'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYH/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAwaZD/8QAIBAAAwABBAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIEEQADBhIFIWFjgf/aAAgBAQABPwCPy3EZJZpzxym4sgFe/RWUct9XT0n7208ZZ2bawu2TlQzZIHyca//EABQRAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/2gAIAQIBAT8Af//EABQRAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/2gAIAQMBAT8Af//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
There are a lot of smartphones that have cameras with 108MP sensors or even higher. However, megapixels don't actually make a camera better. A lot of factors go into making a great smartphone camera, including sensor size, the aperture of the lens, and the performance of the ISP chip. Even with the best hardware, cameras need tuning to achieve the best performance.
This article lists some of the best camera-centric Android smartphones in 2024.
Note: This list is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinions.
Best Android phones to buy for camera performance
1) Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Price: $1,199 (Currently discounted)
Trending
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is one of the best camera phones you can buy in 2024. It has a quad-camera setup with a ToF sensor for a laser-sharp autofocus.
The primary camera has a 200MP sensor, but the megapixel count doesn't matter much. It's the actual sensor that's interesting here. It is capable of taking some sharp photos with high detail levels.
However, if you want to take a picture of something far away, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra's dual telephoto cameras will do the job. Its 3x telephoto sensor is decent, but what's more impressive is its periscopic lens, which give you 5x zoom shots with decent detail levels, wide dynamic range, and low noise levels.
Pros
- Camera performance is among the best.
- Pictures from the telephoto lens are the best on this list.
- There are a lot of AI features in the phone.
Cons
- It is quite expensive.
2) Google Pixel 8 Pro
Price: $849
The Pixel 8 Pro is the flagship Google phone. The company went all in with the camera specs, and the result is visible.
The primary camera has a 50MP sensor, which is impressive. There's also an ultra-wide-angle camera. The samples from this sensor suggest that it is decent but not as good as the main camera.
The Pixel 8 Pro also comes with a 5x periscopic telephoto camera, which should be close to the performance of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra but at a much lower cost. It also has a large battery capacity.
Pros
- The display is amazing and gets quite bright.
- Has a fantastic camera performance.
- The ergonomics of the phone make it comfortable to hold.
Cons
- The gaming performance is not that good.
3) OnePlus 12
Price: $799
The OnePlus 12 is one of the rare camera-centric phones under $800. It has an impressive camera setup with a 50MP primary, a 64MP periscopic, and a 48MP ultra-wide sensor.
The OnePlus 12's display and chipset are equally impressive and can go toe to toe with top smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Pros
- Has a good camera setup.
- Equipped with the fastest charging technology.
- Has a curved display.
Cons
- The design is quite bold and may not be preferred by everyone.
4) Samsung Galaxy S24
Price: $799
If you prefer smaller phones, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is for you. It has a smaller footprint and will fit in your hand perfectly.
The phone is also equipped with fantastic camera hardware. It has all three sensors, including the telephoto sensor, so it should deliver a solid camera performance.
Apart from the cameras, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is also built tough, with an Aluminum frame for better rigidity. Unfortunately, it doesn't get the Titanium treatment that the Galaxy S24 Ultra did.
Pros
- Superb camera performance for the price.
- Equipped with the fastest Android chipset.
- Has wireless charging support.
Cons
- The price is high.
5) Google Pixel 8a
Price: $499
The Google Pixel 8a is among the best camera-centric smartphones you can buy under $500. This phone proves you don't need to pay $1000 or even $800 to get a decent camera performance. It doesn't have a telephoto lens, but the performance of the primary camera sensor will compensate for that.
Thanks to Google's impressive AI algorithm, the main sensor can work as both the primary and 2x telephoto camera. You can actually take a 2x lossless zoom photo with the 64MP primary sensor. The ultra-wide camera sensor is also equally impressive.
Pros
- Has a great gaming performance for the price.
- The build quality of the phone is quite impressive.
- Has one of the best camera performances at this price bracket.
Cons
- The display is smaller compared to other smartphones.
These are some of the best Android phones with good cameras in 2024. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is an easy buy if budget is not an issue. It has a robust camera system with four lenses to provide the best photos in every scenario. However, if you want a camera phone under $1000, I would recommend the Google Pixel 8 Pro.
