ultra-wide.Snaps shot on the Mate 40 Pro definitely exhibit similar characteristics to the typical Leica look (you’ll see the brand’s logo on the camera module). In our review, we said images are “warm, rich and zingy, without looking mottled and over-processed like some photos taken on Samsung phones”. Dynamic range is strong even in backlit scenes, and challenging subjects such as black cats and glass surfaces look textured and realistic. The low-light performance continues this theme too, with very good results during testing.Battery life is great and it charges up very quickly thanks to a 66w charger. You’ve got a great 6.76-inch 90Hz display too and the very capable Kirin 9000 chipset. Of course, the biggest issue here is the lack of Google services. There’s no Google Play store on the Mate 40 Pro so that means no access to common apps like Google Pay, YouTube and Gmail. The lack of support for the underlying Google services also means some other apps won’t work too, like Uber. Which is why we only recommend it to buyers that place camera performance as their top priority when picking a phone.Reviewer: Basil KronfliFull review: Huawei Mate 40 Pro review













iPhone 12 Pro Max


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The biggest iPhones takes some amazing photos

Pros

Huge sensorLiDAR helps with low-light shotsReliable pictures in all situationsHDR video

Cons

Still lacks the zoom skills of other devices

If you want the very best iPhone 12 camera experience then go for the iPhone 12 Pro Max. It has a larger sensor than the smaller Pro model for taking better and quicker low-light snaps. In addition, the extra optical zoom (2.5x as opposed to 2x) provides a bit more creative freedom, even if the zoom can’t match the P40 Pro and Note 20 Ultra.We wouldn’t say the pictures are always night-and-day improvements over the 12 Pro (or even the 12); however, you can get much better snaps here if you’re shooting active subjects.There are benefits that comes from having a larger phone, too. Battery life is improved and the 6.7-inch display is ideal for editing snaps and using as a big viewfinder.Everything else is the same as the iPhone 12 Pro, which you can read about below.Reviewer: Max ParkerFull review: iPhone 12 Pro Max review













iPhone 12 Pro


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Best camera phone for versatility and video

Pros

Great new designLiDAR helps in low lightReliable pictures in all situations

Cons

Lacks the zoom skills of other devices

The iPhone 12 Pro sits just below the Pro Max in Apple’s current smartphone lineup. The Pro camera’s combination of fantastic photo quality and impressive versatility makes it our top choice when it comes to smartphone snappers.It’s glitzier, flashier and more expensive than the iPhone 12 – but, for many, the extra skills of the camera setup make it worth considering. Apple seriously improved its photographic output with the iPhone 11 series, and the 12 series takes that a step forward again.The iPhone 12 Pro is kitted with three 12-megapixel cameras, including an ultra-wide angle lens that lets you fit a lot more into your landscape shots. You also get a new faster wide lens (26mm, f/1.6) and a 2x telephoto lens for getting close. A LiDAR sensor aids low-light focusing and you’ll notice this if you’re big into taking pictures in the dark.Nothing is lacking with the new HDR Dolby Vision video recording either, capturing much brighter, more colourful footage. The iPhone 12 Pro is also an absolute performance beast. The A14 chipset is the fastest we’ve used and it brings 5G to an iPhone for the first time.We’d have liked a fast refresh display, a screen without a notch and for some killer zoom skills. However, the 12 Pro remains one of the most reliable camera phones around.Reviewer: Max ParkerFull review: iPhone 12 Pro review













Oppo Find X3 Pro


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Another reliable camera system from Oppo

Pros

Thin and light for a 6.7-inch phoneAdaptive 120Hz displayHuge improvements to softwareReliable camera

Cons

Loss of periscope zoom skills of the Find X2 Pro

We were very impressed with the camera on the Oppo Find X2 Pro and it’s no surprise the follow-up is another excellent camera phone. The Oppo Find X3 Pro boasts an atypical 50MP wide camera with a 50MP ultra wide. Both use the new Sony IMX 766 sensor for optimal quality across the board.The duo of ‘main’ sensors are both great. During testing they consistently captured reliable pictures in all conditions. Images are beautifully vibrant and colourful, with distortion on the ultra wide kept very much to a minimum. There are certainly some similarities in the colour tuning to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra with an emphasis on punchy greens and reds.The main sensors are more than capable of shooting in lower-light situations too, with a multi-exposure night mode for when light is really at a minimum. Pictures we took in near darkness came out bright and with plenty of detail.Along with these two great cameras, you’ve also got a decent 13MP telephoto camera for zoomed shots and a 3MP microscope lens for 60x magnification. The latter is little more than a gimmick, but a clever and fun one, while the zoom is a bit of a disappointment when compared to the outgoing X2 Pro. Oddly, the older phone proved capable of better results while zooming during testing.Oppo used a periscope lens last time around to offer far superior zoom and that’s been ditched here, likely to keep the phone slimmer.The rest of the phone impresses, just like the camera. There’s a lovely 6.7-inch 1440p OLED display with HDR support and high levels of brightness. Inside you’ve got a Snapdragon 888 chipset with 5G, 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. Keeping the phone going in a 4500mAh battery that charges up via 65w charging.Reviewer: Max ParkerFull review: Oppo Find X3 Pro review













Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra


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Best camera phone for fans of big phones

Pros

Bronze colour is attractive, and adds a matte finishS Pen more responsive than everExcellent triple cameraThe best-looking phone around

Cons

Battery life, on Exynos version, is poorScreen resolution limits are annoying

Samsung’s second phone to sport the “Ultra” moniker matches its predecessor in both its lavishness and price tag. However, what it does bring to the table is a more refined take on the camera setup, including ditching the 100x Space Zoom that was panned on the S20 Ultra.The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra brings a camera setup that features a 108-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel telephoto and 12-megapixel ultra-wide. The combo produces strong results that in our review we described as “a huge improvement over the S20 Ultra.” The setup tones down Space Zoom to just 50x, while using a 5x optical zoom alongside it. Still, the zoom skills here are far superior to that of the iPhone 12 series and Pixel 5, only losing out to the Huawei P40 Pro.Aside from the camera, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra comes sporting many more tricks – from a gorgeous and gargantuan 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate 6.9-inch OLED display to strong performance from the Exynos 990 (even if we here in the UK lose out on the better Snapdragon 865+ option). As we mentioned in the intro to this guide, Samsung has now launched its Galaxy S21 and S21 Ultra. Like the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, the S21 Ultra packs a 108-megapixel main sensor and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens. The S21 Ultra also includes two telephoto lenses for 100x Space Zoom. The S21 camera is better, but the Note remains good. Reviewer: Max ParkerFull review: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra review













Apple iPhone 12


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The most reliable camera phone

Pros

Great still photosNew HDR skillsExcellent video

Cons

Lacks real zoom like the Huawei P40 Pro

While the iPhone 12 Pro and the Pro Max are far more focused on the cameras, the iPhone 12 continues to impress, benefitting from a number of new features.The main 12-megapixel wide-angle camera now has an f/1.6 lens, ensuring it performs far better in low light compared to older iPhones, capturing images with better colours and exposure. The Smart HDR feature has been improved and the Deep Fusion AI tech ensures photos are sharp – you’ll notice this especially in photos that include items of texture, such as a woollen jumper or a jaggedy rock. There are fewer upgrades to the ultra-wide camera; however, you can now use the dedicated low-light mode while shooting with this secondary sensor.The lack of a zoom lens does mean that this isn’t an ideal setup if you want to get closer to subjects, and there are far better choices on this list if zoom is a priority for you.Video has been upgraded, however, and you can shoot Dolby Vision HDR footage at 4K 30fps (60fps on the Pro). HDR video is far brighter, more colourful and just generally more appealing visually, even if it can cause some compatibility issues with older TVs. Other features include an OLED screen (still with a notch and at 60Hz, rather than the faster 120Hz found on the Note 20 Ultra), the fast A14 chipset, 5G and support for MagSafe accessories. Reviewer: Max ParkerFull review: iPhone 12 review













Google Pixel 5


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The best phone camera for stills

Pros

Superb still photosImproved videoSmooth 90Hz screen

Cons

Bland designNo real zoom

The Pixel 5 doesn’t push the Pixel camera to new heights like we were expecting. However, offering the device at a lower price means more people can enjoy this excellent shooter. That’s not to say the camera isn’t any different to the Pixel 4. There’s now an ultra-wide – rather than a zoom – secondary sensor, which is probably the right decision since it lets you take far better landscape shots. Video has been improved with support for smoother 4K 60fps capture, and portrait lighting features offer up greater control when editing.Where the Pixel 5 falls down next to the, albeit pricier, competition is the zoom. The zoom here is completely software-based and while the results are fine, they pale in comparison to models carrying a proper zoom lens such as the Note 20 Ultra or P40 Pro. Other features include a 90Hz screen, 4000mAh battery, 5G and a metal body.Reviewer: Max ParkerFull review: Pixel 5 review













Google Pixel 4a


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Best camera phone on a budget

Pros

Great cameraRefreshingly small size for an Android phoneThe promise of fast updatesNice, sharp OLED screenAffordable

Cons

Only on