Ask any professional photographer what they think about smartphone cameras and they’ll scoff. They’ll question the camera phone’s capacity to take quality professional like images; after all, that thing in your pocket does so many other things too.

A DSLR does one – take good photos. How could a smartphone camera ever compete with a DSLR?

comparing smartphone cameras — DIY Photography

But, ask that same question after a few Moscow Mules and the response of the pro is less of a scoff and more of a concern. Smartphone photography is getting good – they know it, we know it, and the companies that make the phones know it.

So, that’s why we compare smartphone cameras – to prove to you that you don’t need to spend hundreds on the latest and greatest from Canon or Sony.

To prove to you that with the right mobile phone camera, you too can take DSLR quality photos.

Comparing 2020s Top Smartphone Cameras –

2020 best smartphone camera — Web Next Conf

See, lens and camera companies are becoming keen to the fact that the amateur photographers – the soccer moms, the Instagram models, and the action shooters alike – want a quality product too.

So, nearly every company that produces smartphones prioritizes the phone’s camera. The thing is, they’ve been doing just that for the last couple of years. As a result, there are probably four years worth of smartphone cameras worth considering when purchasing a new mobile.

We’ve got the best of those cameras included in the guide below.

Do note that not all the camera phones listed will be serviceable in the U.S.

The Newest Smartphone Cameras

These are the newest of the new when it comes to smartphones. Seriously, some of them aren’t even available yet!

But they’re worth pointing out because their new camera technology may be worth saving for. Do be wary of the price tags in comparison to some of the options further down the list.

You wouldn’t buy the newest model car just because, right? The same logic applies when purchasing your new smartphone camera.

At the same time, it’s worth knowing what technology is becoming standard every year. The new phones of 2020 will eventually be at the bottom of this list, you know!

Huawei P40 Pro

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Huawei P40 Pro Camera Specs: Main Camera (12MP 1/1.28″ + 50MP Quad-Bayer sensor), Ultra-Wide Camera (18 mm 40MP 1/1.54″ sensor featuring f/1.8), and Tele-Camera (OIS with 5x optical zoom)

Huawei P40 Pro Video Specs: 4k (2160p) + 1080p default in Ultra-Wide Camera mode

Overall Rating: 9.7/10

Huawei P40 Pro Release Year: 2020

Facts about the Huawei P40 Pro –

ToF depth sensor is great for low light photography (features 78-degree FOV)
LED flash
Most impressive life-like bokeh effect in the group
Effective Quad Lens Set-Up
Great performance in all light situations
The AI-powered white balance system is a good fallback for maintaining color
Newly developed dual-phase detection technology makes the autofocus perfect every time
Details when zooming – using the Tele-Camera – compare to nothing ever seen in a smartphone camera
Super-fast charging

Huawei Mate 30 Pro

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Huawei Mate 30 Pro Camera Specs: Primary Camera (40MP 1/1.7″ sensor is 27mm-equivalent featuring f/1.6-aperture), Ultra-Wide Camera (40MP 1/1.54″ sensor is 18mm-equivalent featuring f/1.8-aperture), and Tele-Camera (8MP 1/4″ sensor is 80mm-equivalent featuring f/2.4-aperture)

Huawei Mate 30 Pro Video Specs: 4K video (2160p) default

Overall Rating: 9.5/10

Huawei Mate 30 Pro Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Huawei Mate 30 Pro –

ToF depth sensor is great for low light photography
Effective Quad Lens Set-Up
A new super processor – HiSilicon Kirin 990
AI RAW algorithm adds noise reduction (a nice touch that simplifies editing)
Super-Resolution Model available when zooming
OLED Endless Screen (a horizon-like display with 88° curves)
Super-fast charging

Oppo Find X2 Pro

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Oppo Find X2 Pro Camera Specs: Front Camera (32 MP), Wide-Angle Camera (48MP with a 1/1.4″ Sony IMX689 sensor featuring f/1.7 aperture), and Periscope Telephoto Camera (13 MP with a 1/2″ Sony IMX586 sensor featuring f/2.2 aperture)

Oppo Find X2 Pro Video Specs: Live HDR Video featuring Ultra Steady Video

Overall Rating: 9.5

Oppo Find X2 Pro Release Year: 2020

Facts about the Oppo Find X2 Pro –

Ultra Vision Screen featuring True Billion Colour pops seriously pops
Water and dustproof (untested by us)
Ultra Vision Camera System makes shooting a breeze
120° field of view makes capturing landscapes simple
Macro photography capable at 3 cm
Ultra Night Mode 3.0 is unreal
Easiest smartphone photography we’ve seen in awhile

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro (available in the U.S. soon)

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro Camera Specs: Front Camera (32 MP AI Selfie Cam with a 1.6μm sensor includes a 4-in-1 Super Pixel and features f/2.0), Ultra-High-Resolution camera (180 MP with a 1/1.33” super sensor includes a 1.6μm 4-in-1 Super Pixel and features f/1.69), Telephoto Camera (12MP with a 1.4μm sensor includes featuring f/2.0), Telephoto Camera (5MP featuring f/2.0, but supports 5x optical zoom, 10x mix zoom, 50x digital zoom), Ultra-Wide-Angle Camera (20MP featuring f/2.2), and Macro Camera (2MP with 1.75μm pixel size)

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro Video Specs: 4k, 1080p (slow-motion, smart audio pairing, motion tracking, and short video editing), and 720p (slow-motion, smart audio pairing, motion tracking, and short video editing)

Overall Rating: 9.5/10

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro Release Year: 2020

Facts about the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro –

Made from super-durable Corning® Gorilla® Glass
Impressive 6.47″ 3D curved AMOLED Screen
Reading mode makes reading on your phone easier than ever before
TÜV Rheinland low blue light certification is great for your eyes
Fast charge is definitely fast
AI for the camera is impressive (helpful when you need it and silent when you don’t)
Features include millennial and Gen-X useful modes like Night mode 2.0, Shoot Steady video, and Vlog mode

Apple iPhone 12

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Apple iPhone 12 Camera Specs: Rear (12MP wide-angle) & Front (12 MP telephoto)

Apple iPhone 12 Video Specs: 4k, 1080p HD, 720p HD

Overall Rating: 9.5/10

Apple iPhone 12 Release Year: 2017

Facts about the Apple iPhone 12 –

Google Pixel 4a

Google Pixel 4a Camera Specs:

Google Pixel 4a Video: 12MP Cine Camera (2160p, 1080p, and 720p)

Overall Rating: 9.4/10

Google Pixel 4a Release Year: 2020

Google Pixel 4a facts –

Honor V30 Pro (available in the U.S. soon)

Honor V30 Pro Camera Specs: Front Camera (dual 32 & 8 MP), Wide-Angle Camera (40 MP 1/1.7″ sensor is 27mm featuring f/1.6 ), Ultra-Wide Camera (12 MP 1.4µm sensor is 16mm featuring f/2.2 ), and Telephoto Camera (8 MP 1/4.0″ sensor is 80mm featuring f/2.4)

Honor V30 Pro Video: 12MP Cine Camera (2160p, 1080p, and 720p)

Overall Rating: 9.4/10

Honor V30 Pro Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Honor V30 Pro –

So, here’s the deal with the Honor V30 Pro – you can’t get it in the U.S. through our channels
Impressive 91.46% ratio of screen-to-body
Battery features 40W SuperCharge
Aesthetically pleasing 3D quad-curved glass is finished with anti-glare in mind
5G capable
Effective 5-Axis videography featuring EIS and OIS
Low-light capabilities impress
Macro mode – while not a substitute for a good macro lens – is handy

Apple iPhone SE

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Apple iPhone SE Camera Specs: Rear Wide Camera (12 MP featuring ƒ/1.8) + Front Camera (7 MP featuring ƒ/2.2)

Apple iPhone SE Video Specs: Full HD @ 30/60 fps

Overall Rating: 9.4/10

Apple iPhone SE Release Year: 2020

Facts about the Apple iPhone SE –

Awesome value at this price point, Apple hit the budget smartphone nail on the head

Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

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Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Camera Specs: Ultra-Wide Camera (12 MP 13 mm focal length featuring ƒ/2.4 and 120° FOV), Wide Camera (12 MP with focus-pixels 26 mm focal length featuring ƒ/1.8 aperture), Telephoto Camera (12 MP 52 mm focal length featuring a larger ƒ/2.0)

Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Video Specs: 4k, 1080p HD, and 720p HD (all feature OIS)

Overall Rating: 9.4

Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max –

6.5-inch Super Retina XDR screen in tandem with the True Tone display
makes viewing content better than ever
All-day battery life
Fingerprint, water, and dust resistant (rated IP68 – means a max depth of 12 feet for up to 30 minutes)
Apple’s Portrait Mode continues to dazzle with it’s Bokeh effects
OIS in both Wide-Angle and Telephoto
Effective burst mode
Night Mode improved to compete with Google, Samsung, and Huawei
New Smart HDR maintains the original photo and provides an AI created edit

Samsung Galaxy Note 10+

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Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ Camera Specs: Selfie Camera (10 MP), Ultra-wide Camera (16 MP), Wide-Angle Camera (12 MP), DepthVision Camera (for adding bokeh depth) and Telephoto Camera (12 MP)

Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ Video Specs: 4K UHD + 1080p FHD @60fps and 720p HD @30fps, Super Slo-Mo, Slow-Motion, Hyperlapse, and Four Bokeh Effects

Overall Rating: 9.4

Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ –

Live Focus is great for both phone photography and videography
Zoom-in Mic provides unique control over sound (not usually found without a phone mic)
Samsung Photo and Video Editor
Super steady video available even in Hyperlapse and 2x zoom modes
HDR10+ allows for 4k video shoots (and immediate playback too)
Perhaps the easiest photo and video on a smartphone
Dual aperture makes bad lighting a thing of the past
Comes with Samsung Note Pen
AR Doodle the S Pen
Front Camera was moved so that selfies now appear like self-portraits

Huawei P30 Pro

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Huawei P30 Pro Camera Specs: Leica Quad Camera – Wide Angle Lens (40 MP sensor featuring f/1.6), Ultra-Wide-Angle Lens (20 MP featuring f/2.2 aperture), + Telephoto Camera (8 MP featuring f/3.4), and Time-of-Flight (TOF) Camera (for improved Auto-focus and AI)

Huawei P30 Pro Video: 4k + 1080p @ 30fps

Overall Rating: 9.4

Huawei P30 Pro Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Huawei P30 Pro –

Leica Quad Main Camera produces unparalleled phone low-light photography
IP68 dust and water-resistant (up to 6 feet for 30 mins)
Impressive 88.6% ratio of screen-to-body
SuperSpectrum sensor produces 40% light in low-light situations
Huawei’s Acoustic Display Technology moves the speaker from the traditional top-front location – providing a unique audio experience
AI HDR+ provides the perfect lighting, every time
AIS Long Exposure Shot is Huawei’s solution to both powerful portrait photography and lifelike long-exposure
The Super Night Selfie Mode remembers your face and contours the light to it perfectly
Take professional-quality phone videography thanks to AIS and OIS
Dual-View Video provides a unique opportunity to have multiple vantage points in a single video – no editing required

Oppo Reno 10x Zoom

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Oppo Reno 10x Zoom Camera Specs: Main Camera (48 MP with a Sony IMX586 sensor), Periscope Telephoto Camera (16 MP featuring f/3.0), 120° Super Wide-Angle Camera (8 MP featuring f/2.2 aperture), 79.3° Wide-Angle Front Camera (16 MP featuring f/2.0 aperture)

Oppo Reno 10x Zoom Video Specs: 1920p + 1080p @ 30 fps

Overall Rating: 9.2

Oppo Reno 10x Zoom Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom –

Cool gradient coloring finish on phones
Impressive 93.1% ratio of screen-to-body
TÜV Rheinland low blue light certification is great for your eyes
Made from super-durable Corning® Gorilla® Glass
10x Hybrid Zoom allows you to shoot wide-angle then zoom when photo-editing
Effective Ultra Night Mode 2.0 gives you ultimate lighting in low-light situations
5 unique bokeh effects to choose from
Dazzle Color Mode helps makes your photos pop

OnePlus 7 Pro

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OnePlus 7 Pro Camera Specs: Main Camera (48 MP with 0.8 µm sensor featuring f/1.6), 117° Ultra-Wide-Angle (16 MP featuring f/2.2), 8X Telephoto (8MP with 1.0µm sensor featuring f/2.4)

OnePlus 7 Pro Video Specs: 4k + 1080p @ 30/60 fps, Super Slow Motion, Time-Lapse

Overall Rating: 9.2

OnePlus 7 Pro Release Year: 2019

Facts about the OnePlus 7 Pro –

Warp Charge 3.0 charges battery in around 20 minutes
The curved screen – a 6.67″ Fluid AMOLED – is unbelievable
Nightscape 2.0 technology is an effective low-light solution
Dolby Atmos provides solid clear audio
The liquid cooling system keeps your phone cool while shooting and photo-editing
Their Haptic Vibration makes tapping fun
OxygenOS will recognize your love of phone photography and help improve your workflow
3D Corning® Gorilla® Glass
Super Slow Motion is 1080p @ 240 fps + 720p @ 480 fps
Between their HDR, AI Scene Detection, and support of RAW Images OnePlus seriously impresses

Honor 20 Pro

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Honor 20 Pro Camera Specs: Main Camera (48 MP with a Sony IMX586 sensor featuring f/1.8 aperture) + 117° Super-Wide-Angle Camera (16MP) + Macro Camera (2 MP) + Depth Assist Camera (2MP) + Front Camera (32MP featuring f/2.0)

Honor 20 Pro Video Specs: 2160p + 1080p @ 30 fps and 1080p @ 60 fps

Overall Rating: 9.1/10

Honor 20 Pro Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Honor 20 Pro –

IPS used for the screen instead of OLED – creates a different look
Camera suite includes OIS, PDAF, EIS, and AIS
With headphones in, enjoy 9.1 Surround Sound
Dynamic Holographic glass gives the screen an increased depth
The IR blaster allows you to control apps without opening the phone
Go from 0-50% charged in just over a half an hour
Lacks impressive audio performance
Laser autofocus system works but is slower and less impressive than others on this list

Huawei Mate 20 Pro

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Huawei Mate 20 Pro Camera Specs: Main Wide-Angle Camera (40 MP featuring f/1.8), Telephoto Camera (8MP featuring f/2.4), Leica Ultra-Wide-Angle Lens (20 MP featuring f/2.2) + Front Camera (24 MP featuring f/2.0)

Huawei Mate 20 Pro Video Specs: 2160p + 1080p @ 30 fps, 1080p @ 60 fps, and 720p @ 960 fps

Overall Rating: 9.3/10

Huawei Mate 20 Pro Release Year: 2018

Facts about the Huawei Mate 20 Pro –

The super-impressive Leica Triple Camera outdoes most of this list
IP68 dust and water-resistant (up to 6 feet for 30 mins)
CPU is 75% more powerful than previous Huawei models
Charge your battery almost 70% in only thirty minutes
AI-Painting Photography auto-adjusts with incredible precision
Night Mode is impressive in low-light situations
AI Cinematography and Video-Editor is great for vloggers and videographers alike
Presentation feature means you don’t even need a projector

Google Pixel 4

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Google Pixel 4 Camera Specs: Main Wide-Angle Camera (12 MP featuring f/1.7), 2X Telephoto Lens (16MP featuring f/2.4), + Selfie Front Camera (8MP)

Google Pixel 4 Video: 4k + 1080p HD @ 30/60/120/240 fps

Overall Rating: 9.2/10

Google Pixel 4 Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Google Pixel 4 –

Quick Gestures allows you to do simple tasks without interrupting your workflow
End Robo-Calls with Google’s Call Screen
Night Sight is one of the most impressive low-light photography options on the list (allows for astrophotography)
Enjoy extra control by adjusting exposure in different parts of your photos
Google’s Ambient EQ rivals apps Apple’s TrueTone technology
Live preview available for HDR
The redesigned camera is both more powerful and better hidden
IP68 dust and water-resistant (up to 6 feet for 30 mins)
Google assurance for three years of OS updates

Samsung Galaxy S10+

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Samsung Galaxy S10+ Camera Specs: Primary Camera (12MP dual-pixel featuring f/1.5 + f/2.4 dual-aperture), Ultra-Wide Secondary Camera (16MP featuring f/2.2), Tertiary Telephoto Camera (12MP featuring f/2.4), + Dual Front Cameras (10 MP Selfie Camera with 1.22μm sensor and 80˚ FOV + 8MP RGB Depth Camera)

Samsung Galaxy S10+ Video Specs: 4k UHD + 1080p FHD @ 60 fps, 720p HD @ 30 fps, Super-Slow-Mo (720p) @ 960 fps, Hyperlapse, + Slow-Motion (1080p) @ 240 fps

Overall Rating: 9.2/10

Samsung Galaxy S10+ Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Samsung Galaxy S10+ –

Capture high-quality 9.1 MP still photos when shooting in 4k
Digital zoom of 10x isn’t as good as other options
Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 is Samsung’s new and improved charging method (available both wireless and with traditional cable and power adapter
Connect to two Bluetooth speakers simultaneously
IP68 dust and water-resistant (up to 6 feet for 30 mins)
Video wallpaper is an interesting feature
Single Take is like a combination of panorama and burst mode – easily capture full landscapes in multiple formats in seconds
Night Mode + Night Hyperlapse provide as much low-light capability as you’ll ever need
Pro Video Mode gives you manual control over your phone videography

Xiaomi Mi 9

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Xiaomi Mi 9 Camera Specs: 27mm Wide-Angle Camera (48 MP with Sony IMX586 0.8μm pixels featuring ƒ/1.75), 54mm Telephoto Camera (12 MP with 1.0μm pixels featuring f/2.2), 13mm Ultra-Wide Camera (16 MP with 1.0μm pixels featuring f/2.2), + Front Wide-Angle Camera (20 MP with 1/3″ sensor featuring f/2.0)

Xiaomi Mi 9 Video Specs: 4k (2160p) @ 30/60 fps, [email protected]/120/240 fps, + Super-Slo-Mo (1080p) @ 960 fps

Overall Rating: 9.2/10

Xiaomi Mi 9 Release Year: 2018

Facts about the Xiaomi Mi 9 –

Uses Corning® Gorilla® Glass for optimal screen protection
GAME Turbo is a great feature for gamers
Always-On Display gives you the option for ever-changing wallpaper based on the local time
Portrait Mode blurred background is effective bokeh (is adjustable)
Burst mode performs as expected
Smart audio pairing available with video
Motion tracking and video stabilization
Enjoy both 2x optical and 10x digital zoom

LG Velvet

LG Velvet Camera Specs:

LG Velvet Video Specs:

Overall Rating: 9.1/10

LG Velvet Release Year: 2020

Facts about the LG Velvet –

Motorola Edge+

Motorola Edge+ Camera Specs: Primary Camera (48MP featuring f/1.7 aperture), Ultra-Wide Camera (8MP featuring f/2.2), Macro Camera (2MP featuring f/2.2), + Front Camera (16MP featuring f/2.0)

Motorola Edge+ Video Specs: “action camera” lens that allows for wide-angle video recording at up to 60 frames per second (only available for video)

Overall Rating: 9.1/10

Motorola Edge+ Release Year: 2020

Facts about the Motorola Edge+ –

The first flagship smartphone from Motorola in quite some time

Apple iPhone 11

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Apple iPhone 11 Camera Specs: Wide-Angle Camera (12MP featuring f/1.8), 120° Ultra-Wide-Angle Camera (12MP featuring f/2.4), TrueDepth Camera (12MP featuring ƒ/2.2)

Apple iPhone 11 Video Specs: 4k @ 24/30/60 fps, 1080p HD @ 30/60 fps, 720p HD @ 30 fps, + Slo‑Mo (1080p) @ 120/240 fps

Overall Rating: 9.0/10

Apple iPhone 11 Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Apple iPhone 11 –

True Tone display
IP68 dust and water-resistant (up to 6 feet for 30 mins)
Enjoy both 2x optical and 5x digital zoom
Burst mode is impressive
Portrait Mode lighting with 6 unique effects
Auto-OIS is standard in all modes for photo and video
Apple’s Night Mode isn’t the most impressive low-light solution, but it works
Charge your phone 50% in 30 minutes
Intuitive workflow as has come to be expected from Apple

Xiaomi Foldable

Xiaomi Foldable Camera Specs: Info to Come (but you expect Xiaomi quality)

Xiaomi Foldable Video Specs: Info to Come (but you expect Xiaomi quality)

Overall Rating: 9.0/10 (suspect to change)

Xiaomi Foldable Release Year: 2020 (suspect to change)

Facts About the Xiaomi Foldable-

There is speculation that Xiaomi is working on an answer to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, but there is little confirmed information. As info becomes available we’ll update this section.

Samsung Galaxy Fold

Samsung Galaxy Fold Camera Specs:

Samsung Galaxy Fold Video Specs:

Overall Rating: 9.0/10

Samsung Galaxy Fold Release Year: 2020

Facts About the Samsung Galaxy Fold –

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Camera Specs:

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Video Specs:

Overall Rating: 9.0/10

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Release Year: 2020

Facts About the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip –

Motorola Moto G Stylus

Motorola Moto G Stylus Camera Specs: Primary Camera (48MP featuring f/1.7 aperture), Ultra-Wide Camera (8MP featuring f/2.2), Macro Camera (2MP featuring f/2.2), + Front Camera (16MP featuring f/2.0)

Motorola Moto G Stylus Video Specs: “action camera” lens that allows for wide-angle video recording at up to 60 frames per second (only available for video)

Overall Rating: 8.9/10

Motorola Moto G Stylus Release Year: 2020

Facts about the Motorola Moto G Stylus –

Seriously impressive battery life at this price point (more so than the Moto G Power)
The stylus at this cost makes the phone feel luxurious
Slightly thinner and shorter than Moto G Power
The macro camera is disappointing overall
Not high-end image quality sure but at this price point it’s worth considering
A vast improvement to the previous Motorola phone’s camera quality

Motorola Moto G Power

Motorola Moto G Power Camera Specs: Primary Camera (16MP featuring f/1.7 aperture), Ultra-Wide Camera (8MP featuring f/2.2), Macro Camera (2MP featuring f/2.2), + Front Camera (16MP featuring f/2.0)

Motorola Moto G Power Video Specs:

Overall Rating: 8.8/10

Motorola Moto G Power Release Year: 2020

Facts about the Motorola Moto G Power –

Seriously impressive battery life at this price point
Slightly longer and fatter than Moto G Stylus
The macro camera is disappointing overall
Not high-end image quality sure but at this price point it’s worth considering
A vast improvement to the previous Motorola phone’s camera quality

Motorola RAZR

Motorola RAZR Camera Specs: Wide-Angle Camera (12MP featuring f/1.8), 120° Ultra-Wide-Angle Camera (12MP featuring f/2.4), TrueDepth Camera (12MP featuring ƒ/2.2)

Motorola RAZR Video Specs: 4k @ 24/30/60 fps, 1080p HD @ 30/60 fps, 720p HD @ 30 fps, + Slo‑Mo (1080p) @ 120/240 fps

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Motorola RAZR Release Year: 2020

Facts about the Motorola RAZR –

Not ideal for smartphone photography

Last Year’s Smartphone Cameras

Whether you haven’t updated your mobile phone in a year or four years, these smartphone cameras are going to impress.

While they aren’t as new as the phones we’ve already been over, they’ve got plenty of technology.

You to shoot great phone photography or videography with any of these phones.

Huawei P20 Pro

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Huawei P20 Pro Camera Specs: 27 mm Main Camera (40MP with a 1/1.78″ sensor featuring f/1.8), 3x Zoom 80mm Telephoto Camera (8MP with a 1/4″ sensor featuring f/2.4), 27mm Black & White Camera (20MP with a 1/2.7″ sensor featuring f/1.6)

Huawei P20 Pro Video Specs: 4k UHD @ 30 fps, 1080p HD @ 60 fps, 720p HD @ 960 fps, Timelapse

Overall Rating: 9.2/10

Huawei P20 Pro Release Year: 2018

Facts about the Huawei P20 Pro –

Master AI makes phone photography and videography as easy as they’ve ever been
Huawei’s hybrid-zoom helps maintain image-quality
Lecia helped with the cameras (and it shows)
4D Predictive Focus creates crisp quick auto-focus every time
Huawei’s AI Image Stabilization makes a tripod almost unnecessary
Charge your phone 58% in 30 minutes
Uses the Google Assistant

Apple iPhone XS Max

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Apple iPhone XS Max Camera Specs: Wide-Angle Camera (12MP 1.4nm sensor featuring f/1.8 ), Telephoto Camera (12MP 1.4nm sensor featuring f/2.4), + Front Camera (7MP featuring f/2.2)

Apple iPhone XS Max Video Specs: 4k + 1080p @ 60 fps

Overall Rating: 9.2/10

Apple iPhone XS Max Release Year: 2018

Facts about the Apple iPhone XS Max –

Intuitive workflow as has come to be expected from Apple
The large OLED screen is ideal for editing
Effective Smart HDR feature combines 9 photos taken at different exposures to create your ideal shot
4 microphones make trying phone videography easier than ever before
Adjust your depth of field with Apple’s improved Portrait Mode
3 Styles of Live Photo – Bounce, Loop, and Long Exposure
Optimal Image Stabilization in all cameras for both photo and video
Relatively long battery life but takes multiple hours to charge

HTC U12+

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HTC U12+ Camera Specs: Wide-Angle + HTC UltraPixel™ 4 Camera (12MP with 1.4μm pixels featuring f/1.75), Telephoto Camera (16MP with 1.0μm pixels featuring f/2.6), + Wide-Angle Dual Front Camera (84° FOV 8 MP with 1.12μm pixels featuring f/2.0)

HTC U12+ Video Specs: 4k @ 60 fps, Slow-Motion (1080p) @ 240 fps, + Hyperlapse

Overall Rating: 9.1/10

HTC U12+ Release Year: 2018

Facts about the HTC U12+ –

Effective Ultraspeed Auto-Focus 2 feature makes smartphone photography as simple as point and shoot
Enjoy 2x optical and 10x digital zoom
Beautiful bokeh – when HTC says a professional studio in your phone, they mean it
Access manual controls with Pro Mode
Shoot in RAW
Do both 32-second long-exposure and panoramas
HDR Boost 2 feature performs adequately in low-light
A great option for smartphone videography – with features like Sonic Zoom, Auto-Zoom, and 4k @ 60 fps it’s hard not to be
OIS & EIS included
HTC’s Liquid Surface is an aesthetically pleasing screen

Asus ZenFone 6

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Asus ZenFone 6 Camera Specs: Dual Main Camera (48MP Sony flagship IMX586 sensor featuring 1 1/2” sensor and 0.8 µm pixel size), (12MP with 1.6 µm effective pixel size featuring f/1.7), 125° Ultra-Wide Camera (13MP), + Front Camera (Auto-HDR-Enhanced Portrait Mode)

Asus ZenFone 6 Video Specs: 4k UHD 30/60 @ fps on Main Camera + 30 @ fps on Ultra-Wide Camera, 1080p @ 30/60 fps, 720p HD @ 30 fps, + Slow-Motion (1080p @ 240 fps + 720p @ 480 fps)

Overall Rating: 9.1/10

Asus ZenFone 6 Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Asus ZenFone 6 –

Impressive 92% ratio of screen-to-body
Made from super-durable Corning® Gorilla® Glass
Laser autofocus is effective but not impressive
8 different photo filters
(Auto) Panorama makes shooting panos easy
Asus’ Super Night* isn’t as good as the industry giants
The Pro Mode supports RAW files and long exposures under 32-seconds
16 types of AI Scene Detection
Three-Axis EIS
Seriously impressive battery (almost 26 days of standby time on 4G and almost 21 hours of typical Wi-Fi web browsing

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

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Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Camera Specs: Dual Rear Camera ( 77˚ Wide-Angle with a 1/2.55″ Super Speed Dual Pixel sensor featuring Dual Apertures f/1.5 and f/2.4 + 45˚ Telephoto with a 1/3.4″ sensor featuring f/2.4) + Front Camera (80˚ Selfie Cam 8MP with a 1/3.6″ sensor featuring f/1.7)

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Video Specs: 4k @ 30/60 fps, QHD @ 30 fps, 1080p HD @ 30/60 fps, 720p HD @ 30 fps, Super Slow-Mo (720p) @ 960 fps, Slow-Mo support (1080p) @ 240 fps, + Hyperlapse @ 1080p

Overall Rating: 9.1/10

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Release Year: 2018

Facts about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 –

Impressive VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilization)
Continuous autofocus video
Dolby Atmos audio is great for recording and editing video
Connectable through two Bluetooth devices simultaneously
High (Acoustic Overload Point) Mic is perfect for those wanting to try mobile videography without a phone microphone
IP68 dust and water-resistant (up to 6 feet for 30 mins)
Comes with Samsung Note Pen

LG V60 ThinQ

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LG V60 ThinQ Camera Specs:

LG V60 ThinQ Video Specs:

Overall Rating: 9.0/10

LG V60 ThinQ Release Year: 2020

Facts About the LG V60 ThinQ –

Google Pixel 3

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Google Pixel 3 Camera Specs: Rear Camera (12.2 MP dual-pixel featuring ƒ/1.8) + Dual Front Camera (8 MP featuring ƒ/1.8 + 8 MP Wide-Angle featuring ƒ/2.2)

Google Pixel 3 Video Specs: 4k @ 30fps, Full 1080p HD @ 30/60/120 fps, + Slo-Mo SD (720p) @ 240 fps

Overall Rating: 9.0/10

Google Pixel 3 Release Year: 2018

Facts about Google Pixel 3 –

Wind Down mode from Google is a great way to force yourself to stop creating content (yes, sometimes it’s necessary)
At A Glance feature on the home screen is great for busy content creators – get weather, calendar, and travel information all in one place
Google’s Smart Storage is great for content creators with lots of content to store (free photo back-up)
Just press the power button twice and the Camera Shortcut has you ready to shoot
Turn your wrist twice when the Camera app is in use to open Selfie Cam
The split-screen feature makes the workflow on your phone easier than before
Google assurance for three years of OS updates

Apple iPhone XR

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Apple iPhone XR Camera Specs: Rear Camera (Wide-Angle 12MP featuring ƒ/1.8) + Front TrueDepth Camera (7MP featuring ƒ/2.2)

Apple iPhone XR Video Specs: 4k video @ 24/ 30/60 fps, 1080p HD @ 30/60 fps, 720p HD @ 30 fps, + Slo‑Mo (1080p) @ 120/240 fps

Overall Rating: 8.9/10

Apple iPhone XR Release Year: 2018

Facts about the Apple iPhone XR –

Intuitive workflow as has come to be expected from Apple
Burst Mode works as to be expected
Memoji + Animoji
Cinematic video stabilization @ 1080p + 720p
Six effects for portrait lighting
OIS + AIS
Awesome red-eye correction

Samsung Galaxy S9+

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Samsung Galaxy S9+ Camera Specs: Wide-Angle Camera ( 77˚ 12MP with a 1/2.55″ sensor featuring Dual-Aperture – f/1.5 + f/2.4), Telephoto Camera (45˚ 12MP with a 1/3.6″ sensor featuring f/2.4 ), + Front Camera (80˚ 8MP with a 1/3.6″ sensor featuring f/1.7)

Samsung Galaxy S9+ Video Specs: 4k @ 30/60 fps, QHD @ 30 fps, 1080p HD @ 30/60 fps, 720p HD @ 30 fps, Super Slow-Mo (720p) @ 960 fps, Slow-Mo (1080p) @ 240 fps, + Hyperlapse (1080p)

Overall Rating: 8.9/10

Samsung Galaxy S9+ Release Year: 2018

Facts about the Samsung Galaxy S9+ –

Connect to two Bluetooth speakers simultaneously
IP68 dust and water-resistant (up to 6 feet for 30 mins)
Impressive infinity screen
Three different selfie-modes
Dual OIS
Dolby Atmos audio is great for recording and editing video
Enjoy both 2x optical and 10x digital zoom
Bokeh effects when shooting live
VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilization)

LG Stylo 5

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LG Stylo 5 Camera Specs:

LG Stylo 5 Video Specs:

Overall Rating: 9.0/10

LG Stylo 5 Release Year: 2020

Facts About the LG Stylo 5 –

Google Pixel 3a

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Google Pixel 3a Camera Specs: Rear Camera (76° 12MP dual-pixel featuring ƒ/1.8) + Front Camera ( 84° 8 MP featuring ƒ/2.0)

Google Pixel 3a Video Specs: 4k @ 30 fps, 1080p @ 30/60/120 fps, 720p @ 30/60/240 fps

Overall Rating: 8.8/10

Google Pixel 3a Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Google Pixel 3a –

Always-On Display means you’re always connected to clients and social media
Night Sight is one of the most impressive low-light photography options on the list (allows for astrophotography)
Depth Editor feature allows you to adjust the depth of view when editing
Adjust black and white to make colors pop
Google Smart Storage puts everything on the cloud so you never have to worry about running out of room
Google’s Adaptive Battery can last up to 30 hours (7 hours of use on 15 minutes of charge)
Google assurance for three years of OS updates

LG G8 ThinQ

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LG G8 ThinQ Cameras: Autofocus Front-Facing Camera ( 80° 8MP with 1.22µm pixels featuring f/1.7) + Dual Rear Cameras (78° 12MP with 1.4µm pixels featuring f/1.5 + 107° 16MP with 1.0µm pixels featuring f/1.9)

LG G8 ThinQ Video: 4k @ 30/60 fps, 1080p @ 30/60 fps, + Slow-Mo (720p) @ 240 fps

Overall Rating: 8.7/10

LG G8 ThinQ Release Year: 2019

Facts about the LG G8 ThinQ –

The Standard and Wide-Angle offerings in the LG G8 ThinQ do a great job of complimenting each other
3D Camera creates competitive bokeh
Adjust seven lighting options when shooting
Bokeh when shooting video is seriously good
AI Cam recognizes 15+ categories of subjects and then adjusts the photo based on what it finds
Google Lens can help with social media tagging

OnePlus 6T

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OnePlus 6T Camera Specs: Rear Camera – Main ( 16MP Sony IMX 519 sensor with 1.22µm pixels featuring f/1.7), Rear Camera - Secondary (20MP Sony IMX 376K sensor with 1.0µm pixels featuring f/1.7) + Front Camera (16MP Sony IMX 371 sensor with 1.0µm pixels featuring f/1.9)

OnePlus 6T Video Specs: 1080p @ 30 fps + 720p @ 30 fps

Overall Rating: 8.7/10

OnePlus 6T Release Year: 2018

Facts about the OnePlus 6T –

Super-fast unlock feature
Decent 86% ratio of screen-to-body
Combination of OIS and Nightscape makes for good low-light photography for the price
Dirac HD Sound® and Dirac Power Sound® aren’t ideal for editing sound as audio-quality isn’t great

Xiaomi Mi 8

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Xiaomi Mi 8 Camera Specs: Wide-Angle Camera (12MP featuring f/1.8), Telephoto Portrait Camera (12MP featuring f/2.4), + Front Camera (20MP)

Xiaomi Mi 8 Video Specs: 4k @ 30 fps, 1080p @ 30 fps, 720p @ 30 fps
Slow-Mo (720p + 1080p) @ 240 fps

Overall Rating: 8.7/10

Xiaomi Mi 8 Release Year: 2018

Facts about the Xiaomi Mi 8 –

Super light-sensitive AI technology
Portrait mode has crisp bokeh
AI automatically notices and optimizes 25 categories and 200+ scenes
Burst mode works well
AI Beautify will have your portrait subjects looking great
AI dynamic bokeh, high-res photos, studio lighting, and short video editing help with workflow

Apple iPhone X

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Apple iPhone X Camera Specs: Rear Dual Cameras (12MP Wide-Angle featuring ƒ/1.8 + 12 MP Telephoto featuring ƒ/2.4) + Front Camera (7 MP featuring ƒ/2.2)

Apple iPhone X Video Specs: 4k (2160p) @ 24/30/60 fps + 1080p @ 30/60/120/240 fps

Overall Rating: 8.7/10

Apple iPhone X Release Year: 2017

Facts about the Apple iPhone X –

Intuitive workflow as has come to be expected from Apple
Super Retina Display is Apple’s first OLED screen
Say goodbye to the home button
Dual OIS
Noise reduction and color reproduction are good – even for Apple

Sony Xperia 5

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Sony Xperia 5 Camera Specs: Rear Camera #1 (78° 26mm 12MP with 1/ 2.6″ Exmor RS™ sensor featuring f/2.4), Rear Camera #2 (130° 16mm 12MP with 1/3.4″ sensor featuring f/1.6), Rear Camera #3 (45° 52mm 12MP with 1/ 3.4″ sensor featuring f/2.4) + Front Camera (8MP with 1/4″ sensor featuring f/2.0)

Sony Xperia 5 Video Specs: 4k HDR + Super-Slo-Mo (960 fps)

Overall Rating: 8.6/10

Sony Xperia 5 Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Sony Xperia 5 –

Optical SteadyShot™ is an effective hybrid OIS/EIS video-stabilizer
Portrait mode-specific beatification effects
The combination of High-Resolution Audio and High-Resolution Audio Wireless is good for mobile video editing
CineAlta Creator Mode is perfect for phone videographers
BIONZ X®
Enjoy both 2x optical and 5x digital zoom

LG V40 ThinQ

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LG V40 ThinQ Camera Specs: Triple Rear Camera (45˚ Telephoto Zoom 12MP with a 1/3.4″ sensor featuring f/2.4+ 107˚ Super Wide-Angle 16MP with a 1/3.1″ sensor featuring f/1.9+ 78˚ Standard 12MP with a 1/2.6″ sensor featuring f/1.5) + Dual Front Camera ( 90˚ Wide-Angle 5MP with a 1/5″ sensor featuring f/2.2 + 80˚Standard 8MP with a 1/4″ sensor featuring f/1.9)

LG V40 ThinQ Video Specs: 4k @ 30/60 fps, 1080p HD @ 30/60/240 fps, + Slo-Mo (1080p) @ 240 fps

Overall Rating: 8.6/10

LG V40 ThinQ Release Year: 2018

Facts about the LG V40 ThinQ –

Enjoy 2x optical, 5x digital zoom, and 16x continuous zoom
OIS+ and EIS
Triple Shot feature takes a photo with each rear camera and creates a neat video
Manual Mode allows you to shoot like a DLSR
Google® Lens feature
17 photo and video filters
Makeup Pro is an effective beautification tool
Gesture Interval Shot and Gesture Shot make shooting with the front camera as easy as a flick of the wrist

Motorola One Vision

Motorola One Vision Camera Specs: Action Camera (16MP featuring f/2.2 & 117-degree FOV)

Motorola One Vision Video Specs:

Overall Rating: 8.7/10

Motorola One Vision Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Motorola One Vision –

Great phone at the price point (better photos than videos)

Motorola One Hyper

Motorola One Hyper Camera Specs: Action Camera (16MP featuring f/2.2 & 117-degree FOV)

Motorola One Hyper Video Specs:

Overall Rating: 8.7/10

Motorola One Hyper Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Motorola One Hyper –

Great phone at the price point (better photos than videos)

Motorola One Action

Motorola One Action Camera Specs: Action Camera (16MP featuring f/2.2 & 117-degree FOV)

Motorola One Action Video Specs:

Overall Rating: 8.6/10

Motorola One Action Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Motorola One Action –

If you’re looking for a GoPro-like-experience in a smartphone, then the Motorola One Action may be for you
It’s awkward to have to shoot video in portrait mode (the camera is inverted so video comes out in traditional format)
EIS is pretty effective
Cannot take photos with the action camera
Great phone at the price point (better videos than photos)

Sony Xperia 1

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Sony Xperia 1 Camera Specs: Rear Camera #1 (78° 26mm 12MP 1/ 2.6″ with a Exmor RS™ sensor featuring f/1.6), Rear Camera #2 (45° 52mm 12 MP with a 1/3.4″ sensor featuring f/2.4), Rear Camera #3 (130° 16mm 12MP with a 1/3.4″ sensor featuring f/2.4), + Front Camera (84° 8 MP featuring f/2.0)

Sony Xperia 1 Video Specs: 4k HDR + Super-Slo-Mo (960 fps)

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Sony Xperia 1 Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Sony Xperia 1 –

CineAlta Creator Mode is perfect for phone videographers
Uses Corning® Gorilla® Glass for optimal screen protection
Nice RAW noise reduction
Good, but not great, bokeh
Enjoy both 2x optical and 5x digital zoom
Optical SteadyShot™ is an effective hybrid OIS/EIS video-stabilizer
Dolby Atmos audio is great for recording and editing video

Motorola Moto G7

Motorola Moto G7 Camera Specs: Real Camera (12MP 1/2.9\” sensor with 1.25µm pixels featuring f/2.0), Depth Camera (5MP)

Motorola Moto G7 Video Specs:

Overall Rating: 8.2/10

Motorola Moto G7 Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Motorola Moto G7 –

OIS only available with Pro model

Motorola E6

Motorola E6 Camera Specs:

Motorola E6 Video Specs:

Overall Rating: 8.2/10

Motorola E6 Release Year: 2019

Facts about the Motorola E6 –

Oldest Smartphone Cameras

While these phones have some years on them it doesn’t mean they can’t shoot quality stuff.

Seriously, did you know that the movie Parasite was shot using a few iPhone 5s?

With the right skills and a couple of smartphone accessories, your phone’s camera can shoot professional-grade photos and videos.

HTC U11

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HTC U11 Camera Specs: Front Camera (16 MP) + Rear Camera (12 MP)

HTC U11 Video Specs: 4k (2160p) + 1080p

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

HTC U11 Release Year: 2017

Facts about the HTC U11 –

Manual control with Pro-Mode
4K video recording comes with both Hi-Res audio and 3D audio recording
Does 32-second long-exposures
RAW comes standard

Apple iPhone 8 Plus

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Apple iPhone 8 Plus Camera Specs:

Apple iPhone 8 Plus Video Specs:

Overall Rating: 8.4/10

Apple iPhone 8 Plus Release Year: 2017

Facts about the Apple iPhone 8 Plus –

Intuitive workflow as has come to be expected from Apple
Most durable glass in an iPhone to date
True-Tone technology makes seeing your phone in harsh light a non-issue
25% louder speakers than previous iPhones
Premier or Apple’s Portrait Lighting (precursor to Portrait Mode)

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

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Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Camera Specs: Rear Cameras (77° 12MP Wide-Angle with a 1/2.55″ sensor featuring f/1.7 + 45° 12 MP Telephoto with a 1/3.6″ sensor featuring f/2.4) + Front Camera (8MP Wide-Selfie with a 1/3.6″ sensor featuring f/1.7)

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Video Specs: 4k @ 30 fps, 1080p HD @ 30/60 fps, 720p HD @ 30 fps, Slow-Mo (720p) @ 240 fps, + Hyperlapse

Overall Rating: 8.4/10

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Release Year: 2017

Facts about the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 –

VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilization) is a steal for the money
Continuous autofocus video
Comes with Samsung Note Pen
Available in two sizes
Enjoy both 2x optical and 10x digital zoom
Impressive infinity screen
Dual OIS
Numerous photo and video filters

Google Pixel

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Google Pixel Camera Specs: Rear Camera (12.3MP with a 1/2.3″ sensor featuring f/2.0) + Front Camera (8MP featuring f/2.4)

Google Pixel Video Specs: 4k @ 30 fps, 1080p HD @ 60/120 fps, + 720p HD @ 240 fps

Overall Rating: 8.3

Google Pixel Release Year: 2016

Facts about the Google Pixel –

Google Smart Storage puts everything on the cloud so you never have to worry about running out of room
Introduction of the mobile Google Assistant
5″ AMOLED screen is pretty small
Laser focusing improved shooting time
Fast charging was different in 2016 (still 6 hours of charge in 15 minutes is impressive)
Google assurance for three years of OS updates

Asus ZenFone 5

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Asus ZenFone 5 Cameras: Front Camera (8 MP) + Rear Cameras (12MP with OIS/EIS + 8MP Wide-Angle)

Asus ZenFone 5 Video: 4K UHD, 1080p FHD, and 720p HD

Overall Rating: 8.3/10

Asus ZenFone 5 Release Year: 2014

Facts about the Asus ZenFone 5 –

Includes the Sony flagship IMX363
16 AI Scene Detections (includes food, plant, sunset, snow, dog, and night among others)
Uses Corning® Gorilla® Glass for optimal screen protection
Audio features Headphone:X™ with 7.1 virtual surround-sound

Xiaomi Pocophone F1

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Xiaomi Pocophone F1 Camera Specs: Rear Dual Sensor (12 MP Primary Lens + 5MP Lens for Depth-Testing)

Xiaomi Pocophone F1 Video: 2160p & 1080p video

Overall Rating: 8.3/10

Xiaomi Pocophone F1 Release Year: 2018

Facts about the Xiaomi Pocophone F1 –

Secondary 5MP Depth-Sensing Sensor
PDAF autofocus is super-fast
Dual-LED flash

Apple iPhone 8

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Apple iPhone 8 Camera Specs: Rear (12MP wide-angle) & Front (12 MP telephoto)

Apple iPhone 8 Video Specs: 4k, 1080p HD, 720p HD

Overall Rating: 8.0/10

Apple iPhone 8 Release Year: 2017

Facts about the Apple iPhone 8 –

Intuitive workflow as has come to be expected from Apple
Most durable glass in an iPhone to date
True-Tone technology makes seeing your phone in harsh light a non-issue
25% louder speakers than previous iPhones
Premier or Apple’s Portrait Lighting (precursor to Portrait Mode)