In 2025, you can find a decent camera on phones as cheap as $500. But truly impressive phone cameras are found only on the best phones that you can buy. For example, the iPhone 16 Pro, the Pixel 9 Pro and the Galaxy S25 Ultra all have amazing cameras as well as a host of tools and features that even a professional photographer can appreciate. Outside the US, Huawei, Oppo and Xiaomi (which makes the Xiaomi 15 Ultra) offer cutting-edge camera technology, with large image sensors and lenses that can double as microscopes. This list of best camera phones only includes phones that we tested and that you can buy in 2025.
Our Picks
What is the best camera phone?
It's important to keep in mind that there isn't a best camera phone for everyone. Even among CNET's phone reviewers, there isn't a "perfect" phone that suits all our needs. We look at how these cameras perform in real-life situations: How they balance exposures, how they handle colors and how easy they are to use. Read our guide to help find the best phone camera for your needs.
We thoroughly tested and compared dozens of phones and found that one with more lenses or megapixels isn't necessarily any better at taking great shots. Top phones, like the iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro, tend to have a variety of lenses, including an ultrawide and a telephoto with 5x optical zoom, and use larger image sensors and camera features for AI-powered computational photography. Then there's the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra's camera, which has 3x and 5x optical zoom lenses and can take some of the best zoom photos that you can possibly get from a phone.
This was taken with the iPhone 16 Pro's 5x telephoto camera.
The $999 iPhone 16 Pro and $1,199 iPhone 16 Pro Max have the same trio of lenses: wide, ultrawide and 5x telephoto. The new 48-megapixel ultrawide camera is a big step up from previous iPhone models. It not only takes outstanding photos but doubles as a high-res macro lens to get the perfect focus on your food snaps. Both phones also support 4K 120fps slow-motion video that looks outstanding. A new Camera Control button doubles as a shortcut key to open the camera but also as a shutter button. It can also be used as a zoom rocker or to swipe through Apple's revamped Photographic Styles -- letting you preview each one in the viewfinder before you take a single pic. Both phones pack advanced features such as ProRaw images, ProRes video capture and recording in Log color space, which makes them powerful tools for professional filmmakers.
Is the iPhone 16 Pro leaps and bounds ahead of what Google and Samsung are doing? No. In terms of consistency, reliability and approachability, the iPhone 16 Pro is our pick for people who want a top-notch camera system that's easy to use.
Best camera phones of 2025
The iPhone 16 Pro's ultrawide lens got an upgrade and here's one of our favorite photos that we took with it.
Best camera phone
Pros
- Larger screens/thinner bezels
- 4K slo-mo OMG
- Audio Mix is brilliant
- iOS 18
Cons
- No Apple Intelligence out of the box
- Camera Control placement not optimal for one-handed shooting
- Elegant finishes aren't very colorful
- Only 128GB of storage for $1,000
The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max have everything we've come to expect in a year-over-year upgrade. The 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro and 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max have a slew of upgrades including good battery life, larger displays, outstanding photo and video chops, high-resolution slo-mo, a new Camera Control button, iOS 18 goodies and a handful of Apple Intelligence tools. The negatives are as thin as the borders around the new screens: You only get 128GB of storage for $1,000; there are only drab color options, and a the new camera button is easy to tap accidentally.
This year the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max have the exact same cameras including the same 5x optical zoom -- unlike the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, which had different telephoto options. Screen size, battery life and price should be the deciding factors when you're choosing between the two. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are excellent phones worthy of a spot in your pocket -- if you can afford them.
Taylor always photographs well, but I was especially pleased with this shot from the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Best phone camera for photography
Pros
- Astonishingly good camera system
- Unique camera grip transforms it into a compact camera
- Lightning fast performance
- Great, vibrant display
Cons
- Not sold in the US
- Very expensive; camera grip is a pricey extra
- Battery life is only OK
- Software support period could be longer
With a main camera sensor that's much larger than those on any of its rivals, a wide, variable aperture and Leica-engineered optics, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is able to take some of the best images we've ever seen from a phone. The huge dynamic range and clarity of the raw files mean we can produce shots we'd normally expect to see from full-sized mirrorless cameras.
We particularly like using the 14 Ultra's Leica high-contrast black-and-white mode, to take punchy monochrome street photos that look amazing without any post-processing. To make it more of a fully-fledged camera, Xiaomi sells the Photography Kit that includes a case and a grip that provides physical camera controls. It allows you to use this phone just like a regular camera which makes it a total joy to use.
Here's a photo of Dean's path in Edinburgh taken with the Pixel 9 Pro's main camera.
Best Google has to offer
Pros
- Genuinely fun new AI skills
- Sleek new design
- Seven years of software updates
- Cameras can take great daytime shots
Cons
- Camera hardware hasn't improved much over Pixel 8 Pro
- Gemini AI will eventually require a paid subscription
- Launches with Android 14, not Android 15
The Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL have a lot going for them, from their shiny new designs and long software support period. It's the AI skills that really stand out, from the deep integration of the conversational Gemini Live to the new Pixel Studio that creates weird and wonderful images from your text prompts.
The phones aren't perfect. The cameras are good and can take excellent photos in bright light, they're just okay in low light and in night mode. The best AI features will require a monthly subscription (although you get the first year free) If you're keen to experiment with AI on your phone then the new Pixel 9 Pro range is a superb way to experience it.
CNET's Patrick Holland snagged this shot with the Galaxy S25 Ultra's new ultrawide camera.
Best phone camera for zoom
Pros
- Best screen on any phone
- Versatile cameras
- Most powerful phone I've tested
- Good battery life
Cons
- $1,300 price
- Design is almost too minimal
- AI features are hit-or-miss
- S25/S25 Plus have similar features and cost less
Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra which has a lot of AI features, the best of which are interesting and the worst of which unreliable. Luckily, Samsung gets a lot of other things right on the S25 Ultra, which has a new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, high-resolution ultrawide camera, and some sweet pro video tools that rival the iPhone 16 Pro. Samsung wisely kept all the best parts of last year's Galaxy S24 Ultra (basically the entire phone including that antireflective display) but some of its worst parts, too, like the $1,300 price tag.
If you want the best screen you can find on any phone, get the S25 Ultra. If you want the most versatile phone cameras, get the S25 Ultra. If you want a stylus, get the S25 Ultra. But if your needs scale back on any of those fronts, the more affordable S25 options, or even last year's S24 Ultra, may be worth considering.
This iPhone 16 photo, taken with the main camera, looks true to life.
Best iPhone camera for most people
Pros
- Camera Control is useful for switching camera settings
- Photographic Styles makes photos pop
- Ultrawide camera is better in low light
Cons
- Apple Intelligence isn’t out yet
- No always on display
- No changes to wired charging speeds
- No upgrades to the Action button
With its handy new photography features, convenient Action button and elegant build, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are top-notch choices for Apple fans in search of a new phone. Parts of the iPhone 16’s key feature, Apple Intelligence, are now out, and the fact that these phones will support it means they’ll likely feel future-proofed for years to come. For those who don’t need the Pro’s extra photography prowess and battery life, the iPhone 16 won’t disappoint. Aside from screen size (6.1 inches on the regular, 6.7 inches on the Plus), battery size and price, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are identical in every way.
The iPhone 16 isn’t perfect -- it’s missing an always-on display, and it feels like it’s been ages since Apple improved its wired charging speeds. But it checks all the important boxes and then some.
This photo was taken with the Pixel 9's new Add Me feature.
Best phone for Android purists
Pros
- Beautiful design
- Fun and somewhat useful AI features
- Better ultrawide camera
- 7 years of software updates
Cons
- More expensive
- Doesn't feel that different from Pixel 8
There’s a lot to like about the Pixel 9, from its respectable camera to its classy new design and lengthy 7-year timeline for software updates. Google’s phones have always shined for their clean, slick software, and that once again applies to the Pixel 9 series. Pixels are also among the first to get new software updates, making them an ideal choice for those who want to get their hands on the latest version of Android first. Aside from Android updates, Google also brings new features to Pixel phones throughout the year through updates it calls Feature Drops.
The Pixel 9 comes with a few new AI tricks that you may find useful, like the ability to search for content in screenshots, generate images from scratch in the Pixel Studio app and add new objects in photos. These features aren’t must-haves, and they’re not without flaws. Plus, at a starting price of $799, the Pixel 9 has a higher bar to live up to. The Pixel 9 feels like it belongs in that class of device.
It's a miracle that Buddy the cat sat still long enough for this Pixel 8A photo to be taken.
Best Android phone under $500
Pros
- Great camera
- 7 years of software updates
- Many of the same features as the Pixel 8
- Good battery life
Cons
- 256GB storage not available on all models
- Zoomed and low light shots aren't as clear as the Pixel 8's
The Pixel 8A is so good it makes the regular Pixel 8 almost feel irrelevant. It shares so much in common with its pricier sibling -- from its selection of AI-powered features like Circle to Search, to its aesthetic and Tensor G3 processor -- that it's hard to see why anyone would buy the Pixel 8 instead.
The Pixel 8 does offer a marginally better camera system, a slightly larger screen and the ability to charge other phones and accessories wirelessly on the back of the device, but those features don't feel significant enough to impact the buying decision for most people. As I wrote in my review, the Pixel 8A raises the bar for what a $500 phone should be. That also means I'll be expecting more from the Pixel 9 this fall.
Factors to consider when looking at a phone's cameras
Consider last year's models: Apple no longer sells the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but you can still find it at third party retailers and often for hundreds less than the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Protect your new phone with a case: Make your phone and its camera's last longer with a case.
Don't overlook affordable phones: The $499 Pixel 8A and $599 iPhone 15 can do almost everything that a new premium phone can do for a fraction of the price. Save some money and still take great snaps.
Wait for sales: Many of the best phone camera systems are found on more expensive models. Look for sales and discounts around major holidays, especially Amazon's Prime Day and Cyber Monday.
Check if you're already invested: Have you already bought a lot of iPhone camera accessories like a case or tripod? Stick with an iPhone if you still want access to them. Make sure your new iPhone will still work with your setup.
How we test phones
We test every phone in real-world scenarios, focusing on its features, design, performance, cameras, battery life and overall value. We document our findings in an initial review that is periodically updated when there are new software updates, or to compare it against new phones from competitors such as Apple, Samsung, Google and OnePlus.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 largely has the same camera hardware as the Z Flip 4. But the new chip brings some image processing improvements.
Photography
Photography is a major focus for most phones these days, so we take pictures and videos of various subjects in a variety of settings and lighting scenarios. We try out any new camera modes, such as ProRes Log video that debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, or the Magic Editor photo tool that launched with the Google Pixel 8 series.
Battery life
Battery testing is conducted in a variety of ways. We assess how long a phone lasts during a typical day of use and note how it performs during more focused sessions of video calls, media streaming and gaming. We also conduct a video playback test, as a simple, replicable measure of pure battery life, which isn't always included in the initial review but sometimes added later in an update.
Performance measuring
We use benchmarking apps to measure each phone's performance, alongside our own anecdotal experiences using the phone for our review. Most notable are how the graphics and animations look. Are they smooth? Or do they lag or stutter? We also look at how quickly the phone switches between horizontal and vertical orientations, and how fast the camera app opens and is ready to take a photo.
Emergency SOS might be one of the most important features to come out on any phone this year.
We perform processor-heavy tasks like editing photos, exporting videos and playing games. We evaluate whether a newer version of a particular phone includes enough features to make it worth upgrading from older models.
Read more: How We Test Phones
Other phones we tested
The $1,400 Sony Xperia 1 V retains all the best features of previous Xperia 1 phones, like a 4K high refresh rate display, expandable storage, cutting-edge cameras with eye-tracking autofocus, a 5,000-mAh battery, a dedicated hardware shutter button and a headphone jack, all wrapped in Sony's lovely, mundane utilitarian design. The phone brims with numerous quality-of-life improvements for its target audience of creative types like photographers, filmmakers, musicians and gamers who want nuanced control over the content they make. Its $1,400 price tag keeps this phone squarely aimed beyond most consumers.