The Best Smartphone Cameras of 2024

In today’s world, where visual content on dominant social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok is becoming increasingly important, the quality of a smartphone camera is a crucial criterion for many users when purchasing a new device. Every year, manufacturers strive to improve their camera technology and introduce innovations to provide the best possible image quality.

In 2024, the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has begun, with more and more manufacturers equipping their smartphones with practical AI features. These include AI-powered photo editing tools like Google’s “Magic Editor,” which allows for unprecedented adjustments to photos.

Let’s reveal the camera highlights of the current top smartphones and which model has the best camera as of May 2024:

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

The camera of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, like its predecessor the iPhone 14 Pro Max, brings several new features:

• The main camera is equipped with 48 megapixels.
• In addition to the main camera, the iPhone 15 Pro Max features a dual telephoto zoom and an ultra-wide-angle camera.
• Additionally, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has an additional 5x telephoto zoom.
• Compared to its predecessors, the iPhone 15 Pro models feature improved computational power for facial recognition and the popular bokeh effect.
• Furthermore, all models are equipped with True Tone flash, Deep Fusion, HDR 5, portrait lighting, night mode, and photographic styles. The Pro models can also adjust their lighting and shoot portraits and macros in low light conditions.
• With Apple ProRAW format, the iPhone 15 Pro models can capture images that offer additional creative control when adjusting exposure, colors, and white balance.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

In the new S24 series, Samsung has given its flagship S24 Ultra the biggest camera update yet. Samsung introduces the so-called Galaxy AI features for the first time.

• The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra features a quad-camera system with a total of four lenses.
• For the first time, a 5x zoom with a 50-megapixel sensor has been incorporated.
• Additionally, the S24 Ultra includes a triple telephoto and an ultra-wide-angle camera with 12 megapixels.
• The main camera features a 200-megapixel sensor.
• Zoom capabilities include 3x and 5x optical zoom, 2x and 10x optical quality zoom, as well as 100x digital zoom.
• With the AI Photo Assistant, you can reframe your photos, zoom in extensively, move subjects, and edit using AI.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra stands out due to its collaboration with camera manufacturer Leica:

• The Xiaomi 14 Ultra features a Leica quad-camera system with 50 megapixels per lens.
• Cameras include ultra-wide-angle, wide-angle, and two telephoto lenses.
• The two telephoto lenses differ in their optical zoom capabilities, offering 3.5x and 5x optical zoom.
• The main camera sensor is particularly large, and the lens has a continuously adjustable aperture from f/1.63 to f/4.0.
• With the Leica Summilux lens, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra features a 75mm floating telephoto and a 120mm periscope lens.
• Both telephoto lenses also support macro photography.

Google Pixel 8 Pro

The Pixel 8 Pro is Google’s third iteration of its completely self-developed high-end smartphone. Thanks to Google’s AI, you can edit photos in completely new ways, tailored to your preferences.

• The Pixel 8 Pro offers a professional-level triple rear camera system.
• This includes a 50 MP main camera, a 48 MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 48 MP telephoto camera.
• Enhanced macro focus allows for closer zooming and extended zoom capabilities for astrophotography.
• The 5x optical zoom telephoto lens offers the best zoom capability yet on a Pixel.
• Additionally, the Pixel camera’s AI features enable sharp photos in low light conditions, removal of unwanted objects from photos, and sharper facial features.

Nothing Phone (2)

Compared to its predecessor, Nothing Phone (1), Nothing Phone (2) features a nearly identical camera setup with minor differences:

• Nothing Phone (2) features a dual-camera system with a 50 MP main camera and a 50 MP ultra-wide-angle camera.
• The IMX890 sensor captures ample image data, and the revised HDR system delivers better results than its predecessor.
• A notable improvement is seen in the front camera, which now boasts 32 MP compared to 16 MP in the previous model.

Huawei P60 Pro

In recent years, Huawei has impressed with its smartphones’ excellent cameras, including the Huawei P60 Pro:

• The P60 Pro’s camera setup includes a 48 MP main camera with a ten-fold adjustable aperture.
• Additionally, there’s an ultrawide-angle camera (13 MP) and a telephoto camera (48 MP).
• The telephoto camera features a Super Macro mode, capable of up to ten times magnification of objects.

OnePlus 12

The OnePlus 12 features the fourth generation of the Hasselblad camera developed in collaboration:

• The main camera captures 50 MP, while the ultrawide-angle lens captures 48 MP.
• Thanks to autofocus, the ultrawide-angle lens can also capture macro shots.
• The OnePlus 12 also includes a telephoto lens with 64 MP and 3x optical zoom.

The Best Smartphone Cameras of 2024: Which phone takes the best photos?

Smartphones now capture photos so good they rival DSLR cameras. Manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi constantly vie for the title of best smartphone camera. Google impresses with its AI features, and Nothing Phone (2) stands out with its 32 MP front camera. When it comes to the question of which phone takes the best photos, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra leads the pack. Its new quad-camera takes outstanding photos day and night, with video resolution up to 8K. The Galaxy S24 Ultra has received multiple accolades, including top ratings from Computer Bild and Chip with a score of 1.1.

Artificial Intelligence is currently a buzzword, already finding its way into smartphones like the Google Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. AI is revolutionizing smartphone photography with features such as removing unwanted objects from photos. Apple has also unveiled initial AI features for iOS 18, which are set to serve as useful assistive tools. We eagerly await the introduction of the next iPhone generation and speculate whether the cameras of the upcoming iPhone 16 series will feature impressive AI capabilities.