Given the technological advancements made to smartphones in recent years, there is no shortage of excellent mobile camera options in 2023. The first camera phone was introduced in Japan by Kyocera in 1999 (via Science & Society), but leading tech brands such as Apple and Samsung have been at the forefront of smartphone camera technology since the mid-to-late 2000s with the release of various iPhone and Galaxy models. However, rivals like Google and Sony have begun to make competitive, cost-effective products in recent years that give consumers many more well-rounded options in the marketplace.

Of course, not every consumer has the same needs or desires when it comes to specific smartphone camera technology. Some may want a camera that is best suited for shooting videos and creating content. Others may want the most effective but affordable option that won't break the bank. Some may want portable, lightweight phones that make it easy to shoot on the go. No matter the functionality, there are several excellent smartphone camera options to make images look the best they can be in 2023.

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1 Apple iPhone 14 Pro & Pro Max

iPhone 14 Pro Max camera is displayed

While pricier than most, Apple's iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max use the same cameras despite differing in screen size. The best in class due to its 48-megapixel (MP) main wide-angle camera, 12-MP ultra-wide, and 12-MP telephoto lenses that come with 3x optical Zoom, Apple's iPhone 14 renders gorgeous HD imagery that is unmatched.

The iPhone 14 Pro/Max takes better pictures than its rivals due to its advanced AI processing capabilities that allow for flexible editing. Apple utilizes ProRaw and ProRes, expert setting options that allow the camera to store as much raw data from the sensors as possible that can be used to tweak the image later. ProRaw and ProRes can be paired with Night Mode, Deep Fusion, and Portrait Mode to produce as much detail as possible. The iPhone 14s also shoot incredibly clear photos in low light, giving them more versatility for content creators who need to begin filming in a pinch.

2 Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

A Samsung Galaxy S 22 Ultra Camera is displayed

A leading brand for some time, Samsung's flagship phone Galaxy S22 Ultra remains a top-tier option in 2023 due to its high-quality camera system and immense versatility. Boasting four cameras to the iPhone's three, Galaxy S22 Ultra comes equipped with wide (108MP), ultra-wide (12MP), periscope (10MP), and telephoto (10MP) lenses with super-zoom sensors (3x to 10x) to shoot every type of portrait, landscape, or panorama possible.

In addition to the number of cameras and superior multipurpose lenses, the smartphone's software makes the S22 Ultra's zooming capabilities much more advanced than many of its competitors. The real optical zoom it produces allows for taking pictures from great distances while achieving the same granular clarity as taking selfies. In fact, the front selfie camera also comes with 40MP sensors and the smartphone can shoot video in 8K resolution, which is twice as sharp as most 4K cameras.

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3 Google Pixel 7 Pro

Google Pixel 7 Pro with camera app open 

In many ways, Google's Pixel 7 Pro outperforms its big-named rivals despite its similar price, and that's thanks to its powerful Tensor 2G processor. Aside from boasting a 10.8MP front camera and a rear camera with three lenses (50MP main, 12 MP ultra-wide, and 48MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom), it's the editing capabilities that really make the Pixel Pro 7 so priceless in 2023.

While the Pixel Pro 7 takes high-quality photos and videos on par with iPhone 14 Pro, its post-production capabilities are second to none. In addition to being able to truly touch up old photos shot with previous smartphones, Pixel Pro 7's highly acclaimed Magic Eraser can be used to instantly eliminate photobombers and unwanted background images. Moreover, the Real Tone feature can be used to accurately reproduce the skin tone of any given subject. The Face Unblur tool can also turn the perfectly composed selfie marred by a last-minute shift in autofocus crystal clear.

4 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

A Galaxy Z Fold 4 camera is used

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 4 phone may not seem like it would have a powerful camera system. However, thanks to the drastic upgrades made to the previous model, it has upgraded specs and capabilities to take great pictures in 2023. For instance, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 has an unparalleled five lenses: three in the main rear module and two in the front for extra selfie capabilities.

The Samsung Z Fold 4 phone camera consists of three lenses in the rear module, including a main 50MP wide lens, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3X zoom for long range, and a 12MP ultra-wide lens with a unique 123-degree depth of field. Even more experimental is the 4MP selfie camera located on the internal display to go with the 10MP front camera. This makes it possible to fine-tune a selfie pose by seeing how it looks on the display before the image is snapped. Between the expert RAW editing support and IPX8 water resistance, the Z Fold 4 may not rival the top three Apple, Google, and Samsung smartphones, but it's a close second.

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5 Google Pixel 6a

A Google Pixel 6a camera is shown

For the absolute best budget smartphone with unrivaled camera capabilities, Google's Pixel 6a is a no-brainer. While it has just two cameras (zoom and ultra-wide lenses), it also uses the same algorithmic Tensor Processor that the Pixel 7 Pro has been praised for. According to CNET, the Pixel 6a takes higher-quality photos than the Samsung Galaxy A53.

The Tensor 2G processing chip makes processing photos much faster and more efficient, allowing the camera to capture vibrant, true-to-life colors. It can quickly autofocus, adjust exposure, sharpen color contrast, and operate other AI-enhanced editing tools to be performed at lightning speeds. Many of the best professional-level cameras and camera phones cost upward of $1,000 in 2023, but reliable and supremely affordable Google Pixel 6a can be obtained for a fraction of the price. It may not be as adept at zooming from far away or shooting at night, but its excellent mix of software and hardware is unbeatable for its price.

6 Apple iPhone 13 Mini

An iPhone 13 mini camera is used

For those in search of the most portable smartphone camera or an alternative to the pricey iPhone 14 Pro/Max, Apple's iPhone 13 Mini is a stellar option in 2023. The camera may only have two lenses, but it makes up for it with its single-handed usability and effortless navigability when on the go.

With balanced main and ultra-wide 12MP cameras, the acclaimed and not yet discontinued iPhone 13 mini has many of the same advanced features as Apple's flagship phone camera products, such as shooting 4K video at 60 FPS. Whether using 5x optical zoom for taking long-range photos or the Styles tool to enhance the overall picture quality, the best part about iPhone 13 mini is that is small enough to close the shutter with one hand. This makes it much easier to multitask such things as arranging the next shot, moving a subject within the frame, etc., without compromising the integrity of a picture.

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7 Sony Xperia 1 III

A Sony Xperia 1 III camera is used

As content creation becomes more popular in 2023, investing in the best smartphone with expert video camera capabilities will pay immense dividends for influencers and the like. As such, Sony's Xperia 1 III is a perfect option for videographers and cinephiles who want to turn their work into stunning motion pictures.

Although it lacks the high-powered zoom qualities of the others, Xperia 1 III boasts an 8MP front camera and three 12MP rear lenses that can shoot video at an aspect ratio of up to 21:9 for movie-quality imagery. The gorgeous 4K HDR display screen and easy-to-use UI that borrows heavily from Sony's flagship Alpha cameras. The most compelling aspect of Xperia 1 III is the wide array of manual post-production tools that come with the phone to allow budding filmmakers and content creators to adjust color correction, soften exposure, and other editing techniques that can be done in Premiere Pro or Adobe Lightroom.

8 Sony Xperia Pro-I

A Sony xperia pro-I camera is used

Winner of the 2022 iF Design Awards, the Sony Xperia Pro-I phone is reserved for professional filmmakers and content creators who require more than what the Xperia 1 III can provide artistically. The phone boasts a large 1.0-type image sensor and the brand's original image processor to offer the best of Sony's high-speed performance cameras.

With a stunning 2.4μm pixel pitch, the camera provides high sensitivity to capture rich textures and extremely fine details, even when filming in low light. Also incredibly quiet when in use for long durations, Xperia Pro-I (the "I" stands for Imaging) is perfect for shooting content remotely or on the fly, live-streaming concerts, filming races and fast-paced games, etc. With cinematic color-coding for each video shot and an advanced built-in editing suite to boot, the Xperia Pro-I camera is the most professional-grade smartphone camera in 2023.

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9 Huawei P50 Pro

A Huawei p50 pro camera is used

For serious photographers who enjoy taking old-fashioned monochrome pictures without the hassle of downloading photo-editing apps, consider the Huawei P50 Pro. With a 40MP black-and-white camera paired with a main 50MP wide-angle lens, Huawei P50 Pro can take equally terrific color and colorless photos from afar, up close, at night, or in the daytime.

One of the downsides of the smartphone is its lack of third-party app compatibility, which limits some of the editing options. However, the high-resolution 64MP periscope lens with 3.5x zoom and ultra-wide 13MP lens is perfect for shooting sunset horizons, overhead landscapes, sporting events, and the like. The phone can also shoot 4K video at 60 FPS on multiple lenses, making it easy to shoot a stunning black-and-white video if desired. Huawei P50 Pro may not be a great overall smartphone, but for its versatile camera capabilities, it can be used to take a stunning array of high-quality images.

10 Oppo Find X5 Pro

An Oppo X5 Pro camera is used

The Oppo Find X5 Pro is a great alternative to top-end smartphones with lower battery capacity. A superfast charging phone that comes with a main 50MP and ultra-wide 50MP rear setup with a 32MP wide-angle front lens, the camera can take exquisite pictures thanks to its MariSilicon X microprocessor and partnership with professional camera company Hasselblad.

The cross-brand partnership between Oppo and Hasselblad has led to upgrades in the camera's Pro mode to help take more expert-looking pictures. The XPan Mode helps simulate the aesthetic of Hasselblad's vintage cameras for taking classic, old-fashioned photos without the use of an outside editing app. The phone also has a very handy stabilizing feature for shooting video in 1080P HD, although the option is not available when shooting in 4K resolution. While the zoom capabilities (2x on a 13MP telephoto lens) pale in comparison to the top-tier rivals, the main camera is a balanced workhorse.

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