With each new upgrade, smartphone manufacturers improve their flagships-especially with the integrated camera systems, new heights are always reached. Those who take many photos (and videos) attach great importance to excellent lenses and sensors. TECHNOLOGY presents the top budget smartphones with the best cameras currently available.
We used the test results of the camera experts from DxOMark as the basis for the ranking of the camera smartphones.
The best camera smartphones at a glance
No. 1: Huawei Mate 40 Pro
No. 2: Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra
No. 3: Huawei P40 Pro
No. 4: Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
No. 5: Apple iPhone 12 Pro
No. 6: Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro
No. 7: Oppo Find X2 Pro
No. 8: Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
No. 9: iPhone 11 Pro Max
No. 1: Huawei Mate 40 Pro
At the top of the budget smartphone with the best camera is the Huawei Mate 40 Pro with a triple camera system. The main camera uses 50 megapixels with an f / 1.9 aperture and electronic image stabilization. In addition, there is an ultra-wide-angle camera with 20 megapixels (f/1.8) and a 12-megapixel telecamera (f/3.4, OIS). Even in poor conditions, the Mate 40 Pro delivers excellent Film and video recordings.
Huawei has reduced the focal length of the ultra-wide-angle camera and relies on an anti-distortion algorithm that proves to be very useful in practice. Although the image section is not quite as large as many competitors, the image quality is excellent.
Particularly noteworthy is the extreme richness of detail, regardless of whether the photograph is taken in the light or dark with a smartphone. Even outdoors, the Mate 40 Pro delivers rich, natural-looking, pleasant colors. The autofocus is inspired by its speed and even with night shots the smartphone shows its strengths. When shooting videos, the fast, precise autofocus stands out just as much as the natural colors and the impressive details in the clips.
Features of the Huawei Mate 40 Pro at a glance
• Display: 6.76-inch OLED, 2772 x 1344 pixels (409 PPI), HDR10, 90 Hz
• Processor: HiSilicon Kirin 9000, Octa-Core with 3.13 GHz
• Memory: 8GB RAM, 256GB ROM, expandable by 256GB nM card
• Front camera: Dual camera 13 MP with f/2.4 + 3D time-of-flight sensor (ToF)
• Main camera: 50 MP wide angle with f/1.9 (EIS), 20 MP ultra-wide angle with f/1.8, 12 MP telephoto with f/3.4 (OIS) and 5x optical zoom
• Video: 4K with 60 FPS, Full HD with 480 FPS
• Connections: Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, LTE, 5G, USB-C, Infrared
• Battery: 4400 mAh
• System: Android 10 with Huawei Emui 11, but without Google services such as the Play Store, Google Maps, Google Pay and YouTube
• Other: Water and dust protected according to IP68, in-display fingerprint sensor, quick charging function with 65 watts, wireless quick charging function with 50 watts, reverse wireless charging (can charge other devices wirelessly), dual SIM
No. 2: Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra
The smartphone could prove itself in the camera test of DxOMark. With a total score of a whopping 133 points, it beats the Huawei P40 Pro by one point, taking second place in the list of smartphones with the best camera.
The Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra not only brings current technology, especially the quad camera stands out. The manufacturer combines a 48-megapixel main sensor with a focal length of 120 millimeters, f / 1.85 and 1.2 µm pixels, a 20-megapixel wide angle, a 12-megapixel depth sensor, and a 48-megapixel telephoto lens.
It is stabilized both electronically and optically (EIS + OIS). The camera digitally achieves a magnification of up to 120 times and thus leads the zoom range. Optically, a 10-fold magnification is still possible. Pixel Binning also supports the Mi 10 Ultra, which is particularly advantageous when shooting in low light.
This is also shown by the results of the DxOMark test. Here, the smartphone showed no real weaknesses in photo mode, it even achieved first-class results in several categories. The testers were particularly impressed by the wide-angle and zoom images, where many details could be captured.
The white balance worked perfectly and otherwise, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra colors are very natural and unadulterated. In bokeh mode, the camera manages to clearly demarcate the object in the foreground from the background and thus achieve a beautiful depth blur. There were minor weaknesses with photos in the ultra-wide angle. Here, the image noise was sometimes
The Xiaomi smartphone is also suitable for amateur filmmakers. According to the tester, it offers excellent video quality with efficient stabilization at 4K and a fast frame rate of 60 frames per second, which ensures super smooth panning.
Features of the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra at a glance
• Display: 6.67-inch Super-AMOLED, 2340 x 1080 pixels (386 PPI), refresh rate 120 Hertz, HDR10+
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
• Memory: 8-16GB RAM + up to 512GB of storage, non-extensible
• Front camera: 20-megapixel selfie camera with f/2.0
• Main camera: 48 MP wide-angle camera f/1.85 (EIS+OIS), 12 MP depth sensor, 48 MP telephoto lens f/4.1 (OIS) with tenfold hybrid zoom, 20 MP ultra-wide angle sensor f/2.2
• Video: 8K with 30 FPS, 4K with 60 FPS, Full HD with 960 FPS (Ultra-Slow-Motion)
• Connections: WiFi 6 (802.11ax), NFC, Bluetooth 5.1, LTE, USB-C, GPS, Infrared
• Battery: 4500 mAh
• System: Android 10 with Xiaomi MIUI 11
• Other: stereo speaker, in-display fingerprint sensor, 50-watt quick charge function, dual SIM
No. 3: Huawei P40 Pro
The Huawei P40 Pro grabs a place in the top 3 of the ranking of smartphones with the best camera. Technically, the P40 Pro is equipped with all imaginable, current finesses. It is therefore very powerful and also well processed. In addition, it has top camera equipment, which has been developed typical of Huawei in cooperation with Leica. Only Google apps need to be dispensed with by users of this device.
Huawei has donated a total of four camera sensors to its current top model. The main sensor is an ultra-vision lens with 50 megapixels. At 1/1.28, it is significantly larger than the 1/1.7 sensor of the P30 series and thus much more photosensitive.
However, Huawei has retained color recognition in the form of RYYB. The second sensor is a telephoto lens with 12 megapixels, 5x periscope zoom, and OIS (optical image stabilizer). The third sensor is a Cine lens ultra-wide angle with 40 megapixels and autofocus, and last but not least a TOF depth sensor for better bokeh.
In the test, the experts from DxOMark praise above all the impressive zoom. Recordings show better details and less noise than the competition. In addition, the main camera has the most powerful autofocus system of all smartphones tested so far and offers the best texture and noise balance so far.
The image results of the P40 Pro in night shots and very low light conditions are also better than any other DxOMark-tested device. Features such as the Bokeh Simulation in portrait mode and the image quality of the Ultra-Wide camera have convinced the testers, as well as the video qualities of the Huawei P40 Pro. Conclusion of the camera test: “If you are looking for the best camera in a Smartphone, there is currently no better Alternative”.
Features of the Huawei P40 Pro at a glance
• Display: 6.58-inch OLED, 2640 x 1200 pixels, refresh rate 90 Hertz (Hz), HDR10+
• Processor: Kirin 990, Octa-Core with up to 2.86 GHz
• Memory: 8GB RAM + 256GB ROM (internal memory), expandable via NM card
• Front camera: dual camera with 32 MP, f/2.0, dual pixel autofocus + gesture sensor, IR depth sensor
• Main camera: 50 MP Ultra-Vision f/1.9 (OIS) with 50x zoom, 12 MP periscope tele f/3.4 (OIS), 40 MP Ultra-Cinelens wide angle, f/1.8, PD autofocus (OIS) and 3D depth sensor
• Video: 4K and Full HD with 60 FPS, HDR
• Connections: NFC, Bluetooth 5.1, WiFi 6 (802.11ax), USB-C, LTE + 5G, GPS
• Battery: 4200 mAh
• System: Android 10 with EMUI 10.1, no Google apps
• Other: In-display fingerprint sensor, SuperCharge with 40 watts, Reverse Wireless Charging, water, and dust protection according to IP68, stereo speaker, dual SIM + eSIM
No. 4: Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
Apple’s latest iPhone generation includes not only four models with slightly adapted designs, especially the iPhone 12 Pro Max proved itself in terms of camera. The top-of-the-line model features a triple camera setup with three 12-megapixel sensors and the LiDAR sensor already known from the iPad Pro for creating depth of field. There is a wide angle with f/1.6 aperture, OIS, PDAF, and 26 mm lens, an ultra-wide angle with f/2.4, and a telephoto lens with f/2.2, PDAF, and OIS. Optical stabilization is sensor-based – a first for Apple.
The camera of the iPhone 12 Pro Max can score particularly with exposure and portrait shots. Even the worst lighting conditions do not matter to the smartphone. The testers were convinced of the natural colors, the pleasant depth of field, and the fast autofocus. The iPhone 12 Pro Max also delivers brilliant results for videos. Here Apple scored with its very good general performance, very low noise, and good stabilization.
However, there were also minor flaws in the photo quality. The DxOMark testers saw weaknesses, especially in Zoom. In addition, the dynamic range could be better and the image noise could be lower in poor light.
Overview of iPhone 12 Pro Max features
• Display: 6.7-inch OLED, 2778 x 1284 pixels (458 PPI), Dolby Vision, HDR10
• Processor: A14 Bionic, neural engine
• Memory: 6GB RAM + up to 512GB of storage, non-extensible
• Front camera: 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera (f/2.2), slow motion selfie videos with 120 frames per second (FPS) possible, 4K videos with 60 FPS
• Main camera: 12 MP wide angle with f/1.6 (OIS), 12 MP ultra-wide angle with f/2.4, 12 MP telelens with f/2.2 and 2.5x optical zoom (OIS), LiDAR sensor
• Video: 4K with 60 FPS, Full HD with 240 FPS, HDR, Stereo
• Connections: LTE, WiFi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5, NFC, GPS, Lightning
• Battery: 3687 mAh
• System: Apple iOS 14
• Other: Face ID for face unlocking, quick charging function with 18 watts, stereo speaker, water and dust protection according to IP68, dual SIM (via eSIM)
No. 5: Apple iPhone 12 Pro
The iPhone 12 Pro comes close, but not quite close to the achievements of its big brother. In the overall rating, it achieved in the test of DxOMark two points less and ranks thus in the list of budget smartphones with the best cameras behind it Both smartphones – apart from their size – have almost identical features. The difference in the camera, however, is that the iPhone 12 Pro Max uses a larger wide-angle sensor and longer telephoto magnification.
Also, with the iPhone 12 Pro, the testers were convinced of the fast autofocus and the natural color reproduction. In case of bad light or artificial light, however, slight image noise can occur. The telephoto zoom shots offer good quality at shorter distances but have a little trouble with details when the subject is further away. The ultra-wide camera delivers good image results but offers room for improvements in detail areas.
The video function, on the other hand, is excellent. The exposure of the preview image is almost identical to the final image. However, there are some differences in the dynamic range, since the final image provides a larger dynamic range than the preview.
Features of the iPhone 12 Pro at a glance
• Display: 6.1-inch OLED, 2532 x 1170 pixels (460 PPI), Dolby Vision, HDR10
• Processor: A14 Bionic, neural engine
• Memory: 6GB RAM + up to 512GB of storage, non-extensible
• Front camera: 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera (f/2.2), slow motion selfie videos with 120 frames per second (FPS) possible, 4K videos with 60 FPS
• Main camera: 12 MP wide angle with f/1.6 (OIS), 12 MP ultra-wide angle with f/2.4, 12 MP telelens with f/2.2 and 2.5x optical zoom (OIS), LiDAR sensor
• Video: 4K with 60 FPS, Full HD with 240 FPS, HDR, Stereo
• Connections: LTE, WiFi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5, NFC, GPS, Lightning
• Battery 2815 mAh
• System: Apple iOS 14
• Other: Face ID for face unlocking, quick charging function with 18 watts, stereo speaker, water and dust protection according to IP68, dual SIM (via eSIM)
No. 6: Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro
The predecessor Mi 9 Pro Premium was already regarded as a flagship camera smartphone worldwide. In the Mi 10 Pro, Xiaomi has once again improved the camera performance insiders had no longer thought it possible for Xiaomi to surpass itself once more. The 108-megapixel main camera features a large 1/1. 33-inch image sensor and is combined with a 220-megapixelUltra-wide-angle and two telephoto lenses with a variety of Zoom options.
The experts of DxOMark praise the photos above all the richness of detail, the very exact and stable exposure, and the high quality of the images. the white balance, the detail sharpness at the middle and largest zoom as well as the extremely precise working depth estimation. The ultra-wide-angle camera inspires especially in bright light with good details.
Anyone who shoots videos more frequently can look forward to efficient video stabilization and precise autofocus – even in weaker light. When shooting in rooms with very bright light, the camera setting of the Mi 10 Pro also provides a wealth of detail. But even such a premium smartphone has (smaller) camera weaknesses: faces sometimes appear slightly blurred, and reds are a bit too dull. With HDR ultra-wide shots and especially in night mode, ghosting occurs again and again – yet this hardly diminishes the excellent camera performance of the Mi 10 Pro’s bottom line. On the occasion of Xiaomi’s 10th anniversary, the Chinese succeeded in making a big (camera)throw with the Mi 10 Pro.
Features of the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro at a glance
• Display: 6.67-inch Super-AMOLED, 2340 x 1080 pixels (386 PPI), refresh rate 90 Hertz, HDR10+
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
• Memory: 12GB RAM + up to 512GB of storage, non-extensible
• Front camera: 20-megapixel selfie camera with f/2.0
• Main camera: 108 MP wide-angle camera f/1.69 (OIS), 12 MP telephoto lens f/2.0 with double zoom for portrait photos, 8 MP telephoto lens f/2.0 (OIS) with tenfold hybrid zoom, 20 MP ultra-wide angle sensor f/2.2
• Video: 8K with 30 FPS, 4K with 60 FPS, Full HD with 960 FPS (Ultra-Slow-Motion)
• Connections: WiFi 6 (802.11ax), NFC, Bluetooth 5.1, LTE, USB-C, GPS, Infrared
• Battery: 4500 mAh
• System: Android 10 with Xiaomi MIUI 11
• Other: stereo speaker, in-display fingerprint sensor, 50-watt quick charge function, dual SIM
No. 7: Oppo Find X2 Pro
In Asia, the manufacturer Oppo has long been a major player, and in Europe, it is becoming increasingly well-known. At the end of 2019, Oppo was already convinced with the Oppo Reno 2. The Chinese had withheld the Find X from Europe. But with the recently introduced Oppo Find X2 Pro, the manufacturer now has the best ace up his sleeve. This much can be revealed in advance: the camera delivers brilliant results, whereby the device rightly occupies one of the top places in the list of smartphones with the best camera.
The Chinese rely on a main camera with three lenses from Sony. In addition to the wide-angle main camera with 48 megapixels, these include an ultra-wide-angle camera with 48 megapixels and an f/2.2 aperture as well as a periscope telecamera with 13 megapixels and an f/3.0 aperture with 60x hybrid zoom. In addition, there is a selfie camera, which is equipped with 32 megapixels and f/2.4 aperture. At the main camera, Oppo works with superpixels. Actually, photos with 48 megapixels are taken, but the Sony sensor IMX689 combines four pixels to one (1.6-micrometer pixel area) and can thus capture significantly more light.
Photos are high-contrast, extremely sharp, and rich in detail, even when zoomed in. Also, on the plus side: the excellent autofocus performance, the large dynamic range, the few distortions, and a low noise level, no matter what conditions the recordings are made in. The almost only point of criticism: the HDR option is not always triggered when shooting portraits in rooms – and ultra-wide-angle shots could be even more detailed.
Features of the Oppo Find X2 Pro at a glance
• Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED, 3168 x 1440 pixels (513 PPI), refresh rate 120 Hertz (Hz), HDR10
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Octa-core with up to 2.84 GHz
• Memory: 12GB RAM + up to 512GB ROM (internal memory), non-extensible
• Front camera: Extendable selfie camera with 32 MP, f/2.2
• Main camera: 48 MP wide-angle camera f/1.7 (OIS), 48 MP ultra-wide angle camera f/2.2, and 13 MP periscope telecamera f/3.0 with 5x zoom (OIS)
• Video: 4K and Full HD with 60 FPS, HDR
• Connections: NFC, Bluetooth 5.1, WiFi 6 (802.11ax), USB-C, LTE, GPS
• Battery: 4260 mAh
• System: Android 10 with Oppo ColorOS 7.1
• Other: In-display fingerprint sensor, SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging function with 65 watts, water, and dust protection according to IP68, stereo speaker, dual SIM
No. 8: Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
The Ultra model of Samsung’s Galaxy S20 series is the best equipped. This puts the device on the list of budget smartphones with best cameras. With its 6.9-inch display, the Galaxy S20 Ultra is not only the largest, but it is also the only model to offer a camera with 108 megapixels, 10x optical, and 100x digital zoom. The 40-megapixel front camera also stands out from the other models. The model with the Exynos processor was tested.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra comes with a quad camera with the said 108 megapixels, a large 1/1. 33-inch sensor and bright f/1.8 aperture. This sensor is combined with a 48-megapixel telephoto lens, an ultra-wide-angle with 12 megapixels, and a TOF sensor.
The manufacturer has adapted the ultra-wide angle in comparison to previous generations. The new model features a 13-millimeter lens with a 1: 2.2 aperture. The lower resolution of the latest model ensures a larger pixel size of 1.4 µm.
Samsung has also improved night mode for even better-illuminated recordings in the dark and optimized in the video area. On request, the S20 Ultra can also record video in 8K quality with 24 FPS. The action cam stabilization helps to prevent shake-ups.
In the end, the testers were particularly impressed by the natural colors used in photography, the high dynamic, and the low background noise. The consistently good exposure also pleased and makes the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra a good all-rounder for smartphone photography.
Especially praised in the test of DxOMark were the ultra-wide camera and bokeh effects in portrait mode as well as the video performance in 4K mode. But there were also some weak points, especially the slow autofocus in low light conditions. Likewise, night shots are optimized too much, which brought the S20 Ultra smears.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra features at a glance
• Display: 6.9-inch Dynamic OLED, 1440 x 3200 pixels (511 PPI)
• Processor: Exynos 990, Octa-Core with 2.73 GHz
• Memory: 12GB/ 16GB RAM + 128GB/512GB, expandable
• Front camera: 40 MP wide angle, f/2.2, dual pixel autofocusses
• Main camera: 108 MP wide angle with f/1.8 (OIS), 12 MP ultra-wide angle with f/2.2, 48 MP telephoto with f/3.5, ToF sensor, 10x optical zoom, 100x digital zoom
• Video: 8K with 24 FPS, Ultra-Slow-Motion
• Connections: LTE, 5G, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, NFC, Infrared, GPS
• Battery: 5000 mAh
• System: Android 10 with One UI
• Other: fingerprint sensor under the display, fast charging function with 45 watts, wireless charging function with 15 watts, reverse wireless charging (can charge other devices wirelessly), dual SIM, IP68
No. 9: iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple’s former premium smartphone, launched in September 2019, is the predecessor of the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The OLED displays no longer offer a 3D touch. There is more battery.
The new camera System with three Sensors in addition to the normal and telephoto lens, a wide-angle lens (120 degrees). As a result, a wider field of view can also be used for close-ups to capture even more of the image. Apple relies on a fourfold optical zoom range – from the telephoto lens to the new ultra-wide-angle lens.
It is possible to record the same subject with all three cameras at the same time. Apple categorizes the results under “Pro-photography” – as well as the high-quality “Per video”, which can be edited in the “photos” App.
Thanks to the neural engine of the A13, the camera system combines nine photos taken in quick succession and generates an excellent result. Apple scores with its camera system with both a large dynamic range and one of the best still images. The autofocus works not only fast, but also very accurately. The colors of the shots are vivid and seem natural.
However, the Apple phone does not reach the competition in the top places of the list of smartphones with the best camera. Because the user has to make compromises: shots shot with lightning are not very detailed, the same applies to zoom shots with a long range. In most lighting conditions, noise is visible, which somewhat relativizes the otherwise very good overall impression of the camera system.
Features of the iPhone 11 Pro Max at a glance
• Display: 6.5-inch OLED, 2688 x 1242 pixels (458 PPI), Dolby Vision, HDR10
• Processor: A13 Bionic, 3rd generation neural engine
• Memory: 4GB RAM + up to 512GB of storage, non-extensible
• Front camera: 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera (f/2.2), slow motion selfie videos with 120 frames per second (FPS) possible, 4K videos with 60 FPS
• Main camera: 12 MP wide angle with f/1.8 (OIS), 12 MP ultra-wide angle with f/2.4, 12 MP telelens with f/2.0 and double zoom (OIS)
• Video: 4K with 60 FPS, Full HD with 240 FPS, HDR, Stereo
• Connections: LTE, WiFi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5, NFC, GPS, Lightning
• Battery: 3969 mAh
• System: Apple iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 14
• Other: Face ID for face unlocking, quick charging function with 18 watts, stereo speaker, water and dust protection according to IP68, dual SIM
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