Top-Rated Android Smartphone Cameras : A Comprehensive Review

Read update

• We’ve reviewed our recommendations and have replaced our picks for the best for video, best in low light, and best overall Android camera phones you can buy.

Looking to up your photo game? A new, camera-focused smartphone will do wonders for your social media pictures. These are the best Android camera phones that will make sunsets sparkle, food look irresistible, and nighttime landscapes dazzle.

UPDATE: 03/21/2024

We’ve reviewed our recommendations and have replaced our picks for the best for video, best in low light, and best overall Android camera phones you can buy.

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  Google

Google Pixel 8 Pro

Best Android Camera Phone Overall
$790 at Amazon

• 
  
  Google

Google Pixel 7a

Best Budget Android Camera Phone
$333 at Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Best Premium Android Camera Phone
$1300 at Samsung

• 
  
  Google

Google Pixel 8

Best Android Camera Phone in Low Light
Buy on Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S24

Best Android Selfie Phone
See at Amazon

• See More

• 
  
  Sony

Sony Xperia 1 V

Best Android Video Phone
$998 at Amazon

What to Look For in an Android Camera Phone in 2024

If you’re looking for an Android smartphone with a great camera, there are a lot of factors to consider when making the purchase. Many companies try to distract customers with gimmicky features and specs that look good on paper, but they don’t tell the full story.

Take megapixels , for example. While they can increase the resolution of your photos, unless features like post-processing and color reproduction are good, you’ll wonder what went wrong with the unimpressive image or video you just captured.

Companies like Google have taken the software route with their cameras. The search giant’s smartphone line relies on advanced algorithms to produce flagship-quality photographs, and Pixel phones are well-known for their high-quality pictures.

On the other hand, the actual camera hardware is also important. You can have the best smartphone camera software on the market, but if the sensor isn’t capable enough, you’ll hit the ceiling in terms of versatility and quality sooner than you might expect.

With so many different ways to implement a smartphone camera, it’s our job to break them all down and highlight the best ones. Below, we’ve listed a handful of phones that excel in their respective categories and offer the best balance of hardware and software.

How-To Geek’s product recommendations come from the same team of experts that have helped people fix their gadgets over one billion times. We only recommend the best products based on our research and expertise. We never accept payment to endorse or review a product. Read More »

Best Android Camera Phone Overall: Google Pixel 8 Pro

Justin Duino / How-To Geek

The latest flagship from Google, the Pixel 8 Pro , gets just about everything right. It’s a bit pricey and doesn’t have the best battery life, but if you’re seeking an Android smartphone with a high-end camera, the Pixel 8 Pro is a great fit.

Its triple-camera system includes a wide lens, ultrawide lens, and telephoto lens, allowing you to capture all sorts of images. And thanks to a massive 6.7-inch display with up to 2400 nits of brightness, you can see exactly what you’re capturing before snapping your shot. The display also benefits from a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes operating the phone buttery smooth whether you’re shooting photos or scrolling through the news.

Other standout features include Google AI that helps optimize your photos, the fast Tensor G3 chip, and a sleek design that’ll make you want to walk around without a case. It’s quite expensive, starting at $999, but no doubt it’s a great all-around camera phone for Android users.

Best Android Camera Phone Overall

Google Pixel 8 Pro

$790 $999 Save $209

The Google Pixel 8 Pro includes the search giant’s latest CPU, the Tensor G3, is among the best smartphone cameras on the market, and has some of the best AI-powered features.

$790 at Amazon See at Google Store See at Best Buy

Best Budget Android Camera Phone: Google Pixel 7a

Justin Duino / How-To Geek

In previous years, the A-series Pixel phones from Google were essentially the runner-up, as the Pixel 6a was to the Pixel 6. That has changed rather dramatically with the latest versions of these phones. If your main interest is the camera, the Google Pixel 7a might even be a better buy than the standard Pixel 7.

On the rear, the Pixel 7a features a 64MP, f/1.89 wide lens and a 13MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide lens. While the Pixel 7 has a larger sensor, which could theoretically allow for better image capture, the megapixel counts are smaller at 50MP and 12MP, respectively. The ultra-wide lens is also a wider angle on the 7a.

Similarly, while the front lens is 13MP, f/2.2 on the Pixel 7a, it’s 10.8MP, f/2.2 on the Pixel 7. While previously, the A-series phones shared the same processor as the main numbered series, the processors were slightly worse spec-wise. That’s no longer the case, with the Pixel 7 and 7a sharing a Google Tensor G2 chipset and 8GB RAM.

The Pixel 6a was stuck with a 60Hz refresh rate, while the 6 featured a smoother 90Hz refresh rate. While the Pixel 7a’s 6.1-inch screen is smaller than the 6.3-inch screen found on the 7, both now support 90Hz refresh rates, though the Pixel 7a is set to 60Hz by default.

Unlike the Pixel 7, which is available with 128GB or 256GB of storage, the 7a is limited to 128GB. The Google Pixel 7a is available in Charcoal , Sea , and Snow color varieties.

Best Budget Android Camera Phone

Google Pixel 7a

$333 $499 Save $166

While the Google Pixel 7a doesn’t feature the same image sensor as the Pixel 7, it packs great cameras, a solid screen, and plenty of power.

$333 at Amazon See at Best Buy See at Target

Best Premium Android Camera Phone: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Unlike an iPhone, it’s difficult to determine which Android phone is undeniably the best camera phone on the market. While it faces stiff competition from Google’s Pixel series, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is in contention for the title of best of the best, thanks in no small part to the quality of its cameras.

Looking at the camera lenses, the S24 Ultra features four on the back, starting with the main 200MP, f/1.7 aperture lens, with a 1/1.3-inch sensor OIS. This is complemented by the 50MP f/3.4 telephoto and 10MP f/2.4 telephoto lenses, both of which feature OIS, and a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide lens. You also get a 12MP f/2.2 front-facing camera for a total of five different cameras.

The lenses and sensors are important, but the camera software is just as important. Samsung has mastered this for years, and the night photography features are proof. The S24 Ultra also features AI camera features, letting you easily erase objects from an image or completely replace the sky.

Of course, it’s not all about the cameras here. The 6.8-inch dynamic AMOLED screen is also fantastic, with a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 3088 x 1440 pixels making for a pixel density of 501ppi. This features HDR support, and is protected by scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass.

The S24 Ultra is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SM8650-AB chipset and Adreno 750 GPU. You get 12GB RAM and either 256GB or 512GB storage. This is all powered by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 45W wired charging or 15W wireless charging.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is available in Titanium Black , Titanium Gray , Titanium Violet or Titanium Yellow color varieties.

Best Premium Android Camera Phone

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The new Galaxy S24 Ultra is Samsung’s high-end flagship phone. It features a titanium frame, a flat display with Gorilla Glass armor, and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC powering new Galaxy AI features.

See at Amazon $1300 at Samsung $1300 at Best Buy

Best Android Camera Phone in Low Light: Google Pixel 8

Justin Duino / How-To Geek

The Google Pixel 8 shares a lot of the same DNA as the Pixel 8 Pro, so it should come as no surprise that it’s a great camera phone. It lacks a telephoto lens, but it keeps the Tensor G3 chip and 120Hz display while also shedding a few bucks from its price tag.

The main 50 MP camera is 21% more light-sensitive than the outgoing Pixel 7, allowing you to capture incredible images even when the sun goes down. Google also managed to make autofocus work faster in low-light settings than before—so you won’t be sitting around for several seconds as it tries to process what it’s seeing.

You’ll also benefit from a 6.2-inch display that makes the phone more portable than its larger sibling, even if it’s not quite as vibrant as the 6.7-inch display of the Pixel 8 Pro. You’ll also likely need to plug the phone in every night, as most people will only get just about a full day of use before needing a recharge. Beyond those small caveats, however, the Pixel 8 is a great Android camera phone at a great price.

Best Android Camera Phone in Low Light

Google Pixel 8

Built with Pixel’s most advanced chip and Google AI to help you do more effortlessly. Its cameras are also great at capturing high-quality images even in poorly light environments.

Buy on Amazon See at Google Store See at Best Buy

Best Android Selfie Phone: Samsung Galaxy S24

Justin Duino / How-To Geek

As the portrait modes on many flagship phones will show, a great photo is every bit as much about software processing as it is about the actual lens and camera sensor. While Google Pixel phones are known for great photo processing, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is still the phone to beat when it comes to selfies.

It may not have the impressive five lenses of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the S24 still impresses in the camera department. The rear features a 50MP f/1.8 main wide lens and 10 MP f/2.4 telephoto lens, both of which feature OIS, plus a 12 MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens. The front-facing selfie camera uses a 12 MP f/2.2 lens, backed by Samsung’s powerful processing.

As for actually viewing your photos, the S24 features a 6.2-inch dynamic AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support. The 1080 x 2340 display isn’t as sharp as the S24 Ultra, but with a pixel density of around 416ppi, it’s still plenty sharp.

The phone gets its processing power from the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SM8650-AB chipset and Adreno 750 as the S24 Ultra. This, combined with the 8GB RAM, powers the software processing that help make the photos this phone can take so impressive. All of this is powered by a 4,000mAh battery, making for excellent battery life.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 is available with 128GB or 256GB storage, and comes in Amber Yellow , Cobalt Violet , Marble Gray , and Onyx Black color varieties.

Best Android Selfie Phone

Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 may be the smallest in the line, but it has big-time processing power and a fantastic camera, perfect for selfies, group shots, and more.

See at Amazon

Best Android Video Phone: Sony Xperia 1 V

Sony

The Xperia 1 V on a stylized background.

It may not be as well-known as other smartphones, but the Xperia 1 V is an impressive device. Along with a sleek design, you’ll find a list of premium features, including the ability to record 4K video.

Filming in 4K is just the start, as the Xperia 1 V also benefits from great low-light footage capture, enhanced AI for improved image quality, and cinematic color expression with its S-Cinetone technology. Other useful features include built-in live streaming, Videography Pro for tons of customization options, and a gorgeous OLED display that makes it easy to see what you’re filming.

Aside from its filming chops, Sony packed the Xperia 1 V with tons of other great hardware. Inside you’ll find a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile processor for blazing-fast interactions, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for a durable display, and support for 5G networks.

All these features don’t come cheap, with the smartphone clocking in at a staggering $1,400. That makes it more expensive than popular models from Google and Samsung. But if you’re after a high-quality suite of cameras that are great at recording video, it deserves a closer look.

Best Android Video Phone

Sony Xperia 1 V

$998 $1400 Save $402

The Sony Xperia 1 V isn’t the most popular smartphone on the block, but it offers a remarkable camera that can capture 4K footage. It also benefits from a suite of customization options to help you pull off the perfect shot.

$998 at Amazon See at Best Buy See at Sony

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FAQ

How do you back up an Android phone?

You can use the Google One app to back up your Android. If you need help, check out our in-depth guide on how to back up and restore Android.

How do you get pictures off your Android phone?

You can connect your Android phone to your PC to move pictures to a new device. Alternatively, you can email them to yourself and access the files from another device.

Can an Android phone replace a standalone camera?

An Android phone can replace a budget camera, but no smartphone can come close to the skills of a DSLR.

How can I find my lost Android phone?

There are several ways to find a lost Android phone, including using the “Find My Phone” feature. For more details, check out our guide on how to find your lost Android phone.

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