7 Best Camera Phones: An Overview Of Our Top Picks
- August 19, 2020
- Tech
How amazing would it be, if we can simply take high-quality photos in a snap? No adjusting the aperture or anything technical – just point and shoot for a great picture to come to fruition.
Brands aside, you’d also want to consider both the specs and capabilities of a phone camera. Still, they might not paint you the full picture because post-processing and image optimisation varies. Even so, these aren’t the only factors to look out for. Battery life, video quality and modes are also worth considering in the quest to finding the ideal phone for you.
But with so many brands boasting futuristic and innovative camera phones, it’s not easy to know which few are the real deal. With that, read on for the 7 best smartphone cameras in 2020, that might even be on par with traditional cameras!
Take note that the prices listed are accurate at the time of publishing.
Note: This list is strictly not in order.
1. iPhone 12 Pro
Featuring a new striking design and 5G support, the iPhone 12 Pro is Apple’s latest generation of iPhone and a significant step up over the previous iPhone 11 Pro. The camera improvements to its wide and ultra-wide cameras in the back are some of the smartphone’s highlights as they feature significant upgrades over the previous generation. The iPhone 12 Pro also boasts the best overall camera systems on the smartphone market with the addition of Night Mode and HDR mode for capturing challenging scenes with dark and bright elements.
The iPhone 12 Pro has also received many hardware, processing and software upgrades to its cameras, such as improvements towards lens distortion when compared to the previous iPhone 11 and 11 Pro. Featuring impressive 4K video capture at 60fps, a 12-megapixel front-facing camera, and significant camera upgrades over its predecessor, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro is everything you need for capturing all of your favourite moments on the go!
Specification
Release date: October 2020
Screen size: 6.1”
Weight: 187g
Resolution: 2532×1170 pixels
Main camera: 12MP (wide + OIS); 12MP (ultra-wide); 12MP (telephoto)
Front camera: 12MP
Maximum video resolution: 4K, 60fps
Storage: 128GB; 256GB; 512GB
Memory card slot: No
Battery: 2815mAh
Price: From $1,649.00
Available on: Apple
2. HUAWEI P40 Pro+
Regardless if you’re pinching the screen to zoom in, or shooting in a dim setting, HUAWEI’s latest Leica co-engineered flagship phone delivers the best photography. And the stars of the show are the cameras with both 2x and 10x zoom. As a result, no matter how you choose to frame the photos, it’ll guarantee you a decent shot. Along with the real-time depth detection, you can create professional-looking portraits with bokeh effects in the background.
The main 50MP camera shoots with clarity and precise details, no matter the circumstances. Even in the dark, you can capture the picturesque night skyline or your outfit of the day with great lighting, lively colours and most importantly, low noise. In terms of taking a video, you can record 4K videos with both the main and front cameras! The harmonious mix of artificial image stabilisation (AIS) and optical image stabilisation (OIS) also means that you can capture videos from a distance with ultimate clarity and stability.
Specification
Release date: June 2020
Screen size: 6.58”
Weight: 226g
Resolution: 1200 x 2640 pixels
Main camera: 50MP (wide + OIS); 40 MP (ultra-wide); 8MP (3x telephoto)
Front camera: 32MP
Maximum video resolution: 4K, 60fps
Storage: 512GB
Memory card slot: Yes
Battery: 4500mAh
Price: $1,898.00
Available on: COURTS Singapore
3. iPhone 11 Pro
According to Apple, the iPhone 11 Pro is the first iPhone that’s powerful enough to be referred to as a Pro. After all, it is one of the first phones featuring a triple-camera system which combines innovative technology, along with the minimalistic design of an iPhone. Despite the different specifications in each lens, the three cameras work together seamlessly as one – giving you a shooting experience unlike no other.
With the iPhone 11 Pro, you can capture videos that closely resemble real life with details and smoother motion. Thanks to the addition of an ultra-wide lens, capture 4x more of the same scene with an expansive view. At 60fps, its processing power allows for real-time processing which results in a more stable video. Like how you can seamlessly edit photos, you can now do the same with your videos! Be it to rotate, crop, auto-enhance, there are many different features for you to play around with.
Specification
Release date: September 2019
Screen size: 5.8”
Weight: 188g
Resolution: 1125 x 2436 pixels
Main camera: 12MP (wide + OIS); 12MP (ultra-wide); 12MP (2x zoom + OIS)
Front camera: 12MP
Maximum video resolution: 4K, 60fps
Storage: 64GB; 256GB; 512GB
Memory card slot: No
Battery: 3046mAh
Price: From $1,649.00
Available on: Apple
4. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G
In terms of resolution and zoom in mobile photography, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G is out of this world. With 108MP and OIS, you get more pixels per photograph which means, you can zoom in specific parts of the picture to even the littlest details your naked eye might have missed. And that’s not all. As one of the few best camera phones in 2020, the Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G prides itself in their most advanced zoom capabilities, allowing up to 100x more zoom!
For a smartphone, the 8K resolution means that you can capture content in high-definition! Not only are the videos sharper and more precise, but you can also attain 33MP stills directly from your footages. Now, you can capture away to your heart’s content. Alongside the maximum of 512GB internal storage, you can add on 1TB through a MicroSD card. As mentioned by Samsung, “Deleting is so 2019”.
Specification
Release date:March 2020
Screen size: 6.9”
Weight: 222g
Resolution: 1440 x 3200 pixels
Main camera: 108MP (wide + OIS); 48MP (telephoto); 12MP (ultra-wide)
Front camera: 40MP
Maximum video resolution: 8K, 30fps)
Storage: 128GB; 256GB; 512GB
Memory card slot: Yes
Battery: 5000mAh
Price: From $52.72/month or $1,898.00
Available on: Samsung
5. OPPO Find X2 Pro
From the perspective of the overall camera quality, the OPPO X2 Find Pro is definitely impressive. With high-resolution features, you can take photos with stunning depth and details. In fact, one of the great things about shooting photos on the Find X2 Pro is that it looks natural, almost like your second pair of eyes. By enhancing the lenses with OIS and 12-bit resolution, this camera lets you capture anything you want.
With all three lenses operating in tandem to achieve up to 10x zoom, it’s no surprise that this is one of the best camera phones in 2020. Aside from smoothing your zoom, you can also shoot stable videos no matter where you go. This means that the shakiest conditions won’t compromise the camera’s abilities to capture snippets of your journey! Look forward to being your own director as you immortalise your favourite moments in HDR.
Specification
Release date: March 2020
Screen size: 6.7”
Weight: 217g
Resolution: 1440 x 3168 pixels
Main camera: 48MP (wide + OIS); 48MP (ultra-wide); 13MP (telephoto)
Front camera: 32MP
Maximum video resolution: 4K, 60fps
Storage: 512GB
Memory card slot: No
Battery: 4260mAh
Price: $1,699.00
Available on: Lazada
6. OnePlus 8 Pro
You might be unfamiliar with this brand. Still, if you’re on the hunt for the best phone camera in 2020, then we recommend adding OnePlus into your watchlist! In terms of mimicking the accuracy of colours in real life to the digital screen, the OnePlus 8 Pro has passed the test with flying colours. With that, you can capture stunning true-to-life images. Also, the 48MP wide camera enables you to snap a broader landscape without compromising the minuscule details.
Besides the photo-taking specifications, the Dynamic Video lets you shoot vibrant and detailed videos! By employing advanced MEMC technology, you can get a smoother-looking video. And when you shoot portraits against a bright background, you can use HDR Boost to highlight detail or capture the subject clearly. As you shoot away, worries of insufficient storage space will be placed at the back of your mind – thanks to the substantial battery capacity and memory card slot.
Specification
Release date:OnePlus 8 Pro
Screen size: 6.78”
Weight: 199g
Resolution: 1440 x 3168 pixels
Main camera: 48MP (wide + OIS); 48MP (ultra-wide); 8MP (telephoto); 5MP (depth)
Front camera: 16MP
Maximum video resolution: 8K, 30fps
Storage: 128GB; 256GB
Memory card slot: Yes
Battery: 5000mAh
Price: $1,298.00
Available on: Lazada
7. Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G
The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G brings out the best pictures through the 108MP camera and the AI pixel-level optimisation. In record time, both the software and hardware will work together to deliver high-quality photos that take up 40 per cent less space. Thus, allowing you to capture more images and videos! On top of the four different main camera settings, you can also play around with a variety of functions such as 117° panoramic view, 50mm classic portrait mode, and 10x lossless zoom.
And what better way to relive an experience than through videos? As one of the best camera phones in 2020, you’re merely a few taps closer to attaining professional videos. To illustrate, the 8K high-definition video resolution is four times more than the quality you’d get from a 4K video. And if you ever need to edit the video, feel free to project it onto a big screen without worrying about pixelated clips.
Specification
Release date: May 2020
Screen size: 6.67”
Weight: 208g
Resolution: 1080 x 2340 pixels
Main camera: 108MP (wide); 20MP (ultrawide); 12MP (portrait camera); 8MP (10x hybrid zoom lens)
Front camera: 20MP
Maximum video resolution: 8K, 30fps
Storage: 128GB; 256GB; 512GB
Memory card slot: No
Battery: 4,500mAh
Price: $1,499.00
Available on: Lazada
Conclusion
At the end of the day, there’ll be many other factors to consider in your smartphone purchasing decision. Perhaps, you can start by asking yourself the types of photos you’d see yourself taking. Especially since not all multi-lens cameras are created equally! And if you plan to take lots of videos, then be prepared for the amount of storage space it’ll take up. If so, look for a smartphone with lots of GB or a MicroSD slot. Once you know which aspects of a phone camera to prioritise, your ideal smartphone will be on its way!