Best Camera Phone of 2025 (2025)

Screen size 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches

Processor Apple A18 Pro

Cameras 48-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (5x telephoto), 12-megapixel (selfie)

Colors Desert titanium, natural titanium, white titanium, black titanium

The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max have everything we've come to expect in a year-over-year upgrade. The 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro and 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max have a slew of upgrades including good battery life, larger displays, outstanding photo and video chops, high-resolution slo-mo, a new Camera Control button, iOS 18 goodies and a handful of Apple Intelligence tools. The negatives are as thin as the borders around the new screens: You only get 128GB of storage for $1,000; there are only drab color options, and a the new camera button is easy to tap accidentally.

This year the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max have the exact same cameras including the same 5x optical zoom -- unlike the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, which had different telephoto options. Screen size, battery life and price should be the deciding factors when you're choosing between the two. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are excellent phones worthy of a spot in your pocket -- if you can afford them.

Screen size 6.73 inches

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

Cameras 50-megapixel (wide), 50-megapixel (ultrawide), 50-megapixel (3.2x telephoto), 50-megapixel (5x telephoto), 32-megapixel (selfie)

Colors White, black

With a main camera sensor that's much larger than those on any of its rivals, a wide, variable aperture and Leica-engineered optics, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is able to take some of the best images we've ever seen from a phone. The huge dynamic range and clarity of the raw files mean we can produce shots we'd normally expect to see from full-sized mirrorless cameras.

We particularly like using the 14 Ultra's Leica high-contrast black-and-white mode, to take punchy monochrome street photos that look amazing without any post-processing. To make it more of a fully-fledged camera, Xiaomi sells the Photography Kit that includes a case and a grip that provides physical camera controls. It allows you to use this phone just like a regular camera which makes it a total joy to use.

Screen size 6.3 inches or 6.8 inches

Processor Google Tensor G4

Cameras 50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (5x telephoto), 42-megapixel (selfie)

Colors Porcelain, rose quartz, obsidian, hazel

The Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL have a lot going for them, from their shiny new designs and long software support period. It's the AI skills that really stand out, from the deep integration of the conversational Gemini Live to the new Pixel Studio that creates weird and wonderful images from your text prompts.

The phones aren't perfect. The cameras are good and can take excellent photos in bright light, they're just okay in low light and in night mode. The best AI features will require a monthly subscription (although you get the first year free) If you're keen to experiment with AI on your phone then the new Pixel 9 Pro range is a superb way to experience it.

Screen size 6.8 inches

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

Cameras 200-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto), 50-megapixel (5x telephoto), 12-megapixel (selfie)

Colors Titanium gray, titanium black, titanium violet and titanium yellow

With a sharper 5x optical zoom, a fast processor and that familiar giant display and 100x digital zoom, the Samsung’s “Ultra” phone remains a top choice for mobile photographers that want plenty of screen space. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is also one of the first phones with Samsung’s new Galaxy AI features, which include tools for translating text messages and phone calls instantly and Circle to Search, a new gesture that lets you launch a Google search for almost anything simply by drawing a circle around it. Like the previous two generations, the Galaxy S24 Ultracomes with an embedded S Pen for those who like jotting down notes or doodling. But perhaps best of all, Samsung has committed to updating these devices with new versions of Android for seven years, meaning it shouldn’t feel out of date anytime soon.

Still, there are still some important downsides to consider. At $1,300, this phone is expensive, so be sure to look for trade-in discounts if you plan to upgrade. And for that high price, I had hoped Samsung would’ve added extra Galaxy AI features that are specific to the Ultra -- perhaps some that take advantage of the S Pen. But Galaxy AI is the same on all Galaxy S24 and S23 devices. So you don’t have to splurge on Samsung’s top-of-the-line phone if you just care about those features. Read our Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review.

Screen size 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches

Processor Apple A18

Camera 48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (selfie)

Colors Ultramarine (blue), pink, teal, black and white

With its handy new photography features, convenient Action button and elegant build, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are top-notch choices for Apple fans in search of a new phone. Parts of the iPhone 16’s key feature, Apple Intelligence, are now out, and the fact that these phones will support it means they’ll likely feel future-proofed for years to come. For those who don’t need the Pro’s extra photography prowess and battery life, the iPhone 16 won’t disappoint. Aside from screen size (6.1 inches on the regular, 6.7 inches on the Plus), battery size and price, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are identical in every way.

The iPhone 16 isn’t perfect -- it’s missing an always-on display, and it feels like it’s been ages since Apple improved its wired charging speeds. But it checks all the important boxes and then some.

Buy a Google Pixel 9, get $100 store credit

Screen size 6.3 inches

Processor Google Tensor G4

Cameras 50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 10.5 megapixel (selfie)

Colors Peony, wintergreen, porcelain, obsidian

There’s a lot to like about the Pixel 9, from its respectable camera to its classy new design and lengthy 7-year timeline for software updates. Google’s phones have always shined for their clean, slick software, and that once again applies to the Pixel 9 series. Pixels are also among the first to get new software updates, making them an ideal choice for those who want to get their hands on the latest version of Android first. Aside from Android updates, Google also brings new features to Pixel phones throughout the year through updates it calls Feature Drops.

The Pixel 9 comes with a few new AI tricks that you may find useful, like the ability to search for content in screenshots, generate images from scratch in the Pixel Studio app and add new objects in photos. These features aren’t must-haves, and they’re not without flaws. Plus, at a starting price of $799, the Pixel 9 has a higher bar to live up to. The Pixel 9 feels like it belongs in that class of device.

Screen size 6.1 inches or 6.7 inches (Plus)

Processor Apple A16 Bionic

Cameras 48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (selfie)

Colors Blue, pink, yellow, green, black

The base iPhone 15 lacks some of the advanced features of the Pro model, including the telephoto zoom lenses and capturing images in ProRaw or videos in ProRes formats. Its main camera has been given a significant bump to 48 megapixels, and refinements across the board mean it's an extremely capable camera for more everyday shooting.

Dedicated photographers will likely want to look toward the Pro line, those of you wanting to simply take beautiful, well-exposed shots of your kids at the beach or your friends gathering for some beers will love the ease with which you can capture those moments with a tap of the screen. Its $200 savings over the base Pro model will be a little easier on your bank balance, as well.

Screen size 6.1 inches

Processor Google Tensor G3

Cameras 64-megapixel (wide), 13-megapixel (ultrawide), 13-megapixel (selfie)

Colors Aloe, bay, obsidian, porcelain

The Pixel 8A is so good it makes the regular Pixel 8 almost feel irrelevant. It shares so much in common with its pricier sibling -- from its selection of AI-powered features like Circle to Search, to its aesthetic and Tensor G3 processor -- that it's hard to see why anyone would buy the Pixel 8 instead.

The Pixel 8 does offer a marginally better camera system, a slightly larger screen and the ability to charge other phones and accessories wirelessly on the back of the device, but those features don't feel significant enough to impact the buying decision for most people. AsI wrote in my review, the Pixel 8A raises the bar for what a $500 phone should be. That also means I'll be expecting more from the Pixel 9 this fall.

Screen size 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches

Processor Apple A15 Bionic

Cameras 12-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (selfie)

Colors Product red, blue, purple, yellow, starlight, midnight,

At $599, the iPhone 14 is a great buy and solid upgrade, especially if you're using an 11 or older. There are two models the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 and the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus that normally starts at $699. Both phones are identical and really the deciding factor comes down to screen and battery size as well as price. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus have a long battery life, fast performance, great durability and wonderful cameras as well as safety features like Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite.

Both phones came out in September 2022 originally but are still solid options today. In terms of drawbacks, neither phone has a high refresh rate screen, and always-on display or the newer Action button found on the 15 Pro and iPhone 16 series. At hundreds of dollars less, we think that the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus have the best value to the dollar that Apple currently sells.