Authoritative reviewers from Tom's Guide tested the best camera phones on the market and told which smartphone models are worth buying for the sake of cool cameras at the beginning of 2025.
The tests were conducted in different conditions and modes, which allowed experts to identify the most versatile solutions. There are six such models in total.
- The best overall – Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. The latest flagship from the Koreans offers the most versatile camera with a large number of lenses and the best quality of shooting with zoom. Separately, the reviewers highlighted the quality of the AI tools that Samsung uses for image editing.
- iPhone Camera – iPhone 16 Pro. Experts were particularly impressed by the improved zoom lens, and low-light photos here are ahead of all competitors. The new camera control button is also a nice addition.
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The best camera phone on Android –Pixel 9 Pro. The corporation behind the Android operating system also produces devices capable of taking high-quality photos and stuffed with AI features. According to Tom's Guide experts, although this model is inferior to the above competitors, it also costs less.
- The best inexpensive camera phone – Pixel 8a. Google continues to prove that you don't have to spend a fortune on a flagship to get great mobile photography. If you don't look too closely, it shoots almost as well as the Pixel 9 Pro, but it costs a lot less.
- Inexpensive iPhone Camera – iPhone 16. Apple has increased the size of the ultra-wide sensor in this generation of basic iPhones and added a macro mode for quality close-ups. Otherwise, the iPhone 16 provides the same first-class shooting capabilities as its predecessor.
- Working on bugs –OnePlus 13. If earlier smartphones of this brand were distinguished by fast charging and autonomy, then their latest flagships received a top-end telephoto with 3x zoom and one of the best selfie cameras on the market.