The Best Smartphones for Photography

Smartphone manufacturers are continuously making improvements to their phones’ camera capabilities. These days, anyone can be a top-notch photographer with a decent phone in their back pocket!

However, like with any feature, there are going to be some phones that just do a better job at taking photos than others. With such a wide selection of both brand new models and reconditioned phones to pick from, it can be difficult to know where to start.

With this in mind, we breakdown the best phones for photography and what you can expect from them!

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

An even further step up from the Galaxy S20 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is a fan favourite and delivers utmost quality when it comes to the impressive camera setup.

With two 10MP telephoto cameras with f/2.4 and f/4.9 apertures respectively along with an 108MP f/1.8 main lens and 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide one, there’s a lot of high-end tech packed into this device.

Often at the top of any photographer’s best camera phone list, the S21 gives impressive results with multiple features that allow you to take your photography and videography to the next level. The impressive zoom and Director’s View options allow you to shoot beautiful content with ease and precision.

With the Director’s View, you can shoot video from the front and rear cameras at the same time, opening the door to new possibilities with the 40MP front-facing selfie camera.

iPhone 12 Pro Max

Apple devices make another great option when looking for quality camera phones, especially the iPhone 12 Pro Max - one of their latest releases.

Like with many smartphones that come with the Pro, Max or Ultra designation, you can expect a lot more from the 12 Pro Max than the standard iPhone 12 model.

The advanced camera setup consists of a 12MP f/1.6 primary camera, 12MP f/2.2 telephoto lens and a 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide camera, along with a 12MP front camera.

One of the many great features of the 12 Pro Max is its ability to take stunning photos in limited light. The Night Mode options and LiDAR scanner allow for some brilliant photography opportunities at night.

The Smart HDR 3 feature that deals with exposure also means that pictures are made the best they can possibly be!

It should be noted that although this is the best camera setup in the iPhone 12 range, the other models’ cameras offer a lot in terms of quality and value for money, making the iPhone 12 or 12 Mini good options for those that want a decent camera but don’t need all the extra photography features.

Huawei Mate 40 Pro

Huawei have been steadily climbing the flagship ranks with their phones over the years, and the camera on this model does not disappoint!

With a combination of the 50MP f/1.9 main camera, 12MP f/3.4 periscope camera with 5x optical zoom and 20MP f/1.8 ultra-wide lens, the Huawei Mate 40 Pro really packs a punch. The 13MP f/2.4 front camera is also part of the deal with depth-sensing technology.

The camera setup copes brilliantly in a range of conditions to produce high-quality portraits, landscapes, close-ups and zoomed pictures with no problem.

Like many of its rivals, the Mate 40 Pro can also perform well in low light conditions. There is also an option for moon photography mode!

Google Pixel 5

Unlike the other phones mentioned so far, the Pixel 5 only has two rear cameras, but budding photographers should not be put off by the seeming lack of photographic capabilities.

The 12.2MP f/1.7 main camera and accompanying 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide one have spectacular colour capturing abilities. Although lacking the flair of other flagship models, the Pixel line has provided consistent quality over the years.

The Pixel 5 has proved the best when it comes to colour accuracy and detail, even when used in low-light conditions.

Thanks to its simple setting options, the Pixel 5 has also been praised for being a more user-friendly camera phone, making it a fantastic option for those that are just starting out with smartphone photography.

OnePlus 8 Pro

Although usually falling somewhere in the middle of the smartphone rankings, the OnePlus 8 Pro has really stepped up its game in terms of camera quality.

Costing much less than the previous mentions, this phone’s camera setup is comprised of a 48MP f/1.8 main camera, 12MP f/2.4 telephoto camera and 48Mp f/2.2 ultra-wide camera.

The ultra-wide camera sports the Sony IMX586 sensor, giving it a boost and opening up the camera’s field of vision. The autofocus technology also allows for a more advanced photography experience that provides clearer results.

The main camera is also equipped with a colour filter, adding bright neons and metallic effects to normal photos.

Oppo Find X2 Pro

The Oppo Find X2 Pro is loved internationally, and many compare its capabilities to the OnePlus 8 Pro.

With a 48MP f/1.7 main camera, 13MP f/3 telephoto lens with 5x times optical zoom and an ultra-wide 48MP f/2.2 camera, the X2 Pro has got everything we’ve come to expect from a high-end camera phone.

For those looking for true 5x periscope zoom, this is a more affordable option when compared to other models with similar features. There are plenty of focus options to play around with, allowing users to take detailed but natural photos that aren’t as over-processed as other models results can be.

If your current phone’s camera isn’t quite up to scratch and you’re after a new device, why not browse our range of refurbished phones here at Second-Hand Phones? We stock phones from top brands and offer great value for money!