Best Android camera phone 2024

One of the biggest reasons to buy a high-end phone is for the camera. Whether through computational processing or as many lenses as possible, phones are taking good enough photos these days that most people don't even consider a dedicated camera. Luckily, there are plenty of options for people who want effortless point-and-shoot style photography and those who want to go more in-depth or have different needs beyond the camera.

The options capable of delivering those results are also growing in number, which is why this list is filled with excellent choices. If you opt to go with the Google Pixel 8 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, or OnePlus 12, you'll be getting a stellar camera for every situation.

Ted Kritsonis

For 20+ years, Ted Kritsonis has been spending a lot of time testing out gadgets to help others make the best decision with their hard-earned money. That includes taking countless photos with the latest Android phones, so Ted's picks come with many years of experience as a photographer.

At a glance

Best overall

Google has gained a reputation for helping users capture amazing photos with Pixel phones, thanks in large part to the software computation processing those images. The software prowess melds nicely with the much-needed hardware upgrades in the Pixel 8 Pro, a device that proves its worth beyond just the camera array in our review.

To sweeten the deal, Google also answered calls from more seasoned mobile photographers with Pro mode manual controls for shutter speed, ISO, and focus, on top of the ability to take RAW photos at the full 50-megapixel resolution. Shooting modes remain limited compared to other Android flagships, but at least they're easy to learn, including Long Exposure and Action Pan.

The suite of AI tools also gets a boost with things like Audio Magic Eraser and Magic Editor, plus cool ones like Video Boost, Night Sight Video, and Zoom Enhance. Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur are still available, serving up an editing package that's hard to beat for its simplicity.

Powering all that is Google's own Tensor G3 processor, which also increases efficiency enough to help the Pixel 8 Pro last longer with each charge. With seven years of Android and security updates, this phone will be upgradeable until 2030 for longevity that few can match.

Best premium pick

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the best phone you can find that comes with a stylus, since the S Pen comes included. The pen can play an active role in capturing photos when using it as a remote shutter by just clicking the button to snap a shot. It's not a new feature, by any means, given past Samsung flagships also do it, but it's still a unique use case among Android devices.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra borrows heavily from the previous S23 Ultra, which is why the camera system appears (on paper) to be the same. There is a new image sensor for the big 200-megapixel wide camera, along with a brand new 50-megapixel periscope telephoto lens that can give you very clear shots at up to 10x hybrid zoom. Throw in a 48-megapixel ultrawide — and improved low-light and night photography on all of them — and you have a stellar mix to work with. Expert RAW can capture images at the full 50-megapixel resolution, while Samsung’s Camera Assistant app offers a great helping hand.

That also goes for the editing process. Newer "Galaxy AI" features include the ability to smartly remove shadows or reflections, re-apply subjects to different parts of an image, or get rid of people or objects in the background. Circle to Search also lets you do a Google search based on items you photograph with the phone.

All of this comes courtesy of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy Devices chipset, a unique processor that drives the generative AI features seen in the phone. The only thing is you pay a real premium to get everything the S24 Ultra gives you.

Best budget choice

Google's A-series of phones have been punching above their weight in terms of camera performance since they were introduced, and while the jump from the Pixel 7a to the Pixel 8a is marginal, the Google Pixel 8a is still the best budget smartphone for taking photos. It's powered by the quick Tensor G3 SoC with 8GB of RAM, so it has no trouble keeping up with Android 14 and processing images to look vibrant.

The camera hardware is identical to the Pixel 7a with a 64MP main sensor and a 13MP ultrawide camera. Still, as our Pixel 8a review shows, the images you can get out of this phone are still among the best you'll find, especially at this price. On the front, the 13MP selfie camera's images look solid, but our Pixel 8a review found the colors to be a bit lacking. After you've taken your shot, you've got some nice AI features like Magic Eraser, Zoom Enhance, Best Take, and even Audio Magic Eraser for video.

The Pixel 8a is one of the best cheap Android phones thanks in no small part to this camera setup, but the rest of its hardware is solid as well with strong 5G support for sub-6 bands on most U.S. carriers. While the 18W charging isn't impressing us, the 4492mAh battery has solid endurance. Last but not least, Google has planned seven years of Pixel updates for this phone, which is an improvement over the Pixel 7a.

Best alternative

If you're not sure about whether OnePlus can hang with the big guns, think again. The OnePlus 12 earns its keep as a bona fide Android flagship, and the consistency of the camera is a big reason why. 

The key is in the collaboration with Hasselblad, the renowned Swedish camera brand, whose input in how the OnePlus 12 captures photos makes a real difference. Hasselblad's color calibration leads to more natural tones in every image, along with the option to choose from various filters based on Hasselblad's legacy of film photography. The results should speak for themselves, but there are so many tools to work within the camera app worth experimenting with.

That includes a new Master mode with manual controls, Long Exposure, Hasselblad's XPan, and even a Movie mode for cinematic video output. The curved display makes ergonomics a little harder to handle compared to flatter screen alternatives, but there's no doubt this is a sleek device for any pair of hands.

OxygenOS remains one of the nicest Android overlays to use, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor does the job — thanks to a new vapor chamber — of keeping things smooth and cool. Battery life is ridiculous when considering the 80W charger can fully charge the OnePlus 12 in just 30 minutes.

Best features

Even if you've never heard of Vivo, it wouldn't be a bad idea to start paying attention because it routinely delivers one of the best mobile photography experiences around. Part of that is because of the excellent collaboration with Zeiss, the storied German imaging brand that brings its expertise to the superb results we got when testing the X100 Pro.

An abundance of shooting modes leads to various avenues of experimentation, letting you really choose how to compose and capture a scene. The 50-megapixel telephoto lens may be the best in the industry at this point, capable of freezing action into sharper detail in ways others simply can't. The front camera may be a weak spot, but in the grander scheme, the rear cameras produce some of the best shots you'll find on any Android phone in 2024.

It's just too bad it's not as readily available as others are in North America. You can get your hands on one online, but don't go looking for it in stores. If you do grab one, know that you get multi-year Android updates and more durable IP68 protection in case you want to get adventurous with those cameras.

Best international

Leica's partnership with Xiaomi makes for one of the most innovative tandems in mobile photography, which is a big reason why the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is one of the best available. You could even argue the device is more like a camera with a phone attached rather than the other way around. We certainly saw it that way in our review, and there's a global version available too.

The 14 Ultra is a rarity in that its main camera uses a 1-inch sensor, and with its wide array of features and settings, it's capable of capturing outstanding photos. It's no exaggeration to suggest it can outdo any phone on this list, and the Leica presence plays a key role. Both the default Leica Authentic and Vibrant modes are fantastic in their color tones, while the software does a stellar job in virtually any set of conditions. This is the kind of camera interface worth exploring to discover everything it can do. There's even an optional camera grip — including a dedicated exposure slider and video recording button — turning this phone into a classic point-and-shoot.

You have to accept three years of Android updates (compared to four or more from others) and the limited availability means you'll have to buy this one online. Bloatware continues to decline with each successive Xiaomi device, but you'll have to do a little cleanup once you get your hands on one to make way for your preferred apps.

Best for pros

If you assessed the Sony Xperia 1 V entirely on how it takes photos right out of the box, you might come away disappointed, but there's more than meets the eye. The phone comes with two camera apps, and the one that will turn more heads is the Photography Pro app, which offers a high level of control over composition before you capture anything.

A good example of that is the variable lens where you can zoom at 3.5x and 5.2x without losing resolution, not to mention the physical shutter button that will lock focus when you half-press it — just like an actual camera. If you want to use the Xperia 1 V as an external monitor with select Sony mirrorless cameras, you can do so by connecting the two via USB.

Then there's video, where you have not one, but two pro apps to work with, Videography Pro and Cinema Pro. All the granular controls available for photos apply here, and then some, giving you the highest level of autonomy over how to frame and capture your footage. Overall, the camera features dominate this phone, which helps explain the finicky fingerprint sensor and lack of fast charging, in particular.

Best small flagship

While the Galaxy S24 Ultra steals much of the spotlight with its over-the-top hardware features and massive size, the smaller Galaxy S24 is still one of the best flagship phones you can get. And with a display measuring just 6.2 inches, it's also one of the best small phones you'll find. Despite its diminutive size, you still get the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC under the hood with 8GB of RAM.

The camera hardware starts with a 50MP main sensor that can take sharp and vibrant images in a wide range of conditions. There's also a 10MP telephoto camera and a 12MP ultrawide camera. The camera array is identical to that in the Galaxy S24 Plus and generally takes very strong images, though the cameras can still struggle in scenes with a lot of motion.

The phone is running Android 14 out of the box and Samsung has committed to one of the best update policies around with seven years of OS updates planned for the entire S24 range. This phone should remain usable for years to come and with strong 5G support, and with strong 5G support, it will work on just about any carrier.

Best foldable

With the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, it's not as much about how good the photos look, but also how you go about taking them. A much larger 3.6-inch Cover Screen changes a whole lot when it comes to framing a shot, much like the folding hinge does plenty for bringing out the creativity in the angle or perspective you choose to take when capturing images. Set it down upright or sideways and see what you come up with.

There's no telephoto camera here, so you have to make due with a wide and ultra-wide that carry over from the previous Galaxy Z Flip 4. Except the software is better this time, helping produce good shots in most situations. Whether flat or folded, you can take advantage of the Cover Screen to take selfies with the better rear cameras — a far more difficult task with standard smartphones.

While more durable as far as water resistance goes, be aware of letting the Flip 5 get dusty because there's no IP protection for that. With the right case, you can add some protection and maybe even find functional ways to use it for creative video or photography as well.

While the Z Flip 5 is still an excellent phone, an updated Z Flip 6 is expected to be shown at Samsung's upcoming July 2024 Unpacked event.

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If we're making some Android camera suggestions

The Google Pixel 8 Pro comes out on top because of its consistent performance in every condition, including when pets or kids won't stop moving. It's hard to top it, or any other Pixel phone really, as one of the best Android phones around based on its fantastic ability to capture beautiful photos in every situation without any tweaking, guessing with settings, or edits after capture. It doesn't hurt that it's also easier to learn for novice photographers.

But you'd be remiss to not consider Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra, which provides the best quality zoom and cropping at almost any level, including some seriously ludicrous quality even beyond 30x zoom. It's also a consistently excellent low-light performer and takes the best video of any Android phone available in most countries.